LNT_DePue Boat Races_2024 by Shaw Media

Welcome from the DePue Men’s Club

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome fans and racers to the shores of beautiful Lake DePue for the 2024 Lake DePue APBA PRO National Championship Boat Races in association with the U.S. Title Series. The DePue Men’s Club is immensely proud to be hosting an unprecedented 39th year of the Illinois Valley’s most spectacular summer celebration. While experiencing many highs and a few lows, we have been truly fortunate to continue to bring this exciting event to our boat racing fans.

The members of the club work extremely hard to bring you such a quality event and would not be able to do this without the dedication of our many volunteers. Their time and effort are very much appreciated, and we cannot thank them enough. We thank the radio and newspapers for their continued publicity, merchants and vendors for their support, and, what more can I say about the fans, the best in the country. We salute you for being there for us all these years. Finally, we thank DePue Mayor Dan Hoffert and our village trustees, as well as all our past leaders, for their continued support of the DePue Men’s Club.

As you enjoy the races, please be mindful of your neighbors. Welcome people to share your space if needed and help them enjoy a great weekend of boat racing. This falls on all of us to spirit of community is all about. much appreciated. We will always be grateful to you.

year. Sincerely yours,

year Sincerely yours, Trent Solorio, President

DEPUE MEN’S CLUB 2024 OFFICERS

LAKE DEPUE PRO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BOAT RACES 2024 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Wednesday, July 24

• Noon to 5:30 p.m.: Sanctioned testing

• 11 a.m.: Food vendors open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

• 6 to 8 p.m.: Live music with John Graham (free admission)

• 8 to 11 p.m.: Live music with Jim Noethe (free admission)

Thursday, July 25

• Noon to 5:30 p.m.: Sanctioned testing

• 11 a.m.: Food vendors open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

• 7 to 10 p.m.: Live music with Jim Noethe (free admission)

Friday, July 26

• Noon: Championship boat racing ($5 admission, no refunds)

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Gardens open

• 8 p.m. to Midnight: Live music & dancing with Rodeo Drive (free admission)

Saturday, July 27

• Noon: Championship boat racing ($5 admission, no refunds)

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Gardens open

• 8 p.m. to Midnight: Live music & dancing with Fueled By Whiskey (free admission)

Sunday, July 28

• 12:30 p.m.: Championship boat racing ($5 admission, no refunds)

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

• 6:30 p.m.: Award Ceremony and Ra e Drawing

DAILY ADMISSION: $5 • PIT PASSES: $20

2024 RACING SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 24

• Noon to 5:30 p.m. Sanctioned testing

Thursday, July 25

• Noon to 5:30 p.m. Sanctioned testing

Friday, July 26

• 9 a.m.: Drivers meeting at Hospitality Tent

• 10 a.m. to 11:30: a.m.: Sanctioned Testing

• Noon: Championship racing

First Half

C-Service Runabout, 125cc Runabout, OSY-400, 700cc Hydroplane

Second Half

K-Pro Runabout, 175cc Hydroplane, C-Racing Hydroplane, 500cc Runabout

Saturday, July 27

• 9 a.m.: Drivers meeting at Hospitality Tent

• 10 a.m. to 11:30: a.m.: Sanctioned Testing

• Noon: Championship racing

First Half

C-Racing Runabout, 500cc Hydroplane, 250cc Runabout

Second Half

C-Service Runabout, 350cc Hydroplane, 700cc Runabout, K-Pro Hydroplane

Sunday, July 28

• 10 a.m.: Drivers meeting at Shelter

• 11 a.m. to Noon: Sanctioned Testing

• 12:30 p.m.: Championship racing

First Half

1100cc Runabout, 125cc Hydroplane

Second Half

250cc Hydroplane, 350cc Runabout, 1100cc Hydroplane

VILLAGE OF DEPUE

111 West Second Street • P.O. Box 500 DePue, Illinois 61322-0500

Phone (815) 447-2177 • Fax (815) 447-2178 • villageofdepue.com

Mr. Trent Solorio

DePue Men’s Club

DePue, IL 61322

Trent,

On behalf of the Village of DePue I want congratulate you on hosting the 2024 APBA/US Title Series Pro Nationals. This is the 39th year that your organization has hosted this event and it is a great accomplishment!

