New Racers and Race Sites!

[pav225]

There has been a lot of discussion on HR these days regarding motors and the health of our sport. I think it's a good time to mention some of the real positives that we have seen in our sport recently. I'll start with new (within approximately the last 5 years) drivers in the IL/WI area:

- Mike Mackey (CSH, OSY400)
- Holden Mackey (JSH, JSR)
- Jim Fairchild (20ssH, OSY400)
- Dakotah Fairchild (ASH, AXSH, 20ssH, OSY400)
- Chris Fairchild (20ssH, CSH, OSY400, DSH???, and whatever else we can put him in)
- Michael Shepard (JSH, JSR, AXSR, AXSH)
- Gene Schurtz (ASR, BSR, BSH)
- Kevin Schurtz (ASH and the coffee grinder
- Kyle Ide (CSH, OSY400)
- Kurt Bergional (CSR, DMR, CSH)
- Tad Olson (20ssH, CSH, OSY400)...may be past the 5 year limit
- Carter Olson (JSH, JSR (National Champ!), AXSH, AXSR)
- Paul Neilander (20ssH, CSH, OSY400)
- John Korbus (CSH, OSY400)
- Jason Esposito (CSH,OSY400)
- Ryan Esposito (20ssH, OSY400)
- Caroline Moess (JSH)
- ...sorry for anyone that I missed or misspelled!

Potential New Racers for Next Year:
- Mikey Pavlick
- Jared Pavlick
- Cole Olson
- Kris Shepard
- Madison Shepard
- Karsten Pavlick


Thats a great run of new drivers! How/why did it happen?
- Strong (and tireless) recruiting/promoting efforts by Chicago Paul.
- Well run races by the BSOA/MRC crew. I need to mention Bill Pavlick's great work at running races and also note some new faces like Dave Hemp and Dan Evans who have stepped up to run races. Also, Warnocks, Burdicks and the Schurtz brothers who always help out.
- Tad Olson who always brings an extra JSH to the races and emphasizes the importance of getting kids on the water.
- The Pavlick team for having plenty of Yamatos for people to run and get started.
- People like Kip Trump and Bill Carter who go out and find new race sites like Candlewick and Pell Lake.
- ...many more to list!

Our Region should be proud of the great races we have and the great new crop of drivers!

Keep up the great work!!!

- Mike Pavlick

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Jason Esposito is has been racing with us since his move to our side of the country. Great guy and very competitive.

That is an impressive list of new racers, my hat is off to your club.

Great to have them all added to our boat racing family. -- Teresa

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Just curious what is the average age of the new racers in your area? You know this is a sport for all ages. I have seen racers from 9 to 62.

[pro350hydro]

Mike, Jason Esposito is has been racing with us since his move to our side of the country. Great guy and very competitive. -- Teresa

I thought I had heard that as well, but I havn't seen him at the races I have been to. I was real good friends with their dad. They got out of racing for awhile and I lost touch with them. I hope to see them again soon.

Mike

[blueskyracer]

I thought I had heard that as well, but I havn't seen him at the races I have been to. I was real good friends with their dad. They got out of racing for awhile and I lost touch with them. I hope to see them again soon.

Mike

He said he was coming to Waitts and of course Moses Lake since he lives there now.

[blueskyracer]

On another positive note we have had a lot of folks signing up to be members of the Hydroracer family recently.

[Dave M]

One Point

Mike,

A lot of those names are second or third generation racers who are growing up in the sport. While I think this is absolutley a great thing and how a lot us got started, I think we need to recruit more outside the box as well.

I have been to a BSOA race, Burlington last season, and I have to say, you guys put on a really great fun race.

Not to hijack your thread, sorry, a real positive thing for the sport would be less choices in what class to race in. Narrow the program down to 5 or 6 Hydro and 5 or 6 runabout classes.

keep up the good work getting new places and racers guys !!

[Brew56]

3 prospective new racers

Very good post Mike. It's great to see the growth out there for you guys in R7. We have begun challenging ourselves in TRORA to get some new blood involved as well. Although I haven't fully secured new racers yet, I am really trying. 3 of my friends are married and in their late 20's. They all have pleasure boats too. All 3 have expressed interest in going for a ride. I'm hoping I'll get all 3 of them out there by the end of this season.

How many guys/gals would be hooked on this sport if we just offered them a chance to take one out? That's what we need to start doing rather than just focusing on that new prop we want to test at the lake.

If I can get at least of one my 3 guys hooked, I plan to set them up with a rig for next summer where they'll only have to pay their entry fee. Then they can slowly buy equipment if they want. Biggest hurdle: getting their wives on board with this!

[blueskyracer]

Very good post Mike. It's great to see the growth out there for you guys in R7. We have begun challenging ourselves in TRORA to get some new blood involved as well. Although I haven't fully secured new racers yet, I am really trying. 3 of my friends are married and in their late 20's. They all have pleasure boats too. All 3 have expressed interest in going for a ride. I'm hoping I'll get all 3 of them out there by the end of this season.

How many guys/gals would be hooked on this sport if we just offered them a chance to take one out? That's what we need to start doing rather than just focusing on that new prop we want to test at the lake.

If I can get at least of one my 3 guys hooked, I plan to set them up with a rig for next summer where they'll only have to pay their entry fee. Then they can slowly buy equipment if they want. Biggest hurdle: getting their wives on board with this!

You are right that the wives have to get on board. Once that happens you have got it made. My wife said no way and look at her now, Admin of this site and she helps launch, take pictures and EMT when necessary at the races. We can't even go camping any more if she can't get cell service. LOL

We will take delivery of our new medium size adjustable life jacket and Medium helmet from SRP this weekend. I did not need it but we want it incase someone wants to try a boat out for the first time.

The more people hooked the more fun it is

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Hey there - I wasn't against boat racing, I love boat racing. I was against YOU boat racing after "the incident" without MD's permission. Which he gave and then wondered why he did. I was only worried about you!

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Should add we are also looking for a cut suit for a spare!

[26V]

Janson~

Tell Jason Hi for me next time you see him.

[Shep]

More reasons we go

Several reasons for michael and I racing.
1) time together - It garauntees time together no chance for me or him to get side tracked on other things

2) No worries about who he's around most of the kids are really great kids and their parents have simaler values. I don't worry about him at the sites.

3) He ALWAYS gets equal chance to race. Stick and ball sports don't allow equal playing time so the good get better and the not so good don't get playing time that allows improvement.

4) How to win and lose. We've all seen the ones who can't handle either very well.

Most of all the fun together both as a family and with our friends!

Shep

[Kev43V]

Mike don't forget Jeff Youngen RETURNING to racing. How long Jeff? since the KG4 was removed?