J Hydro Scheduled for Hampton, VA Inboard Nationals

[Mark 72@E]

So I’m reading the APBA sanction we got in the mail for the 2007 Inboard Summer Nationals at Hampton, VA August 10, 11, and 12 and it finally dawns on me that it’s an inboard sanction and I’m wondering why we got the sanction in the mail in the first place since I’m registered for SO/MOD/PRO and my oldest son is registered for SO and J Class (for AXSH).

At the bottom of the list, after all the inboard classes, is 11011 - J CLASS H. But I’m thinking that this has to be a mistake - perhaps a typo. Although I’ve heard stories of outboards and inboards running together at Cambridge, MD decades ago but I didn’t think this had been done anytime recently in our part of the country. I know it’s common in other regions of the US.

So I emailed the sanction contact person and got an answer today. It’s for real. He pointed out that J Hydros are racing for fun and not for points. This is something Gary Pond has been involved with. They have 5 racers in the local area around Clarksville, VA. If all goes well they’ll have more J Hydro races at Inboard races next year.

So this is an alert to all those J Hydro drivers on the east coast who are not going to the J Class Nationals in August:

THERE ARE THREE DAYS OF J HYDRO RACING IN REGION 4 AUGUST 10, 11 & 12!

APBA Sanction ID 1916

View the sanction here:

http://www.apba-racing.com/apps/race...1916&hideNav=1

[PopPop]

"j"

Several years ago the Js ran with the unlimiteds at a race in Norfolk at the Naval Harbor. The unlimited drivers and helped out by "pitting" for the Js. The whoe show was on ESPN. Greg Lyons won the race but the Pond brother and sister team of Travis and Abby stole the show. It was a pretty rough water for Js but a fun weekend.

[CSR4C]

The inboraders are having 5 J Hydros from my kits being built in Virgina. They are planning to have J Hydro at all of their races in the regions 3 & 4 area.

Darrell

[j hydro racer]

hey

hey mark are you gunna go because ill talk to my parents and maybe mike kench and get my old j hydro and come down an race .any other stock outboarders gunna go
Is there only gunna be j hydro whats about axsh just wondering
johnny

[Mark 72@E]

It's "J"ust Weird

Phil,

If you had to plot my return to outboard racing after almost three decades the Unlimited race in Norfolk you mentioned played a part. After ignoring boat racing for almost two decades an ad in some magazine for the Norfolk Unlimited race caught my eye and I tore out the page. I thought it would be a fun road trip for me and Austin. When we didn't make it that year I thought, "maybe next year..." except I don't think there was a "next year" that year at Norfolk. I didn't know Greg, Travis, and Abby played a part. That must have been very special - J's on the same schedule as the Unlimiteds.

Johnny 24-J,

The schedule says J Hydro ONLY, no AXSH.

I'm between a rock and a hard place. My youngest son, age 10, asked me 3 to 4 times at Millville, NJ last weekend why he couldn't go out for a test run, even if he couldn't race. Over and over I had to explain, New Jersey has a law, you must be 16...

He had to settle for kneeling in his brother's hydro for 10 to 15 minutes while >>standing still<< at the dock after Austin had finished his last race on Sunday. That's how much he wanted to "feel" like he was boat racing.

I haven't told him about the J Hydro race in Hampton, VA. I've got everything we need including a J prop and a J restrictor plate if Austin's safety gear will fit on him. The problem is we've had a family vacation scheduled that week in August for almost a year in advance. If we leave early to go boat racing, we'll hurt the feelings of some people who are very dear to us. Maybe next year...

[jtb]

Thanks we had a great time!!

It was nice seeing Mr. Pond and Mr. Stillwell and meeting the other racers. Can't wait to get to the other races. Just waiting on the 9th b-day so we can get in there and run with ya'll! We are planning on making it to Clarksvill VA in October 3 days after his B-day.