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Getting his motor running
18-year-old overcomes mechanical problem, wins fourth title at DePue
Monday, August 1, 2005
BY DON BAKER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
DePUE - As Brandon Thirlby crossed the finish line Sunday to win the second heat of the 1100cc Hydro Class at Lake DePue, the bottom unit of his motor fell into the lake.
Prior to this weekend, the 18-year-old from Traverse City, Mich., never had won a national title. He was in a position to win his fourth, the second of the day, in the American Power Boat Association three-day event when he developed the motor problems.
His pit crew quickly put on a spare motor. After some early problems with getting it to run properly, Thirlby went on to win that event to go along with his titles in the 125cc Hydro, the 700cc Hydro and the 500cc Hydro.
No one Thirlby's age ever has won four titles in the three-day nationals. He has been racing since he was 9 years old, however, and has plenty of family racing background. His grandfather Edwin and father, Ed, competed successfully in the nationals.
"I had not had any trouble with the motor at all," Thirlby said, "but it couldn't have been a more perfect time for me to lose it. It's in the bottom of the lake somewhere. The replacement motor wasn't as good, but it was good enough.
"We hadn't run it for a while, so it needed a bunch of stuff in it to be burned off. I was definitely concerned, but I got it going. It was definitely a team effort with my pit crew. It's an amazing pit crew. They told me to sit down and get some water."
Thirlby had no expectations of winning any national titles and thought if he did, his best chance would be in 250cc Runabout. He finished 10th in that event. He didn't finish in the first heat, was seventh in the second heat and jumped the gun in the third heat.
Thirlby won the 125cc Hydro earlier in the day.
"My capsule boat I run the 500, 700 and 1100 in is the Cadillac out there," Thirlby said. "It's the best boat on the water. You see me going into the turns and everyone else is all over the place.
"My strategy has been for me has been to just make the start and not jump the gun, finish all three heats and be consistent. I think it's just instinct knowing when to start without being disqualified. It's not something you can learn."
Other winners Sunday included Tim Small in the O-175, Terry Klemm and Derek Gelsler in 1100cc Runabout, Rich Krier in 350cc Runabout and Denny Henderson in the 250cc Hydro.
Krier was the only defending champion to repeat Sunday. It was Henderson's birthday. Krier won his first heat and finished third in his other two heats.
"Last year I had to rely on some luck when I won my title," Krier said. "This year my boat was running faster. After I won my first heat, I knew where I was point-wise and knew I just needed a third in the final heat to win and raced accordingly. I made some motor changes since last year."
Klemm and Gelsler won the 1100cc Runabout title two years ago but lost to Steve Hoot and Troy Christie last year. Hoot and Christie's boat wouldn't start in the first heat. They jumped the gun in the second heat and won the third heat for a sixth-place finish. Klemm and Gelsler finished fourth in the first heat, won the second and finished second in the third.
"We spun out a little bit in the first heat that cost us," Gelsler said.
Thirlby knows he will be a target next year.
"Coming back next year to defend four national titles will put some pressure on me, but I'm not going to let it bother me," he said.
Getting his motor running
18-year-old overcomes mechanical problem, wins fourth title at DePue
Monday, August 1, 2005
BY DON BAKER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
DePUE - As Brandon Thirlby crossed the finish line Sunday to win the second heat of the 1100cc Hydro Class at Lake DePue, the bottom unit of his motor fell into the lake.
Prior to this weekend, the 18-year-old from Traverse City, Mich., never had won a national title. He was in a position to win his fourth, the second of the day, in the American Power Boat Association three-day event when he developed the motor problems.
His pit crew quickly put on a spare motor. After some early problems with getting it to run properly, Thirlby went on to win that event to go along with his titles in the 125cc Hydro, the 700cc Hydro and the 500cc Hydro.
No one Thirlby's age ever has won four titles in the three-day nationals. He has been racing since he was 9 years old, however, and has plenty of family racing background. His grandfather Edwin and father, Ed, competed successfully in the nationals.
"I had not had any trouble with the motor at all," Thirlby said, "but it couldn't have been a more perfect time for me to lose it. It's in the bottom of the lake somewhere. The replacement motor wasn't as good, but it was good enough.
"We hadn't run it for a while, so it needed a bunch of stuff in it to be burned off. I was definitely concerned, but I got it going. It was definitely a team effort with my pit crew. It's an amazing pit crew. They told me to sit down and get some water."
Thirlby had no expectations of winning any national titles and thought if he did, his best chance would be in 250cc Runabout. He finished 10th in that event. He didn't finish in the first heat, was seventh in the second heat and jumped the gun in the third heat.
Thirlby won the 125cc Hydro earlier in the day.
"My capsule boat I run the 500, 700 and 1100 in is the Cadillac out there," Thirlby said. "It's the best boat on the water. You see me going into the turns and everyone else is all over the place.
"My strategy has been for me has been to just make the start and not jump the gun, finish all three heats and be consistent. I think it's just instinct knowing when to start without being disqualified. It's not something you can learn."
Other winners Sunday included Tim Small in the O-175, Terry Klemm and Derek Gelsler in 1100cc Runabout, Rich Krier in 350cc Runabout and Denny Henderson in the 250cc Hydro.
Krier was the only defending champion to repeat Sunday. It was Henderson's birthday. Krier won his first heat and finished third in his other two heats.
"Last year I had to rely on some luck when I won my title," Krier said. "This year my boat was running faster. After I won my first heat, I knew where I was point-wise and knew I just needed a third in the final heat to win and raced accordingly. I made some motor changes since last year."
Klemm and Gelsler won the 1100cc Runabout title two years ago but lost to Steve Hoot and Troy Christie last year. Hoot and Christie's boat wouldn't start in the first heat. They jumped the gun in the second heat and won the third heat for a sixth-place finish. Klemm and Gelsler finished fourth in the first heat, won the second and finished second in the third.
"We spun out a little bit in the first heat that cost us," Gelsler said.
Thirlby knows he will be a target next year.
"Coming back next year to defend four national titles will put some pressure on me, but I'm not going to let it bother me," he said.