Year after year the races draws thousands to shore of beautiful Lake DePue. In recent years, your leadership, many volunteers have come back year after year to help with this event. Thank all of you for your efforts!

to clean up Lake DePue. Tom Dobrich heads those committees, along with Sarah Torri, John Widmar, Barb Smith, Jennifer Lamkin and Butch Torri, along with help from Rob Weinstock, Mark Bryant and Jim Stowe. They are putting together a program that will show what the problems are in Lake DePue. I encourage all to visit this program and see what we are doing to push for the complete restoration of our Lake DePue. They have worked tirelessly on this immense project. I thank them for all their efforts!

Finally, many thanks to all the people who make these Pro Nationals a success — from the fans to the drivers and their crews, to the vendors who feed everyone, to the US Title series and the APBA. This is the best event of the summer and we as a community could not be prouder Thank you and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Hoffert Village President

WELC OME RACE FANS TO THE 2024 PRO NATIONALS IN DEPUE, ILLINOIS

On behalf of the U.S. Title Series, I would like to welcome you all to the 2024 Pro National Championships. The PRO Nationals is a race that we look forward to each year and this year — the 39th consecutive year that the Pro Nationals has been held at DePue — is no exception. Teams from the Midwest, East and West Coasts and Canada are excited to be making the trip to DePue for the opportunity to race for a National Championship. We are looking forward to an exciting and memorable event.

Once again, our schedule includes the K-Pro youth class and fan-favorite antique service racing classes. Your favorite racers will be back in all the exciting hydroplane and runabout classes with displacements from 125cc all the way up to 1100cc.

Racing in Depue is like a homecoming for many USTS teams. As a place near and dear to so many of us, we believe it is important to give back to this community and will be awarding scholarship money to a deserving student from DePue.

Finally, I would like to thank the DePue Men”s Club and the Village of DePue for the opportunity for us all to come back to what many racers consider their Favorite Race Site. And I thank you, the fans, because you are what makes it so special to us all.

Sincerely,

Pete Nydahl USTS President

U.S. TITLE SERIES 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT — Pete Nydahl, Bristol, WI • VICE-PRESIDENT — Mike Thirlby, Traverse City, MI

TREASURER — David Tenney, Greenwich, CT • SECRE TARY — Andy Kirts, Clio, MI

BOARD MEMBERS — Paul Bosnich II, DePue, IL • Ben Thompson, Fort Pierce, FL • Paul Bosnich III, Williams eld, IL • JR BOARD MEMBER — Gary Merkel, Arlington, IL

U.S. TITLE SERIES 2024 RACE OFFICIALS

RACE DIRECTOR – Paul Bosnich II, Depue, IL • CHIEF SCORER – Denise Eldredge, Por t St. Lucie, FL

CHIEF REFEREE — Robert Trolian, Trenton, MI • ASSISTANT REFEREE — Paul Bosnich III, Williams eld, IL

ASSISTANT REFEREE — Michael Ellison, Green Bay, WI • RISK MANAGER — Andy Kirts, Clio, MI

INSPECTORS — Rex Hall, Smithville, MO; Karl Williams, Spring eld, IL; Jerry Davids, Newport News, VA

BOAT RACING HAS BEEN A TRADITION AT LAKE DEPUE FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS

The roots of boat racing on Lake DePue go back to 1917. In those days and most years until the early 1960s, the races were always held on Labor Day weekend

It is uncertain who the sponsor was, but in1931 the DePue Boat Club (DBC) was formed and it sponsored the races for the next 30 years.

e DePue Boat Club is credited with constructing the concrete b oat ramp that is still in use today, along with the metal shing pier in front of the big shelter.

A few years later, the Peru branch of the DePue Boat Club was formed and conducted boat races on the Illinois River in Peru along Water Street.

In the 1950s, the DePue race was also the Midwest Divisionals. e Divisionals were an important race in those years as a win at a divisional guaranteed the driver an automat ic berth in the National Championship race, without the need to qualif y.

In 1961, the DePue Centennial Committee (DCC) was asked by the

Outboard Club of Chicago to host the rst American Power Boat Association (APBA) National Championship races on Lake DePue in conjunction with the DePue Centennial celebration. e Outboard Club of Chicago had been in charge of conducting the races since the mid-1940s.

