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A beautiful day dawned over Lake Depue as for the 28th straight year the APBA Nat ionals for the Pro category would be contested at the home of the Nationals, Lake Depue. How this came about is unreal as three weeks ago, there was as much of a chance to be at Lake Depue racing as the moon is made of cheese, well I am telling you that Pizza Hut has called and we are selling cheese from the moon.
The wonderful folks of Depue, led by Eric Bryant the Mayor, Rich Magnason, Frank Mautino, State Rep, said never say never and they went to work putting a dam up at the mouth of the lake and pumped water for a couple of weeks, resulting in the Nationals once again being held on Lake Depue.
The first heat of the day brought 10 175 hydros to the water for the beginning of the world championships in this class. Rene Benche of Germany finished out front in all three heats run today winning by straight away leads over the other nine entries to take home the title for 2012. Benche the world champion in 2011 for 175, 250, and 350 hydro easily outshone any of the other drivers. There will be a fourth heat run tomorrow to determine the podium finishes for the rest of the competitors. Amy Nydahl, Dominic Defebo and Attila Henze from Hungary will be vying for the medals for 2nd and 3rd.
In the OSY 400 class, John Peeters was able to show he was the class of this event winning for the 5th straight year.
This class started with 12 entries and we were down to 6 when the final heat was finished with accidents taking out most of the 6 drivers not racing in the final. No one was seriously injured in this class, but we had to restart the 3rd heat times with the accidents.
Peeters finished third in the first heat and fought back in the 2nd and 3rd heats to take the title. Jerzee Holman finished 2nd and John Maroney finished 3rd for a sweep of the podium my drivers from Washington state.
John Peeters
Jerzee Holman
John Maroney
George Thornhill of Tacoma, Wa. finished with 1000 points to best JJ Walls of Danvile, for back to back championships for 2011 and now 2012, in the C Racing Hydro category. Justin Gibson finished third, Justin from Depere Wi as this class had one incident with the leader of the first heat Jim Nilsen with victory in sight entered the 4th turn looking at the checkered flag and promptly flipped ending his day for this class.
In the 125 runabout class, hometown hero Paul Bosnich from Depue won the title with 2 heat wins and a second in the first heat. David Jones of Connecticut finished second after having a horrific collision in the OSY 400 heat run just before the 125 class. David fortunately suffered no injury and was able to finish all heats. Third was the 2012 National champion Andrew Thirlby
Paul Bosnich
David Jones
Andrew Thirlby
In the Junior class called K Pro, Will Augustine of Va. Won his second title with a win in the 2011 and this year at Depue. As he crossed the finish line and came by his family he raised his arms in triumph after winning the 3rd heat. Colin Rucker who did not finish the first heat but won the 2nd heat and finished 2nd in the 3rd heat took second, with Peter Crowley of Ma. Taking 3rd.
Will Augistine
Collin Rucker
Peter Crowley
In the C Service Runabout class JJ Walls and Jack Campbell were tied on points with JJ taking the title as he took the least amount of time for the heats. Both Jack and JJ were disqualified in one of the heats for jumping the gun, but were able to win one and finish second in another to tie and the timing broke in JJ’s favor.
JJ Walls
Jack Campbell
500 hydro was exciting as David Hooten of New York took the lead over Doug Hall, but Doug kept digging and was able catch Hooten on the front straightaway, only to see the tow of them start rubbing a little paint as they say. They hit one another but were able to continue on with Hall taking the win over all with Hooten second and Ike Yoder out of Michigan for the third spot.
Hall
Hooten
Yoder
Ray
The wonderful folks of Depue, led by Eric Bryant the Mayor, Rich Magnason, Frank Mautino, State Rep, said never say never and they went to work putting a dam up at the mouth of the lake and pumped water for a couple of weeks, resulting in the Nationals once again being held on Lake Depue.
The first heat of the day brought 10 175 hydros to the water for the beginning of the world championships in this class. Rene Benche of Germany finished out front in all three heats run today winning by straight away leads over the other nine entries to take home the title for 2012. Benche the world champion in 2011 for 175, 250, and 350 hydro easily outshone any of the other drivers. There will be a fourth heat run tomorrow to determine the podium finishes for the rest of the competitors. Amy Nydahl, Dominic Defebo and Attila Henze from Hungary will be vying for the medals for 2nd and 3rd.
In the OSY 400 class, John Peeters was able to show he was the class of this event winning for the 5th straight year.
This class started with 12 entries and we were down to 6 when the final heat was finished with accidents taking out most of the 6 drivers not racing in the final. No one was seriously injured in this class, but we had to restart the 3rd heat times with the accidents.
Peeters finished third in the first heat and fought back in the 2nd and 3rd heats to take the title. Jerzee Holman finished 2nd and John Maroney finished 3rd for a sweep of the podium my drivers from Washington state.
John Peeters
Jerzee Holman
John Maroney
George Thornhill of Tacoma, Wa. finished with 1000 points to best JJ Walls of Danvile, for back to back championships for 2011 and now 2012, in the C Racing Hydro category. Justin Gibson finished third, Justin from Depere Wi as this class had one incident with the leader of the first heat Jim Nilsen with victory in sight entered the 4th turn looking at the checkered flag and promptly flipped ending his day for this class.
In the 125 runabout class, hometown hero Paul Bosnich from Depue won the title with 2 heat wins and a second in the first heat. David Jones of Connecticut finished second after having a horrific collision in the OSY 400 heat run just before the 125 class. David fortunately suffered no injury and was able to finish all heats. Third was the 2012 National champion Andrew Thirlby
Paul Bosnich
David Jones
Andrew Thirlby
In the Junior class called K Pro, Will Augustine of Va. Won his second title with a win in the 2011 and this year at Depue. As he crossed the finish line and came by his family he raised his arms in triumph after winning the 3rd heat. Colin Rucker who did not finish the first heat but won the 2nd heat and finished 2nd in the 3rd heat took second, with Peter Crowley of Ma. Taking 3rd.
Will Augistine
Collin Rucker
Peter Crowley
In the C Service Runabout class JJ Walls and Jack Campbell were tied on points with JJ taking the title as he took the least amount of time for the heats. Both Jack and JJ were disqualified in one of the heats for jumping the gun, but were able to win one and finish second in another to tie and the timing broke in JJ’s favor.
JJ Walls
Jack Campbell
500 hydro was exciting as David Hooten of New York took the lead over Doug Hall, but Doug kept digging and was able catch Hooten on the front straightaway, only to see the tow of them start rubbing a little paint as they say. They hit one another but were able to continue on with Hall taking the win over all with Hooten second and Ike Yoder out of Michigan for the third spot.
Hall
Hooten
Yoder
Ray