Tweet
The weather back here is beyond miserable...yes, I know it was 115 in CA last week, but imagine 95 degrees w/ equal humidity (no rain, no clouds) for a "heat index" of over 100! YUCK!!
Saturday started w/ the running of OSY. With over 12 boats there were heats 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and the final. Jaime Nilsen and Billy Allen won heats 1a & 1b respectively, with CA boys Tony & Troy in the hunt. 2a & 2b were not quite so lucritive for the West Coast Boys...Jonathan Nilsen, Tony Lombardo, and Troy Christie jumped the guy and Jaime Nilsen dumped in turn 2 while leading the pack, leaving Billy Allen and Joe Pater w/ the 2 wins. The shining "Nationals Rookie" star was Kristy Seidler...she was consistent in both of her first two heats...even while wearing the "helmet cam" for the Water Channel who is filming the race. In the final heat Jamie Nilsen (in Jonathan's boat) didn't make it off the beach and Troy jumped the gun. Joe Pater won w/ Rick Miller second, and Billy Allen 3rd. The final results had Joe Pater the new National Champion, Billy Allen in 2nd, and Rick Miller 3rd.
From yesterday in 500cc Hydro...after all the gun jumpers, course violations, etc. the overall winner was still Doug Hall.
The first 3 heats of the 175 World Championships were all dominated by Buddy Tennell. The worlds are done a bit differently using a lemans start. The final heat will be run on Sunday to determine the champion.
250cc Runabout was a destruction derby in the first heat w/ one boat heading for the wrong bouy in the first turn and causing a major pile up behind him. Mike Krier spun right to avoid going over the top of Chris Helsten. The two "hip checked" ejecting Mike @ a pretty rapid rate. Mike was taken to the hospital for a quick check over (nothing broken, just a very fashionable neck collar), and Chris was fine...Chris' boat didn't fair quite so well...
Joe Johnson had major problems and burnt a piston in the 1st heat and then again while in the lead in the 2nd heat. The dominating players were Brandon Thirlby, J.P. Jedwabny, and Brian Payne...and that is exacting how the final results played out, with Brandon capturing his first runabout National Championship.
C Racing Runabout was almost uneventful with George Thornhill dominating all 3 heats. The overall finish was a Region 10 sweep w/ George Thornhill 1st, Jim Nilsen 2nd, and Zach Malhiot in the third spot.
350cc Hydro started with David Mitchell winning heats one and two w/ Zach Malhiot a close second and Mark Stahl a consistent 3rd. Unfortunately for Mitchell, he went down in the 3rd heat paving the way for Zach to win yet another National Title w/ Mitchell in the second spot, Mark Stahl 3rd, and Jeff Kugler in 4th.
Jumping out of the 350 and into the C Service Hydro...Zach had some serious positive karma going! As the defending National Champion, Zach went out and won all 3 heats hands down for his THIRD National Title in 2 days. Dad, Dwight, was grinning from ear to ear each time Zach came in! I think he may have been more excited than Zach!
500cc Runabout showed local Tony Walk driving Steve Litzell's F-109 as the "guy to beat" in heat one, unfortunately, there was only 1 legal starter after the tape was reviewed. The second heat had Tony back in the lead. The "motor gremlins" were seriously at work in heat two, striking Paul Fuchslin, Mike Thirlby, and R.C. Howie. Heat 3 had Paul proving he still had "it" w/ a commanding win, G-55 2nd, and N-66 Pete Voss (68 years old!)in 3rd, Derek Gesler jumping the gun, and Tony Walk hanging back and gathering points. The final points mix crowned Tony Walk the new National Champion, and Paul Fuchslin in the second spot.
700cc Hydro was a mix of boats and points w/ a bunch of jumpers in the first heat, commanding 1st place finishs by Doug Hall in heats 2 & 3, an impressive display of driving by Jamie Nilsen in heat 3 to finish in 2nd, and a "situation" with Brandon Thirlby and another driver that left Brandon stuck in the 1st turn missing his rear cowling. When the spray had cleared, Doug Hall was crowned champion w/ Brandon Thirlby in the 2nd spot and David Hooten 3rd.
Another change from yesterday...after some "issues" at inspection in C Service Runabout on Friday, Allen Sutfin moved up to a 3rd place overall finish! Congratulations!!
Sunday is going to be a tough day for the CA group. Allen, Joe, and Paul are all running 350cc Runabout which is back to back w/ 1100cc Runabout for Joe & Paul. Tony Lombardo is riding deck for Jaime Nilsen in Howard Andersen's R-12, Troy Christie is riding for Dwight Malhiot, and of course...the Duck and Derek!
The weather is also supposed to get even hotter w/ a "heat index" (I have learned to hate that phrase!) of 105 to 110. The word miserable is way to weak to describe the heat back here!!