In 1965, a er three years at other sites, DePue was asked again to host the National Championships, with the DePue Boat Club and the newly-formed Lake DePue Preservation Association, (LDPA), led by Donald Bosnich and John Widmar , as co-sponsors. is was considered the passing of the torch as the LDPA then sponsored the Lake DePue APBA National Championship races every year through 1974.

A er the 1974 race, Lake DePue was deemed too shallow for safe racing, although the Midwest Powerboat Association conducted a couple races in 1975 and 1976 on Memorial Day weekend.

A er much lobbying , and wit h the help of Richard “Dick” Mautino and Calvin Schuneman, legislation was

passed to allow the dredging of L ake DePue in the early 1980s.

In 1983, the DePue Democratic Club, in conjunction with the newly-formed United States Title Series, held the rst race in DePue since 1976. e DDC realized the task was too big for them and turned to a new organization, the DePue Men’s Club, (DMC), to become the s ponsor for the 1984 USTS race.

A er the success of the 1984 race the DMC was asked to host the National Championship race in 1985 in association with the USTS as a conducting club.

And so, the tradition of Lake DePue National Championship boat racing has been in the hands of the DMC , USTS and the American Power Boat Association for the past 38 years.

Going back to the DBC, DCC, LDPA, DDC and DMC, you will nd many grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters of current DePue Men’s Club members. All have taken great pride in the histor y of racing on Lake DePue

Village President

Dan Hoffert

Village Clerk

Jane Vickers

Village Treasurer

Laurie Delgado

Village Trustees

Liz Bezely

Tanya Miscevic

Roger Harrison

Jake Hoffert

Gilbert Moreno

Bill Laicoff

A PRIMER ON APBA PROFESSIONAL RACING OUTBOARD BOAT CATEGORIES AND CLASSES

Professional Racing Outboard (PRO) is the American Power Boat Association’s most diverse and electrifying categor y.

With 19 classes, PRO boats speeds range from moderate to blazing fast, from old tech to cutting-edge tech. Engines in the PRO category can r un at upwards of 13,000 rpm (compared to a typical stock race car that runs at 7,000 rpm).

PRO Boats are roughly 9 to 14 feet long and weigh 100 to 250 pounds. Most are made of wood, but carbon ber, honeycomb and ot her high-tech materials also are used.

Most drivers k neel in the cockpit. Some boats are driven in a lay-down position, while others have the driver seated Typically, the le hand works the spring-loaded throttle, and the right hand handles the steering wheel e boats are of two distinct designs

— hydros and runabouts.

Hydros ride on a cushion of air. e boat contacts the water’s surface on two sponsons (projections) and the propeller. e design is generally unrestricted, challenging those who wish to experiment in boat design and construction

Runabouts have certain restrictions, such as minimum lengths. While there is gre at variety in runabout design, generally they have a at riding surface, tapered to a p oint in front, and do not channel air under the hull Although typically slower than hydros, the thrill of racing runabouts is unmatched Just watch a r unabout round a buoy and you’ll see the di erence!

irteen of the PRO class es are based primarily on motor displacement. ey are sometimes referred to as “bore and stroke” classes. e maximum displacements of bore and stroke classes are 125cc (128.75cc), 175cc, 250cc (257.5cc),

350cc, 500cc, 700cc, and 1100cc (1133cc). ere are no minimum weights in these classes, and in the hydro classes, there are few restrictions on hulls.

e three largest hydro classes — 500ccH, 700ccH, and 1100ccH — must utilize a reinforced cockpit (capsule) with a ve-point harness and the driver seated e 125cc classes must use one-cylinder motors. e 1100cc Runabout must carr y two people, a driver and a deck rider.

Most bore and stroke classes utilize a fuel based on methanol and oil.

e K PRO Hydro class is a class for kids only. e OSY400 class is the USA version of the largest UIM powerboat racing class in the world. K PRO Hydro and OSY400 are restricted to gasoline and oil fuel

e C S ervice and C Racing classes are based on American-built shing

The three largest hydro classes — 500ccH, 700ccH, and 1100ccH — use a reinforced cockpit (capsule) and a ve-point harness with the driver seated.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DALE HOFFERT, BRADFORD, ILLINOIS

While there is great variety in runabout design, they generally have a at riding surface tapered to a point in front and do not channel air under the hull.

PRIMER

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

and racing motors from the 1930s to the 1950s.

