VOLUME 73, ISSUE 2 •MARCH/APRIL 2019 • APBA.ORG • USA: $6.00
i have to admit... ngk f1 series 2019 v&H-where history lives! dreaming big in orlando
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IN THIS IS S U E 17640 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe MI 48021-2563 PHONE: 586.773.9700 WEB: apba.org EMAIL: apbahq@apba.org twitter.com/APBARacing facebook.com/APBARacing DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ACCOUNTING MEMBERSHIP SANCTIONS/ HIGH POINTS PROPELLER EDITOR
Sarah Ealy Linda Likert Sabrina Haudek Cindy Minoletti Tana Moore
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APBA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER SECRETARY NATIONAL COMMISSIONER LEGAL COUNSEL
Howie Nichols Chris Fairchild Steve Compton Mary Williams Gary Romberg Edward Hearn
president@apba.org VP@apba.org treasurer@apba.org secretary@apba.org captainaero@gmail.com legal@apba.org
REGION REP CATEGORY REP
Adam Allen Kyle Bahl Jerry Davids Fred Hauenstein Jean Mackay-Schwartz Jan Shaw Mark Tate Rick Sandstrom Kristi Ellison
azallen@hotmail.com racerkyle@hotmail.com racer3d62n@hotmail.com fhauenstein@new.rr.com jean84c@earthlink.net janetshaw4994@comcast.net mtate@suncoating.com info@propshopltd.com parroth222@aol.com
COUNCIL-AT-LARGE Penny Anderson, Jeffrey Conant, Richard Fuchslin, Patrick Gleason, Sheri Greaves, Alex Jennings III, Jack Meyer, Steve Noury, John Runne, Rachel Warnock, Bob Wartinger, Matt Yarno
RACING CATEGORY CHAIRMEN Inboard Modified OPC PRO Stock
Dutch Squires Tom Sutherland James Chambers Jr. Kristi Ellison Jeff Brewster
inboardracing@apba.org modifiedoutboard@apba.org jchambe1@tampabay.rr.com prooutboard@apba.org stockoutboard@apba.org
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Junior Classes Jeff Williams, Mark Wheeler Offshore Rick Felsen Special Event and Thundercat Robin Shane Vintage and Historic John Krebs H1 Unlimited (interim) Charlie Grooms
junior@apba.org hawkrace@aol.com robin.shane@verizon.net krebs233@yahoo.com cgrooms@cliftyengineering.com
REGION CHAIRMEN 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pete Nichols Scott Reed Richard Shaw Jeff Titus Eli Whitney Bill Pavlick Carleton Callahan Julian Rucki Rick Sandstrom
nicholsracing@bellsouth.net reed28n@gmail.com shawracingt2@yahoo.com jstitus2@att.net donaldeli.whitney@sbcglobal.net bpavlick125v@@gmail.com carletoncallahan@yahoo.com renegadep28@aol.com info@propshopltd.com
PROPELLER© welcomes unsolicited articles and photos. Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publication and do not represent official APBA policy. Advertising herein cannot be construed as an endorsement by APBA or its members. PROPELLER (ISSN 0194-6218) (USPS 0047-800) is published six times yearly for $35.00 (U.S.) $55.00 (foreign) by APBA, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021-2563 Periodical postage paid at Eastpointe, MI, and additional mailing office. Postmaster: send addresses to APBA, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021-2563.
From the Top 2 I Have to Admit An Offshore Racer in the Hall of Champions 3 Suited for Safety 4 Race Calendar 5 NGK F1 Series 2019 6 V&H-Where History Lives! 8 From HERE to THERE 9 Tore Up from the Floor Up? Cut-resistant Footwear 10 Keeping Racing Fun and Safe 11 J Scholarship Report 12 Fast Forward: Fun! 13 Dreaming Big in Orlando The APBA National Meeting 14 Excellence: Class of 2019 Honoring the Best of the Best 16 Heroes behind the Scenes People Who Do the Heavy Lifting 18 Category Corner Modified Outboard 20 Junior Classes 21 Stock Outboard 22 Inboard Racing 23 APBA Offshore 24 Professional Racing Outboard 25 Region Roundup 9, 10 26 Race in Peace 28 CORRECTION
Ed Karelsen’s obituary in the January/February Propeller was credited to the late Fred Farley, but in fact the article was written by David Williams, of Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum fame. Thanks to Patrick Gleason for the correction. ON THE COVER: Ashton Rinker #20 will be back, gunning for another Formula 1 title with the NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship racing series. Photo by Kevin Pyles/Moto MG Marketing
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From the Top BY HOWIE NICHOLS, APBA PRESIDENT
APBA President Howie Nichols. Todd Dionne photo
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Our National Meeting/Convention is once again behind us and I am considering it a huge success. I want to thank each and every one of you that attended Orlando and contributed to the meetings. From every report I received, all Commissions and Committees met and worked through the agendas to finish with positive results. Keep an eye on the apba.org RESOURCES page for all the updated bylaws and rule books. It was a pleasure, too, to see our Honor Squadron and Hall of Champions inductees, and other award winners, receive the recognition they deserved. This organization runs on the enthusiasm of our racers and the dedication of our volunteers.
The 2019 racing season has already begun in the Southeast and along the West Coast. (In fact, an OPC race took place in Bradenton, Florida during our meetings.) For those waiting to thaw out, take the last few weeks to look over your equipment, tighten all the hardware and update your gear to address any safety concerns. The new and improved APBA website should be days away from going live. Look for great new improvements and pages for you to investigate. Be safe, have fun, and best of luck in the upcoming racing season!
I Have to Admit... BY RICH SMITH, SMITH BROTHERS RACING I have to admit, I didn’t know much about the Hall of Champions until a couple of years ago. I had heard of it, but wasn’t up to speed about its importance. When we started racing Offshore in 1998, it wasn’t with the APBA. After leaving the sport, we returned in 2007 with the Offshore Powerboat Association, again not with the APBA. In 2014, OPA and APBA came together and OPA teams—now APBA members—were eligible for the Hall. Even so, my knowledge of the HOC was lacking until this past year, when it appeared we were in the running for it. I did some research into what the HOC was about and who were members. I was impressed. As teenagers in the 1970s, we were huge Offshore racing fans. Growing up on the Jersey Shore, we couldn’t wait for the second Wednesday in July. The Benihana Grand Prix was the largest Offshore race in the world. We would watch as Jerry Jacoby, Betty Cook, Joel Halpern, and Billy Martin battled it out off the beach in Point Pleasant. All are members of the Hall of Champions.
(L-R) Rich Smith, OPA President Ed Smith (no relation), and Pete Smith. Trisha Smith photo
When my brother Pete and I were contacted by APBA Headquarters and notified that we were to be inducted into the Hall, we were honored. So off we went from the Northeast (cold!) to Orlando (warm!) for the APBA Annual Meeting.
We arrived Saturday afternoon. The first item on the agenda was the photo shoot. The 20 inductees met and were photographed individually, as a group, and with their category chairs and the APBA President Howie Nichols. Each of us was then interviewed for a video. A reception, followed by the banquet, led to the induction ceremony. Each member of the Class of 2018 was introduced by a short video, followed by an acceptance speech. All I can say is that it was quite a night. While we race in different categories, we all race boats. The list of winners is an impressive group. They all had spectacular seasons. It is an honor to join them in the Hall. It is an honor as well to join the previous inductees in all the categories. It is a Who’s Who of boat racing. Pete and I are in good company. In the end, the Hall of Champions isn’t just an award. It is more than that. It is an honor. It is a membership in an elite club. It is a reward for an extraordinary racing season. And it is a night that you won’t ever forget.
