Last call for marathon race in Ecuador!

[jeff55v]

In a little over a month, I'll be traveling to Ecuador to participate in the Guayaquil to Vinces marathon race. I will be in South America March 17 through March 28th. For months, I've been in search of a qualified racer to come along with me. I haven't yet found anybody who is able to go. Understandably, it's an expensive and a little bit dangerous proposition. I can't blame anybody for the inability to take the time away from work and family to travel to South America. But here I am only a month away, and I have nobody lined up to make the trek. I will make the trek alone if needed, but I'd rather share the experience with another racer.
My friends in Ecuador will provide a quality rig for myself and another guest. The only equipment you would need is your own helmet and life jacket.
So here's your chance to apply for the experience of a lifetime.
A qualified applicant must:
1. Be an experienced kneel down boat racer who is physically able to endure an obstacle filled 63 mile marathon race.
2. Have a valid passport and the financial means to pay for his or her own expenses. (airfare, hotel, food, etc)
3. Be a good ambassador to North American powerboat racing.

P.M. your application and/or questions to me.
I reserve the right to allow or disallow any person I choose. The deadline for your application is February 17th.

Good luck, adventure awaits!

[25xs]

2012 "Best Post" nominee !!!

Ok, this is by FAR the best post I have seen here in a long time!
Jeff, I hope you get a taker and have a great time in SA

Good luck!

Tom

[ram95]

Jeff,
Just so we can all have a guess-timate of the cost of traveling along on one of these fantastic expeditions.... what's it kind of add up to.... including the beer and the women? Welll...okay.. WITHOUT the women.

Best of luck to you and all your amigos.

Alex

[SeanT4]

I would be there

However, USTS Florida race is the same time. I will race there if possible!

[jeff55v]

Jeff,
Just so we can all have a guess-timate of the cost of traveling along on one of these fantastic expeditions.... what's it kind of add up to.... including the beer and the women?

A fair question Alex. My own round trip airfare from Ilinois is about $1100. If anybody wants to research airfares, You'd want to go to airport code GYE. That's the main airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The hotel is nice, much like you'd expect to find here in the U.S. It costs about the same as here too. about $100 a night. Two people can split the room cost, so that'd be $50 per person per night. Meals are similar to the U.S. prices too. Oh, and it's all U.S. dollars. They switched to U.S. currency back in the eighties, I think.
Alex, you won't have to budget much money for beer. You won't have an opportunity to buy it. Everybody will be eager to buy it for you. I can't tell you much about the women in Ecuador. They are attractive, but I'm off the market myself.
Oh that reminds me, before travelling there you should to get a typhoid and a hepatitis A&B shot.
For my own budget, I'm estimating the trip will cost me about $2200 total.

[jeff55v]

I would be there, However, USTS Florida race is the same time. I will race there if possible!

Sean, I'm sure my friends in Ecuador would enjoy hosting you. They're very gracious people and they race nearly every weekend year 'round. I myself just prefer going there for the marathon race because it's their biggest event of the year, and it gives me the most seat time for the buck.

[ram95]

The beeeeg marathon in Ecuador

Jeff,
There's no doubt in my military-mind that I would enjoy the experience. But, this year it isn't in the cards. However, I'd like to gather some more facts about doing it... I mean getting a boat down there and running it. Not that you need to answer a bunch of questions here: Like, is your boat down there already? Is there a class that a Tohatsu can run in? How many days total do you stay there?

I hesitate to ask if there are any rules after watching the videos. They don't have a helmet expiration date do they? How about height restrictions? Does everybody run solid butterfly's? Is there a risk manager on deck? Are there outside course markers? Do I have to wear a helmet if it really gets hot?

Good luck - Alex

[Peter G]

Great idea

My friend Alex P has a plane and he's even a certified pilot. Maybe we can work something out with him.

[nelson yela]

Official website of the Marathon Guayaquil-Vinces 2012 http://www.ecuadorboatracing.com
http://www.facebook.com/ecuadorboatracing
https://twitter.com/#!/Ecuaboatracing

[Ecuador Boat Racing]

Jeff. we are waiting on the best party boat race on the traditional marathon in Guayaquil-Vinces 56 edition......"LIKE" in http://www.facebook.com/ecuadorboatracing

[STEVE FRENCH]

Doc-Rick Miller,.....This has you writ'n all over it!!!!!!

[jeff55v]

Jeff,
There's no doubt in my military-mind that I would enjoy the experience. But, this year it isn't in the cards. However, I'd like to gather some more facts about doing it... I mean getting a boat down there and running it. Not that you need to answer a bunch of questions here: Like, is your boat down there already? Is there a class that a Tohatsu can run in? How many days total do you stay there?

I hesitate to ask if there are any rules after watching the videos. They don't have a helmet expiration date do they? How about height restrictions? Does everybody run solid butterfly's? Is there a risk manager on deck? Are there outside course markers? Do I have to wear a helmet if it really gets hot?

Good luck - Alex

Alex, I will answer many of your questions through Private Message.
My friends are providing two quality rigs. One for myself, and one for another guest. By rigs I mean, a boat and motor. rigged and ready to race. They will provide ample testing time. And that's why I plan to be there for the entire week preceding the big race. My friends really care about giving us Americans a fair shot at winning, and want to share the grand experience of Ecuador boat racing with us.
In exchange for this wonderful treatment, I want to do my best to help host an Ecuadorian or two up here in the U.S. for a major event.
Last summer, Josh Pearson and I hosted Ecuadorian boat racers Dr Silvio Mosquera, his wife Desiree, and son Carlos Mosquera here in the U.S. They were able to experience the Top O' Michigan marathon Nationals. I am very grateful for the help of Josh, his family, and the help of many fine members of the Top O' Michigan Outboard Racing Club. Together, we put together a great racing experience for our friends from South America.

[ram95]

Jeff Yungen - Ambassador !!

Jeff,
That is indeed a great deal you have worked out. I will start refreshing my Espanole and etiquette. Hosting them up here is a great idea as well.

I'm going to be running for President shortly once all the Republican bozos blow themselves in the foot one last time... and I'll be nominating YOU for our Ambassador to Ecuador... get ready to enjoy the 'good life' of a taxpaid diplomat in a land where manana (mah yah nah) means 'more-fun-tomorrow' !!

Alex
Please mail campain (yeh I spellt it right) donations to: Mad Russian for President, Richmond Maine.