Propeller January/February 2017

VOLUME 71, ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2017

SEEBOLD STYLE Tim Seebold Retires BADGER STATE BSOA Turns 75

APBA.ORG • USA: $5.00

2017 Top O’ Michigan

STOCK OUTBOARD MARATHON NATIONALS August 12th & 13th Indian River, Michigan Stock and J Classes JR • AXR • ASR • BSR • CSR • 25SSR • DSR All Thundercat Classes Top O’ Michigan Outboard Racing Club www.tomorc.org

IN THIS ISSUE 17640 East Nine Mile Road, PO Box 377 Eastpointe MI 48021-0377 PHONE: 586.773.9700 WEB: apba.org EMAIL: apbahq@apba.org twitter.com/APBARacing facebook.com/APBARacing EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACCOUNTING MEMBERSHIP SANCTIONS/ HIGH POINTS PROPELLER EDITOR

Patrick Mell Linda Likert Sabrina Haudek Cindy Minoletti Tana Moore

pmell@apba.org llikert@apba.org shaudek@apba.org cminoletti@apba.org tmoore@apba.org

2017 APBA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT NATIONAL COMMISSIONER TREASURER SECRETARY LEGAL COUNCIL

CATEGORY REP REGION REP

Mark Wheeler Fred Hauenstein Charles Strang Steve Compton Mary Williams Steven Hearn J. David Augustine Sr. Kyle Bahl Chris Fairchild Dan Kanfoush Jean MacKay-Schwartz Howie Nichols John Runne Jeff Brewster Roger Carr

president@apba.org VP@apba.org NC@apba.org treasurer@apba.org secretary@apba.org legal@apba.org patndave51@gmail.com racerkyle@hotmail.com boatinspector@comcast.net dankanfoush@yahoo.com jean84c@earthlink.net apba113@gmail.com j.runne@hotmail.com stockoutboard@apba.org rcinr12@aol.com

COUNCIL-AT-LARGE: Penny Anderson, Bruce Broussard, Jeffrey Conant, Gloria Crim, Richard Fuchslin, Patrick Gleason, Alex Jennings III, Jack Meyer, Steve Noury, Rachel Warnock, Bob Wartinger, Matt Yarno

2017 RACING CATEGORY/COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Inboard Inboard Endurance Junior Classes Modified Offshore OPC Outboard Drag PRO Special Event Stock Thundercat Unlimited Vintage and Historic

James Sechler Ted Kolby Patrick Gleason Tom Sutherland Mark Wheeler James Chambers Jr. Chris Fairchild Kristi Ellison Scott Schatz Jeff Brewster Jeff Howie Doug Bernstein John Krebs

inboardracing@apba.org Inboardendurance@apba.org junior@apba.org modifiedoutboard@apba.org offshore@apba.org jchambe1@tampabay.rr.com outboarddrag@apba.org prooutboard@apba.org specialevent@apba.org stockoutboard@apba.org masterauto1150@yahoo.com dbernstein@plunkettcooney.com vintage @apba.org

2017 REGION CHAIRMEN Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 Region 7 Region 8 Region 9 Region 10 Region 11 Region 12 Region 14 Region 15 Region 16

Dave Jones John Krebs Ann Marie Shaw Richard Shaw Jeff Titus Don “Eli” Whitney Kris Shepard Brian Tabara Denver Ray Mut Rick Sandstrom Julian Rucki Roger Carr Buddy Tennell Carleton Callahan Dutch Squires

region1@apba.org region2@apba.org region3@apba.org region4@apba.org region5@apba.org region6@apba.org region7@apba.org region8@apba.org region9@apba.org region10@apba.org region11@apba.org region12@apba.org region14@apba.org region15@apba.org region16@apba.org

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 $25.00 (U.S. and Canada); $55.00 (foreign) by APBA, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, PO Box 377, Eastpointe, MI 48021-0377 Periodical postage paid at Eastpointe, MI, and additional mailing office. Postmaster: send addresses to APBA, PO BOX 377, Eastpointe, MI, 48021-0377.

From the Top

2

APBA Release and Waiver

4

Wheeler Baker A Hydro Legend Enters Hall of Fame 6 2017 Race Calendar

7

What Can APBA Do for Me?

8

Cal-Ore River Racers Awards

9

Carole, Candidly Carole Reno Reflects on Retirement

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A Fine Vintage Year Region 10’s Beautiful Boats 12 Badger State Turns 75

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A Seebold Style Farewell Tim Seebold Retires 16 Race Course to Résumé Learning with the U.S. A-Team 18 Inboard 20 Modified Outboard

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Region Roundup Regions 5, 10, 12

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Race in Peace

IBC

ON THE COVER: Tim Seebold capped a blazing 44-year career with a 1-point win in the 2016 US F1 Powerboat Tour.