U.S. TITLE SERIES

e US Title Series, founded in 1982, is recognized as the premier PRO outboard racing series in the United States.

ere are ele ven classes in the U.S. Title Series based on the typ e of boat and the size of the engines. Engines are speci cally designed for racing, burn methanol fuel, and are man ufactured all over the world.

A separate race is run for each class consisting of three heats per class and four laps per heat. ere are three distinctive types of boats in the U.S. Title Series: Runabouts, Hydroplanes and Capsules.

MODIFIED OUTBOARDS

In Modi ed Outboard, the engine builder’s skill is just as important as the driver’s. ese boats are easily recognizable by specially tuned pipes that make

them as loud as the y are fast. Because engines are constantly being modi ed to make the abs olute most of what the r ules allow, the competition is always erce.

Whether hydroplane or runabout, modi ed classes are de ned by the size of their engines (displacement).

e numbers in the class names de ne the approximate engine size in cubic centimeters. For example, the 250ccMH, or 250 cubic centimeter Mod Hydro, is smaller than the 850ccMH, or 850 cubic centimeter Mod Hydro.

Some classes have minimum weights, which increase with engine size. e smaller classes are o en a good t for younger, lighter drivers (14-year-olds may drive 200-250cc Mod classes, for example). e larger class es take considerable skill and experience. Propellers of four blades or less are used, and prop choice can a ect speed enormously.

JUNIOR CLASSES

Junior Hydroplanes and Runabouts (40 mph) are open to all kids ages 9-16. AX Hydroplanes and Runabouts (50 mph) are open to ages 12 and up.

Hydros ride on a cushion of air. The boat contacts the water ’s surface on two sponsons (projections) and the propeller.

The 1100cc Runabout carries two people, a driver and a deck rider

Junior Hydroplanes and Runabouts (40 mph) are open to all kids ages 9-16.

da tree Amigos

We’re here to help you do the things that matter most, with the people who matter most. Now and years from now. That’s what you get with a financial plan based on your life and your priorities. With personalized financial strategies tailored to your goals, planning looks less like planning and more like living. Spend your life living.®

LET’S GET STARTED

Nicholas Potthoff, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® 110 E Main St Ste 220 Ottawa, IL 61350

815-433-4325

nick.potthoff@nm.com www.nickpotthoff.com

Henry Oglesby Peru Princeton Spring Valley

2023 LAKE DEPUE PRO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2023 Pro National Champions

125CC R

250CC R

350CC R

500CC R

700CC R

1100CC R

125CC H

175CC H

250CC H

350CC H

Joseph Perez Spring Valley, IL

Todd Anderson North Lake, IL

Jerr y Davids Sr. Newport News, VA

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

Brian Palmquist Diamond Lake, IL

Rex Boyer Menasha, WI

Kurtis Nydahl Bristol, WI

500CC H NA

700CC H NA

1100CC H NA

K-PRO R

K-PRO H

C RACE R

C RACE H

C SERV R

C SERV H

OSY-400 H

Carson Kelly Bonny Lake, WI

Cooper Thompson Fort Pierce, FL

Jonathan Nilsen Ellensberg, WA

Ashton CaFarelli Champion, IL

Jonathan Nilsen Ellensberg, WA

Thomas K Smith Jackson, MI

2023 US Title Series High Points Champions

K PRO H

K PRO R

125CC H

125CC R

175CC H

250CC H

250CC R

350CC H

350CC R

500CC H

500CC R

700CC R

1100CC H

1100CC R

Joseph Perez Spring Valley, IL

Royce Bosnich Williams eld, IL

Brian Palmquist Diamond Lake, IL

Joseph Perez Spring Valley, IL

Kristi Ellison Luxemburg, WI

Kurtis Nydahl Bristol, WI

Richard Krier I ndianola, IA

Kurtis Nydahl Bristol, WI

Richard Krier I ndianola, IA

Eric VanOver Cincinnati, OH

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

Doug Hall

Dek alb, MO

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

Silver Dome Welcomes Race Fans

SCORE SHEET 2024 PRO NATIONALS

For the PRO National Championships, the drivers run three heats in each class. Drivers receive points for each heat. When the heats are nished, the points are totaled to determine the winner. The drivers are ranked according to their total and are then given a nal position based on this gure. The points that they actually receive are then doubled. Points are scored through the 20th position. In the case of ties, time is the deciding fac tor.

