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DEPUE ON SATURDAY
Another great day of racing at the U.S. Title Series Nationals was held at beautiful Lake Depue on Saturday. First time champions were crowned if front a tremendous crowd who were on their feet cheering as they did on Friday. The fans at Depue are the greatest, as they have an understanding of the sport and have their favorite drivers along the way.
JJ Walls is going to run out of wall space this year with all of the 1st place plaques he is winning for the championships. He took home a perfect 1200 points for his 3 heat wins in CRR. Duke Johnson having a fabulous weekend finished 2nd with David Everhart finishing in 3rd for his first podium at Depue that I can remember.
Next up were the 250R’s which started off with a bang, literally between Tim Small and Rich Krier. While vying for 1st place, they entered the bottom turn with Tim holding a “small” lead with Rich on the inside. As Tim entered the point between the entry pin and the apex pin, his engine let go and the boat somewhat hooked to the left and Rich with no place to go, collieded with Tim. Tim’s pipes ended up stuck through the side of Rich’s boat and they had to drag them in together and then separate them on the beach. Tim had an injury to his ankle, but was up and about shortly and attended the banquet last night.
The only two boats left running were Mike Krier and Paulie Bosnich who finished in that order. Going into the 3rd heat it was between Mike and Paul, with either one finishing in front of the other would win the championship. They came up early for the start and Paul backed off to keep from jumping, and started in the back with Krier on the inside getting out in front of Paul. It stayed that way until the last lap when you could see Paulie starting to reel Mike in. Coming out of the bottom corner Paul dove inside of Mike and in a drag race to the finish line, by less than a boat length, the Depue native collected his 4th national title.
As stated only two boats had finished the first heat, meaning that Buddy Tennell amongst others found himself unable to finish. Buddy can only wonder what, in the Bruce Nicholson entry as he went on to win the other two heats to finish in the 3rd spot overall.
350 Hydro had the fans on their feet as a real dog fight between Jeff Kugler and Gary Buskirk in all three heats. Buskirk came into the USTS Nationals with 3 straight wins in the USTS stops made so far. Gary has been on a health kick and lost 20lbs and with a new Trombetta out of Italy weighing 50lbs less than the old boat, you knew he was going to be a force to reckon with.
Jeff started out the first heat with a convincing win over the field, with Gary 2nd. The next two heats were all Gary’s as he got a good start in the 2nd heat, but had to work his way through the field for the 3rd heat, but finished out front of Jeff in both of those heats. David Mitchell put together 3 good heats to finish in the 3rd spot overall.
After the break 175H’s came up. The first heat was unreal as only Brent Simmons and John “Cookies” Madrell were able to keep from jumping the gun, so going into the other two heats, everyone was scrambling for points. Baylee Burkland took heat two, and Eric Schmidt took a heat win in the third. When the scrambling was all over, Baylee a star for her high school track team took the win overall and her Dad Brad, promptly followed the pattern that Brian Payn used when his daughter won K-Pro, gave Baylee a huge throw into Lake Depue, for her traditional bath when the first win comes. Congrats Baylee.
The two who did not jump the gun in the first heat were able to parlay those good points into a 2nd and 3rd place finish with Brent and John getting on the podium.
Can you say Grysekiewicz a hundred times fast, neither can I, but Jared added another championship to his 700R picked up yesterday by winning the 500 on Saturday. Tim Small had the Buddy Tennell syndrome as like Buddy he won 2 of 3 heats that he was able to finish. The heat he did not win, he came off the beach and the shear pin fell out of the prop shaft to find himself sitting just off the pits. Bryan Payn, running the Jim and Pat Wright entry finished in the 3rd spot for the podium
One of the best stories to come out of Depue in years happened yesterday in the C-Service Hydro class yesterday. I do not think anyone on the beach expected anything like this to happen as it unfolded, I think I had the most fun I have had announcing in all the years of my career as a driver or as an announcer.
JJ won the first heat and started the conversation of 3 wins out of 4 to add to the 4 he won earlier in Kingston at the APBA nationals. When the second heat came up, all boats jumped the gun, save one David Everhart of Tiffin, Oh. David has been to Depue for many years and had not finished on the podium at this point in his career. Now with 400 points added to his first heat 5th place finish, he had a chance. When the 3rd heat came up, David found himself in the 4th spot as one of the competitors was not able to answer the call. As the heat went on, Justin Gibson, then JJ Walls had problems and they found themselves sitting on the course, with Kyle Deptula and David Everhart only two running. Kyle lost the motor coming out of the bottom turn to leave David, THE LAST MAN STANDING. Let me tell you the crowd went absolutely crazy cheering, hooting and hollering to celebrate a popular win, the likes I have never seen. The audience shall we say began a love affair with David. I am so happy that David was able to put that one in the bank and would tell you, it will be long remembered.
To finish off the day, the big 700H’s came up for their first heat with Sean McKean playing hide and everyone seeking as he took the first heat going away.
In the second heat Sean was leading going down the back stretch when you could see him slow a bit and Amy Nydahl got by him in the corner. Sean had thrown a blade from his propeller and he was just trying to finish. Coming out of the bottom corner still at a good speed, the whole bottom of his motor sheared off and the boat broached hard and came to a stop sideways, but Sean in that cocoon was okay. Amy went on to win and was able to take the title in 700H as she did last year. Doug Hall and Tom Adkins put enough points together with the group, to finish on the podium as well.
Robby Galleta of Galleta Aerator has graciously adopted the capsule classes and provide a 500.00 win to each of the 500 and 700 hydro winners. On Sunday, Robby and Debra, owners of Galleta Aerator are proving a 3,000.00 1st, 2000.00 2nd, 1000.00 for 3rd, with over 10,000 in prize money for the Top Hydro category for Sunday. Robby and Debra have worked over the years to bring attention and excitement to the capsule fields over the years. Thanks Robby and Debra!!!!!
Great news on Dan Kirts continues, as Jim, his son, has been keeping us up to date on his progress and yesterday was the best day since his illness started. He opened his eyes on his own, recognized his family and began to obey commands by the medical staff to move his limbs. Thanks for all who have been praying and please keep those lines of communication open to our Heavenly Father.
Ray
Another great day of racing at the U.S. Title Series Nationals was held at beautiful Lake Depue on Saturday. First time champions were crowned if front a tremendous crowd who were on their feet cheering as they did on Friday. The fans at Depue are the greatest, as they have an understanding of the sport and have their favorite drivers along the way.
JJ Walls is going to run out of wall space this year with all of the 1st place plaques he is winning for the championships. He took home a perfect 1200 points for his 3 heat wins in CRR. Duke Johnson having a fabulous weekend finished 2nd with David Everhart finishing in 3rd for his first podium at Depue that I can remember.
Next up were the 250R’s which started off with a bang, literally between Tim Small and Rich Krier. While vying for 1st place, they entered the bottom turn with Tim holding a “small” lead with Rich on the inside. As Tim entered the point between the entry pin and the apex pin, his engine let go and the boat somewhat hooked to the left and Rich with no place to go, collieded with Tim. Tim’s pipes ended up stuck through the side of Rich’s boat and they had to drag them in together and then separate them on the beach. Tim had an injury to his ankle, but was up and about shortly and attended the banquet last night.
The only two boats left running were Mike Krier and Paulie Bosnich who finished in that order. Going into the 3rd heat it was between Mike and Paul, with either one finishing in front of the other would win the championship. They came up early for the start and Paul backed off to keep from jumping, and started in the back with Krier on the inside getting out in front of Paul. It stayed that way until the last lap when you could see Paulie starting to reel Mike in. Coming out of the bottom corner Paul dove inside of Mike and in a drag race to the finish line, by less than a boat length, the Depue native collected his 4th national title.
As stated only two boats had finished the first heat, meaning that Buddy Tennell amongst others found himself unable to finish. Buddy can only wonder what, in the Bruce Nicholson entry as he went on to win the other two heats to finish in the 3rd spot overall.
350 Hydro had the fans on their feet as a real dog fight between Jeff Kugler and Gary Buskirk in all three heats. Buskirk came into the USTS Nationals with 3 straight wins in the USTS stops made so far. Gary has been on a health kick and lost 20lbs and with a new Trombetta out of Italy weighing 50lbs less than the old boat, you knew he was going to be a force to reckon with.
Jeff started out the first heat with a convincing win over the field, with Gary 2nd. The next two heats were all Gary’s as he got a good start in the 2nd heat, but had to work his way through the field for the 3rd heat, but finished out front of Jeff in both of those heats. David Mitchell put together 3 good heats to finish in the 3rd spot overall.
After the break 175H’s came up. The first heat was unreal as only Brent Simmons and John “Cookies” Madrell were able to keep from jumping the gun, so going into the other two heats, everyone was scrambling for points. Baylee Burkland took heat two, and Eric Schmidt took a heat win in the third. When the scrambling was all over, Baylee a star for her high school track team took the win overall and her Dad Brad, promptly followed the pattern that Brian Payn used when his daughter won K-Pro, gave Baylee a huge throw into Lake Depue, for her traditional bath when the first win comes. Congrats Baylee.
The two who did not jump the gun in the first heat were able to parlay those good points into a 2nd and 3rd place finish with Brent and John getting on the podium.
Can you say Grysekiewicz a hundred times fast, neither can I, but Jared added another championship to his 700R picked up yesterday by winning the 500 on Saturday. Tim Small had the Buddy Tennell syndrome as like Buddy he won 2 of 3 heats that he was able to finish. The heat he did not win, he came off the beach and the shear pin fell out of the prop shaft to find himself sitting just off the pits. Bryan Payn, running the Jim and Pat Wright entry finished in the 3rd spot for the podium
One of the best stories to come out of Depue in years happened yesterday in the C-Service Hydro class yesterday. I do not think anyone on the beach expected anything like this to happen as it unfolded, I think I had the most fun I have had announcing in all the years of my career as a driver or as an announcer.
JJ won the first heat and started the conversation of 3 wins out of 4 to add to the 4 he won earlier in Kingston at the APBA nationals. When the second heat came up, all boats jumped the gun, save one David Everhart of Tiffin, Oh. David has been to Depue for many years and had not finished on the podium at this point in his career. Now with 400 points added to his first heat 5th place finish, he had a chance. When the 3rd heat came up, David found himself in the 4th spot as one of the competitors was not able to answer the call. As the heat went on, Justin Gibson, then JJ Walls had problems and they found themselves sitting on the course, with Kyle Deptula and David Everhart only two running. Kyle lost the motor coming out of the bottom turn to leave David, THE LAST MAN STANDING. Let me tell you the crowd went absolutely crazy cheering, hooting and hollering to celebrate a popular win, the likes I have never seen. The audience shall we say began a love affair with David. I am so happy that David was able to put that one in the bank and would tell you, it will be long remembered.
To finish off the day, the big 700H’s came up for their first heat with Sean McKean playing hide and everyone seeking as he took the first heat going away.
In the second heat Sean was leading going down the back stretch when you could see him slow a bit and Amy Nydahl got by him in the corner. Sean had thrown a blade from his propeller and he was just trying to finish. Coming out of the bottom corner still at a good speed, the whole bottom of his motor sheared off and the boat broached hard and came to a stop sideways, but Sean in that cocoon was okay. Amy went on to win and was able to take the title in 700H as she did last year. Doug Hall and Tom Adkins put enough points together with the group, to finish on the podium as well.
Robby Galleta of Galleta Aerator has graciously adopted the capsule classes and provide a 500.00 win to each of the 500 and 700 hydro winners. On Sunday, Robby and Debra, owners of Galleta Aerator are proving a 3,000.00 1st, 2000.00 2nd, 1000.00 for 3rd, with over 10,000 in prize money for the Top Hydro category for Sunday. Robby and Debra have worked over the years to bring attention and excitement to the capsule fields over the years. Thanks Robby and Debra!!!!!
Great news on Dan Kirts continues, as Jim, his son, has been keeping us up to date on his progress and yesterday was the best day since his illness started. He opened his eyes on his own, recognized his family and began to obey commands by the medical staff to move his limbs. Thanks for all who have been praying and please keep those lines of communication open to our Heavenly Father.
Ray
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