Paul Kemiel photo

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FROM THE TOP

BY MARK WHEELER, APBA PRESIDENT

2017 Regatta Insurance The 2017 racing season brings some welcome changes to the APBA insurance program! A complete comparison of 2016 and 2017 regatta insurance rates for two-day events appears in the table below. Most important, this table shows that APBA clubs will enjoy lower rates for regatta insurance in 2017 for each of APBA’s racing categories. If your club is planning a one-day event, these rates are listed on APBA’s web page at http://www.apba.org/sites/all/files/ documents/2017%20rate%20sheet.pdf .

APBA President Mark Wheeler.

Photo by Robert Koschka

APBA achieved these savings by shopping our insurance package and switching agents and insurance companies. Hawk Race Consultants (Rick Felsen) is our new insurance agent; Hawk Race Consultants / Alive Risk worked together to secure APBA’s 2017 insurance coverage. New insurance documents from Hawk are available on the APBA Web site. All insurance applications, and any other forms/documents, relating to Specialty Insurance

Group (SIG) should be discarded. SIG, and our previous agent Tom Watson, served us well in recent years and were a great help to APBA. We simply found a better deal elsewhere.

In 2017, each of our events will have $5 million in liability coverage. Our liability coverage has been at $5 million for many years. APBA’s 2017 participant accident coverage provides $10,000 in coverage per individual member per incident.

In cases where members have their own health insurance, APBA’s insurance provides secondary coverage. In this case, APBA’s participant accident insurance will cover the deductible on the member’s insurance up to $10,000. In cases where the member does not have his/her own health insurance, APBA’s coverage is the primary coverage. In this case, APBA’s participant accident insurance covers the member’s medical bills up to $10,000, with a $1000 deductible.

EVENT INSURANCE RATE COMPARISON Regatta Liability And Participant Accident Insurance: Two-Day Event Category 2016 Rate Stock Outboard, Modified Outboard, PRO, Junior Classes, Oregon River Race, Thundercat, Vintage, Vintage Unlimited $2,529 OPC Non-Series Event $3,272 OPC Series Event $4,147 Inboard and Inboard Endurance $4,112 Jet River $4,541 P1 (stand-alone events) $4240 Offshore (other than P1) Case-by-case basis Stand-Alone Testing $500 Testing on the Friday before a sanctioned event No additional charge Kilo/1/4 mile straightaway 50% of category rate Driving School (stand-alone inboard events) $1,000 Driving School (stand-alone OPC events) $750 Driving School (stand-alone SO, MO, PRO, and Junior Classes events) $500 Driving School on the Friday before a sanctioned event No additional charge *This is not a typo. Unlike in past years, the OPC non-series and OPC series rates are the same in 2017.

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2017 Rate $2,378 $3,062* $3,062* $3,794 $4,166 $4,187 $6,433 $500 No additional charge 50% of category rate $750 $750 $500 No additional charge

2017 Or a nge Cup Reg at ta L a ke l a n d , F l o r i d a • M a r c h 5 - 7 • L a ke H o l l i n g s w o r t h

INBOARD: 1-LTR, 2.5-LTR MOD, 2.5-LTR STOCK, 5-LTR, NATIONAL MODIFIED, SE JERSEY SPEED SKIFF (JSS) STOCK OUTBOARD: CSR, CHS OPC: SST-120 JUNIOR CLASSES: HYDRO, AXR, AXH

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APBA RELEASE AND WAIVER Guidelines for 2017 Season These guidelines provide basic information regarding release and waiver procedures for all APBA sanctioned events. Coverage under the APBA event insurance plan is expressly contingent upon the operation of an effective system to obtain executed Release and Waiver forms from everyone who enters an APBA event area that is not otherwise open to the general public.

Implementing an effective release and waiver process is the cornerstone of your ability to obtain insurance coverage for APBA sanctioned events.

If you do not have an effective waiver and release system, coverage for a claim may be denied.

I. G ENERAL—WHO MUST COMPLETE A RELEASE AND WAIVER? Event attendees are divided into two categories for release and waiver purposes: Participants and Spectators.

Participants are those individuals who must execute a release and waiver for an event.

Spectators are those who have not signed a release and waiver form.

Anyone who enters a “restricted” area (an area not open to the general public) is a Participant and must sign a release and waiver form. This includes pit crew, racers, racing officials, family, friends, media and any other person entering a restricted area.

“Restricted” areas may be defined by the event club/promoter but must include, at a MINIMUM, the actual race course area and any “restricted” areas immediately adjacent to the race course, such as areas where boats and race equipment are pitted.

As mentioned above, only those persons entering a “restricted area” must absolutely be waivered. However, the Club/Promoter may choose to require waiver execution for all persons entering the event site.

Each Release and Waiver form must be completely and accurately filled out.

Event dates and locations must be specified. If the Release and Waiver applies to a multi-day event, all dates must be annotated in the “event date(s)” portion of the form; e.g. 3/28-29/2017. This is critically important!

