Left Coast Racing to the rescue (fescue?)

[Cameraboy]

The wife and I drove the 110 minutes to Olympia for a day of photos and fun at Western Mod Divisionals, only to find a bad mood rising. The grass in the lake had made up for lost growing time in the spring, and the lake was unraceable without some serious weed-whacking . Folks have been at it since Thursday afternoon.

So Tony and Rick drive a thousand miles for divisionals. But, if you know them, they haven't been crying in their beer, they've been busting their tails raking weeds (note the pile to Rick's left). So has the NW arm of Left Coast Racing - Sheryl, Crashley, and Colin, plus Aunt Susan and Uncle Jeff. Kyle Bahl, Brian Bartlett, Kelly Hannon, Ron Hausske, and many ohers have been out there too. Thanks to all.

No racing today (except for who can drag a boat-full of grass first), but we'll be on the water tomorrow.

[Brew56]

That is some serious dedication from the racers there. Good luck with everything tomorrow!

[Joey31Fjr]

Wow,
you guys
must have
worked hard.

I hope everything
went alright.

JOE

[Kev43V]

Sorry you people lost a full day of racing to weed disposal

[Dancingbear1961]

We Won't Get Milfoiled Again!

Great racing on Sunday! And for me to see Colin's first earned first (won all three heats in J hydro) made all the work well worth the effort. A lot of the kids really busted their butts to get this race off (and some not so kid anymores). Added some more to the list because they really need to be thanked. Aaron Peterson, Addison Harper, Kyle Hannon, Zach Malhiot, Jonathan Nilsen, Dwight Malhiot, Austin Peterson, Cade friedman,Tim Holman, Jerzee Holman, Alicia Peterson, Norm Coote, Mike Harmon, . It was a great team effort. A big thanks to all who helped. If I missed anyone I am sorry. Hey that milfoil was full of thorns, half submerged logs and dead fish. (thank god we didn't dredge up anything from the bottom) We were a great smelling crew by the end of the day! As far as I know there were no burned up motors. Like to thank the J kids (again) for all their post race clean-up. The park looked great when we left.
Uncle Jeff

[Alicia_Peterson31R]

fencing... or fishing... or racing...

i have to say, as a small part of the prop shop crew... i was very proud of "small fry", and watching him take wins in all three of his j-hydro heats. way to go small fry!!!!

as for the weeds - let's not forget jason seether who was on the phone with home depot for those fences that made a multi-boat clean up possible....

and i was actually shocked i managed a salad at dinner sunday night... you'd think i'd have had enough of weeds.

[RuthieRae]

Left Coast

There were so many people who helped make Sunday a success, it is impossible to thank them all. Some kudos go out to the race committee too, Susan, Dwight, Ken Kaiser and his family, Lisa Peterson for putting up with all of the refunds and scratches!! Rick, Tony and Tony for making the long trip and not crying in their beer (or vitamin water if you are Tony) one time. They really stepped up to help make this happen.

On a side note: They made it home safe and sound with 5 more boats than they came with...and so begins the 08' summer Left Coast Tour....new thread and pictures to come soon!!

[L. Allen]

I would have enjoyed seeing a pic of Cheryl with the weed whacker.
Oh yes.

[propnuts]

Congatulations to everyone at Capitol Lake

I hauled weeds out for a while on Friday and I know what back-breaking work it was. When I left on Friday it seemed almost impossible that the race would be run at all. Excellent job everyone, it made me feel really good to show up on Sunday and see Left Coast Tony getting some heats in, and congratulations again to Colin! Let's not forget the 20+ newbies that got a short but fun ride on Friday thanks to the efforts of the race committee plus Ryan Johnson, Bob Wartinger, Rocky Peterson, Jason Seather and a host of others. Despite the abbreviated course it looks like we may have hooked a few more. Lets not forget Mike Furman (sp?) and his race boat turned flower box turned race boat again! Great guy and a great story. Even with the elements working against us SOA stepped up big time and I am VERY proud to be a member of this fine organization.

[mrlou40]

Also on Friday it was S.O.A.'s annual get a new person in a race boat, we had about 17 people who were waiting all day and by about 3 P.M. we were able to make a rather small course on the front stretch and sent them out. many smiles and many cheers and MANY thanks to Rocky Peterson and Jason Seather for the use of their boats for this event.
I have never seen a lake ( that can hold a mile record course) be totally non race able on Friday and Saturday and have it ready to go by Sunday. Everyone pulled together in some way to make this happen.......... the west is the best

Carl 94-R

[Cameraboy]

Funny thing is, a couple of locals stopped by the barge and said "so, the weeds in the lake aren't giving you guys any trouble?" Then someone would point out that the racers spent 3 days raking weeds to race one day.

One of my colleagues on the Stock Steering Committee was amazed at our dedication to racing out here given the costs we face to put on a race. Folks out here not only pay a lot to race, they will put in this kind of effort to get on the water. And a number of folks that were listed on this thread never did race on Sunday, but put in the effort so their friends could.

So, let's wrap this thread, and as Sheryl noted it's time to pass off to the 2008 Left Coast Tour thread (hey, you guys should pop over to Canada, make it a World Tour!) - here's the prequel photo -

[Kevin Martin]

way to go colin!!!

hey bud i really wish i could have been there to witness this, and partake in the bath that must have followed your big win. a good win for a great kid!! kevin

[RICK BIRD]

Hey this Ricks bro in Cali, I talked to him on the phone he is hour away from the track!!!