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HAVERHILL RIVER RUN
THE MICHIGAN INVASION
THE MICHIGAN INVASION
They’re big, they’re tough, they’re mean and they’re nasty. They can travel all day and night, party like rock stars till the wee hours, and then get up the next day and eat rough water like a big bowl of ice cream. They are the Upper Michigan Outboard Marathon Boys and on Oct 1 they travelled to Region One and took the Third Annual Haverhill River Run by storm.
The Midwest onslaught was led by two time course champion Mark “Rock Salt” Kurz. The team, consisting of Kurz, Matt Ladd, Nick Ladd and Joe Purzycki, had travelled all the way from Indian River Michigan to this excellent event directed by Steve Noury. With a combined weight of over a half ton, the unruly foursome were on a mission to display to the New England runabout drivers what outboard marathon racing is all about. Hardened by years of fierce battles on marathon courses such as Top-O-Michigan and the Detroit River in Trenton, the team was pumped up for some rough water fun and could hardly restrain their enthusiasm as they entertained the crowd on Friday evening at the host Crescent Yacht Club. As usual, the Ladd Boys were as subtle as a train wreck as they laughed up a storm while telling marathon stories to all of their new friends. By closing time Nick Ladd, with his New England accent now finely honed and polished, could have run for mayor of Haverhill- and won.
By Saturday afternoon however, after a morning of closed course racing, or what Mark Kurz referred to as “fairy circles”, the party in the bar was history and the party on the race course was just beginning. At exactly four o’clock by Steve Noury’s watch, which is precisely synchronized to Greenwich Mean Time, the boats were lined up on the beach and ready to go. As local runabout heroes Jason Thompson and Mike Cook cowered in their trailers, the first wave consisting of the A-Stock runabouts took off from the beach utilizing a modified LeMans start. Jumping out to a quick lead in the 47-B, was two time winner and defending A-Runabout Champion Ed O’Neil in his Johnson powered Arrow Boat Works hull. Following O’Neil in hot pursuit were old sea-dog Howard Pickerel from Long Island New York, Manny Dias from Coventry Rhode Island and Nick Nowak from nearby Marblehead Ma. As the rest of the brave pack gave chase, the next wave quickly lined up for the start. A quick fifteen seconds later the C’s, D’s and 25’s all took off to the second roar of the crowd. Mark Kurz leapt to the front of the pack in his home built Yamato powered C-Runabout as the tight group headed to the turn one marker. With the cheering crowd still on their feet and the waves reverberating off the docks, the hungry pack roared past the Crescent Yacht Club and disappeared up the swollen Merrimac River.
The anxious crowd on the yacht club lawn now fidgeted with anticipation as they strained to hear the rumble of the first boat returning after lap one of four on the seven mile circuit. The maddened hundreds jumped to their feet and screamed in unison as the blue 140-M of Nick Ladd came thundering by the Yacht Club in his big Mercury powered D- runabout with older brother Matt breathing right down his neck. Also within striking distance was New Yorker Doug Pearsol who was ringing everything he could get out of an antiquated Mercury 55H. Behind Pearsol was Region One upstart Mike Akerstrom in a Luce built hull with a TOO-HOT-SUE pushing from the stern. Unfortunately the third Wolverine, Joe Purzycki went down on lap one with engine trouble. In the C- runabout race it was defending champion Mark Kurz holding tight to the lead in the 157-M with Tim Noury second and Mike W. Schmidt, driving Race Director Steve Noury’s 31-A, in third. The first 25 by the viewing stage was Mainer Jimmy Howe piloting a Sorenson hull with dads black Mercury doing its old magic on the transom. Next was Jeff Brewster looking as steady as a rock as he showcased a 20ci Sidewinder. Following Brewster was Jeff Maine holding down the third spot. The A Race was also beginning to heat up as Howie Pickeral, confident and conditioned by years of Long Island salt water wild-cat racing, was systematically eating away at the shaky lead held by Ed “KOOL time” O’Neil. The bouncing pack once again rounded the turn marker and headed up river past the spectator lined bridges to downtown Haverhill. But by now things were starting to get interesting.