POINTS BY ORDER OF FINISH

First

Second.........................................300

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

Eighth

Ninth

Tenth

Fourteenth

Fifteenth

Sixteenth

Seventeenth

Eighteenth

Twentieth

DUSTIN TORRES - President

MARCUS FOX - Vice-President

LISA NOLAN - Recording Secretary

KEVIN DALE - Business Manager

VICTOR MANCILLA - Secretary Treasurer

JASPER McNUTT- Sgt.-at-Arms Executive Board

PETE PAWLAK - JASON WOLFE

0 2 4

Welcome, Great to See You Back

Enjoy your visit and stay safe Widmars Bryants Foxes

John

Linda & Dennis Roesner

Andrew, Dusty & Natalie

Eric & Annabelle - Christian

Bernadette & Dave

Gertie, Jack, Caleb

Tiger, Elizabeth & Ruby

Lenny & Kirsten – Avery, Dilyn, Ryne

Eric R. – Max, Luke

Carolyn & Brad – Eveylyn, Payne, Beckham, Trudessa

We dedicate this page to our family members and special friends who have passed

John, Carolyn, Bernadette Widmar, Ali Bryant & Marcia Peterson

�ro�dl� ��r�in� �li�n�� a��id� and in �� llinoi� �all��

�e�ent settlements in�l�de�

§ $�� million dollar settlement for �oman serio�sly in��red ��en semi �rossed �enter line

§ $�� million dollar settlement for a tr��k dri�er in��red on a loadin� do�k d�rin� a deli�ery

§ $7 million dollar settlement for family of a 9 year old killed at Cabrini Green

§ $7 million dollar� for a �nion �i�efitter ��o �as in��red d�e to �a�ardo�s �onditions on a �ob

§ $� million dollar trial �erdi�t for �oman ��o fra�t�red �i� in a�tomobile �ras�

§ $��7 million dollar m�lti��arty settlement for �onstr��tion site a��ident �a�sed by �ribbin�

HOW TO WATCH A PRO NATIONAL RACE

e boats are carried to the water to await the THREE-MINUTE GUN. When the THREEMINUTE GUN is red, that tells the drivers to start their engines and go out on the cours e.

A GREEN FLAG is displayed on the starting barge and patrol boats are positioned at each turn. e numbers above the clock indicate the number of minutes to start the race

THE ONE-MINUTE GUN is red, and a WHITE FLAG is displayed and the hand on the clock begins to move

THE FLYING START: e drivers m ove to the second turn,

picking their lanes and watching the clock, tr ying to time themselves to y past the starting line at the exact second the clock hand hits zero.

THE FIRST TURN: It’s ever yone for t hemselves, with boats side by side and rooster tails ying. Someone will be in the lead and ever yone else will play catch-up.

THE FINISH: e WHITE FLAG is displayed when there is one lap to go e CHECKERED FLAG waves in the winner. e race is over. But not for long. e racers must repeat the entire process again in another two heats. e total p oints from the three heats determines the PRO National Champion.

FL AGS

RED FLAG Ac tivity is stopped, Slow Down

YELLOW FL AG.................. Problems on course: Continue with Caution or Hold Position

WHITE FLAG Time Between ONE-MINUTE GUN and Start, Leader has Started Last Lap

GREEN FLAG Time Between THREE-MINUTE GUN and ONE-MINUTE GUN, While Race is ......................................................Underway Except for Last Lap

CHECKERED FLAG ........Finish

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DALE HOFFERT, BRADFORD, ILLINOIS

Hitting the start line at the exact second the clock hand hits zero is key to running a good heat.

The rst boat around the rst turn is the boat that takes the lead.

USTS TECHNICAL RULES

ENGINES

1. One outboard engine, may be any reciprocating two- or four-cycle engine

2. Turbochargers or superchargers are prohibited.

3. ere shall be no more rotar y valves than number of cylinders.

4. Tuned intake and exhaust is permitted.

5. Propulsion must be by water-driven propellor.

A. Maximum gear case length is 24.25 inches, including the prop nut.

B. Tractor lower units are not legal.

C. e propeller sha to drivesha angle may not exceed 100 degrees.

6. Engine displacement = bore squared x .0785 x stroke x number of cylinders.

A. To convert cubic inch into cubic centimeter, multiply by 16.387.

BOATS

No minimum weights apply.