III. A DULT RELEASE AND WAIVER COMPLETION Every form must be completely and accurately filled out with required information: • Club Name, Event Location and Event Date(s) at the top (both sides) • THIS IS CRITICAL! If the waiver applies to a multi-day event, all dates must be listed as the “event date(s)”; e.g. 3/28-29/2017 • Neatly Printed Name and Signature of Participant • Witness Signature, City and State where Witnessed at the bottom (both sides) All waivers must be witnessed at the event by the event staff administering the release procedures.

Try to develop a regular group of “registrars” to handle the registration process at all events.

IV. MINOR RELEASE AND WAIVER Minors are defined in almost all states as anyone under 18.

Minor racers, race officials and any other minor whose official capacity requires him/her to enter a “hot” area, MUST have a release and waiver that is signed by BOTH parent(s)/legal guardian(s).

Only parent(s) or LEGAL guardian(s) may sign the waiver...not friends, relatives, etc.

II. G ENERAL EXECUTION PROCEDURES— ALL RELEASE AND WAIVER FORMS

Minor waivers are executed by the parent(s)/legal guardian(s), NOT the minor.

Do not have minors sign adult waiver forms.

Only the new APBA Release and Waiver Forms provided by Hawk Race Consultants are authorized for use at APBA sanctioned events.

Remember, a parent/guardian must be present if the minor is participating in the event.

Use only original APBA Release and Waiver forms. Black and white photocopies are not permitted.

Questions regarding APBA’s Release and Waiver guidelines may be directed to Rick Felsen at Hawk Race Consultants at (516) 449-1134.

All Release and Waiver forms must be witnessed on the applicable space on the form by an event official.

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DONATE TO THE OUTBOARD DRIVING SCHOOL FUND!

Outboard Driving Schools are a proven way to bring new members into APBA. The APBA Historical Society maintains a fund to provide grants to local clubs to help offset expenses, so they can introduce more newcomers to the thrill of racing.

Invest in the future of racing. Please consider a donation to help APBA clubs with their Driving Schools in this racing season and in years to come.

The APBA Historical Society is a 501(c)3 corporation, so your donation to the Driving School Fund is fully tax-deductible. Contact Linda Likert at the APBA office, or visit www.apbahistoricalsociety.org .

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wheeler baker

This first appeared in the November 2016 issue of PropTalk Magazine. http://www.proptalk.com/wheeler-baker-racing-profile/ Photo by F. Peirce Williams

Post World War II, Baker’s father and grandfather teamed up to buy their first race boat, Bo Bo, sponsored by the family business, R.B. Baker and Sons. Alton Pierson, an employee and good friend, drove it. Pierson was inducted into the MSAHOF in 1983 for his racing accomplishments in Bo Bo. Three boats later, the Bo Bo Too, built by Henry Lauterbach with a 280-cubic-inch Chevrolet engine, hit the racing circuit. Soon after, Baker’s father Albert bought his son his first race boat, a J Utility outboard designed for beginners. Wheeler had his first race in 1955 on the Wye River when he was just eight years old. “I had no clue what I was doing, but I was hooked,” he says. He began dreaming of ways to make his boat perform better.

By testing on the Wye River and observing more seasoned racers, Baker developed a drive to win.

Wheeler Baker, a legend in hydroplane racing, was inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame (MSAHOF) November 3rd, 2016. A native of Chester, MD, Baker competed for 30 years. He has won the coveted title of National Champion 10 times from the American Power Boat Association (APBA) and is an eight-time National High Points Champion in various classes. He has also set six competition speed records. Now 69, Baker looks back on some of his early racing experiences that got him truly hooked on the sport.

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By the time he was in high school, Vietnam was getting very “hot and heavy,” so after graduation he enlisted in the Air Force. As his four-year tour was about to end, his sergeant asked him repeatedly to re-up, but Baker just couldn’t do it.

“I remember telling my sergeant ‚ ‘there are two things I want to do, and I can’t do them here: hunt ducks and race boats’.” Soon after leaving the Air Force, Baker bought a boat, began working for the family business, and started to learn what real racing was all about.” After working in the family business for a few years, Baker went into business for himself, which allowed him to buy his first new Staudacher hydroplane, Nudder Bo. His brothers had already been racing for several years.

He was the oldest at 31, so they used to taunt him for getting in the game so late. But he figured if they could do it, he could, too. In 1977, Baker won National High Points honors, after winning more races than anyone else in his class in the nation.

Throughout his career, he would own five boats, and also drive for various teams.

“My 7 Litre Baker’s Dozen was the epitome of what I thought a race boat should be. I worked with Jon Staudacher on the design, and he built some very innovative functions into that boat. She was fast!”

Baker recalls. In 1986 he started driving Prime Mover out of Fort Lauderdale, FL. The next year he was inducted into the APBA Hall of Champions.

He also set a course record that year that still stands—140-plus MPH on the straightaway.

