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Walk on water, and on wild side
From the Peoria Journal Star
By Lonnie Schwindenhammer
Hometown favorite wins APBA 500 Runabout class on Lake DePue
Sunday, July 30, 2006
BY LONNIE SCHWINDENHAMMER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
DePUE - Having grown up here, Tony Walk has taken a few dips in Lake DePue over the years. He was thrown in Saturday, part of the celebration following his victory in the 500 Runabout class in the American Power Boat Association Pro national championships.
Walk drew plenty of cheers from fans who lined the shore as he cruised to victory in the first two heat races.
"This motor has a ton of power and it does great in clean water," Walk said. "I got good starts in both races."
Walk won his first national title - places are determined by ***ulative points earned in all three heats - by finishing sixth in the third heat.
"I knew I just needed to finish to win," Walk said.
Paul Fuchslin of Dixon, Calif., won the third heat and finished second overall.
Walk, 32, a graduate of Hall High School in Spring Valley, lives in DePue with wife Katy. He works as a union boilermaker and has been racing boats off and on since he was 13. His father, Rod, won the 250 Runabout national championship in 1976.
TWO OUT OF THREE: Eventually, Doug Hall was named champion in the 500 Hydro class, which competed Friday. Saturday, he made it a double with an improbable win the final heat of the 700 Hydro class that earned him his second title in two days.
In both events, Hall failed to finish in one of the three heats.
"You usually can't take a zero in one of the heat races and still hope to win," Hall said. "To win that way twice in two days is almost unbelievable."
Hall won the second heat in 700 but came into the final race chasing Brandon Thirlby.
Hall got out to a quick lead, and Thirlby's day ended when the cover blew off his motor.
WATER BOY: Thirlby had a good day despite letting the title in 700 Hydro slip away.
The 19-year old from Traverse City, Mich., claimed two first places and a third to successfully defend his title in 250 Runabout.
"I've been coming to boat races since I was in my mom's stomach," he said.
THREE-TIME CHAMP: Zach Malhiot won all three heats to win the C Service Hydro title for the third consecutive year.
He had two seconds and a first to also win the 350 Hydro title.
David Mitchell won the first two 350 heats but turned over his boat early in the race.
"I had no idea (Mitchell didn't finish) until the race was over," the 21-year old Malhiot said.
BOAT NOTES: The OSY 400 title was won by Joe Pater, from St. Joseph, Mich. The C Runabout title went to George Thornhill, a 66-year-old retired fireman from Tacoma, Wash. ... Mike Krier was treated at and released from a hospital following a crash in the first 250 Runabout heat. ... Ken Nicholson was taken to a hospital for suspected heat exhaustion. He passed out after a seventh-place finish overall in 700 Hydro. ... The event concludes today.
Lonnie Schwindenhammer can be reached at 686-3214 or lschwindenhammer@pjstar.com.
From the Peoria Journal Star
By Lonnie Schwindenhammer
Hometown favorite wins APBA 500 Runabout class on Lake DePue
Sunday, July 30, 2006
BY LONNIE SCHWINDENHAMMER
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
DePUE - Having grown up here, Tony Walk has taken a few dips in Lake DePue over the years. He was thrown in Saturday, part of the celebration following his victory in the 500 Runabout class in the American Power Boat Association Pro national championships.
Walk drew plenty of cheers from fans who lined the shore as he cruised to victory in the first two heat races.
"This motor has a ton of power and it does great in clean water," Walk said. "I got good starts in both races."
Walk won his first national title - places are determined by ***ulative points earned in all three heats - by finishing sixth in the third heat.
"I knew I just needed to finish to win," Walk said.
Paul Fuchslin of Dixon, Calif., won the third heat and finished second overall.
Walk, 32, a graduate of Hall High School in Spring Valley, lives in DePue with wife Katy. He works as a union boilermaker and has been racing boats off and on since he was 13. His father, Rod, won the 250 Runabout national championship in 1976.
TWO OUT OF THREE: Eventually, Doug Hall was named champion in the 500 Hydro class, which competed Friday. Saturday, he made it a double with an improbable win the final heat of the 700 Hydro class that earned him his second title in two days.
In both events, Hall failed to finish in one of the three heats.
"You usually can't take a zero in one of the heat races and still hope to win," Hall said. "To win that way twice in two days is almost unbelievable."
Hall won the second heat in 700 but came into the final race chasing Brandon Thirlby.
Hall got out to a quick lead, and Thirlby's day ended when the cover blew off his motor.
WATER BOY: Thirlby had a good day despite letting the title in 700 Hydro slip away.
The 19-year old from Traverse City, Mich., claimed two first places and a third to successfully defend his title in 250 Runabout.
"I've been coming to boat races since I was in my mom's stomach," he said.
THREE-TIME CHAMP: Zach Malhiot won all three heats to win the C Service Hydro title for the third consecutive year.
He had two seconds and a first to also win the 350 Hydro title.
David Mitchell won the first two 350 heats but turned over his boat early in the race.
"I had no idea (Mitchell didn't finish) until the race was over," the 21-year old Malhiot said.
BOAT NOTES: The OSY 400 title was won by Joe Pater, from St. Joseph, Mich. The C Runabout title went to George Thornhill, a 66-year-old retired fireman from Tacoma, Wash. ... Mike Krier was treated at and released from a hospital following a crash in the first 250 Runabout heat. ... Ken Nicholson was taken to a hospital for suspected heat exhaustion. He passed out after a seventh-place finish overall in 700 Hydro. ... The event concludes today.
Lonnie Schwindenhammer can be reached at 686-3214 or lschwindenhammer@pjstar.com.