1988 KRR Champion: Mr. Nordling

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Just cant say too much about this man, if you are tired of hearing about him, you could be jealous, in my opinion. Here are some scanned photos to enjoy and documents SLIGHTLY some of his rides: 1988 KRR champ drove three K boats that I recall, here is the Hondo.?

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Remember George was a Nam Veteran with serious

disabilities, he could not walk. Here he climbs back into a boat after a 13 year boat racing lay off when he campaigned a Winston West stock car. Banks Lake 2002:

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Then came

his borrowed ride, a lightweight Bezer owned by Boat Guy 222.

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Try again

George's Bezer outside row, I'm next to him in SS83 LaveyCraft, and inside, his former 1987 Pro Comp and Super Stock record holding Lavey Craft 'Sweet Caroline' now driven by the Muffler Guy #50 that would flip in this 2003 Moses Lake event. I cant remember who had the pole that is making that parade lap wake, maybe someone here does....is that a Davis boat?

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Next is.....

possibly another heat of the A-class fast boats for this race, now only 3 boats left and seconds later, #50 flipped in front of me while George drove off into the horizon, way ahead in the lead. Mark was OK but had some frightening moments while his full face helmet would not drain! Sweet Caroline was fine after drying out some. He simply caught a chine while trying to catch the light weight Bezer.

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Next year

2004 saw George in another boat after his partner sold the Bezer to a Californian. He now is back after 16 years in his favorite boat, another LaveyCraft SS76 named 'One More Time Around'. this boat was a heavy layup and reportedly was distined to be a K boat but George installed 427 carbureted horsepower, or was it a 496?? The legal size for Nostalgia that year was 500 cubes.

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Incredible!

describes this race at Scootney Reservoir near Othello. The SS34 driven by Justin put on a fantastic display of great driving and matched performance. Four heats saw these combatants running side by side even after trading lanes twice. Justin, the only driver I know of to beat George in two different boats won this 'George Nordling Regatta'! The only time I know of that honored or payed tribute to this Champion.
My question for AOF or SLORA, is why? Truly a Legend and multiple APBA Hall of Famer! His most recent 2009 driver did win AOF Hall of Fame by points this year in his two remaining race boats, but I think we have left out the recognition George deserves.

This was "Blanket Racing" personified!

Later, that year in 2004 Moses Lake race saw Mr. Nordling thrown out of this boat and into retirement! The winner of that race reset and currently holds the course record, Kip Brown.

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Well

anyone else have some memories of him. Did you see him drive? I have some video of him in Tri Cities, driving 'Hyperlube' K200, but cant get video to post. Anyone?

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Or

anyone have a testimonial! Thanks for your mentoring (shared wisdom), safety inspecting, friendship, and supporting Nostalgia over these last 8 years! It couldnt be INexpensive to field 3 boats at one time!

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Just cant say too much about this man, if you are tired of hearing about him, you could be jealous, in my opinion. Here are some scanned photos to enjoy and documents SLIGHTLY some of his rides: 1988 KRR champ drove three K boats that I recall, here is the Hondo.?

Anyone know why the injector is one backwards? Notice water conditions? Think you can do this well? Ever see a Hondo win at KRRs?

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Lets go back a few years

1978 Haystack Reservoir Drag AND Circle races:

What you are viewing is a 2005 shot of Ione where George is munching with his good friends and another boat, a Barron Sprint of Mark Halvorson, that he helped return to the races. This boat was driven to a Nostalgia Championship by Ron from Oregon. Mark now owns a Beisemeyer formerly the 'Carribean Queen' that he is restoring. This red white a blue boat crashed at Moses Lake in a wild turn 3 flip. This Barron by Hallet Boats also flipped in its first race at Haystack and they are know for being a little tricky to turn but haul the mail in the chutes.

Here's Haystack:

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Haystack

The race this Barron crashed at and George went swimming.

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In the picture

The boat that is burning was Georges 'Still Yur Taxes' which was his third Lavey, I think. First came, 'Your Taxes' then 'Your Taxes Too' then this wrecked one. The story goes that George set the SS record that weekend and then borrowed Tim Clavarias SK (limited cubes but unlimited speed stuff) that had Weber Carburetion. Overnight Tims engine was installed in an attempt to also set the SK record, however a fuel line connection failed or was left loose and the resulting fire could not be extinguished.
The rescue team finally hooked onto the inferno and dragged it backwards, sinking the LaveyCraft and putting out the fire. Unfortunately, the tow boat was Georges loaned out 22 foot LaveyCraft and the driver backed up into the rocks while towing the burning race boat! TWO DAMAGED BOATS, George hauled home to Portland July 1978!

Now, the search was on for a replacement to keep his 1978 SS points battle alive! Jack Kileys 'Sweet Caroline' 1976 Lavey was purchased and all the scorched hardware from this boat went into the boat named after Caroline Kennedy or the song by Neil Diamond or both.

Then 1979 concluded with new SK National Champion which also won National Champion in PRO COMP now called pro-stock. And this boat still holds that record of 104.6 average!


Which is now: #50
I think George wishes he had never sold the Black girl but at that time there was no Nostalgia racing. The new owner, Julio, ski raced every New Year in his home town with a BLOWN chevy.

George stated that Jack did not let him test drive her after flying to an East Coast race but he knew it wasnt a pig in a poke since he was a boat dealer for Al Lavey! Nordling Marine of Portland Oregon sold many L-boats built at Peco Boat Works.

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Just found Georges Wifes' notes

of his boat racing career:

1973 started pulling ski racers while in a wheel chair
1974 Super Stock racing in a Hallet and Lavey Craft
1977 Super Stock National Champion & Hall of Fame APBA
1979 SK (under 400 cubes) National Champion winning
Western Divisionals and Eastern Divisionals
1979 Hall of Fame APBA
1981 Pro Comp National Champion APBA plus 2 World records
1982-86 Retired
1987 K-boat ESPN-NICs Series won 3 of 4
1987 KRR National Champion
1988 KRR National and World Champion
1989 Retired
1993 started stock car racing
1998 Raced Nascar Winston West
2002 Returned to boat racing under 'Outlaw Nostalgic Circle Boats' at Banks Lake Washington
2003 Nostalgic Fast Class Champion
2004 Nostalgia Top Ten finisher
2005 Retired as driver but now owns 3 race boats, Lavey Craft of course!
2009 Nostalgia 468 Champions boat owner
2009 Nostalgia SK champions boat owner
2010 ?

Quite a resume, you think?

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Epidemic,,,,,read close this Haystack news:

Still Your Taxes, before the fire: Quote Race Boat and industry News July 1978:
Nordling would need some luck and extrodinary driving skill to hope for a win against the more poserful KRR drivers with his smaller, unblown, gasoline powered SK racer. He was going for their $800 purse with his being the 3rd boat necessary.
Ralph Cuppoletti of Portland worked all weekend trying to fire a just out of the box 'REVENGE' from Jimmys Marine. Ed Talbot in 'Freedome' lost oil pressure and Jim King, in his turbo charged K60 also broke down. So it was that Ron O Brien in 'Dark Side of the Moon and Tom Swanson in K-8 (THE OLD EPIDEMIC FORMERLY OWNED BY BOB GOETTLE) in the final with 'Still Yur Taxes" an SK!
Twenty seconds prior to the start gun, the two remaining Ks cruised through the center and headed deliberately into what would be their final approach.

Calculating the time that would be required to blast across the start line up on the prop and riding free, George and Still Your Taxes followed the powerful supercharged alcohol burners just to the side of their wakes hoping for a chance to slingshot past the bigger boats. Nordling would need some luck and extrodinary driving skill to hope for a win and the KRRs purse. As they wheeled side by side with George at the advantage, he suddenly slowed coasting to a stop and we wondered if he would miss the start. Suddenly, Nordling jumped up from his seat, scrambling for the gunnels and bailed out! A closer inspection revealed heat waves and a touch of smoke. Our radio operator, Ralph de Vito cracked the button of is CB telling those on shore and the patrol boats, "Fire'!