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2010 ZAK Award winner is........

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  • 2010 ZAK Award winner is........

    TIM SMALL from Lighthouse Point, Fl.

    CONGRATULATIONS TO ONLY THE SECOND THREE TIME WINNER OF THE ZAK AWARD.........



    TIM SMALL won the award this year for 250CC Runabout which was the designated class for the ZAK Award for 2010, and he accumulated the most points in the class throughout the 2010 USTS racing season.

    Mike Krier and I are very pleased to make this award to Tim, because in addition to his performance on the race course in the classes he participates in, he also fulfills the spirit of the award in Harry ZAK's name, by helping anyone, anytime, through his efforts at the race course, on the USTS BOD, and of course helping his fellow competitors when needed.

    The only down side I can think of to Tim's winning the award this year, is it eliminates one of the contributors to the award, which he has very generously been for several years now. It has been suggested by his peers that he can make up for this discrepancy this year by buying at least one round of drinks at the awards banquet. We will have to see if his wallet can withstand that type pressure from a group of boat racers, which I am sure will equal anything he has faced on the race course this past season.

    As those familiar with this award in Harry Pasturczak's name are aware, it is given annually to the person who accumulates the most points in a pre-specified class before the start of that calendar years racing season. The criteria for the class designation is that the class, for whatever reason, must have suffered some loss of participants from the previous years, and need a little additional incentive to help it grow again. Mike and I use the USTS participation numbers from the previous year, plus some additional facts also enter into the decision. It must be working, as all classes chosen since the award's inception have shown a growth in participation the year the award is given.

    As previously stated, the award in Harry's name is given in the spirit that he personified, i.e. helping anyone, anytime, whether they used his services as a motor builder or not. The number of boat racers from his time that still have the little "notes" he wrote when returning motors or parts to them, would fill a book, and a season never goes by that someone does not come up to me and tell me they still have some of those notes he wrote them all those years ago.

    He was not only this way with his time with individual drivers, but the whole PRO Category benefited from his willingness to participate in our sport. He pulled the USTS equipment trailer for many years, several of those paying the expense out of his own pocket, and was the Chief Inspector at the PRO Nationals for many years, assisted by his brother Stan.

    The award consists of a large, one of a kind "traveling" trophy built by Mike Krier, that stays with the current years winner until the next year. In addition, the winner also receives a smaller permanent trophy he or she can keep permanently, and many other cash and merchandise donations by individuals who both knew and were helped by Harry. Since it is now almost 20 years after his death, these donations are being continued by those who may not have known him as well, but who still appreciate the spirit in which the award is given each year. Mike and I thank those contributors very much, and a list of them is shown below, along with the amount/type of donation being given.

    One of the most recent people who have made a very considerable gift is David Tenney. David's father, Bill Tenney was a close friend of Harry's and the two of them had many late nite phone conversations regards how to make a two stroke engine "sing". For those who are not familiar with the Tenney name, Bill Tenney, in addition to being a many time National Champion, was the importer of the Anzani brand of racing outboards after WWII.

    Over the years in excess of $20,000.00 in cash and merchandise has been presented to drivers for the ZAK Award. Very few awards are presented in our sport today, that go with the special feelings for the person in whose name the award is presented. That is what makes the award so special, not only for the person who receives it, but also for the folks that continue to make it possible each year.

    CONTRIBUTORS FOR THE AWARD FOR 2010 ARE AS FOLLOWS:

    Steve Litzell/Outboard Marine Service/VRP Engines 50.00 value shear pins
    Rex Hall/GRM Racing Engines 100.00 value crankshaft repair
    Tom Cronk/Boat Racing Hardware 100.00 value Boat Hardware
    Thrilby Automotive 100.00 value Sparkplugs
    Dewald Racing Propellors One Half value Propellor
    Pete Nydahl/NC&M 100.00 value crankshaft repair
    McKean Marine Two Top Hydro T-Shirts
    B&B Electric/Todd Brinkman USTS 2011 Membership
    Bill Tetro 100.00 Cash
    David Tenney 250.00 Cash
    Bill & Eileen Van Steenwyk 250.00 Cash & Permanent Trophy
    Mike Krier Large Traveling Trophy and 300.00 value on boat repair OR new boat.

    THE ZAK AWARD FOR 2011 WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE HIGH POINT WINNER IN 350CC RUNABOUT. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THOSE CLASS PARTICIPANTS!!!!

  • #2
    I'm taking a night off work to be at the meeting and banquet and I'll let you know if Tim's wallet come's out and buys a drink
    Congratulation Tim on winning the ZAK award
    See everyone in the morning
    Big Pal

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    • #3
      Presenting the award

      The winner of the award is the one with hair, the one without is last years winner and this years presenter.
      Attached Files

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      • #4
        Congrats mooch! Its been a fun year competeing against you this year. Hope for many more to come good luck next year in 350!!!!

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        • #5
          ZAK award winner

          Tim is a 3 time winner of the ZAK award, so what are you thinking when you give the award to the 350 Runabout class for 2011? If you do not want him winning so much, give the award to a hydro class. I know there are hydro classes that coulld use the incentive from that award.

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          • #6
            Thanks for your past help, Rex......

            To answer the question about giving the award to a Hydro class occasionally:



            The ZAK Award had been presented in the past to several Hydro classes. In fact as I am sure you remember, Doug is a previous winner of the award.

            That being said, the PRIMARY criteria for the award, has always been and will always remain (at least as long as Mike Krier and I are the "curators" of the award) keeping Harry's spirit of "helping" alive by giving the award to the class that, by actual count of participants from the previous racing season, needs a little "boost" in participation. This "class count" information is taken directly from the USTS High Point/Participation count for each class, posted on the USTS web site at seasons end.

            As has been previously mentioned in posted information about the award, that has always seem to be successful as a motivator, as the class chosen has always shown an increase in participants from the preceding year.

            Also as has been previously mentioned, there are sometimes other minor considerations that enter into the selection of the class that will contest the award for the following year, but the OVERIDING factor is class participation from the preceding year. If two classes, but differing type boats are very close or tied for the decision, that is when Mike and I have a decision to make.

            As they say, that's why we get the "big bucks".

            Thanks again for your help in the past, and all the other contributors also. That continued help only serves to further illustrate Harry's spirit of "helping anyone, anytime," no matter the class or situation.
            Last edited by bill van steenwyk; 11-19-2010, 11:20 AM.

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