As the D runabouts battled their way up river on lap two, Mike Akerstrom took a ferocious tumble under one of the many bridges. Although unhurt, the spectacular flip totally disintegrated his boat and engine and left pieces of debris scattered from shore to shore. Heeding the pre-race advice to “hold on tight under any circumstances”, he was fished out of the river fifty yards from his sinking hull with the steering wheel and throttle still clutched in his waterlogged hands. Meanwhile, on the other end of the course, Manny Dias had picked up a piece of nylon rope around the prop. Quickly realizing that he had no chance of freeing his prop from the cockpit, the ex Moto crosser then plunged into the chilly Merrimac River. With the aid of a knife provided by a passing sheriff’s patrol boat, he was able to cut his prop free, drag himself back on board and continue the A-runabout chase- “I’d like to see a hydro driver do THAT!” stated race director Steve Noury after hearing the story at the post –race party.
As the boats came once again into the spectators view, Nick Ladd, now with a commanding lead over the field of D-runabouts, slowed to a crawl and took a dramatic bow to the delight of the hundreds lining the yacht club lawn. Getting back on plane he then waved and blew kisses to his adoring fans as he made the turn around marker and pointed his bow up river for the final time.
As the river boiled into a wavy froth from the turbulent action, the race ravaged masses began to struggle by the Yacht Club for their final assault on the now angry Merrimac,
Nick Ladd still held the lead in the D contest with brother Matt now closing fast. Doug Pearsol was holding down third but now The Mad Russian, Alex Poliakoff, had assumed the fourth spot after Akerstrom’s wreck. In the C race Mark Kurz still held the lead but was uncustomarily having trouble with the corners. Tim Noury held fast to the second position but now local driver Nathaniel Lord had moved past Mike Schmidt and settled into third. The 25’s were showing attrition as leader Jimmy Howe and Jeff Brewster were the only two boats remaining under power. In the A stock battle old salt Howie Pickeral had finally worn down defending champion Ed O’Neil and now sat comfortably in the lead. O’Neil followed in second with Nick Nowak a close third.
The crowd now strained on tiptoes and flag waver Carole Terry stood poised with the checkered for the tightest finish of the day. The pomp, circumstance and shenanigans almost caught up with D runabout leader Nick Ladd as he barely beat big brother Matt to the line as the crowd went wild. Fast closing Doug Pearsol, holding down third, also finished within fifteen seconds of the winner. As the first C-runabout came into view another big cheer went up when pre-race favorite Mark Kurz came screaming by the docks with fist pumping and a successful three peat in the books. Tim Noury, obviously now seasoned from his trip to Indian River this summer, secured a successful second with Nat Lord nailing down a hard fought third. In the 25 race Jimmy Howe captured the first marathon win of his career with Buckeye Jeff Brewster in a close second. In the A contest it was Howie Pickeral taking the checkered over Ed O’Neil and Nick Nowak holding on for third.
With a big crowd now circling the inspection area, the post race scene was awash with smiles and handshakes as the combatants, like prizefighters after a big bout, congratulated each other as the war stories began to emerge. Mark Kurz lifted his boat off the scales and was immediately given a special trophy by one of the patrol boats. His turn fin stuck permanently into a large log. “No wonder I was having trouble in the corners” said the three time champion as he accepted his prize with a big smile. Then it was back to the Yacht Club for some refreshments and…you guessed it… more stories.
At the awards ceremony the next morning the Michigan contingent was again all smiles and handshakes as the Midwesterners vowed to do it all again next year. Asked about his entire New England racing experience D Runabout winner Nick Ladd had only one thing to say. “It was pissa…just pissa!"
Unity Flagstaff Reporting
Maybe a 13' Allison sit down with a 55H ? 
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