1. Hydroplanes shall be f ree of all restrictions.

A. Any boat that meets the de nition of a PRO runabout cannot be raced in the hydro class.

B. 500cc — 1100cc shall be a capsule/reinforced cockpit. 350cc hydro and below shall be open.

2. Runabouts are de ned as displacement hulls where the bottom shall have no steps or break in the longitudinal continuity. No concave greater than 1/16” will be all owed in the width of the bottom of the boat parallel to the planning surface. No design that uses a tunnel e ect is allowed. e side of the boat must form a continuous contour from a single stern to the transom with no concave greater than 1/4”. Trim tabs that are adjustable by the driver while under way are not allowed. Rub rails or li ing handles are allowed provided they are attached to the outside of the boat and they do not exceed 1” in width, 1 1/2 “ in depth or 36” in length from the transom for ward. e deck is not allowed to protrude beyond the side of the boat. Turning n brackets may not protrude outside the chine of the boat by more than one (1) inch. Minimum lengths for runab outs are as follows:

125 and 175 R — 11’ 6”

250 and 350 R — 12’ 6”

500, 700 & 1100R — 13’

FUEL

PRO — e use of oxygen tanks in connection with motors is prohibited; fuels that exist as gases at ambient temperature and pressure such as propane, butane and nitrous oxide are prohibited

K PRO and OSY-400 — Gasoline and oil mixture must be used that meets the current NBRA fuel specifcations.

CLASSES

CLASS

DISPLACEMENT

125 Runabout and Hydro Single cylinder up to 128.75cc

175 Runabout and Hydro 175cc maximum

250 Runabout and Hydro 257.5cc maximum

350 Runabout and Hydro 350cc maximum

500 Runabout and Hydro 500cc maximum

700 Runabout and Hydro 700cc maximum

1100 Runabout and HydroO ver 350 and including 1133cc

K PRO HEvinrude and Johnson 15A

OSY-400 Yamato 80, 102, 202, 302

RACING IDENTIFICATION LETTERS

HOME STATE OF BOAT OWNER

A ...........Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

B ...........Massachusetts

C ...........California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii

CE ........Eastern Canada, Ontario, Quebec, ...............and Maritime Provinces

D...........Connecticut, Rhode Island

E Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland,

...............District of Columbia

F............Florida, Georgia, Alabama

G ...........Minnesota, South Dakota

H...........Indiana

L ............Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas

J ............New Jersey

K ...........Kentuck y, Tennessee

M ..........Michigan

N...........New York

P ...........Pennsylvania

Q ..........Delaware

R ...........Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska

S ...........Ohio

T ...........Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico

U ...........North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, ...............Colorado, Utah

V ...........Illinois

W .........Wisconsin

X ...........Iowa, Nebraska

Y ...........Kansas, Missouri

Z ...........North Carolina, South Carolina

ABOUT SAFETY

Many people need a safe way to satisfy their normal desire for competitive speed PRO boat racing under U.S. Title Series rules and regulations. Rigid safety rules are established and enforced. Any driver breaking the rules can be beached for varying lengths of time depending upon the severity of the infraction. Boats, motors, helmets, life jackets, etc.

are inspected regularly and must be kept up to current Safety Advisory Committee speci cations. Hard and fast safe driving rules are rigidly enforced anytime a U.S. Title Series registered racing boat is put on the water, even for testing. Boat racing also has contributed much to improve safety conditions for the pleasure -boating public.

the

their

Boat Races!

and

Clients.

IN MEMORIAM

Sean McKean

Dec. 13, 1968 – Feb. 25, 2024

Sean graduated from the University of Texas McComb School of Business and was a devout Longhorn football fan. He is survived by his wife, L orraine, and son, Chase

Sean won his rst championship in the Novice 350 hydro class in 1982 at Bakers eld, California. He went on to win a total of 12 APBA PRO National championships, an OPC championship in the Sport C class, and was induc ted into the APBA Hall of Champions.

Sean drove t he fastest hydroplanes in the world, with a world record of 130mph set in 700cch on Oct 11, 2009, piloting a VRP powered Pugh/MJR capsule hydro. on Devils Lake at Lincoln City, Oregon.

He currently holds every world kilo speed record — 250cch at 107.52mph, 350cch at 113.408mph, 500cch at 126.076, 700cch at 130mph and 126.382 in 1100cch.

