2008 Speedweek

[pro350hydro]

Dang

Sorry to hear about all the torn up equipment BEFORE the nationals due to the storm damage. Hopefully everyone is okay. Make sure and keep the rest of us lame un-attendee's posted with pictures and results like always. You know we are all living by cell phones and Hydroracer.net.

Mike Sattler
R-15

[epugh66]

Brandon Thirlby's 250r wiped completly out when big tree split in two.

Sounds like it's time to get back to basics and put a transom on the tree.......
A real dugout then

[pro350hydro]

Sounds like it's time to get back to basics and put a transom on the tree.......
A real dugout then

If anyone could pull it off, it'd be them

According to a phone conversation I just had, it sounds like there is not enough time to repair the 250H and the 700H also has minor damage.

[Bob Rusnak]

Pro Nationals Update

If anyone could pull it off, it'd be them

According to a phone conversation I just had, it sounds like there is not enough time to repair the 250H and the 700H also has minor damage.

A quick and unofficial results of todays Nationals. This is reported by Lorraine (Rusnak) McKean from the pits.

175 Hydro Marshall Eldgrege at 77 years old and his first Nationals

125 Runabout 1-Dominick DeFebo
2-Michael Ellison
3-Buddy Tennell
4- Jay Anderson
K Pro Largest class of the day, two red flags
1-Ashley Rucker
500 Sprint Hudro
1-Jim Kirts
2-Bruce Summers (250 engine)
3-Ike Yoder 350 engine)
C Racing Hydo Antique
1-George Thornhill
C service Runabout
1- Jim Nielson
500 Hydro
1-Branden Thirlby
2-Sean McKean
3- Jim Wright

Again, this is unofficial and from quick notes from the pits and do not have all the other place winners....Bob N-96

[ian]

The best capsule race I have ever seen, even if both drivers are pretty goofy.

[Bob Rusnak]

500 Hydro

The best capsule race I have ever seen, even if both drivers are pretty goofy.

Yes, Lorraine said it was one of the closest finish she has ever seen. Branden and Sean split heats and the final was a photo finish. I understand it took a while to determine the winner. I guess this is what racing should be like. Branden with a Konny engine and Sean with Old Betsy and the Yamoto. How about Jim Wright with a third in a 500 Rossi. .....Bob N-96

[racingfan1]

The Best 500 ever???

The best 500 hydro race ever , hard to say , but I can't remember any ever better. The first heat Sean McKean lead for the first 3 laps with Branden close behind , when it appeared Sean bounced a little in the final turn and Branden took advantage and passed him coming out of the last turn. The second heat was much the same as the first with Sean leading the first 3 laps and Branden used a great crossover move coming out of the final turn and beat him by less than a foot. In heat three , Branden just cruised in second the whole race knowing he needed only a third to win the title. Too bad they both didn't have a first and a sceond going into heat heat 3 , the fans would loved to seen another close race. Once again the gobblens of Lake DePue haunted Doug Hall. The word on the beach was he had the best 500 there , but engine problems kept him from winning. The first heat he got up on plane just before the start of the race and came from a distant last to a close third , and looked good doing it!! But that would be the only heat he would finish. The has to be a ceremony to exorcise the Lake DePue demons that must be in his trailer!!!!!

[racingfan1]

Tough Saturday at Nationals

In the 24 years the nationals have been at DePue , I can"t remember a day that saw more atrition than today. The 700 hydro ended up with two boats starting the last heat. In heat two Sean McKean went into the first turn in the middle with two other boats and he never made it out , looked like he bounced on the left side and when it came back to the right he caught a wake and flippede his capsule boat. Luckly Sean was ok but the same can't be said for the boat. Didn't get a chance to get down to see it , but it looked the right side of the boat received heavy damage. Mike Thirlby dominated 500 runabout , but that field was pretty well deplieted by the end of the day. About the only classes that didn't end up with just a few boats left were the antique classes. Here's hoping for a better Sunday!!!!!!