2008 Speedweek

[David Weaver]

July is almost upon us and the US Title Series is preparing for its annual Speed Whek of racing. First off will be our annual event in Constantine, MI. This race is set for the dates of July 18-20th. Teams will be able to enjoy a day of testing on Friday, followed by a full weekend of racing. There will be a dinner party and awards ceremony following racing on Saturday. Each morning, the Amercian Legion Post 223 will have the best breakfast bargin in town available and will serve food/refreshments during the day. Constantine is always a great warm-up weekend before the nationals and the competition is every bit as intense.

The 2008 PRO Nationals will be held the following weekend in DePue, Ill. Both the DePue Mens Club and the USTS look forward to another fantastic championship weekend. Please be aware that there will be a $10 charge to enter for the week. These funds are used to help supplemement the cost of the race and support the prize fund. There will be a cookout on Wednesday night for race teams, drivers, officials and volunteers. Wednesday and Thursday will be sanctioned test days.

More information will be forthcoming for each event in the very near future.

[David Weaver]

Speedweek Update

I believe that both sanctions will be available at the APBA web-site within a couple of days.

I should have an update of the USTS points within a couple of days. Most classes remain hotly contested and Constantine will be a pivotal race. Winning the USTS season high points is quite an accomplishment given the parity found in most classes today.

The Nationals should be particularly interesting this year, as a number of "hot shots" from Florida, California and Washington are expected to show-up in the backyard of the USTS. It should lead to great racing!!!

[David Weaver]

Pre-Registration

Just a reminder and request. Please pre-register for the Constantine race and the PRO Nationals at the USTS web-site. Pre-registration greatly assists our scorers and makes their lives much easier.

I wanted to also remind competitors that 175 hydro and 1100cc runabout are being run at Constantine. It is so much fun to hear the big engines roar in 100cc runabout. I know that the Fuchslins will have a "big 6" running and I believe that a new 1,000cc beast may make its debut!! You got to come see it!

[David Weaver]

Constantine and New T Shirts

Just a final reminder that the USTS will battle again in Constantine, Michigan this weekend. Testing all day Friday will be followed by racing on Saturday and Sunday starting about Noon each day.

Yesterday, I got to view the new US Title Series T-Shirts. Once again, Jean Tennell has come-up with an outstanding design and finished product. I have no doubt that these will sell quickly, so get yours early at the races!

[swheeler]

If you know what the schedule will be please post it.

[David Weaver]

Schedule and Information

Saturday, July 19, 2008
04020 - 250CCR Divisional Championship
04040 - 500CCR Divisional Championship
04190 - K PRO H Divisional Championship
04200 - 125CCH Divisional Championship
04220 - 350CCH Divisional Championship
04230 - 500CCH Divisional Championship

Sunday, July 20, 2008
04010 - 125CCR Divisional Championship
04030 - 350CCR Divisional Championship
04060 - 1100CCR Divisional Championship
04210 - 250CCH Divisional Championship
04260 - 1100CCH Divisional Championship
04280 - 175CCH Divisional Championship

Friday - TESTING - All Classes. * * * Saturday - 250R, 350H, 500R - Intermission - 125H, KPH, 500H. * * * Sunday - 125R, 1100H, 175H (2 Heats)- Intermission - 250H, 350R, 1100R (2 Heats),
Format/Rules NOT approved for records. KPH: 3 laps on an approximate 3/4 mile course. All other classes: 4 laps on an approximate 3/4 mile course. TYPE OF START: Clock

[David Weaver]

Constantine Update

Good turnout of boats. It appears that most classes will have full fields and that a couple will have eliminations. I believe that there are something like 10 500 runabouts, so that will be a great show on this race course. 350 hydro should have a full field of boats also.

Friday was a hot beautiful day and testing was completed without any accidents. Look for photo's of a really "trick" 8-cylinder 1100 engine on a runabout. WILD!!!! And it runs well.

A group of K PRO's will be battlaing, perhaps as big a field as I have seen in sometime.

MOre tomorrow.

[proprider]

8 cyl

Here's a preview, ran very well in testing. 12 - 500R and 10 - 350H at the drivers meeting. Was still pouring down rain when I left at 1:00

[David Weaver]

Should Have Stayed a Little Longer

Here's a preview, ran very well in testing. 12 - 500R and 10 - 350H at the drivers meeting. Was still pouring down rain when I left at 1:00

After a prolonged rain delay, we got a break in the weather and had a fantastic race on Saturday. Every class had 2 or more winners in its respective 3 heats and a couple had 3 different heat winners. The exception might have been 500 runabout, where 12 rocket ships battled it out!! I believe that Mike Thirlby won all 3 heats and the overall. David Mitchell won 350cc hydro in a close points fight. Wendy Eldredge beat a 10 boat field of K PRO's, but again there were multiple heats winners. These kids can drive!!

Tim Small out dueled Brian Payn in 250cc runabout, but Buddy Tennell also grabbed a heat victory in a runaway (heat 3). Sean McKean and Brandon Thirlby ran side by side in 500 hydro. Sean's VRP had the extra edge this weekend and took the win. Amy Nydhal previaled in a wild 125 cc hydro class. Again, different heat winners each time and bit of pile-up in turn two led to a wild points finish.

We finished-up a little before 7PM. Thanks to the race officials and volunteers for conducting a good event despite the challenging conditions.

No flips today and only a little scratched wood. More later. It is raining again this morning.

[Dave_E71]

Being broke and unemployed does have some benefits, at least I'm not standing around in the rain with the rest of the dummies....

Forecast for Depue

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. So the canoe trips looks good

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Hopefully my flight will be on time

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. My "driver" doesn't like to test so I guess this isn't much of a concern for me

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Nothing on Sunday yet.

[David Weaver]

Constantine Day 2

Just a quick note before I pass out. Great day of boat racing. Only 1 incident in the last heat and all are well. I will try to post more tomorrow evening. Pits in DePue are filling quickly, as everyone moves over.

DW

[Dave_E71]

Any news from the pits? I understand some heavy weather came through Sunday night. We're headed out Tuesday if anybody needs anything

708 AM CDT MON JUL 21 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL QUICKLY EXIT BUREAU AND PUTNAM COUNTY
EARLY THIS MORNING. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE STORMS. MORE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IS FORECASTING A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA.

[Tim Weber]

David,

What is the pit situation? I am not getting in until early Wed. Are we in the field, beach?

Tim

[niesenracing]

were pitted on the beach, as far as the weather goes a tree split and landed on one of thirlbys runabouts

[RLR]

storm at Depue

I just got off the phone with Kristi Ellison and she told me that a storm at Depue this morning hit with big trouble. Brandon Thirlby's 250r wiped completly out when big tree split in two. Came down right on it and did some damage to the 250h as well. Hydro fixable, Runabout is firewood.

Bill Tetro had tree come down on trailer, put hole in top of trailer and put small hole in 175h, but runable.

This has not been much fun for Ed and the gang of Thirlby's this year. Mike went on his head at Winona, he and Jared Gryskiewicz collided at Constantine and tore up the 350R's of both, and now this. Got to have good luck at Depue now Ed.

Hope all is well shortly.

ray