Fifth USTS Race of 2007

[David Weaver]

July 20-21 will find the Professional Racing Outboards of the US Title Series competing in Constantine, MI. This is the 5th race of the 2007 season and it promises plenty of deck to deck racing. The USTS is celebrating its 25th season as a sanctioning club and Constatnine has hosted races during each of these seasons.

In addition to the normal USTS racing schedule and Friday's full day of sanctioned testing, the 1100cc Runabouts and 175cc hydroplanes have been added to the schedule. Saturday night will feature Joe's happy hour for the race teams, the day's award ceremony and dinner.

Constantine is a challenging race course. The races are a great tune-up for the PRO Nationals which are held the following weekend in DePue, Illinois. We look forward to the pit area being full of boats and the stands full of fans!!

[Kristi Ellison]

We are finalizing the score sheets so they can be transfered directly from the online registration. Many of you have already registered, thank you. The rest of you get off your duffs and register online and make the whole process better, especially for Shirley!

Kristi

[David Weaver]

Special Return

We just found out that Jim Kirts of the famous Alky racing Kirts family will compete again in 350cc runabout at this race. Having the Kirts name back in competition with us is just outstanding!! This family always has found a way to get their boats out front!!

[jkimble12]

David,

How do you get a user name and password for the website if you have never had one before?

Josh

[Joe J]

Josh:

I emailed Jared G., and he set it up for me.

Joe

[jkimble12]

Thanks Joe.

[Kristi Ellison]

Jared is the webmaster you can email him through the website.

Kristi

[David Weaver]

5th Race of USTS Season - Forecast

If the predictions are correct, we should have three beautiful days of racing this weekend. T Storms are predicted for Thursday, but the forecast for Friday through Sunday appears very comfortable.

So grab a pullover and head out to see some of the finest racing around!

[RLR]

Constanitine results

250R--Tim Small 3 heat wins, unbeatable
350H--Ike Yoder 3 heat wins unbeatable
500H--Sean Mckean-1 heat win 2nds
K-Pro-Todd Anderson 1st heat win Wendy Eldridge 2nd heat win
125H--Tim Small again 3 heat wins
500R--Great win for Pete Voss 1st, two 3rds--Walk/Thirlbt traded heat wins, both DNF 3rd heat.

Great turnout of boats, weather and no one got wet in first day of racing.

Ray

[dlmurray]

250R--Tim Small 3 heat wins, unbeatable
350H--Ike Yoder 3 heat wins unbeatable
500H--Sean Mckean-1 heat win 2nds
K-Pro-Todd Anderson 1st heat win Wendy Eldridge 2nd heat win
125H--Tim Small again 3 heat wins
500R--Great win for Pete Voss 1st, two 3rds--Walk/Thirlbt traded heat wins, both DNF 3rd heat.

Great turnout of boats, weather and no one got wet in first day of racing.

Ray

Ray, thanks for the update! It's hard not being there! Sounds like it was a beautiful day and some great racing!

See you soon,

Di

[Lights]

Thanks for the update Ray.

See you all in a couple of days at the Nat's

[David Weaver]

A little more detail..

...Ray,

Actually somone did get wet. During the vaunted wagon races down the hill, Brandon Thirlby twice achieved the distinguished honor of drving into the Lake!!

The racing was just fantastic today. 12 125's hit the start line in the third heat and showed that a class does not have to be the fastest to provide great racing action. 11 of the 12 finished with young Brennan Burkland learning what happens when 5 boats go into a tight turn with 4 spaces!! Tim Small was dominant and BJ Tetro also ran very well. Lookout for Dave Augustine at the Nationals. The "older Dave" won a heat in a great duel with Curt Hellsten. Given a day of testing, he could be right at the front in DePue.

500 Runabout was thrilling with the normal Walk and Thirlby duel. But, Pete Voss was right in the mix and won the final heat to take the overall win. Tony broke gears and Mike somehow got a hole in his fuel tank during the final heat.

Tim Small doubled-up in 250cc runabout with Brandon Thrilby running a consistent second. A number of the favorites were off the pace and some of the new equipment got into the mix at the front. Look for a great Nationals in this class.

Sean McKean prevailed in 500cc hydro, as seven of the capsule boats motored at very high speeds. Brandon Thirlby ran well also with a heat win, as did Doug Hall who won the first heat, but hurthis engine in the process.

Ike Yoder prevailed in 350cc hydro with clean, legal starts and startling acceleration from his old Konig. Gary Buskirk took second and yours truely finished in third, although I had higher aspirations until a broken pipe ended the dream halfway through the third heat.

Good battles in K PRO with two more heats today. The kids were a little anxious in heat 2 with multiple gun jumpers, so it is hard to remember where the points settled.

It was a great day of racing. 2 hours of testing. The first heat started by 1 PM and we were done at 4:30PM with a break between sets. Today looks promising and we have good fileds of 250 hydro, 350 runabout, 125 runabout, 175cc hydro, 1100 hydro and 4 1100 runabouts preparing for next week.

[mbowers]

Thanks for the update David, sounds like some good match-ups.
Mike

[Lights]

Dam it's hard to be here at work. When there is a PRO race I should be at.

Sounds like the 125H group had a great day. I'll see you guy's in the first turn next weekend.

Mark

[David Weaver]

Constantine Wrap-up

Sunday was another perfect day for the races. The weather was simply beautiful and the racing action was as hot as ever. Of course, most teams started the day with a $4.00 breakfat at the "hall" that included fresh, local sausage and more food than one person can eat. We had 30 minutes of test time and then the racing started up.

I did not pay close attention to the results. By memory Tim Small and the new 2-cylinder 350 GRM won 350 runabout (all three heats). There were 12 of these fast runabouts and what a great show they put on. The rest of the field will have its work cut-out for it at the Nationals if they want to catch Tim.

Denny Henderson prevailed by a total of 9 seconds over Brandon Thirlby in 250ccH, as they were tied on points. We had eliminations in 250H and the racing was close and furious. Heat 1A saw only one legal started as everyone crowded the start, but Brandon (evidently led by yours truely ). Brandon and Denny each had 2 wins and a second. I believe that there is a very good chance that will have over 20 250's at the Nationals and possibly as many as 25.

I believe that Sean McKean won 1100cc hydro. Mike and Liz Thilrby beat out 3 other 1100cc Runabouts. Interesting marriage therapy!!!

The K PRO's had good heats of racing on Sunday with Elderege sisters showing the field around the course. I believe that Wendy won the weekend in this class.

Nine 125 runabouts had very exciting racing. Michael Ellison had his first victory and was given the traditional "dunk". Buddy Tennell and Tim Small had a great duel in 175cc hydro. Buddy prevailed on time as the two split heats wins. This class is growing slowly, but the good heats of racing should increase interest.

The best and most important part, we had three days of testing and racing without one single driver visiting the water. This is remarkable, given how hard and toght the racing was. It speaks volume to both the skill of the drivers and the respect that we all show to our fellow competitiors. By 7PM, most teams were on the road to DePue already.

Thanks to Joe, the large turnout of specatotrs, our USTS officals, the Kirts family, the local boyscout troop and our valued sponsors who pulled this great race together.