Teri Ziemer
Saturday started w/ the running of OSY. With over 12 boats there were heats 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and the final. Jaime Nilsen and Billy Allen won heats 1a & 1b respectively, with CA boys Tony & Troy in the hunt. 2a & 2b were not quite so lucritive for the West Coast Boys...Jonathan Nilsen, Tony Lombardo, and Troy Christie jumped the guy and Jaime Nilsen dumped in turn 2 while leading the pack, leaving Billy Allen and Joe Pater w/ the 2 wins. The shining "Nationals Rookie" star was Kristy Seidler...she was consistent in both of her first two heats...even while wearing the "helmet cam" for the Water Channel who is filming the race. In the final heat Jamie Nilsen (in Jonathan's boat) didn't make it off the beach and Troy jumped the gun. Joe Pater won w/ Rick Miller second, and Billy Allen 3rd. The final results had Joe Pater the new National Champion, Billy Allen in 2nd, and Rick Miller 3rd.
From yesterday in 500cc Hydro...after all the gun jumpers, course violations, etc. the overall winner was still Doug Hall.
The first 3 heats of the 175 World Championships were all dominated by Buddy Tennell. The worlds are done a bit differently using a lemans start. The final heat will be run on Sunday to determine the champion.
250cc Runabout was a destruction derby in the first heat w/ one boat heading for the wrong bouy in the first turn and causing a major pile up behind him. Mike Krier spun right to avoid going over the top of Chris Helsten. The two "hip checked" ejecting Mike @ a pretty rapid rate. Mike was taken to the hospital for a quick check over (nothing broken, just a very fashionable neck collar), and Chris was fine...Chris' boat didn't fair quite so well...
Joe Johnson had major problems and burnt a piston in the 1st heat and then again while in the lead in the 2nd heat. The dominating players were Brandon Thirlby, J.P. Jedwabny, and Brian Payne...and that is exacting how the final results played out, with Brandon capturing his first runabout National Championship.
C Racing Runabout was almost uneventful with George Thornhill dominating all 3 heats. The overall finish was a Region 10 sweep w/ George Thornhill 1st, Jim Nilsen 2nd, and Zach Malhiot in the third spot.
350cc Hydro started with David Mitchell winning heats one and two w/ Zach Malhiot a close second and Mark Stahl a consistent 3rd. Unfortunately for Mitchell, he went down in the 3rd heat paving the way for Zach to win yet another National Title w/ Mitchell in the second spot, Mark Stahl 3rd, and Jeff Kugler in 4th.
Jumping out of the 350 and into the C Service Hydro...Zach had some serious positive karma going! As the defending National Champion, Zach went out and won all 3 heats hands down for his THIRD National Title in 2 days. Dad, Dwight, was grinning from ear to ear each time Zach came in! I think he may have been more excited than Zach!
500cc Runabout showed local Tony Walk driving Steve Litzell's F-109 as the "guy to beat" in heat one, unfortunately, there was only 1 legal starter after the tape was reviewed. The second heat had Tony back in the lead. The "motor gremlins" were seriously at work in heat two, striking Paul Fuchslin, Mike Thirlby, and R.C. Howie. Heat 3 had Paul proving he still had "it" w/ a commanding win, G-55 2nd, and N-66 Pete Voss (68 years old!)in 3rd, Derek Gesler jumping the gun, and Tony Walk hanging back and gathering points. The final points mix crowned Tony Walk the new National Champion, and Paul Fuchslin in the second spot.
700cc Hydro was a mix of boats and points w/ a bunch of jumpers in the first heat, commanding 1st place finishs by Doug Hall in heats 2 & 3, an impressive display of driving by Jamie Nilsen in heat 3 to finish in 2nd, and a "situation" with Brandon Thirlby and another driver that left Brandon stuck in the 1st turn missing his rear cowling. When the spray had cleared, Doug Hall was crowned champion w/ Brandon Thirlby in the 2nd spot and David Hooten 3rd.
Another change from yesterday...after some "issues" at inspection in C Service Runabout on Friday, Allen Sutfin moved up to a 3rd place overall finish! Congratulations!!
Sunday is going to be a tough day for the CA group. Allen, Joe, and Paul are all running 350cc Runabout which is back to back w/ 1100cc Runabout for Joe & Paul. Tony Lombardo is riding deck for Jaime Nilsen in Howard Andersen's R-12, Troy Christie is riding for Dwight Malhiot, and of course...the Duck and Derek!
The weather is also supposed to get even hotter w/ a "heat index" (I have learned to hate that phrase!) of 105 to 110. The word miserable is way to weak to describe the heat back here!!
Teri Ziemer
Comment