In total, he set 13 APBA world records and ve UIM world records. He followed in his father Jim McKean’s footsteps and between them they set 15 speed records, perhaps more than any other racing family.

HAPPY’S SUPER SERVICE

IN MEMORIAM

Wayne Baldwin

Dec. 3, 1948 – March 2, 2024

Wayne started racing outboard hydroplanes in 1965 and continued to race through 1981. His rst race was at Lake C orpus Christi in front of the family’s old lake house

Wayne traveled all over the United States with his father, E.E. “Baldy” Baldwin, to race in various classes. He also raced in Germany and Austria. He changed his wedding date so he could participate in a World Championship race in Berlin and then honeymoon in Germany and Austria.

Wayne won many championships, including the 1971 NOA World Champion A Hydro, 1972 NOA World Champion B Hydro, 1973 APBA/UIM Champion OB, O C, OF, 1976 UIM World Champion OD; 1976 APBA National Champion 250cc Hydro; 1977 APBA National Champion 1100cc Hydro; 1978 APBA National Champion 700 cc Hydro.

He also set speed records, including: UIM World Competition Record in class OD @90.817mph, UIM World Straightaway Record in class OD @110.254mph,

Wayne was an excel lent photographer and loved to take photos at the races. He has a huge collection of boat racing photos and slides. He enjoyed posting photos on Boat Racing Facts and he also posted stories.

Earlier this year, Wayne and his racing buddy. Steve Wetherbee traveled to Ohio to pick up a race boat that was like the last ones Wayne raced – a Butts Aerowing. ey planne d to re nish it this year and Wayne had already started stripping the pai nt o . He planne d to displ ay it at his home. Steve, along with Wayne’s son, Andrew, will nish the boat.

APBA National Straightaway Record for 500cc Hydro @ 105.270mph.

IN MEMORIAM

Richard Krier X51

Oc t. 22, 1946 – Sept. 13, 2023

By Brian Payn

Please notice the tree in front of the DePue Men’s Club’s food stand. e boat racers call that tree the Krier tree. is has been the pit area of the Krier family for many years. e tree is short another limb this year, the X51 limb.

Richard Krier, 76, passed away, as he should have, in a boat race. In Jacksonville, Illinois, the last race of the 2023 season, he was leading with an uncontested rst place, coming in for the win in 350cc runabout.

His race was a typical Rich race: fast, exciting, smoking Mike Krier, Brian Payn (me) and Paulie Bosnich easily, and he made it look that way. We weren’t even close, and the water was good.

All of a sudden, he just quit racing. When reality hit us and we knew we lost our mentor, we were consoled by the fact that this was probably s omething that Rich and the Good Lord planne d for Rich’s trip to heaven. What boat racer would not plan it this way?

Rich started racing with his dad, Kenny at the age of 13. Racing was a family a air. In addition to his dad racing, his younger brother Jim raced Mod and PRO, and Mike raced stock, mod, and PRO, plus has taken over building the Krier boats.

Rich’s sons, TR and Brian have raced as well as his nephews Tyler and Matt. e story goes that Rich’s wife, Beverly, started going to the races as a girlf riend, thinking she was going to have time to read and relax.

e judges stand needed help, so Bev volunteered and never got to relax at a boat race again. Rich decided that was the woman he had better marr y because he thought she loved boat racing more than he did.

Both Rich and Beverly were o cers in the US Title Series over the years, never saying “NO” when help was needed. Bev passed away a few years before Rich.

Rich was in the U.S. Navy as a salvage diver and le as a lieutenant. He then graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in industrial engineering.

Rich was not afraid to try new concepts by putting his engineering mindset to use. I did not see it, but apparently as the r unabouts, especially the 500cc R, were getting so

fast, he experimented with a capsule runabout. I was told he ran for no points. It turned out to be too heavy to be competitive, but he t ried

And that is only the tip of the iceberg of the engineering and n ew ideas that Rich experimented with to make our sport safer and better Today they just seem normal to us, but thank you to those pioneers of our sport who thanklessly and unsel shly contributed

Kenny Krier followed the Payn family in Stock and Mod racing. Finally, Mike convinced us into only racing PRO to cut back on Kenny’s travel. Rich was excited to have a new student. Bev was not happy as she said they were ready to quit racing, (although, we doubt it).