(L-R) APBA Offshore Chair Rick Felsen, DONE DEAL teammates Mike Mironyk and Steve Papp, SMITH BROTHERS RACING Rich and Pete Smith, and APBA President Howie Nichols. Gleason Racing Photography
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Suited for Safety WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE NATIONAL MEETING At the Safety & Rescue Committee meeting in Orlando, cut-resistant footwear was a hot topic. Much discussion ensued about how to inspect socks, and what ANSI cut level to aim for (there are 9), until it was pointed out that APBA has never mandated a minimum cut level for Kevlar® sleeves, pants, etc. Kevlars have protected drivers for decades nonetheless. More on footwear elsewhere in this issue. The Board will revisit the issue at the March 5th meeting. Other discussions included... What if life jackets could be made in the same colors as helmets, i.e: fluorescent red or lime green, as well as the usual orange or yellow? Some manufacturers only offer orange lifejackets, but a rainbow of colors and patterns are possible. As with helmet colors, the Safety Committee needs input from rescue divers to make sure other colors do not cause a visibility problem. There is progress. Manufacturers are stepping up to make capsule boats safer. Powerboat P1 Superstock is adding capsules to its entire fleet. Racers are walking away from serious crashes that used to end in an emergency room. Air systems, 6-point and 7-point harnesses, and head and neck protection are more common. In a severe blowover in 2018, the driver was wearing a head and neck restraint. He remained conscious throughout, and experienced relatively minor injuries. Better safety gear is making for better race days, for sure! Inflatable head and neck restraints are available. They inflate instantly with a lanyard pull, and are used in equestrian and motorcycle events. They have not been tested specifically for powerboat racing use, however. Results from the few incidents where they were used have reportedly been mixed. Pressure from water, lifejacket, and helmet are unique to our sport, and have to be respected. Better training and education of drivers, officials and boatbuilders will help even more than equipment. In other meetings, there was good discussion about how it takes more than taking a true-false test to be a qualified Chief Referee. It is assumed that a referee-in-training is mentored for some time by an experienced referee, but nowhere is this required. Because a Chief Referee takes on so much responsibility, it’s crucial to make sure he/she is qualified. Inspectors, risk managers, scorers, and race directors all tend to learn on the job. Mentoring is always needed, however. Learn all you can from the people who have been through the rodeo. Data is on the way: The Safety & Rescue Committee may soon have access to data from incident reports. As one attendee said, “It would be nice to know what we’re doing.” All incident reports will go to the office. Those involving injury/ transport will be flagged for Sabrina Haudek to send to the insurance company. All incident report data will be compiled by the office, removing any personal information to comply with HIPAA privacy rules. The statistics (types of boats, water conditions, drivers, types of incidents, etc.) will then be shared with a limited group. That should help build risk profiles so all categories can better manage their risk. In J racing, for example, Co-chairman Mark Wheeler can tell you anecdotally that most J crashes occur in milling. Once the reports are in, the J Committee will have data to back that up. Then a change in procedure would make sense. TMI: Be strict about people staying off phones and social media if there is an accident. Bad news travels fast; bad information even faster. Race officials need time to notify family, APBA HQ, and insurers after an incident. Keep out of the
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rumor mill and wait for accurate information about an injury. Safety guru Tom Stanley went to Europe to measure head clearance on capsule boats. If you assume that Tom, or UIM, has big bucks available for such research, think again. It was retired Belgian rescue diver Daniel Dehaemers who paid Tom’s travel expenses, and went with him to get the job done. As a former commercial diver, Daniel’s knowledge was invaluable when we looked at the air systems in the boats. He knew the rules, and the important practical aspects too. He had excellent knowledge of composites, having been trained at Abaris in the US under Jay Carpenter, the composites expert for the Unlimited boats. Dehaemers was an innovator; he used his knowledge of composites to build a boat (the Dartagnan SP600) to challenge the world speed record. Sadly, he died in June 2018 before he could make the attempt. Regarding safety, Tom said Dehaemers “got tired of listening to us argue” and simply set out with Tom to verify whether drivers had sufficient headroom or not. For this high-tech task, Tom used a very low-tech measuring tool: a 4-inch styrofoam ball. If the ball fit between the top of a racer’s helmet and the capsule lid, all was well. APBA inspectors could use the same simple tool; and, Tom mildly suggested, “They make 2-inch foam balls too,” for categories with a lower bar. A sweeter seat: Tom noted that some capsule boat injuries may be due to inadequate seats. A seat that doesn’t fit you can make you unstable, too high or too low in the boat, or vulnerable to getting banged up at pressure points. Bald Spot Sports in Indianapolis makes kits for custom-formed Creafoam seats. The user mixes the beads and bonding agent inside a plastic bag, places it in the capsule, and has the driver sit on it, in normal driving position and wearing race gear, until it sets. Then it is trimmed, covered with Nomex, and it’s time to go racing. The seat stabilizes the driver comfortably, because it is perfectly molded to his/her form. Check out the video on www.baldspotsports.com. Think about cockpit padding, too. Check out padding certified to SFI 45.2, which provides needed energy absorption plus fire resistance. Drivers, when you sit on this stuff, your tailbone will thank you someday! Course layout: At the Offshore Committee meeting, Offshore Chairman and APBA insurance representative Rick Felsen stressed the importance of course setup. Outer markers must be set, per rules, far from shores and docks, and spectator fleets must stay far from the outer markers. Felsen is determined never to let spectators be at risk at a race. He personally reviews all applications. Because Rick was an Offshore racer, he understands course layouts and can help clubs make their races safer. He bellowed, “Fairchild! You know what an outer marker is?” Chris answered sheepishly, “I’ve run over many.” So, yeah, we’re not perfect. But we have to take seriously anything that could endanger racers, crews, or fans. APBA’s insurance coverage depends on adherence to rules and a clean track record. And, without insurance, there is no more APBA racing. Take a hard look at your next race. Is everyone clear on the rules? Are they following the rules consistently? A safe race is much more fun. When competitors and spectators have fun, they will come back.
RACE CALENDAR REGION 1
5/18-19 7/13-14 9/7-8 9/13-14
REGION 7
Standish ME Thompson CT Standish ME Wolfeboro Bay NH
PRO-MOD-SO-J PRO-MOD-SO-J PRO-MOD-SO-J VINTAGE
Point Pleasant Beach NJ Berwick PA Mays Landing NJ Lake Hopatcong NJ
OS SE-MOD-SO INB OS
REGION 4
7/26-28 7/27-28 8/31-1 9/21-22 10/4-6 10/13-13
Leonardtown MD Cambridge MD Wheeling WV Hampton VA Leonardtown MD Ocean City MD
VINTAGE INB Divisional VINTAGE INB VINTAGE OS
Lakeland FL Tavares FL Gulfport FL Jesup GA Cocoa Beach FL Sarasota FL
INB-OPC VINTAGE INB-OPC MOD-SO-PRO-J Divisionals OS OS
REGION 6
4/27-28 Waynesville OH 5/3-5 Springfield OH 6/1-2 Huntington IN 6/11-15 Springfield OH 6/20-23 Constantine MI 7/6-7 Springfield OH 7/20-21 Hillsboro OH 7/28-28 St Clair MI 8/4-4 Michigan City IN 8/24-25 Dayton OH 9/21-22 Madison IN 9/28-29 Waynesville OH
OS MOD-SO-J OPC MOD-SO-J
4/7-7 5/3-5
Highlands TX Port Neches TX
OPC-J OPC-J
REGION 9
3/9-10 5/18-19 6/15-16 8/10-11 8/24-25 9/13-15 9/28-29 10/26-27
Oroville CA OB RR-INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Oroville CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Lathrop CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Lathrop CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Nicolaus CA VINTAGE-INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J San Diego CA SE-INB-IE-PRO-KPH-MOD-SO-OPC-UNL-J-PWR Oroville CA INB-VINTAGE-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Lathrop CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J
REGION 10
REGION 5
3/2-3 3/16-17 3/30-31 4/5-7 5/19-19 7/7-7
Lake Ozark MO Rock Falls IL Chetek WI Beloit WI
REGION 8
REGION 3
6/16-16 6/22-23 9/7-8 9/8-8
6/1 6/28-30 8/24-25 9/14-15
VINTAGE-INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J SE MOD-PRO-SE-KPH-SO-TC-J SE PRO-MOD-J North American Championship MOD-SO-J INB OS OS MOD-SO-J VINTAGE INB-VINTAGE-J
4/6 4/13-14 4/20-21 4/26-27 4/27-28 5/4-5 5/4-5 5/18-19 5/24-27 5/25-26 6/14-16 6/15-16 6/15-15 6/28-30 7/6-7 7/26-28 8/24-25 8/24-24 9/7-8 9/7-8 9/28-29
Kenmore WA SE Moses Lake WA PRO-MOD-SO-J Riggins ID SE St. John WA SE-JET SPRINT Yelm WA VINTAGE-INB-KPH-MOD-SO-OPC Castle Rock WA SO-PRO-MOD-J Nationals Chelan WA VINTAGE-INB-OPC St. Maries ID JRR Grants Pass OR SE Newberg OR PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J Orofino ID JRR Soap Lake WA VINTAGE-INB-IE-PRO-KPH-MOD-SO-OPC-J St. John WA SE-JET SPRInt Richland WA VINTAGE-INB-IE Olympia WA VINTAGE-INB-KPH-MOD-OPC Kennewick WA VINTAGE-INB-UNL Oak Harbor WA VINTAGE-INB-KPH-MOD-SO-OPC St. John WA SE-JET SPRINT SeaTac WA SE-PRO-KPH-MOD-SO-J Spanaway WA INB-VINTAGE-OPC Manson WA SE-VINTAGE-INB-MOD-SO-OPC-J
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NGK F1 Series 2019
BY VALERIE COLLINS • PHOTOS BY KEVIN PYLES/MOTO MG MARKETING The NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship racing series, showcasing the stars producing five different F1 winners in six events. This phenomenal show of racing of the powerboat racing world, primes for its third consecutive year of world class action helped spark a wave of new driver enthusiasm, encouraging nine new F1 boat racing in 2019. This outboard series features the always-magnificent Formula 1 pilots to join NGK F1 in 2019—a mix of new and established boat racers stepping up class, along with the speedy F-Light tunnels, thunderous Tri-Hulls and the younger from supporting classes. Some of these new drivers coming up from F-Light class are pilots of J Hydro. names that have been on the podium in the past, including 2018 F-Light champion, #8 Jeremiah Mayo, who earned a spot on the NGK podium in four out of six F-Light NGK F1 PC will soon be bringing its action-packed program to seven events in five races last season and stood on the podium twice in Tri-Hull. different states, including four sites that are new to the series. The kickoff event will be at a brand-new location in Baytown, TX on April 7, 2019. Toledo, OH, Bay City, MI In addition to those drivers coming up from the F-Lights, we will see multi-APBA and Windsor, CO are the other new sites added for 2019. In late June, F1 boat racing National Champion, #93 R.J. West of Chuck Skelton Racing from California, competing will return to the Toledo, Ohio riverfront after a hiatus of over 30 years. Perennial in a brand new Composite Craft F1 hull that he designed and built himself. Texan favorite Bay City, MI, which has been a Austin Cheatham #40, the 2017 F-Light #17 Dylan Anderson of Tennessee and his dad, hotbed of powerboat racing for decades, Rookie of the Year, has graduated out of returning F1 racer #94 Ray Anderson, returns in 2019 with F1, F-Light, Tri-Hull his F-Light ride and will be running an F1 will be in the chase this year. and J Hydro as the newly dubbed “Rockin Grand Prix hull in 2019. Former Tri-Hull the River.“ Windsor, CO, another site from racer, #52 Chris Rinker, who won two boat racing history, has been resurrected events last season, joins the F1 ranks in by NGK F1 for 2019 as well, and will also 2019. He will team up with his cousin, 2018 feature the four NGK F1 classes. Adding F1 Series Champion, Florida’s #20 Ashton to the prestige of the NGK F1 Powerboat Rinker, and Crew Chief James Chambers. Championship Series is the announcement Other drivers slated to join the 2019 series that the American Power Boat Association are Tennesseans #17 Dylan Anderson, son has awarded the 2019 APBA National California’s #24 Spencer Love is expected to Championships to NGK F1 for the F1, SST-45 (F-Lights), and Tri-Hull classes. The debut the latest carbon fiber design from National Championships will be held at the Windsor, Colorado event on Aug. 31-Sept. Hoffman Composite Race Boats. 1. APBA has also granted “Major Series Status” to NGK F1 for the SST 45/F-Lights class in 2019. This Series recognition, along with the APBA National Championships, will give our participants an added opportunity to earn APBA points toward the esteemed APBA Hall of Champions. Major Series: Champion earns 3 points towards the APBA HOC. National Championship: Winner earns 3 points towards the APBA HOC. North American Championship: Winner earns 2 points towards the APBA HOC. At press time, an application was pending for NGK F1 APBA Regional Championships for both Pittsburgh and Port Neches, where the winner could earn one-half point toward the APBA HOC.The full season schedule is as follows: April 7: Baytown, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro NOTE: F1 and F-Light will run at Baytown as non-Series classes May 3-5: Port Neches, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydrohttp://pnriverfest.com of returning F1 racer #94 Ray Anderson—both powered by Yamaha engines—as June 28-29: Toledo, OH - F1 well as drivers Jeff Ettinger, Eric Talochino, Mike Quindazzi, and Jude Gaspard, July 12-14: Bay City, MI - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J Hydrolongtime crew member for the F1 2018 runner-up, #2 Tracy Hawkins. Watch for www.rockintheriver.com Hawkins to be red hot in 2019, as he debuts the boat he’s been working on all winter, Aug. 2-4: Pittsburgh, PA - F1, F-Light- http://yougottaregatta.org in a hunt for a championship that narrowly slipped by him in 2018. Aug. 9-11: Springfield, OH - F1, F-Light, J HydroAs the NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship prepares for its third season of www.springfieldf1grandprix.com highly competitive racing, the drivers and teams are busy at their race shops, eager to return to the water to entertain the fans. Several teams have been adding new boats Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Windsor, CO - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J Hydroto their stables. California’s #24 Spencer Love is expected to debut the latest carbon www.roaroftherockies.com fiber design from Hoffman Composite Race Boats—a boat builder who is back after 2018 saw some of the most intense racing competition in the sport’s history, being out of the sport for over a decade. #57 David McMurray of Tennessee will
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reveal his brand new racecraft; a sleek, patriotic-themed carbon fiber Seebold hull. Series Manager Tim Seebold is looking forward to another great season in 2019. “The Series is very excited to put on a show at four brand new venues as well as our three very popular existing sites, where we will deliver our heart-pounding program to the fans who enjoy the adrenaline-charged action that NGK F1 racing brings.” Greenlight TV will film the NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship racing action all season long, producing a 30-minute show of each event to air on CBS Sports Network. You can also watch the shows on Motor Trend On Demand for a minimal fee. In 2018, CBS Sports Network television coverage reached 2.7 billion households with 45 airings of the 6 episodes (a 225% increase over 2017, and a 420% increase worldwide to 9 billion households). To view the shows on-demand, visit www.motortrendondemand.com/show/us-f1powerboats-championship-/73231972/. Livestreamed racing action will again be produced by Greenlight TV to air on the NGK Series and NGK’s facebook pages. www.facebook.com/ NGKF1PowerboatChampionship. Find additional information on the NGK Spark Plugs Powerboat Championship on www.ngkf1.com. At right, #57 David McMurray of Tennessee will reveal his brand new patriotic-themed carbon fiber Seebold hull. 2018 F1 Series Champion, Florida’s #20 Ashton Rinker.
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V&H-Where History Lives! STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN WOODWARD, REGION 10 VINTAGE & HISTORIC
While attending the annual Henry Lauterbach Black Lake - Medium Vintage takes to the water. Memorial Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta a decade or so ago, I had the pleasure of meeting two driving legends and racing heroes of mine—Tom D’Eath and Howie Benns. I also purchased a book that weekend: “Vintage Hydroplane Heritage” by Fred Farley and Ron Harsin; and then, of course, had both Tommy and Howie sign the book. It’s something that I value a great deal, because the history of boat racing comes alive with every turned page. Also in this 2007 book was an article written by Fred who, in my opinion, was and still is the undisputed king when it came to hydroplane history. The article was titled “A Brief History of Vintage Hydroplanes”. There are very few people out there that could describe a hand. Many individuals who became acquainted with boat racing as youths the true essence of boat racing better than the late great Fred Farley. have acquired some of those long-remembered boats, which have become the With approval from co-author Ron Harsin, I would like to share a few paragraphs fulfillment of a lifelong dream. The boats that participate in the V&H Division from that article that shed light on who we are and where we came from. come in two varieties. Some are restorations of actual antique race boats; others “In 1994, the Gold Cup champion Tom D’Eath was asked to take charge of a new are brand new boats that duplicate as closely as possible a previously existing Vintage & Historic Division of the American Power Boat Association (APBA). racing craft. All attempt to capture the spirit and grandeur of a bygone era.” Starting with just a handful of dedicated workers, Tom and his wife Judy set These words still ring very true today. In 2019, V&H celebrates its 25th year as a out to help preserve the rich heritage of inboard power boat racing. In just over Division, and is where much of our Inboard boat racing history is preserved and a decade, the APBA Vintage & Historic Division has become the most rapidly well maintained. Without these boats, a part of our valuable heritage is lost. I growing category in the APBA since its inception.” truly believe that if the V&H Division remains vital and well supported, with the Today in 2019, I do believe the same still holds true. sole purpose of preserving its rich heritage, our sport will surely survive to see The article goes on to say, “A lot of old racers have come out of retirement to lend another generation of fans embracing the thrill of boat racing. Got enough boats? The Chelan pits overflowed with beautiful racecraft, each with a story to tell.
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From HERE to THERE
APBA PROMOTIONAL AND MARKETING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS SHERRON WINER AND JEAN MACKAY-SCHWARTZ Content is King
Create an online contest with a small budget. For example, the first five viewers to “like and share” your page receive admission tickets, free parking, or racing caps/T-shirts. If your event is free and parking is free, and your event does not have caps and shirts, then work with a sponsor to give away their merchandise. This type of promotion becomes a perfect opportunity to crosspromote and increase your Internet reach while boosting a sponsor. Social media sites are about making connections. If you want your marketing to be effective, your (social media) community and your target audience must feel that they know you. Personalize your posts and photos. If people can identify with your event, they are more likely to attend. Make sure that what you are posting meets your targeted spectators’ expectations as well as the anticipated demographic reach of your chosen platforms. We are all a part of APBA, so mention and include your association with our sanctioning organization in your posts—it’s a sure-fire way to increase your Internet community reach. Your posts are an integral part of your total promotional plan; keep your message consistent throughout your marketing campaign. Keep your posts brief, and always include your event dates and location. Remember to promote your posts across your chosen outlets and use key posts as a basis for longer, in-depth articles. Do you need help with promoting your race? Do you need more information on how to create a marketing plan? We are an email away; part of our effort, through APBA’s Promotional and Marketing Committee, to get you from HERE (an idea) to THERE (a successful race). Jean Mackay-Schwartz – jean84c@earthlink.net Sherron Winer – winer.sherron@gmail.com
Create attention-grabbing posts on your media platforms Your chosen social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, and Google+, need to be fresh, exciting, and intriguing. To be effective, you should be creating and posting new content at least once a month early in your marketing plan; then bi-monthly, weekly, a few times a week; and when you are close to your event, daily. However, being creative on demand isn’t easy. Below are ideas to help manage content and maintain the necessary creativity to keep your event in front of your target market. Keep a content calendar – it’s a strategic marketing tool, and it’s easy to create. The calendar is your timeline of posting dates and ideas, a visual reminder for moving your event forward in the public eye. Fill the calendar with a variety of post ideas and reminders as well as call-to-action requests. Properly managed, your calendar is your go-to tool for maintaining fresh material on all your Internet sites. Think about the key elements of your event and use them as starting points for posting ideas. Highlight a class, driver, or team, and never pass up an opportunity to mention a sponsor, thank them, and showcase (with their permission) their business. Share an interesting race, event or location statistic. Cite an increase in attendance, overall entries, or the addition of new classes or categories to the race card. Do you have additional event activities? Mention music, programs for kids, the availability of parking and camping to keep your target audience informed. Create a countdown clock and keep it updated from monthly to weekly, then a post per day, to hours. If there are associated activity or admission charges, always make sure to mention the specific amounts. Add a photo: Remember that a post without a photo is often overlooked, so add a photo, but make sure that if the shot is not yours, you have permission for use, and give the photographer credit. Keep Promotion and Marketing Committee Co-chair Jean Mackay-Schwartz and APBA Director of Operations Sarah Ealy present the 2018 Best in mind that while a picture may be worth a thousand words, an Site Award to Jeff and Mary Williams for their race in Kitanning, out-of-focus, over- or under-exposed photo does not work. There Pennsylvania. Gleason Racing Photography are a number of inexpensive apps available to correct picture imperfections, Snapseed (free) is favored by many amateurs as well as professional photographers, Touchretouch ($1.99) gives you easy access to retouch tools and Afterlight 2 ($2.99) takes your shots from mundane to exceptional with plenty of filters as well as the basic correction tools. Vary the subject matter from race boats and action shots to individuals, crowd shots and behind the scenes photos. Post a quick video from past races, or share a video from another, similar race. Again, receive permission to use video and, if it is not your event, post byline credits for the videographer and the event. Think about a video explaining the intricacies of boat design, take an onboard camera for a ride and share the excitement of the driver’s perspective.
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Tore Up from the Floor Up? BY PATRICK GLEASON AND LAURA WHEELER
So you think you’ve got it covered. You are race-ready FreeMagBank photo in your racing helmet and lifejacket, Kevlar top and pants, maybe even a head and neck restraint. But wait—look down. What is that on your feet? Your oldest shoes, usually worn wet and dirty. The problem with those comfortable old shoes is not that they are ugly; it’s that they will not protect you from a spinning propeller if you are tossed out of your boat. They will shred. Prop cuts happen, and feet are a favorite target. That’s why APBA initially moved to require cutresistant footwear for unrestrained Stock, Mod, PRO and J drivers. However, the best option, cut-resistant socks, are currently unavailable. The APBA Board will discuss the issue again March 5th. Meanwhile, here is some background. PATRICK GLEASON OF SECURITY RACE PRODUCTS: It’s important to differentiate between “cut-proof” and “cutresistant” protection: There is NO practical cut-proof material outside of chain mail, and even that won’t stop everything. Kevlar®, Dyneema®, Cut-Tex PRO®, etc. are meant to decrease the chance of injury, not stop it. Nothing stops everything. There are two common options for cut-resistant footwear. The simplest and cheapest are cut-resistant socks. These have been around for over 10 years, and the most popular was the Tuff-N-Lite sock. They could be worn with any shoe and provided effective cut protection (see Laura Wheeler’s comment below). Unfortunately, Tuff N Lite quit producing socks in 2018. Note: a Google or Alibaba search for cut-resistant socks will yield a number of “hockey socks.” Most of these have cut-resistant material only above the ankle, in the shin and calf area—not in the toe, sole and heel where boat racing cuts most commonly occur. GainzCity Dyneema® socks on Amazon (unavailable as of 2/18/19) seem to offer the most effective and economical protection, at $19.95 plus shipping for 2 pairs. Also, Ryan Brewster found Barefoot Company Dyneema® socks at www. getfyf.com. Cut-Tex PRO® is an even tougher fabric, but as yet nobody makes footwear with it. The other option are boots with a cut-resistant fabric liner. Security Race Products has offered such a boot for several years. These have a Kevlar reinforced interlayer lining, water resistant grain leather, a flexible slip resistant sole, a steel toe, and pad walk system with drain holes on the instep. These are a special order boot and require a couple of weeks to come in. Heavier than running shoes or booties, they are a solid form of protection. They take a little time to get used to (let’s face it, they’re not as mobile as a wetsuit bootie), but once you’re acclimated to them, they work well. Kyle Bahl races with these in CSR. He moves all over the boat, and it took him a while, but he’s used to them now and they’ve worked well for him. Cost is $175 per pair plus shipping. While cut protection is the primary objective, we often overlook flotation. Many of us (myself included) have worn old running shoes when racing. Those are constructed of foam and cloth—mostly foam. What does foam do? It floats. So, depending upon your lifejacket and its fit, wearing this kind of shoe, however
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comfortable, can be like strapping a couple of buoys onto your feet, and adversely affect your lifejacket’s ability to float or more importantly, roll you over properly. Back in the old school Inboard days, guys like Bill Muncey, Dean Chenoweth, and George Woods Jr. wore work boots, because they act as a “keel” in their flotation when in the water (feet down, torso up). Billy Allen was way ahead of his time when he started wearing steel-toed work boots in an ASH. However, leather work boots are not cut-resistant whether they have steel toes or not. A leather boot is made of animal skin, and animals (on this planet anyway) are NOT cut resistant. The only cut-resistant work boot is one that has a Kevlar® or Dyneema® lining throughout, not just the tongue or the laces. Logging boots often have a cut-resistant lining as well. Bottom line: ANY kind of cut resistant foot protection is better than none at all, but whatever you get, keep in mind that it matters how ALL your equipment works together. LAURA WHEELER’S EXPERIENCE: In the past several months, there have been many discussions about the footwear we use when racing. The 2019 season is the first when all unrestrained drivers in the Junior Classes, Stock, Mod and PRO classes must wear cut-resistant socks or footwear when racing. This issue is very personal to me: I cut my foot on a prop at the 2010 Stock, Mod and J Nationals in Oroville, CA. In the second heat of the finals of AXH, I hit a wave and barrel rolled fifty yards from the finish line on the last lap. As I came out of the boat, my right foot collided with the prop. There were five cuts in the tennis shoe I was wearing. Only one cut made it through the cut-resistant sock I was wearing and into the side of my foot. That cut was minor, and only needed a couple stitches. That crash, combined with the other accidents I’ve seen, made me realize how foot injuries from the driver’s own prop are relatively common compared to other injuries in kneeldown boat racing. Today, I wear two pairs of cut-resistant socks and cut-resistant steel toed boots to protect my feet. While no piece of safety equipment is ever cut-proof, I wear those socks and boots to give myself a high level of protection and improve the odds. Though there was a short adjustment period when I first started wearing the boots, I do not find the boots or socks uncomfortable or hard to race in. My biggest issue with boots is that the smallest size is a bit big for my small feet! At the end of the day, we can’t eliminate all risk from racing, but we can work to decrease the risk. Pat Gleason and Laura Wheeler photo by Adam Allen
Keeping Racing Fun and Safe SAFETY FIRST AT APBA WITH HAWK RACE CONSULTANTS Rick Felsen of Hawk Race Consultants, Ltd. has a unique eagle’s eye view of motorsports insurance. He was an Offshore racer (Hall of Champions 1987), and insures everything from Jet Skis to Unlimiteds, offering the “competitive rate, same coverage” format. He has generously not raised APBA’s rates for 2019. He’s not a braggart, or he would tell you that himself. At the Insurance meeting on February 7th in Orlando, Felsen happily noted that APBA has turned around in the last three years. The insurance loss ratio has improved greatly, and APBA clubs and affiliated series are promoting events more effectively. Jet Skis (IJSBA) will be racing at Powerboat Nationals and APBA Offshore events, enhancing the show. They carry their own insurance, also through Hawk Race. Rick predicts that the partnership of OPA and P1 Powerboat Superstock will add Offshore members to APBA, and put more boats on the water in 2019. In his role as Offshore Commissioner, Felsen simply said, “My job is to listen.” However, he will scrutinize course layouts closely, making sure that there is no spectator fleet in the turns, and that they stay 300 feet from outer markers, parallel to the course. He doesn’t need a computer-generated drawing of any club’s racecourse; he does need the Chief Referee to carefully check the course layout. Rick wants to see qualified, experienced referees and risk managers working at APBA races. They are the eyes and ears of the Association. Felsen also wants access to restricted areas limited. The hot pit (restricted) area, where engines are firing and cranes are lifting boats, should be separate and fenced off. “If your boat is not on the water, you should be kicked out. You need a purpose to be in the restricted area. And nobody should be walking around in the crane area,” says Felsen. Everyone in that area should have a wristband and be an APBA member. Areas where trailers and boats are parked just require common-sense care like covering propellers, keeping walkways clear, and putting fuel containers out of the way. Fans enjoy seeing the boats; they just need to be able to do so safely. Rick is hands-on when it comes to issuing insurance certificates. He said, “I am the highest-paid certificate issuer in the country. I don’t do anything mechanically.” He works closely with Cindy Minoletti at Headquarters: “Cindy is a key player in many of the decisions I make. I respect her knowledge.” Rick noted that the current Waiver and Release forms were developed years ago, and need to be upated, especially Minor Waivers. (States vary in their requirements for minors participating in events. A parent or legal guardian must be with a participating minor at a race; notarized waivers are no longer acceptable.) He cited Jet Ski waivers as an example of well-written forms. IJSBA President Scott Frazer was present, and said frankly that waivers are “neither perfect nor worthless,” but the language around the Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk could be sharpened up. Who signs waivers? APBA President Howie Nichols works for a fire department, and said that EMTs, police and fire personnel may not
be allowed by their counties to sign waivers “but you can ask.” Otherwise, all participants (drivers, crew, officials—anyone in the restricted area) must sign waivers. It used to be common practice to send ALL incident reports to the insurance company, because most would result in no injuries/transports (claims) and so our overall risk profile would look good. The insurer was receiving too many incident reports, which made it seem that every APBA race had some sort of incident. Now, a new process is in place: The referee will now send incident reports ASAP to Sabrina at Headquarters, and only those involving injury/ transport/potential claim will be flagged (probably just with a sticky note) to send to the insurance company. It is important to fill in all requested information—especially the name, address and phone of an injured person. That person will receive a letter from Mutual of Omaha asking about health care providers, etc. NOTE: If you have been injured at an APBA race and you receive a letter from Mutual of Omaha, DO NOT THROW IT OUT. The company wants to help you with Participant Accident expenses. If you provide information promptly, your claim will be handled quickly. All crane operators, vendors, additional attractions, etc. must present their own certificates of insurance. If the race committee uses a drone, the operator should be FAA registered, and carry a separate $1 million certificate of insurance. Certificates must include Additional Insured wording for your Club and APBA. What if unauthorized drones appear over the racecourse? Rick said, “Shoot ‘em down. Birdshot works.” He was kidding, we think; actually, calling local authorities is probably more effective. Racers look at risk differently than insurers do. Rick raised some eyebrows when he said, “If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have kids in boats, because J racers do fall out of boats sometimes.” However, most of the people in the room once were kids in boats, and have fond childhood memories. Felsen got more agreement when he said, ”Safety for kids has to be a priority.” Ultimately, reducing risk is everyone’s responsibility. We are fortunate to have experienced motorsports insurance specialists like Rick Felsen, Don DeWitt, and Dennis Liggett, working with us to keep racing safe. Thanks to those who watch over race sites to keep everyone in compliance, and thanks to those who insure our fun. Together we keep racing fun and safe.
Kids in boats: J Hydro National Champion Ava Hearn. Gleason Racing Photography
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J Scholarship Report BY JILL GLOSSNER
The J Scholarship idea was born after a conversation between Sheri Runne and myself on the drive home from the National Meeting in Detroit, Michigan in 2007. We were frustrated with our state government for not letting kids age nine to fifteen race. What could we do to rectify that, and help the racing community as well? After an 11-hour ride, we had several ideas and were ready to tackle them. Word got out about our ideas and, as always happens, our boat racing friends rallied behind us. As Sheri and I started setting up some semblance of rules for the scholarships, Mary Williams and the Augustine family started plans for a cookbook to be sold with proceeds going to the J Scholarship. They not only collected and compiled recipes from across the country, but Janet Stoy printed and collated the books at no cost to us. In 2008, the first two scholarships were awarded. The following years have brought new challenges around how to raise the money to guarantee there would be enough to cover two scholarships of $1,000 each. Obviously we could not continue to make cookbooks every year, as you can only sell so many to the same market. Our number one supporter has been the APBA Historical Society led by Buddy
Byers and, more recently, Rick Sandstrom. They have generously chipped in to help from time to time when more than two applications came across our desks. APBA has added a donation checkbox on their membership renewal applications for us; memorials have been donated; 50/50 raffles were held. Prizes such as a handmade boat racing T-shirt quilt, and new LIFELINE and Gentex lifejackets were donated for raffles. A club in North Carolina even held a “Drag Queen race” on Halloween in 2017, with profits going to the J Scholarship account. At this year’s Category Awards event, a $1577 check made out to the J Scholarship Committee, the result of John Wlodarski III and Mikey Pavlick raffling off the LIFELINE jacket via THROTTLED, their Stock Outboard podcast. Thanks to all who donated raffle items, bought and sold tickets. This year, after we arrived home from the National Meeting in Orlando, another letter came to us from a club in Illinois, saying they were disbanding and wished to donate the balance of their treasury to the J Scholarship. Their unfortunate loss has become our gain, and we are extremely grateful. Who would have thought that eleven years ago, one idea between two friends would have such an impact on our sport of boat racing and beyond? I am proud to say the J Scholarship idea has become an annual award at the APBA National Meeting for the last ten years. This year four well-deserved scholarships were awarded to Zoe Adams, Nate Mitchell, Nik Miskerik, and Jared Pavlick. As for the racing age in New Jersey, we did get that lowered to 13 but still do not feel satisfied with that, so we have approached Representatives about reducing it even further. So far to no avail. But we keep trying! At left, Mikey Pavlick, APBA President Howie Nichols, and John Wlodarski III with the THROTTLED donation check to the J Scholarship. Below, Nate Mitchell and Jared Pavlick are two of this year’s scholarship recipients AND they made the Hall of Champions. Congratulations to all! Gleason Racing Photography
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Fast Forward: Fun!
Below, before the Saturday night banquet. L-R: Hall of Champions inductee Kyle Lewis, Mike and Alan Akerstrom, Rachel Warnock, Billy Allen, and Dudley Smith, unsung hero of the U.S. A-Team.
CATCHING UP AND CHILLIN’ IN ORLANDO Zeke Sutherland celebrates Category Awards in his own special way.
The Hearns from top left: Kori, Edward, Kelly, Theo, Isabella, Ellie, and Ava.
Future of the sport looks great: Nate Mitchell, Kelsey Bennett, and Karissa Mitchell.
Joel Kiddy and John Wlodarski III at 5 AM. The amazing Rinker family getting some love at the Category Awards.
Above, motorheads rejoiced! Powerboat Nationals brought a boat; there were gorgeous CRT engines; and Jeff Titus brought plenty of sample props to his Propeller Science Seminar.
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Jeff Brewster photo
Dreaming Big in Orlando APBA NATIONAL MEETING FEBRUARY 6-9, 2019, ORLANDO, FLORIDA Orlando was a beautiful dream. Sunshine and 80°; palm trees, flowers, and green grass. No snow. Those who arrived early enjoyed Disney World, the Epcot Center, Magic Kingdom, SeaWorld, water parks, and more. The rest of us got outdoors in between meetings. Thank you, Florida. APBA’s annual week of meetings and awards went well. Some categories, having wrapped up their rule changes ahead of time, could focus on the big picture: how to grow the sport. The Inboard and Stock Outboard Racing Commissions each broke up into small groups during their meetings to focus on ideas to promote growth. In addition, Stock Outboard has formed Novice Racing Commission of younger members, who hold weekly brainstorming sessions. Most members agree that J racing and driving schools are essential to draw in new racers of all ages. Available equipment for sale helps too. LESS IS MORE: What if a race program were 3 hours instead of 7? What if some classes combined to make a full field of competition? During a Board meeting, Mark Tate said, “Every category needs to consider combining classes.” The idea is not unusual, but it is unusual to hear it expressed several times during the National Meeting. As Inboard Chairman Dutch Squires said, “We need to put a better product on the water.” Giving fans a great show needs to be part of the goal. Events like the Valleyfield Regatta exemplify a commitment to the show. A shorter, more exciting program makes fans happy. A race that is really fun for racers may be slow for spectators and race officials. This is not a new concept. In 1970, APBA President Les Brown asked in an open letter in PROPELLER: “How do we get spectators and make them fans of our sport? Simple! Fast-moving and short programs. “When was the last 6-hour football game you attended, or the last 29-inning ball game?...The Indy 500 is considered a long, hard grind but even that race is over in a little more than 3 hours.” Steve Noury, who reprinted the letter in the February issue of the South Shore Outboard Association Newsletter, is famous for putting on well-organized,
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fast-moving programs (one of the many reasons he just joined the APBA Honor Squadron). SSOA commits to a limited program of 22-24 heats per day, “to provide our hosts the most entertaining program that we can...” It works. Noury reports that casual spectators get hooked when the heats keep coming and the action is non-stop. Fans leave happy AND race officials get to go home earlier. Less burnout means those officials turn out for the next race. A short, punchy program may be just a dream for some, but at least the conversation has started. UPGRADES AT HEADQUARTERS: You may have noticed that you are hearing more from APBA Headquarters since Sarah Ealy took over as APBA Director of Operations. Regular reminders of upcoming events and deadlines, ballots, etc. are arriving via email, instead of on paper in your mailbox. That saves money. Sarah has also saved APBA about $13,000 by reviewing recurring expenses and making changes. Part of the Director’s job is marketing, but Sarah admits it is a huge task and any help from the membership would be greatly appreciated. While clubs are most effective at promoting their local races, while APBA’s job is to promote the sport of boat racing and the association as a whole. Tapping into social media is an effective and inexpensive way to achieve marketing goals. Shortly after starting work with APBA in June Sarah set up an APBA Instagram account that she regularly maintains and uses for advertising purposes. To help clubs, PROPELLER ad rates are a bargain, and each APBA club now gets one free 1/3-page ad in the magazine annually. There is also a small promotional fund available to clubs and categories. You will hear about how to submit a proposal once requirements and deadlines are determined. Sarah has also made the APBA Shop more attractive and useful, putting ALL Driving Schools in one place to drive sales. Dates, places, rates and signups are right there, ready to ring up sales for clubs. APBA does not take a cut of the
money received for driving schools; all income (less the credit card fee) goes directly to the organizing clubs. It just made sense to make the Driving Schools as visible as possible, and signup as easy as possible. WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEBSITE, ANYWAY? One of the biggest upgrades to APBA infrastructure should be launching as you read this. Two years ago, APBA Treasurer Steve Compton introduced Ryan Johnson of Easy Click as his choice to overhaul the APBA database, website, membership program—the entire computer system. This had been attempted about five times in the last 20 years. The result: expense, frustration, and partial fixes. Steve, Ryan, and the office staff knew that the system was a mess. Headquarters has three separate computer systems that did not talk to each other, and ancient hardware. Inconsistent region borders made programming a nightmare, but reconfiguring the region map fixed that. Some glitches on apba.org are due to attacks on the vulnerable, aging, barely connected parts of our system. Ryan’s task is to bring all the parts together on a new, stable platform. Ryan was in Orlando, hunched over his computer, when he was asked to make a presentation on technology Saturday morning. Ryan was able to explain the roadblocks, demonstrate some improvements he is building into the new system, and answer questions. He walked us through the new sanction process, which is very straightforward. You can pull up last year’s sanction, keep the information you need, and make updates for this year’s race. Google Places can fill in directions to the race site (even if there are no nearby landmarks). As you enter race officials’ names, the system auto-populates their contact information. You can upload insurance documents and course layouts with your sanction. • On the Member Profile page, members will be able to update their own information (address, phone, email, etc.). • The Resources page will be easier to navigate (YAY!), and mobile-friendly. Ryan is building the system to last, looking to the future. DRIVING SCHOOLS DRIVE GROWTH: APBA clubs host more driving schools these days, either with races or as stand-alone events. Robin Shane has helped put on 16 schools in her area alone, usually in concert with Inboard races. There is help available. The APBA Historical Society helps fund schools. The PRO Category will help with ambulance expenses. Prospective students can register for any Driving School now on the APBA Shop, as well. It is important to bring people in, AND to bring them back. Some people attend a driving school just to check off a bucket-list item—one and done. Others want
to jump in, buy equipment, and become APBA racers. If clubs collect contact information on their students, they could follow up afterward. Steve Greaves reported that in Seattle Outboard Driving Schools, “Of the 40 people who sign up, only 3 or 4 are ‘bucket-list’ students. Often their relatives, grandkids and crew members sign up.” Interestingly, the people who attend may not be the same 40 who initially signed up. SOA is constantly trying to improve the Driving School experience. Part of the club’s success is staying in touch with students. It was also suggested that APBA reach out to former members and single-event members, to invite them back to race. Good questions to ask are, “What would it take to bring you back to race?” and “What would it take to get your equipment to someone who would race it?” Robin Shane reported that the Steering Committee will drive the effort to reach Driving School graduates, single-event members, and lapsed members. THE 115TH APBA ANNUAL MEETING: Vice President Chris Fairchild called APBA “a ridiculously passionate organization, but our passion should not blind us to our mission—having fun and racing boats.” Treasurer Steve Compton noted that the Association gained some members in 2018, and is financially sound. He anticipates a small surplus in 2019. President Howie Nichols said, “Transformation can be scary. The region realignment and Bylaws changes have been challenging.” He encouraged members, “Please call or email with any questions or issues. It beats posting on social media.” He applauded progress made in the past year, noting the impending new website/database and card printing system. It helped that Director of Operations Sarah Ealy dove in quickly to learn the ropes, cut expenses, and expand APBA’s social media presence. As changes occur, communication will keep up. As Howie promised last year, “No surprises.” Gary Romberg introduced himself officially as APBA’s National Commissioner. The incomparable Charlie Strang, who held that post for years, passed away in 2018. Gary said, “I can’t replace Charlie, with his MIT degree, NASCAR, OMC and aeronautical experience, but I promise to make fair, equitable decisions. Please read updated rule books, Bylaws, and Category reports to learn more about what committees and commissions are planning for 2019.
Board meeting, clockwise from top left: VP Chris Fairchild, President Howie Nichols, Jerry Davids, and Mark Tate.
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On Feb. 9th, 2019, 20 APBA racers were inducted into the Hall of Champions. Here they are (L-R) First row: Peter Lauer, Nate Mitchell, Cody Olson, R.J. West, John Wlodarski III, and Jared Pavlick. Second row: J. Michael Kelly, Austin VanOver, Andrew Thirlby, Kyle Lewis, Justin Gibson, and Mikey Pavlick. Back row: Rich Smith, Pete Smith, Andrew Tate, Steve Kohlenstein, Steve Papp, and Mike Mironyk. Gleason Racing Photography photo
Excellence: Class of 2018 APBA HALL OF CHAMPIONS AND AWARDS CEREMONIES HONOR THE BEST OF THE BEST
Stock Outboard driver Peter Lauer, shown here with his sister Morgan before the Hall of Champions, is often cited by others as their favorite driver to race against. And it’s not because he’s easy to beat...
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Stock Outboard Rookie of the Year Michael Sharphouse, President Nichols, and SO Chair Jeff Brewster. Gleason Racing Photography
The 2018 Charles D. Strang Ultimate Award winner Rick Sandstrom.
THA N K YO U A P BA . . . I was truly honored to be recently inducted into the APBA Honor Squadron at the National Meeting in Orlando, Florida. This form of recognition is not one that you set as a goal to earn, like many of the more tangible point system awards. I guess it just happens because of your passion for the sport— and it is the people in the sport that make you passionate about what you do. I am overwhelmed that my peers would nominate me for such an honor. Thank you to all for the congratulatory messages. I am honored to be part of such a wonderful organization. We enter the sport for the racing aspect; we stay in the sport because of the people. Thank you to the American Power Boat Association family of members. —Steve Noury
Modified winners L-R: Chair Tom Sutherland, John Wlodarski III, Peter Lauer, Jason Williams, Austin VanOver, Eric VanOver, Nate Mitchell, Kyle Lewis, Steve Kohlenstein, and Kelly Hannon. Gleason Racing Photography
Too cool: Inboard Rookies of the Year Owen Henderson and Travis Ulsh. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
JS-712 Flyin’ High Skiffers Mike Buturla and Katelyn Shaw with their 2nd place High Points award. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
OPC Chair James Chambers and APBA President Howie Nichols honor champions R.J. West (SST 45), Jason Nelson (F4), Mike White (Sport C) and Ashton Rinker (F1). Gleason Racing Photography
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Jeff and Mary Williams do just about everything. Mary is Secretary for the APBA Board and the Modified Commission; Jeff is a Chief Inspector, Co-chair of the J Committee and Inspection Committee,and serves on a few other commissions and committees. They won the Best Site Award for their race in Kitanning, PA.
Heroes Behind the Scenes SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING AND MAKE APBA WORK
That’s Jill Glossner, with children David, Shawn, and Kaitlyn, and husband Scott (who helped surprise Jill with the Don Allen Sr. The amazing Jerry Davids, who has helped so many to race, with Memorial Service Award). Jill is a mainstay of the Scoring Committee and J Scholarship program. Julie Sparrowgrove photo his John Read Service Award. Gleason Racing Photography
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Tom Newman exemplifies selfless service in many ways, especially in support of the Inboard Driving Schools. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
Christine and Pat Gleason, who take beautiful photos and make it look like fun. Lee Sutter photo
Julian Rucki, who stepped up as Region 9 Chairman, and does so much more for Inboard and APBA. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
Jan Shaw pitched in to bring in sponsorship money, help with registration, and whatever else needed doing.
Hall of Champions Committee heroes Ernie Dawe and Tracy Trolian do so much and make it look easy. APBA President Howie Nichols moved furniture, connected computer equipment, and chaired meetings. Gleason Racing Photography
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CATEGORY
CORNER
Mod Chairman Tom Sutherland finds someone he really looks up to: Hall of Champions inductee Steve Kohlenstein. APBA President Howie Nichols is unfazed. Gleason Racing Photography
MODIFIED OUTBOARD BY TOM SUTHERLAND, MODIFIED OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN At the National Meeting in nice warm sunny Orlando, Florida, the Modified Commission passed few new rules. However, among the rules passed was a restriction in the prototype rule requiring that there be at least two legal starters in a class where a prototype motor may be entered. Prototypes for 2019 are Mercury 15 in the 125 classes and the 22 cubic inch OMC under the 400 rules for the 350MR class. The Commission placed three classes on probation. They are 250MR, 350MR and 400MH. These three classes failed to reach participation of a minimum of ten boats for 2018. In the first year of probation, these classes may participate in Championship events, set records and receive points. If put on probation for a second consecutive year, they may still compete in Championship events, but may not set records or receive points. In a third consecutive year of probation, they may not participate in Championship events, set records or receive points. In a fourth consecutive year, they may be dropped altogether as a class.
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Chief Modified Inspector Jeff Williams is considering a two-tier qualification system for Mod Inspectors. The current list of Modified Inspectors are qualified to inspect Championship events, but many of them are either inactive or overworked. The two-tiered system that Jeff is proposing would allow for a level of inspectors at local races. These inspectors could check fuel, weight, and safety equipment, but would not be qualified for more involved inspections required for Championship events. The Mod Commission will set up two complete 125 motors to loan to clubs for a three-weekend time period for trial and sale. We hope this will allow those who have previously purchased 125 motors in areas that do not yet have enough to field a class to be able to race. For further information, please contact Jerry Davids. The 2019 Mod Nationals will be held at Constantine, Michigan June 19-23. Bids for the 2020 Nationals were made by Marine Racing Club
for Springfield, Ohio, to be held along with the Stock and J Class outboards; and Indiana Outboard Association for Constantine, Michigan. The Modified Commission withheld making a decision for 2020 until after an outboard race had been held at Springfield. North American Championships for Mod will be in Kittanning, PA for 125MR and 350MH; Wakefield, MI for 200MR, 250MR, and 250MH; Alexandria, KY for 350MR, 850MR and 400MH; Huntington, IN for 500MR and 125MH; Springfield, OH for 750MR; a new IOA race in Danville, IL for 200MH and 500MH; Constantine, MI (MHRA race) for 750MH and Eatonville, WA for 850MH. The Mod Divisionals for 2019 will be: Northeast – Franklin PA Southeast – Jesup, GA Central – Springfield, OH and West – Ingle Lake, WA. Snow sucks.
JUNIOR CLASSES
BY MARK WHEELER AND JEFF WILLIAMS, JUNIOR CLASSES COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRMEN APBA’s Junior Classes Committee had a very productive meeting in Orlando. Cody Olson and Jared Pavlick were honored Saturday night with their induction into the APBA Hall of Champions. The committee awarded championship events and discussed rule changes for the 2019 season. Prior to the national meeting, the 2019 National Championships had already been awarded to Wakefield, MI (July 21-27), and the 2019 North American Championships had already been awarded to Constantine, MI (June 22-23). At the national meeting, the 2019 Northeast Divisionals for the Junior Classes were awarded to Franklin, PA
for the Memorial Day weekend. The 2019 Southeast Divisionals have been moved to Jesup, GA (April 6-7). The Central Divisional Championships were awarded to Springfield, OH (July 6-7). The Western Divisional championships will take place in Region 10 at a race site and date to be determined. The Junior Classes Committee proposed rule changes to the APBA Board of Directors for its review and final approval. The first of our rule changes deals with engine shutdown when the throttle is released. Specifically, the proposed revised rule states,
“All boats must have an automatic device to close the throttle and completely close the carburetor butterfly when the throttle is released. All engines must be equipped with full carburetor butterflies and must shut down when the throttle is released.” Other rule changes clarify the manner in which APBA propellers are distributed to competitors in J Hydro and J Runabout. We will provide more details on all rule changes once final approval has been given by the APBA Board of Directors.
(L-R) Junior Classes Co-chair Mark Wheeler, Hall of Champions inductees Cody Olson and Jared Pavlick, and APBA President Howie Nichols. The two J inductees were very classy at the podium. Gleason Racing Photography
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STOCK OUTBOARD BY JEFF BREWSTER, STOCK OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN The closure of the 2018 racing season occurred less than a week ago as of this writing. Our National Meeting that was held in sunny Orlando, Florida, was one of my all-time favorites, due to the location and the weather. The warm sunshine was amazing, to say the least; and returning home in Ohio to breathe in 19-degree air was a tough pill to swallow. Amazingly, the location was the same hotel where we held the 1992 National Meeting, although I was not sure if I was correct on my assumption until we arrived. This hotel had grown immensely since that year. Tto be honest, it is not fair to call it a hotel any longer, but more a beautiful tropical resort. Our commission worked very well together this year, and we were able to finish our agenda, as I had hoped, on the first day of our meeting. This gave us the time to fulfill a dream of mine—to be able to focus on one of our most important issues: our future. Prior to our meeting, I asked our commissioners for feedback on what they felt were the most important topics to discuss. Of course, they did not realize that the first three to respond would also get some leadership duties to go along with their great ideas. Our commission was divided into three different action groups of five members apiece, and they spent an hour discussing their topics. This informal way of discussion worked very well, and we enjoyed having our gallery join in with us and provide some excellent feedback. After the hour was up, we returned to our previous seating arrangement, and each leader provided a report on the outcome of their respective discussions. I hope that this will become a staple for our future, so that we don’t spend all of our time together focusing on rule changes but on the future of our sport. Many thanks to Don Allen, (Our Long-term Goals), Matt D’Agostino, (Engine Tech & Availability) and Mike Pavlick, (Teaching and Mentoring) for stepping up and leading our groups. Without them, and incredibly fast typist Brian Mitchell, our meeting would not have yielded the desired results. I am very thankful for the help that was provided.
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Top, the DoubleTree by Hilton SeaWorld in Orlando was beautiful. Above, Don Allen’s group discusses Long-term Goals. At left, more tropical beauty at poolside. Below, Matt D’Agostino’s group discusses Engine Tech & Availability. Jeff Brewster photos
INBOARD RACING BY DUTCH SQUIRES, INBOARD CHAIRMAN
The Inboard Racing Commission reviewed 43 rule proposals prior to the National Meeting in Orlando. The proposals that were approved are posted in the current Inboard rulebook and are in place for our season opener, the Orange Cup Regatta March 1st-3rd. With rule changes in place, the commission spent time in Orlando looking to the future of Inboard racing. Nine action groups were assigned to explore ideas on specific topics and report to the commission as to what actions might be taken to implement or improve inboard racing in these specific areas. The topics were Drone Development, Driving Schools, Inboard Youth Racing Programs, High Point Parity, Race Calendar, Championship Turn Judges, Race Promotion Via Social Media, Capsule Certificate Program and Runaboat/ Flatbottom Promotion. Many positive ideas were presented to the commission. Most action groups expressed the need to continue meeting via conference call or QuickTopic (an internet discussion program) to further develop their recommendation. The commission did vote to readdress the 1 Litre 4 stroke proposal. A committee was assigned to work on a more agreeable 4 stroke proposal and present it to the commission in a timely manner. The plan is to have this engine option in place for the 2019 racing season. The commission concluded the meeting reviewing a possible plan for the future of Inboard racing. It was agreed that we need to reduce the number of classes in inboard racing. How to do this without forcing members out of our program is the issue. After discussion it was suggested that we ask race committees to help by combining classes when possible, running an invitational of several classes, or other ideas that put similar classes on the water at the same time. This experimentation will help as we look to create parity between similar classes. I caution members not to overreact, as this is just in the thinking stage; and it will take time to see real combining of classes. It is something that needs to be explored, however.
The Inboard banquet was very successful and well attended. I want to thank the committee that worked diligently to organize and provide an outstanding awards celebration. Congratulations to all award recipients. A special congratulations to Julian Rucki, the Meritorious Service recipient, and to Tom Newman, the Racer Extraordinaire recipient. Remember, the goal is to have fun.
2018 Hall of Champions inductee J. Michael Kelly and owner Tim Collins celebrate the Y-41 team’s High Points championship. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
The championship A-6 Risky Business team L-R: Phil Eacret, Barry Eacret, Michael Jarvis, and Barry Eacret. Julie Sparrowgrove photo
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Meeting of the minds L-R: APBA Offshore Chairman Rick Felsen, Mercury Racing Director of Engineering Jeff Broman, OPA President Ed “Smitty” Smith, and Powerboat P1 Superstock CEO Azam Rangoonwalla.
APBA OFFSHORE
FAST FORWARD: OPA AND P1 POWERBOAT SUPERSTOCK COME TOGETHER A full field of racers and officials attended the APBA Offshore meeting on Feb. 7th, 2019 in Orlando. That has not happened for awhile. Powerboat P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwalla, OPA President Ed Smith, and their respective crews got together to discuss safety, competition, and the future. Also in attendance were a Mercury representative, and Jetski/Watercross reps AJ Handler and Scott Frazer. There will be a strong Jetski presence in the Offshore series this year. APBA President Howie Nichols said, “I’m ecstatic to see this Offshore turnout. Whatever I can do to help, I will do my damnedest.” APBA Offshore Chairman Rick Felsen emphasized the importance of setting up a safe course for racers and fans. Then the conversation shifted to boat construction. Ed Smith said that while APBA cannot mandate any particular hull, the manufacturers are
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stepping up, installing built-in roll bars and smaller windows. Racers are also bringing down their horsepower, which will lower speeds as well. The Lavin Guidelines used to be the ultimate authority for hull construction, but apparently UIM has rewritten them continuously. Basically, a new set of standards is needed. Meanwhile, Offshore racing will continue with the best hull/engine combinations possible, and pay close attention to safe speed. Azam reported that P1 had put capsules on four Superstock boats so far, and would be testing soon with the new Mercury powerheads. Powerboat P1 will compete at half of the 2019 events. Chief Referee Chas Dodge said that if referees took the 2018 test, they are good to go for 2019.
The 6-race schedule ahead looks exciting. The Powerboat P1 media reach and promotion will put the entire Offshore series in high visibility. Offshore racers Rich and Pete Smith, and Mike Mironyk and Steve Papp, celebrated their induction into the APBA Hall of Champions on Saturday night. See Rich Smith’s article elsewhere in this issue. Rick Felsen has a vision: to put lots of big, fast, noisy outboard Offshore boats on the water. “Outboards will make noise! That’s what I’m going to do before they put me in a box.” He promised, “This sport is going to move forward this year!”
They do look professional, don’t they? PRO Chair Kristi Ellison celebrates with Andrew Thirlby and Justin Gibson as they are inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions. Gleason Racing Photography
Professional Racing Outboard BY KRISTI ELLISON, PRO CHAIR I hope everyone is enjoying the winter as we get ready for race season to get underway. The PRO Commission met in Orlando, FL for the APBA Annual Convention and Awards. The Commission met over two days. Some of the highlights include: • Class participation numbers have increased by 30 participants from 2013. • The Commission elected to continue our driving school incentive: $300 towards driving school ambulance reimbursement if the school draws 10 or more single-day memberships; one per Region; up to $1500 for the 2019 racing season. If your club qualifies, email the Category Chair with the documentation towards reimbursement. • We have removed the mandate that an official must be on the PRO officials list in order for a race sanction to be approved by the PRO category.
• 45 SST is now legal to run in PRO F500, following the OPC rules. The following Championship requests were approved: 2019 Divisional Championships: June 1- Silver Lake, Everett Wash.– 700R, 1100R and 350H Sept. 7-8 - Angle Lake, SeaTac Wash. – All other PRO classes Jun 1-2 - Huntington Ind. – Eastern Antique classes June 19-23- National Championships: Constantine, Mich.: Testing 6/19; racing 6/20-23 Sept. 7-8- NA Championship: Angle Lake – SeaTac, WA: 700R and 1100R In 2018 we crowned 15 National Champions; 12 Divisional Champions; and 4 North American
Champions; and set 7 new records. The PRO category inducted two drivers to the 2018 Hall of Champions: Andrew Thirlby and Justin Gibson. The Col. Green Round Hill Trophy for the highest number of points in the category was awarded to Justin Gibson. The George Townsend Medal was awarded to Colten King for High Points in K PRO Hydro. The Gibby Peterman Award went to Chris Hellsten for the 14th time since inception for High Points in 250 Hydro. The Gary Wyhoski PRO Officials Award went to Rick Sandstrom. Congratulations to all the awardees for an outstanding season, and good luck and safe racing for 2019.
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REGION ROUNDUP REGION 9 Several people from Region 9 went to Orlando, Florida to receive awards for their 2018 achievements. Team Rucki received the National High Points award for Crackerbox. Julian Rucki received the Mark Weber Exceptional Service Award, given to a member who has gone over and above to improve Inboard racing. R.J. West was inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions for his outstanding performance in OPC. R.J. West drives for Skelton Racing out of Santa Clarita, CA. The Stock Outboard Racing Commission had many fine candidates for the Stock Outboard Rookie of the Year award; it was decided to issue a special plaque to 10 of our country’s top rookies. Two racers came from our own Region 9; congratulations to Jeff Link and Ismael Nunez for a great rookie season in Stock Outboard. They were unable to make the Orlando meeting, so the awards were presented during our region dinner in Rio Vista on Feb 16. The Region’s annual banquet and meeting were a huge success. At the Region meeting we covered several topics, and made decisions about upcoming races. The new Region 9 flag was presented. David Ingham announced that he was working on a new driver’s school, location and dates TBA. The Pointe Restaurant, hosted by Frampton Racing and Rick Frampton, stepped up again this year with fantastic meeting and banquet facilities. EBBC Commodore Stuart Ford presented awards. He acknowledged the ladies of racing, whose support is critical to the race program in Northern California and beyond. Also acknowledged for outstanding achievements were Li’l Fox Racing: Rich Fuchslin/Pat Brians/John Peeters/Joe Johnson for their 500ccH kilometer and 1/4 mile straightaway records, 1100ccR North American Championship, and 850ccMR 2018 National Championship. Also, Wilde Racing/Pam Wilde - ASH Divisionals, Biagi Racing/Pam Wilde - 300SSH Divisionals, Crackerbox Vineyards: John & Courtney Canfield/Tony Lombardo/Pam Wilde - 2018 North American Championship; and Rucki Racing: Julian & Richard Rucki/Brian Schmeltz - 2018 Crackerbox National High Points. Region specialty awards were given out, including some that haven’t been awarded in many years. The BJ Sutphin Award for ladies’ off-water participation was presented to Nancee Gillis; the Midnight Oil Schnell Team Award, to Link Racing; the Roger Johnson OPC Award, to Karl Bishop; and the Terry Frampton Crackerbox Driver Award, to Brian Schmeltz P28. Six people were up for Rookie of the Year; and Ismael Nunez (20SSH class) took the award. He also won Region overall high points in all classes raced. The John Fay Sportsman Award went to Tony Lombardo; Halley/Boyes Meritorious Service Award was presented to Rick Widoe; ASH Champ Pam Wilde, EBBC/ Region and 300SSH, Joe Johnson; CSH, 20SSH and OSY Ismael Nunez, CSR Dean Wilson, EBBC/Region Stevie Hoot, Sport C Karl Bishop, Crackerbox Rider Pam Wilde P5, and Crackerbox Owner/Driver, P28 Richard/Julian Rucki/Brian Schmeltz. NCOA Specialty Awards: the Hard Luck Rookie Award, Nancee Gillis; Curley Owens (any class points must include any nationals, records etc.) was presented to Joe Johnson; Granat Brothers (for most points scored in one class) to Ismael Nunez; Margret
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Kyle Masuen receives a Deck Rider award from Julian Rucki. Below, Teri Ziemer and Julian present Jeff Link with the coveted Boner Award. Nancee Gillis photos
E Brooks Deck Rider, Kyle Masuen; Les Morton 20SS Drivers only, Jeff Link. By unanimous acclaim, the famed “BONER” Award went to Jeff Link, but a close second was Julian Rucki. The Henry Wagner Sportsman of the Day was awarded to Gina Fowler for creating a GoFundMe page for Kyle Masuen. The Placerville Lions Club Sportsman of the Year was presented to Rick Frampton, and the Millot Award for Exceptional Sportsmanship on and off the water went to Rick Widoe. In Region 9 south, a new boat racing club, South West Boat Racing Association, SWBRA was formed. The first meeting was held Jan. 12th with some 20 interested people attending. APBA Board member Jean McKay Schwartz and others explained what was going on with the new region and why we needed a new club, and gauged the interest level for such a club. We were pleased with the interest and ideas expressed at this meeting. A big thanks goes out to Jean for coming so far to provide her insights. Since then, the support from everyone has been gratifying. SWBRA is now a member club of the APBA. Their second meeting was Sat. Feb. 23. News from the National Meeting was discussed, bylaws were approved, and then they discussed options for holding a boat race. For now they will focus on bringing the Stock and Inboards to the San Diego Bayfair Unlimited race. SWBRA is also planning a race in December, the first APBA race of the 2020 season. Upcoming races for Region 9 this year are as follows: May 18-19 Larkin Road, Oroville June 8-9 (99.9%) Mossdale/Lathrop “Quake at the Quarry” August 10-11 Mossdale/Lathrop “Quake at the Quarry” August 24-25 at Lake Minden in Nicholas September 28-29 Oroville Forebay October 26-27 Mossdale/Lathrop “Quake at the Quarry”
At right, Hall of Champions OPC inductee R.J. West. Gleason Racing Photography The Sept. 28-29 Oroville race will be hosted by Region 9’s NCOA club. This will be the Crackerbox Summer Nationals and may have record courses. Look for more information to follow on the APBA Region 9 Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ groups/130495724451558/. Let’s start this year out with a bang and be safe. We have the Time Trials in March at Larkin Road, Oroville then on to the racing season. We are looking forward to new members, drivers and families to join us in the future. —Nancee Gillis, Publicity Chairperson
REGION 9 ACCOLADES: Top, Jean Mackay-Schwartz with Ismael Nunez (L) and Jeff Link (R), who were honored by the APBA Stock Outboard Commission for accomplishments during the 2018 season, their rookie year of racing. Nancee Gillis photo Above, East Bay Boat Club Commodore Stuart Ford honored the ladies of boat racing during the R- 9 Northern Section 2018 season club award banquet. (L-R) Norma Ausejo, Shana Tucker, Nancee Gillis, Heidi Vincent, Teri Ziemer, and Kathy Link. REGION 10 A number of Region 10 racers looked forward to an early February trip to Orlando for the APBA National Meeting when it first appeared on the schedule. It turned out to be a better deal than we realized, since the week of the meetings, the greater Puget Sound region was “blessed” with one of its infrequent snowstorms. By the time we all headed back home, we still had the better part of a week more of snow to get through. For those of you who do not spend time in the Northwest, all you you need to know is that when it snows here, about 90 percent of the population lose their minds. Jim Codling was one of the ones who stayed home and braved the weather. Here’s his update from the world of Seattle Inboard/Seattle Drag and Ski:
“Snowmageddon is over. It really slowed things down out west; between our snow and California weather the left coast has really gotten beat up. BUT! we will rise again. A lot of our parks and play areas are damaged, and therefore some of the money we get from smaller towns has been spent on snow removal and road slides. “Several of our members went out to help clean up the messes in our park areas, which was much appreciated by the rangers and town folks. Our plans for Soap Lake include television and live radio again this year. Last year we had about 2 hours of prime time with the station involved. Race Chairman Aaron Stephens is primed and ready to roll, with an early sellout of the immediate park, and looking for more hotels and motels to put the dozens of racers and their
followers for the weekend. “With the HRL classes running their events with some different rules for the GP racers, we may get a few of the go-fast racers at our event, but we shall see. Our friends at Ness Crane are back for the season, with another brand new 60-ton rig which is great for the long picks we need at some of our sites. “Lawrence Lake is ready to rock early on, with Gordy Cole and a neat group of people helping with all the various problems we have there. (Leave your fur buddies home, please.) Be sure you volunteer early to help at the events. The thought from our clubs is to have a volunteer at each event to help, so please start planning. “Capsule training is over for the year by the time you read this. Thanks to the Region 10 rescue group for their efforts. This year they had several sessions and really sparked, with 3 capsules, including an OPC style. Many outboard racers came to try their luck with the testing. All passed. “We had a very successful three-club meeting, dinner and talk with 78 members present. It was a good time, as was the annual clubs party that all the groups put together, with some nice awards given out.” Another event that took place back home during the National Meeting week was a pizza party get-together that our Vintage gang held back at Don Kelson’s place. Ron Morrison gives us a roundup of the midwinter Vintage activities: “The winter months fly by and the 2019 Region 10 Vintage season approaches. The April 6th Kenmore event is currently uncertain due to construction targeted for the pit area. Lawrence Lake is in late April, and Lake Chelan in early May. For the full 2019 Region 10 Vintage schedule see www. nwvintagehydros.com. “Two memorial events are upcoming at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Washington. The first is for fellow Vintage racer and longtime supporter of Vintage activity, Steve Kramer. It will be on March 30th. The second, on May 11th, is for noted Northwest hydroplane designer and builder Ed Karelsen. “The 2019 APBA Vintage rules have yet to be published but they are on their way soon. When they are done, a Region 10 Vintage meeting will be called, which will include the test for Vintage inspectors. “Wheeling, West Virginia hosts the premier APBA Vintage event in the eastern U.S. Several Region 10 Vintage teams are planning to make the long tow to attend. Maybe their attendance will motivate some eastern teams to haul out here for the west’s premier Vintage event, Mahogany and Merlot. “Our John Woodward has agreed to author some articles for Propeller Magazine, including this issue. Watch for them! “There is a hot rumor that the legendary race course on Green Lake in metro Seattle is likely on the Vintage (only Vintage) schedule for 2020.” Meanwhile, back in Orlando, Mike White represented Region 10’s OPC group on the OPC Commission, and also collected a High Point Award in the Sport C class. Here’s Mike’s report as he prepares for the upcoming season: “Joining others from Region 10 at the 2019 APBA National Meeting in Florida sunshine and 80-degree weather, it was
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a shock to come back to multiple inches of snow and cold. Thanks to James Chambers and the OPC Commission for a well-managed meeting. I am in great hopes that we can do the same a year from now. Congratulations to Region 10 Sport C drivers Mike White, US-1 and Russel Mead, US-2. “Here in Region 10, OPC races in regattas put on by Inboard clubs. Many OPC drivers and crew are joining these Inboard clubs to support them. Currently three clubs have combined their monthly meetings. We are finding that this is beneficial in all facets of communication among the clubs, and a joint effort in promoting boat racing as a whole. “The season is beginning, for OPC, at Lake Lawrence in Yelm in April. We are looking forward to another great year of racing. Another racer who came south to collect hardware was Chris Fanaris, whose “Windjammer” collected a High Point Championship as well as a Hall of Champions berth in the Inboard Category. Chris updates us on Tacoma Inboard’s offseason activities: “Things are coming together nicely here in the Pacific Northwest, in terms of preparation for this quickly approaching season. It’s official: all of last year’s business has been settled with a few award ceremonies honoring those racers and contributors who rose to the top in 2018. “Our Tri-Club Banquet was a hit, hosted at Dave and Buster’s in Auburn, Washington; and wow, was it fun. From playing arcade games to clearing out all the food, it sure was a good change of pace from the usual banquet halls. There were a ton of trophies to hand out, and some made us just feel good inside. TIRA made some changes to a few awards this year to keep up with our ever-changing member base. A name change from the ’Inspirational Award’ to the ‘Tony Newton Inspirational Award,’ with a great picture of Tony acid-etched on the trophy itself, brought a tear or two to our eyes when Tony received it posthumously. Next, the ‘Robbie Ottwell’ award was renamed the ‘Terry Troxell’ award, and I was super excited to be the recipient of this good-looking trophy with Terry’s name on it.
“Our National Meeting in Orlando, Florida, was a success, with quite a few Region 10 and TIRA members in attendance. While the weather at home was cold and snowy, the sun was shining high in Orlando and made this trip a treat for all. Congratulations to all our award winners for a fantastic 2018 season. “Next up is a winter Region 10 meeting at the Hydroplane and Race boat Museum in Kent, Washington, to discuss our 2019 agendas. We plan on a few breakout sessions and action groups to fully involve our talents here in our area to better not only our racing experience, but our communities’ experience as well. It’s great to see the amount of participation grow at a time when we really need the help. Thank you! “Lastly, we have 2 more capsule training sessions scheduled to not only test our race gear and get our certifications up to date, but to get new faces to the pool as well. As always, if you have suggestions or comments on how you would like to see boat racing change for the good in our region, please get hold of your local club affiliates and have your voice heard. “That’s all for now; time to get back into the shop and put this hydroplane back together.” As always, the highlight of the National Meeting is the banquet and Hall of Champions Awards. Region 10 saw three members getting inducted in the Hall this year. J Michael Kelly and Kyle Lewis were both on hand to receive their awards. We also saw two longtime Region 10 members receive some very special awards: Al LaPointe was inducted to the APBA Honor Squadron for his many years of participation and service to APBA, as well as his contributions in the field of motorsports safety. And our Region Chairman Rick Sandstrom was the recipient of the Charles Strang Ultimate Service Award for his continuing efforts to advance APBA as an organization. Congratulations are in order to both! That about wraps it up for this month. Racing will be here before you know it! Stay warm and see you soon. —Patrick Gleason R-19
RACE IN PEACE BOBBY PEEBLES Robert Benson (Bobby) Peebles passed away on Dec. 6, 2018. Bobby Peebles was a part of Region 12 (now Region 9) for some 30 years. Bobby started racing in the 20SSH class and then drove CSH for a number of years. When he retired from racing, he became a referee and worked many races in Region 12. Bobby was the treasurer of the Southern California Outboard Association (SCOA) for many years. He was responsible for SCOA acquiring a nonprofit designation, and through his work he kept SCOA a nonprofit for many years. Bobby was from San Diego, and was responsible for SCOA being able to race Stocks at the BayFair Unlimited races. This resulted in a large exposure for the Stock Outboards to many spectators. Bobby served in the Navy during the Viet Nam war and, after his discharge, he worked as a civilian contractor for the Navy. Bobby is survived by his wife Gayleen, son Robbie and daughters Alicia and Amy. Bobby’s friendly smile and big cigar will be missed at the races. —Ernie Dawe and Roger Carr
HOW THE APBA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS HELPING YOU, THE BOATRACER
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Over the past few years the APBA Historical Society has issued grants to clubs to help upgrade their rescue equipment and purchase new rescue boats to use at races. We are helping these clubs to be the best they can be with this new equipment. In addition, the Historical Society helps fund several Outboard Driving Schools across the country. These schools have been very successful in bringing in new members to APBA. The Society is asking you to help with these plans in the form of a donation. The Historical Society is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization, and your donations are tax-deductible. With the year-end fast approaching, this is a great time to help the Society with a donation, and take a tax deduction for 2018. Contact Linda Likert at APBA, or visit www.apbahs.org . We hope all of you will help support the APBA Historical Society, and we look forward to a great 2019 season.
PHOTO: DENISE JOHNSON
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www.apbahs.org • 586-773-9700
17640 East Nine Mile Road Eastpointe MI 48021-2563
REM EM B ER WHEN . . . Below, the MILLER AMERICAN driven by Chip Hanauer exits the Roostertail turn on the Detroit River en route to a first place finish with an average speed of 122.93 mph at the APBA URC Unlimited Hydroplane race in 1985 at Detroit. At left, MILLER AMERICAN crew chief Jim Lucero, along with team owner Fran Muncey and driver Chip Hanauer, pose for the cameras following their victory at the 1985 Detroit race. Paul Kemiel photos
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