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Friday started on a very sad note. In the first heat of Sprint 500 hydro, Nic Davis from IL spun and the boat behind him had no place to go but over him. Unfortunately, even with all the effort put forth @ the race site, Nic did not make it. Our thoughts and prayers all with Nick's family.
When racing resumed, the overall winner of Sprint 500 was Ben Thompson out of Florida w/ Mark Yoder in second. Both chose to donate their prize money to the Davis family.
175 Hydro was a great battle. Tim Small looked to be the dominate player, but while leading the first heat had his pipe fell off...but Tim finished the heat for a 5th place finish. It would turn out that that 5th place, along w/ two more firsts would win him the title. Curt Helsten was 2nd and Kugler 3rd.
125 Runabout was again a battle with hometown favorite Paulie Bosnick winning the first heat w/ a commanding lead and Brian Payne in 2nd. 2nd heat went to Buddy Tennell with Brian once again in 2nd. The 3rd heat had a slew of jumpers and though on the water Paulie once again had a great showing, when the jumpers were sorted out, there were only 2 legal boats...Brian Payne and Buddy Tennell. Brian proved that consistency is important and is the new national champion.
K PRO proved a challenge to get through even one heat! The first heat took 3 tries to finally get run. On the first try a boat flipped milling, then on the 2nd try, in the first turn one boat failed to turn going into the first turn and the boat on the outside did a little Marine World jump off the bow. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the heat had to be stopped. On the 3rd try the first on many battles started between Amy Nydhal and Amy Eldridge - two very attractive and competitive young women! The second head had another boat go over and, again, a restart. The kids were starting to get anxious and there were quite a few gun jumpers, including the "on the water" winners of Joel Brown (defending champion), 2nd place Amy Nydhal, and 3rd place Wendy Eldridge. 3rd heat started w/ a battle between Joel and Wendy, but Joel hooked and ended up in the infield. When all the spray had cleared the new National Champion was Amy Eldridge.
Antique C Racing Hydro had Zach Malhiot showing a commanding lead in the first heat, but not being able to finish the 2nd heat. George Thornhill showed great consistency with a 2nd and 2 firsts and earned the title w/ H-99 in second and Zach Malhiot 3rd overall.
C Service Runabout was a battle each heat. Zach Malhiot once again proved a dominating force with 2 firsts and a 3rd - his major competition was E-8, but unfortunately he was found to be too high @ inspection after the first heat, knocking out one of his 3 3rds. George Thornhill was once again in the hunt w/ a first place finish in the 2rd heat, and Allen Sutfin worked his way through the pack on the 2nd and 3rd heats showing some good speed and great driving. When the engine noise finally died, Zach Malhiot was the new National Champion.
Because of the events of the day and the delayed program it was decided to run 500 Hydro Friday afternoon/evening, but to postpone OSY400 until first thing Sat. morning.
500 Hydro had some of the favorites with problems...Brandon Thirlby in his brand new boat had motor gremlins 2 of the 3 heats and Jaime Nilsen - driving for Howard Andersen - probably had to clean his shorts after a near spin-out in turn one. On the water it looked like Sean McKean was the winner with 2 firsts and a second to Hall's 1st and 2 seconds, but Sean jumped 2 of the 3 heats. Then it appeared that Hall was the winner, but a turn judge made a call that Hall had gone outside one of the outter course markers in the third heat. At the end of the day, they were still sorting out the points and the National Champion had not been announced.
On a non-race note...the Reverend Master Tech (aka Dwight Malhiot)performed the "official" boat racing matrimonial ceremonies for Stacy (Sutfin) and Drew Jeppesen who were "unofficially" married in June up in Lake Tahoe. The ceremony was attended by everyone @ the driver's BBQ on Wednesday night! Many had never seen or heard the "official" rites of marital passage as explained by the Reverend Master Tech before...the tears flowed - from laughter!!!
Teri Ziemer
When racing resumed, the overall winner of Sprint 500 was Ben Thompson out of Florida w/ Mark Yoder in second. Both chose to donate their prize money to the Davis family.
175 Hydro was a great battle. Tim Small looked to be the dominate player, but while leading the first heat had his pipe fell off...but Tim finished the heat for a 5th place finish. It would turn out that that 5th place, along w/ two more firsts would win him the title. Curt Helsten was 2nd and Kugler 3rd.
125 Runabout was again a battle with hometown favorite Paulie Bosnick winning the first heat w/ a commanding lead and Brian Payne in 2nd. 2nd heat went to Buddy Tennell with Brian once again in 2nd. The 3rd heat had a slew of jumpers and though on the water Paulie once again had a great showing, when the jumpers were sorted out, there were only 2 legal boats...Brian Payne and Buddy Tennell. Brian proved that consistency is important and is the new national champion.
K PRO proved a challenge to get through even one heat! The first heat took 3 tries to finally get run. On the first try a boat flipped milling, then on the 2nd try, in the first turn one boat failed to turn going into the first turn and the boat on the outside did a little Marine World jump off the bow. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the heat had to be stopped. On the 3rd try the first on many battles started between Amy Nydhal and Amy Eldridge - two very attractive and competitive young women! The second head had another boat go over and, again, a restart. The kids were starting to get anxious and there were quite a few gun jumpers, including the "on the water" winners of Joel Brown (defending champion), 2nd place Amy Nydhal, and 3rd place Wendy Eldridge. 3rd heat started w/ a battle between Joel and Wendy, but Joel hooked and ended up in the infield. When all the spray had cleared the new National Champion was Amy Eldridge.
Antique C Racing Hydro had Zach Malhiot showing a commanding lead in the first heat, but not being able to finish the 2nd heat. George Thornhill showed great consistency with a 2nd and 2 firsts and earned the title w/ H-99 in second and Zach Malhiot 3rd overall.
C Service Runabout was a battle each heat. Zach Malhiot once again proved a dominating force with 2 firsts and a 3rd - his major competition was E-8, but unfortunately he was found to be too high @ inspection after the first heat, knocking out one of his 3 3rds. George Thornhill was once again in the hunt w/ a first place finish in the 2rd heat, and Allen Sutfin worked his way through the pack on the 2nd and 3rd heats showing some good speed and great driving. When the engine noise finally died, Zach Malhiot was the new National Champion.
Because of the events of the day and the delayed program it was decided to run 500 Hydro Friday afternoon/evening, but to postpone OSY400 until first thing Sat. morning.
500 Hydro had some of the favorites with problems...Brandon Thirlby in his brand new boat had motor gremlins 2 of the 3 heats and Jaime Nilsen - driving for Howard Andersen - probably had to clean his shorts after a near spin-out in turn one. On the water it looked like Sean McKean was the winner with 2 firsts and a second to Hall's 1st and 2 seconds, but Sean jumped 2 of the 3 heats. Then it appeared that Hall was the winner, but a turn judge made a call that Hall had gone outside one of the outter course markers in the third heat. At the end of the day, they were still sorting out the points and the National Champion had not been announced.
On a non-race note...the Reverend Master Tech (aka Dwight Malhiot)performed the "official" boat racing matrimonial ceremonies for Stacy (Sutfin) and Drew Jeppesen who were "unofficially" married in June up in Lake Tahoe. The ceremony was attended by everyone @ the driver's BBQ on Wednesday night! Many had never seen or heard the "official" rites of marital passage as explained by the Reverend Master Tech before...the tears flowed - from laughter!!!
Teri Ziemer