Rich loved being a teacher. One day Rich decided we were going to be the FBI: Fast B oats of Iowa. I needed a lot of coaching in the PRO classes and Rich had the patience of a saint. He was such a good man, and I witnessed him helping anyone that asked. He would spend time on hard questions. Again, he never said NO

e funny thing is, Rich and Mike put me between them. ey kept s ecrets from each other. It was comical because the only person neither one helped was each other. But they did share their secrets with me. en they would question me on what the other one said. It was quite comical, and we all knew it.

Pretty soon, there were no secrets in the FBI. Unfortunately, unless the “Old Guy,” or “ e Godfather,” or whatever we de cided to call Rich that day in fun, broke down, we could not beat him, even if Mike Kr ier and Brian Payn (me) knew his secrets. He was just that good at racing.

Richard raced for 63 years and we cannot get an accurate count of the number of championships Rich has won. I guess it doesn’t really matter, what matters is the memories and who you meet along the way.

We love you Richard Krier, RIP

IN MEMORIAM

Richard W. Ellison

Feb. 18, 1965 – Aug. 18, 2022

Retired U.S. Army Colonel (R) Richard Ellison married into the Hellsten boat racing family in 1989. He attended his rst race in 1988 in DePue with his girlfriend, Kristi Hellsten (Ellison), to watch her race. He claims since she won the National a championship in C-Service Hydro that weekend he would keep her around.

A er getting married and having kids, Kristi le racing and Richard joined the military as a general surgeon. In 2001, a memorial race was held for Pete Hellsten and a plan was hatched by Chris Hellsten for Kristi and the two oldest Ellison boys, Michael and Kevin, to return to racing in 2002. Once Travis Ellis on turned 11 he als o started racing.

Ellison ser ved as a general surgeon for 23 years in the U.S. Army. He medically retired at the rank of colonel with numerous s ervice awards, including the Legion of Merit, four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart — which he earned a er surviving being blown up by a 3,000 lb vehicle-borne IED in Afghanistan in 2012 that le him with chronic head pain and hearing damage.

He was a lifelong fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves. He loved scary movies, but he said he never found one that actually scared him.

e wars in Iraq and Afghanistan kept R ichard busy for 12 years with little time to attend races due to six overseas deployments: three to Iraq and three to Afghanistan, along with being Joint Task Force surgeon in Haiti a er the earthquake. He tried to keep up when he had Internet and would text Abbi B osnich on the judges’ stand to get results from Afghanistan.

He attended the race in DePue as o en as possible. He loved the town and the people so much he o en thought of buying a hou se near the lake since it felt like home for the 10 days every summer we spend here.

He was a memb er of the DePue Men’s Club and made a generous donation to help buy the new sign for the high school. He loved the Giants Den and was sad to see it close.

He will be missed wandering the pits, cheering for family and friends, giving the occasional pep talk to anyone who was getting too frustrated when things were not going right and drinking beer with Big Pal.

He was o en asked if he ever wanted to race and would reply “I risked my life in the Army jumping out of planes, I am not r isking my life in a race boat.”

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DePue mayor Dan Hoffert speaks before the boat races on Friday, July 28, 2023 in DePue.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Race director Paul Bosnich II (second from left) holds a meeting under the Bosnich Racing tent regarding the delay of the races on on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Moments from 2023

DePue Men’s Club president Trent Solorio speaks before the boat races on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

The Robert Blair Family DePue, IL

Wishes the Best to All the Racers

Ray Rodda, the voice of DePue speaks before the races on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue. Rodda retired last year after decades of calling the races, but will return this year to call the K-PRO Hydro and K-PRO Runabout as a favor to Race Director Paul Bosnich Jr.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Drivers prepare getting their boats ready in the pits on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Racers prepare their boats in the pits before racing on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Moments from 2023

Ethan Fox, of Elkhorn Neb., (top) and Joesph Perez, of Spring Valley, (bottom) compete in the 125 Runabouts during the DePue Boat Races on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

Racers compete in the OSY-400 on Friday, July 28, 2023 during the Boat Races at Lake DePue.

(From left)Justin Gibson, of Washington, IL, Doug Martin, of Black Diamond, Wash., and Ashten Cafarelli, of Champaign, IL, compete in the C-Service race on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Lake DePue.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON