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At exactly what point does your "rookie" status end? After a year? After a full season? After ten heats/races/ etc?
Maybe rookie status would be effectively terminated after just one heat win. One of the unique things about Stock outboard racing is the flying start. Even if you are dead slow- in your first race- if everyone else jumps all you need to do is finish and you are a winner. I love this concept- even though I have never benefitted from it.
Anyway let us just say that in a few days my 2017 APBA Racing membership card #15527 is set to expire; ending my rookie status- in my mind anyway.
My sincere congratulations to all who earned "Rookie of the Year" awards in their various clubs- I'd love to hear their stories.
My struggles over the course of my 2017 season are well documented on here ("The Season so far" post); at one point I was ready to quit.
Thankfully, God sent me an angel in the form of Frank Novotny- who turned my thinking around and got me pointed back toward the first turn pin. In all honesty, it was the poem he posted on "The season so far" that actually got me bawling and more determined than ever to try & win JUST ONE BOAT RACE- JUST ONE TIME. I do not know the name of the poem or author but it will be printed and varnished onto the inside wall of my trailer door.
There were several others that contacted my privately who had a very positive effect on my thinking/attitude/plan for the future- you guys know who you are and please know that I will never forget how you were there for me when I needed you most. Everyone loves a winner. It takes a very special person to love a loser. God will surely bless your hearts.
I'm very happy to report that my Runnecraft is back in the amazing hands of John Runne for some minor repair, a new Mychron 5 is on it's merry way here from Todd Anderson, and my long suffering Y80 is being shipped to Jerry Davids for whatever miracle he can come up with. Tom Cronk has my Y80 foot that failed at Millville and there is a check made out to the APBA for renewal of Racing Membership #15527.
I am seriously considering buying a sealed 321 & running 300ssh; I already sold a gorgeous 55H to finance this. I easily could have eliminated 3/4 of my problems this year if I had ran 300 to begin with.
I would like to dedicate this to all the guys/gals out there reading this that are contemplating giving boat racing a try. Here are a few unsolicited truths that hopefully will lead you to a successful Rookie season:
!. Get the money ready.
2.Get a few helpers that are committed to being there all weekend and various times throughout the week.
3.Do not expect it to be easy. Driving a race boat around a turn at speed is a lot harder than it looks.
4. Stuff will break. Get used to it. See #1.
5.MAKE A LIST and TAKE NOTES
6. Don't turn right too hard unless you like swimming
7.Turn the gas petcock on when you get to the race & LEAVE IT ON ALL WEEKEND
8 DO NOT jump into the more competitive classes right away i.e. 20ssh/CSH
9. Don't be bashful/embarrassed about asking for help. This is what I struggled with the most.
10. Never forget this is supposed to be FUN- & it usually is. But at times you will wonder about this...
Many thanks again to all who had faith in me and I will never forget you
George & moxie
522-P
Maybe rookie status would be effectively terminated after just one heat win. One of the unique things about Stock outboard racing is the flying start. Even if you are dead slow- in your first race- if everyone else jumps all you need to do is finish and you are a winner. I love this concept- even though I have never benefitted from it.
Anyway let us just say that in a few days my 2017 APBA Racing membership card #15527 is set to expire; ending my rookie status- in my mind anyway.
My sincere congratulations to all who earned "Rookie of the Year" awards in their various clubs- I'd love to hear their stories.
My struggles over the course of my 2017 season are well documented on here ("The Season so far" post); at one point I was ready to quit.
Thankfully, God sent me an angel in the form of Frank Novotny- who turned my thinking around and got me pointed back toward the first turn pin. In all honesty, it was the poem he posted on "The season so far" that actually got me bawling and more determined than ever to try & win JUST ONE BOAT RACE- JUST ONE TIME. I do not know the name of the poem or author but it will be printed and varnished onto the inside wall of my trailer door.
There were several others that contacted my privately who had a very positive effect on my thinking/attitude/plan for the future- you guys know who you are and please know that I will never forget how you were there for me when I needed you most. Everyone loves a winner. It takes a very special person to love a loser. God will surely bless your hearts.
I'm very happy to report that my Runnecraft is back in the amazing hands of John Runne for some minor repair, a new Mychron 5 is on it's merry way here from Todd Anderson, and my long suffering Y80 is being shipped to Jerry Davids for whatever miracle he can come up with. Tom Cronk has my Y80 foot that failed at Millville and there is a check made out to the APBA for renewal of Racing Membership #15527.
I am seriously considering buying a sealed 321 & running 300ssh; I already sold a gorgeous 55H to finance this. I easily could have eliminated 3/4 of my problems this year if I had ran 300 to begin with.
I would like to dedicate this to all the guys/gals out there reading this that are contemplating giving boat racing a try. Here are a few unsolicited truths that hopefully will lead you to a successful Rookie season:
!. Get the money ready.
2.Get a few helpers that are committed to being there all weekend and various times throughout the week.
3.Do not expect it to be easy. Driving a race boat around a turn at speed is a lot harder than it looks.
4. Stuff will break. Get used to it. See #1.
5.MAKE A LIST and TAKE NOTES
6. Don't turn right too hard unless you like swimming
7.Turn the gas petcock on when you get to the race & LEAVE IT ON ALL WEEKEND
8 DO NOT jump into the more competitive classes right away i.e. 20ssh/CSH
9. Don't be bashful/embarrassed about asking for help. This is what I struggled with the most.
10. Never forget this is supposed to be FUN- & it usually is. But at times you will wonder about this...
Many thanks again to all who had faith in me and I will never forget you
George & moxie
522-P
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