Soon after, Baker began driving for another team out of Florida, Miss Aquamet; he won the Nationals and set even more records. In the New Jersey-based Big Bird, Baker set two records, won National High Points and the Nationals. In the Florida-based National Modified Run Away, he won the Nationals, and his last major race in 2007, in Hampton, VA. By then Baker had had two ankle replacements and unfortunately lost use of his throttle foot. So, he retired from racing and bought a 5 Litre that he has been tinkering with ever since.

Today, Baker is focusing on his business, Baker’s Liquors, Inc., with his wife Holly. He also serves as the head of the Chesterwye Foundation, which helps physically and mentally challenged adults, and has been on the board of directors for the Queenstown Bank of Maryland for 37 years.

When he found out that he would be inducted into the MSAHOF, Baker was far more excited for what it would mean to the sport and to his family.

“I’m extremely humbled by this award. When you give this to me, you’re giving it to my whole family. All those years, my wife and some of the best employees a business could ever have covered for me while I raced hard. I would be off racing weekends in the summer when the store was doing the most business. But I had a passion that drove me, and I had to do it. I didn’t want to be old and look back and wish I had done it. I wanted to really do it.”

RACE CALENDAR REGION 1 5/20-21 Annual Standish Icebreaker Regatta, Standish, ME - Watchic Lake

PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes

REGION 2 9/15-17 Crystal Lake Regatta, Redwood , NY - Crystal Lake

Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes

REGION 3 6/17-18 Greenwood Lake Spring Race, West Milford , NJ 9/16 New Jersey State Championships, Roxbury, NJ - Lake Hopatcong

Inboard Inboard

REGION 5 2/4 Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta, Palmetto, FL - Manatee River Outboard Performance Craft 3/3-5 Orange Cup Regatta, Lakeland, FL - Lake Hollingsworth Inboard, Stock Outboard, Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes 4/1-2 Spring Jesup, Jesup, GA - Lake Lindsay Grace PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes 4/29-30 -Southeast Divisionals, Jesup, GA - Lake Lindsay Grace PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes 5/20-21 Stuart Sailfish Regatta - 5th Year Anniversary, Stuart, FL - Indian River Lagoon Inboard, Outboard Performance Craft 10/7-8 Fall Jesup, Jesup, GA - Lake Lindsay Grace PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes

REGION 6 4/29-30 APBA / IRC Driving School and Region 6 Test & Tune, Dayton, OH - Eastwood Lake

Special Events, Inboard, PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes 7/15-16 67th Annual PNC ROAR ON THE RIVER Presented by Trenton Rotary Club, Trenton MI Stock Outboard, Outboard Performance Craft

REGION 7 6/17-18 Whiskey City Regatta, Lawrenceburg, IN - Ohio River 6/24-25 Rock Falls River Chase, Rock Falls, IL - Rock River

Outboard Performance Craft Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Junior Classes

REGION 11 5/20-21 Oroville CA Spring Regatta Inboard, PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard, Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes 9/2-3 Redding Marina Labor Day Regatta, Redding, CA Inboard, PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard,

Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes 9/30- 10/1, Lake Minden Bonus Points Regatta, Nicolaus, CA Inboard, PRO, Modified Outboard, Stock Outboard,

Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes

REGION 12 3/18-19 Havasu Landing Boat Races, Havasu Lake, CA - Lake Havasu

Inboard, Inboard Endurance, PRO, Stock Outboard, Outboard Performance Craft, Junior Classes

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WHAT CAN APBA DO FOR ME?

BY JEFF WILLIAMS, RACE DIRECTOR

The next time someone asks, “What can APBA do for me?” or, “Why doesn’t APBA do —?” This is what I want you to do: Walk into the bathroom and look in the mirror. You are now looking at the face of APBA. It isn’t Mark Wheeler or the Board of Directors, or some other body or group. It is each of us individually.

Jerry Davids once told me it takes just as much work to put on a bad boat race as it does a good one. And at the race site, that is true.

We should each have a goal to sign a new race and help it grow.

You have to find a town with an acceptable piece of water. Visit the town; see if you can find a Chamber of Commerce or a volunteer fire department. They are always looking for ways to raise money and give back to the community—and they are workers. Start a dialogue with them. Once they express interest, your work will really begin. You need to become part of the group working to put on the event—not the outsider with his hand out. You need to regularly attend their meetings in the off-season—be prepared to work mall shows with your boats, do photo ops with the media, make yourself available for interviews, etc. You must be patient, as the event might take a year or more to morph from a thought to reality. And by helping to raise interest and money, you become an honorary townsperson, and the event becomes something for everyone to work on.

Also, keep in mind that no one will buy milk when they have gotten it for free before. No one will offer to pay for a race if they know you will host the event for free. So, most likely, for us to grow, we need to look for sites that have never hosted a race—or even better, sites that hosted a race 25-30 years ago. Will the water be as pristine as at the lake races we have now? Most likely not, but if you are looking for a site that will pay you to come, and provide you with services such as ambulances and port-a-johns, it has to be in the sponsor’s back yard.

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Before you get very far down the road, produce a representative group of photos and send them to our insurance carrier to be sure the site is insurable. You will look awfully dumb if you get a check for $10,000 and can’t host the race on their site due to current insurance requirements.

We have to go back to a site multiple times. We need to do this to grow interest in an area. We need to convince the insurance company to rethink their way of doing business on the costs for a second race at the same site—not because the exposure is less, but because they know the site and the group putting on the race.

To the members of the APBA Board of Directors, I ask you to keep our costs to a minimum. Keep our fees low. When our dues are raised to cover a specific item or project, once that cost has been paid, lower the fees. Don’t just keep the extra money because you can. Don’t be like the state of Pennsylvania—where citizens are still paying for the Johnstown flood of 1936. Treat APBA’s budget like your family budget—APBA shouldn’t get an automatic increase in funding every time you want to go shopping.

We as APBA members must work together to change the way we think and present our image. There is no benefit to thinking in terms of a single category, “MY CATEGORY”. If it benefits “J”, for example, it will benefit Stock, or Mod, or PRO, and eventually it may benefit OPC or Inboard. Attracting new members in any category will prove to be good for all categories.

Lastly, once your “new-old” site has a nucleus of worker bees, help them plan other attractions for their event such as food booths, concessions, church services on Sunday morning, or a car show to benefit a county K-9 unit. Once you go from a boat race in town to a complete town event, now you have something. And remember, YOU are the one to support their projects. It is not up to your fellow racers, your race club, or even APBA. It all falls back to the guy or gal staring back in the mirror, deep in thought, asking the question “When is APBA going to make racing better?”

CAL-ORE RIVER RACERS ANNUAL AWARDS MEETING

BY JAY “BYRD” REESE • WWW.CALORERIVERRACERS.COM The Cal-Ore River Racers Association (CORRA) held its annual membership and awards meeting Saturday, November 5th at The Lucky-7 Casino-Hotel in Smith River, California.

Jeff Lewis #007 at Dunn Riffle.

The group reviewed the 2016 race season, which proved to be one of the most popular and gainful seasons in many years.

The CORRA looked at tentative race sites and dates for the upcoming 2017 tour, including possible opportunities for adding races to the summer schedule.

The annual meeting also included voting by its members for special race honors, and the awarding of the Cal-Ore River Racers season Points Championship trophies, and prize money.

The 7-race summer series then crowned its 2016 High Point Champion, veteran driver Roger Sanderson (#B-200) of Hoopa, California. Sanderson won four races in 2016, including the coveted Boatnik race held annually on Memorial Day in Grants Pass, Oregon, hosted by the Active Club. The 53-year-old racer received $500 in bonus prize money for the Championship.

Jesse Reinhart (#17) of Grants Pass finished in 2nd place in the annual points race series in only his third season of racing, after capturing two race victories.

Jeff Lewis (#007) who has won an unprecedented 10 Boatnik Championships, earned 3rd place honors for the season.

In addition, the meeting introduced five incoming rookie racers who will join the field for the 2017 season.

High Point Champ Roger Sanderson.

Buck McCovey (#AR-15) of Hoopa, California earned Rookie of the Year honors.

season kicks off.

CORRA expects to send a near-record 20-25 boats to the starting line in May when the

Michael Dickson (#20) of Willow Creek, California was voted the Hard Driver of the Year.

Up next for CORRA is the annual Rules Meeting set for Saturday, January 7, 2017 in Klamath, California by Cal-Ore President Matt Richardson.

Hoopa’s Jude Hoestler (#51-50) was voted the “Hard Luck Driver” of the season.

For results, awards, schedule, points, driver profiles, rules, pictures and videos, visit www.caloreriverracers.com .

(L-R) Jesse Reinhart, Roger Sanderson, Jeff Lewis, Buck McCovey, Michael Dickson, Jude Hoestler.

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CAROLE, CANDIDLY After twenty-nine years, a number of podium appearances and two Powerboat Superleague F3/SST 60 Championships, a consummate APBA competitor, pilot of the OPC #16 (SST 60 Class) closes her racing career.

Time spent with Carole Reno of Okeechobee, Florida is always enjoyable. She carries within herself an aura of calm which extends to include those around her—a very good thing during racing events which are, by nature, hectic.

Quiet, determined, respectful, always racing by the rules (we don’t ever remember Carole receiving a penalty or being disqualified), she exemplifies the best this sport produces. “Lady Bug,’” as her boat is proudly named, offers an example of what can result when you follow the rules and play the game well. After she completed her last lap, we knew that a conversation with Carole would be interesting and that we would learn a few valuable lessons.

Propeller: Over the years, how has racing changed in general and for you personally?

Propeller: How did you start to recover from a loss?

Carole: Whether I won or lost, I always enjoyed the close competition.

Fighting for position was a big adrenaline rush for me and there is always the next race.

Propeller: Are there any racing goals you did not meet?

Carole: I wanted OPC SST 60 High Points. I came so close this year, but lost to a great competitor (Toby Hood).

Propeller: It’s your last lap celebration dinner. Who is invited?

Carole: Anybody that wants to come celebrate with me.

Carole: I loved racing with more competition than we have now.

I believe that the economy has hurt all racing, and that results in fewer people being able to race.

Propeller: What advice would you offer to the racing community?

Propeller: Can you remember your first race? Any butterflies?

Propeller: When you and Jeff raced the same class, the rumor was that “Hello Jeff” was painted on the back (transom) of your boat. True?

Carole: I remember my very first race quite well. I had so many butterflies that I was too sick to race. Jeff (her husband Jeff Reno, #34, SST 120/F2)had to race for me. On the second race I told myself that if I was going to do this I better get in the boat—and I won.

I’ve been racing ever since.

Carole: Always be yourself and enjoy life to the fullest, because you never know what will happen from day to day.

Carole: Not true – it said “BYE JEFF”. We had some great competitive races together. He taught me well.

Propeller: When not racing, what do you enjoy?

Carole: I love to go on pontoon boat rides at slow speed with a cold beverage, and my wonderful husband and Little Joe, my dog, alongside.

Propeller: It’s often said that winning isn’t easy but winning graciously is even more difficult. You have a reputation of being a gracious winner. What do you do/say that represents this aspect of sportsmanship?

Carole: Whether I win or lose, I always try to congratulate the winner with a big smile and hug! If I win, I have a bigger smile and tell my competitors what a great race I just had. I have always enjoyed close racing with another boat, whether we are up front or behind.

Propeller: Future plans?

Carole: I plan on going to the races to support and crew for Jeff. Racing will still be in my blood.

Propeller: Final words?

Carole: I would like to thank Jeff for 29 years of wonderful boat racing. We are a great team (at least I think so). I love him to death! Thanks to all the wonderful friends that I have met through the years. I hope to keep all of those relationships.

Above, Carole and Jeff Reno in 2005 when they won the Superleague Best-Dressed Award.

John Driesbach photo

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Even calm Carole gets that competitive adrenaline rush. Sherron Winer photos

s

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A FINE VINTAGE YEAR

BY RON MORRISON • PHOTOS BY GLEASON RACING PHOTOGRAPHY As we take stock of the 2015-2016 Region 10 Vintage season, the NW Vintage Hydros comprised 110 entries at 10 events with a high boat count of 22 at Lake Chelan—Mahogany & Merlot. The year’s Northwest Hydro award winners are Steve Aird, Rookie of the Year; High Point, JB and Water, Gordy and Judy Cole; Event of the Year, Mahogany and Merlot; Team of the Year, Team Compton, Gold Streak & Miss Thriftway.

Looking ahead to 2017, Jim Olson will again be a Vintage Representative to APBA, but a second Vintage Rep position from Region 10 is available and looking for a volunteer. The Region Vintage Activity Chairman is Jeff Schneider. There is a continuing “ask” for Vintage participants to step forward to volunteer as inspector, referee, and/

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or driver’s rep for Vintage Inboard/Vintage OPC. Over the winter, work groups within NW Inboard Hydros will be looking into “oncourse safety” and “mentoring for new participants.”

The first Vintage event for 2017 will be the Test and Tune at Kenmore, Washington on April 8. Jim Olson suggests there will be six Vintage Inboards and five Vintage OPCs joining the 2017 circuit.

In 2017, High Point contests will occur in each of the Vintage groups running together— Small, Medium Conventional, Medium Cabover and Large.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: At Mahogany and Merlot Oct. 1-2, the E-291, U-77 Miss Wahoo, and S-20 Gang Green heat up Lake Chelan.

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Andy Hansen, driving ASR back in the day.

BADGER STATE TURNS 75 COMPOSED BY RACHEL WARNOCK, THE DETAILS OF THIS ARTICLE ARE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FROM THE MINDS OF DEE BERGHAUER, NORM SCHAUB, AND RON THOMAS.

How long do you think it was, after the invention of the first outboard engines, and after people decided it would be fun to put them on boats, that two guys looked at each other and said, “Race ya!”? Most likely it was only a matter of seconds—just long enough for the thought to reach the mouth. As with all good things, boat racing evolved into a sport enjoyed by thousands around the world—with rules and regulations, inspections and championship titles.

Generations of drivers, officials, mechanics, commodores, and families have gathered every year, decade after decade, to celebrate victories, build the sport, and enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company.

The greatest and most unique attribute the sport of boat racing boasts is the community; the way racers and racing families become members of your extended family. We pass our summers traveling the country together; we pop up in each other’s family videos and in the stories told around the dinner table or at holidays. And while our familial community spans 3,000 miles, it generally all starts at home, with our local club. From coast to coast, there are over 100 local racing clubs, with over 20 focused on Stock Outboard racing, across the United States. They’ve celebrated triumphs, weathered seasons of difficulty, endured against the passage of time. One such club, focused on Stock- Mod-J racing and tucked away in the northern Midwest, is the Badger State Outboard Association (BSOA), which will be celebrating its 75th year of existence this March.

Badger State, established in 1942 under the leadership of a few good men (Bob Hahn among them), is the oldest actively sanctioning club in Region 7.

Over the years, other clubs would crop up in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and another club in Wisconsin as well. Wisconsin Power Boat Association, host of

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the infamous Winnebago Marathon, dominated the middle to the middlenorth of the state, while Badger State’s territory was more in the southern half of the state. However, as time passed, most of the other clubs stopped sanctioning races, and Badger State absorbed their membership. Now, with Marine Racing Club (MRC), their sister club in Illinois, Badger State is the primary sanctioning club in Region 7.

Race sites have come and gone over the decades, but some stand out in the stories passed around during post-race social hours: Beloit, Madison, Milwaukee’s South Shore, Neosho, Burlington, Waukesha, Jefferson, Oshkosh, Merrill, Three Lakes, Milwaukee’s Summerfest and, most famously, Wakefield.

In addition to organizing championship races and other special events, Badger State proudly hosted the Pabst Trophy. The trophy, and corresponding prize of amber-colored liquid refreshment, was awarded to the one individual who emerged victorious from a free-for-all race. It began circa 1970 at the Neosho race site, spanning all the hydro and runabout classes. Later the event was moved to Burlington, and eventually cancelled due to safety concerns; the free-for-all race was becoming something of a mosh pit of runabouts, hydros, and capsule boats ranging from A to 45.

Badger State was a fortunate club, with outboard history right in its backyard; the two leading brands of outboard engines were both developed and headquartered in Wisconsin. Evinrude Outboards had been in Milwaukee since the company’s founding in 1907, and Mercury Marine just a few hours north in Fond du Lac, starting in 1939. The competition between the two companies encouraged sponsors such as Pabst, Budweiser, Coors, and some Milwaukee-based newspapers for local races. Both Mercury and Evinrude

would also sponsor races or particular classes as well, most famously the Merc Challenge which promised the title of “World Champion” to its victor.

The close proximity of the two leading outboard companies, and a local population with a passion for watersports, allowed Badger State to claim some of the biggest names in boat racing as members. Carl Kiekhaefer, founder of Mercury Marine (then Kiekhafer Mercury), brought two young engineers to Badger State’s stomping grounds: Charlie Strang and Edgar Rose. Over the course of their lives, these two gentlemen would contribute more to the sport of boat racing and to the American Power Boat Association than can possibly be calculated or quantified; that each of them served as APBA President is the very least of their impact on the sport.

From the halls of Badger State would also emerge Dr. Henry “Hank” Menzies and Jerry Waldman, for whom some exceptionally prestigious awards are named. The Menzies award goes to the individual who garners the most points across all of their classes, and the Jerry Waldman award is earned by the individual who accumulates the most points in a single class. Both of these tenacious drivers were known for driving multiple classes—Jerry’s spanning a couple of categories—and excelling in all of them simultaneously, taking the checkered flag more often than not.

Other notables who dominated their respective classes for decades and struck fear into the hearts of their competitors include: Andy Hansen, Bobby Hering, the Stippiches, Stover Hire, Stuart “Doc” Wilson, the Hedlunds, Cooper Jess, the Schaubs, the Zolkoskes, Ron Thomas, the Hauensteins, Fred Miller, the Palmquists, Steve Warnock, the Hemps, Mark Schmerbauch, and too many more to fully name. BSOA is also home to the Berghauer-Kargus-Allen dynasty, which produced five generations of champion racers, and has boat numbers instead of names on their family tree.

Some of those same individuals who dominated on the race course would continue to contribute to the sport in the political arena. Individuals such as Fred Miller, Dee Berghauer, Fred Hauenstein, Norm Schaub, Steve Warnock, and “Big Don” Allen have all risen as leaders within the sport, holding office at local, regional, national, and in some cases, international levels.

While Badger State is proud of the individuals who have risen from her ranks to earn national recognition, the club is equally gratified by the feats we have

collectively accomplished—namely, the Nationals. Badger State has hosted more National Championships since 1980 than any other club. Badger State began hosting the Nationals in Beloit, WI, with a once-a-decade trend: 1960 and 1970. The 1980 Nationals were again slated to take place in Beloit; but as the date neared, the venue fell through and the club needed a replacement.

Two years earlier, Norm Schaub and Pete Mersberger had been looking at land, and happened by Sunday Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Sunday Lake had previously hosted the “Up-North” race in years past, but Norm and Pete recognized the site’s potential for a national event and seized on this location, as Beloit was no longer viable. Everything fell into place and the city of Wakefield, Michigan hosted her first APBA Stock Nationals in 1980. The group would return in 1982, ’84, ’86, ’88, and ’90. Starting in about 1984, new leaders were emerging from the club’s ranks, orchestrating these Wakefield Nationals year after year. In 1992, under the leadership of John Hoffmann and Steve Warnock, Badger State put on the first combined Stock-Mod-J Nationals, a format which is now typical for APBA. Wakefield went on to host the APBA Nationals and a variety of “Blast from the Past” KG4 and 20H events in 1992, ’94, ’98, 2000, ’02, ’06, ’11, and 2015, for a total of 14 Nationals since 1980.

Through the efforts of her membership, both individual and collective, Badger State Outboard Association has woven herself into the very fabric of the sport and the boat racing community. We all have Wakefield stories, and we all have stories with at least one of the aforementioned individuals.

In the spirit of this shared history, please save the date of March 18, 2017, and consider yourself cordially invited to celebrate with Badger State on 75 years of outstanding boat racing and friendships. It promises to be a memorable time, with much reminiscing, cajoling, and general merriment. The event will be at Embassy Suites Hotel in Brookfield, Wis. Block rooms are available; mention BSOA event. Go to http://bsoa.net/index.html or call 262-782-2900.

Questions? Reach the organizers—Committee: BSOA1942@gmail.com, Deb Burdick: 262-949-3104 or Dee Berghauer: 262-796-1505.

ABOVE, BSOA officers in the early 1960s. Back row: Charlie Erdman, Harold Berghauer, Lee Erdmann, Carl Stippich and Nate Walters.

Kneeling: Jerry Waldman, Willard Rollof and Bill Krause.

Donny Allen and Billy Hemp in CSH, Wakefield 2006.

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A SEEBOLD STYLE FAREWELL FROM SPEED ON THE WATER AND SEEBOLDSPORTS.COM • PHOTOS BY PAUL KEMIEL There has been a Seebold winning on the water forever—or at least since 1939, when Bill Seebold Sr. built a boat and started racing. Winning has been a family tradition for 77 years. Bill Jr. started racing at 11, and blazed an amazing 46-year career (over 900 race wins, 69 World/National titles) before retiring in 1997. The Seebold 3rd generation blazed their own trails. Mike started racing at age 13. Tim started at 8 (a little early, but who’s counting?) and won his first championship and set a world record by age 17. But the Seebold boat racing dynasty has ended. Tim Seebold of Osage Beach, Missouri, has retired after 44 years of racing, culminating in the 2016 US F1 Powerboat Tour.

From his start in J Hydro, Tim went on to compete in Sport E, Mod 50, Mod 90, SST 120, SST 140, Mod VP, Champ, Mod U, Offshore and Formula One. His career honors include dozens of race wins, several National Championships, 13 North American championships, induction into the APBA Hall of Champions, and earning the most all-time Formula One race wins in U.S. History.

How did he learn so much? Growing up, Tim worked for his dad, Bill Jr. at Seebold Racing after school and weekends. He attended the University of Missouri on a wrestling scholarship; but even then, he worked with his grandfather on propellers. After college, Tim worked at Seebold Powerboats,

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eventually becoming plant manager. In 1993, he started Seebold Sports, then purchased Seebold Racing from his father in 1998.

Tim told Jason Johnson of speedonthewater.com: “My grandfather, my father, my older brother, Mike, and I have spent our lives dedicated to this sport. One of the things that made our family thrive was that we all did it together. We all were heavily involved and active in the sport and racing was a family affair.”

In his final season of racing, Tim hoped to retire as a winner. In fact, he did win the APBA Formula 1 Nationals in Shreveport, Louisiana and topped the High Points chart in the class.

“I feel like I’ve accomplished more than I could ever dream of as a driver,” Seebold said.

We will miss the Seebold style on the racecourse, and wish Tim well as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Visit speedonthewater.com and seeboldsports.com for more on the legendary racer Tim Seebold and the Seebold family.

From top left— 1995: Tim in Bay City, Michigan.

1998 in Peoria, Illinois: On the podium, Tim Seebold 1st, Mike Seebold 2nd and Scott Gilman 3rd.

1999, Augusta, Georgia: Bill Jr. gives Tim a little fatherly direction.

2005: Bud Light teammates Mike, Bill Jr. and Tim in Bay City.

2016: Going for the gold, Tim driving the Formula 1 NGK Spark Plugs in Detroit.

Photos by Paul Kemiel

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RACE COURSE TO RÉSUMÉ

BY RACHEL WARNOCK • PHOTOS BY DAVID RECHT

Jimmy Cummings starts the engine for Mike Akerstrom during testing, Chodziez Poland, 2014.

Seven years ago, the U.S. A-Team took their first group of young APBA members to Europe to experience international World Championship racing.

Since then, the team has provided that experience to 14 different APBA racers, and is set to increase that number in 2017. Some of these individuals accompanied the team for one season; others have become regular faces at World Championship events. During this time, some exciting trends have emerged. The primary trend is an immediate increase in the passion and drive these racers have for our sport.

“It’s a whole new level of competition, of boat racing. And just knowing it’s out there, that it exists, is motivation for me to push harder when I’m racing back home.”—Kyle Lewis, after returning from Tallinn, Estonia, 2016 “So, Billy, can I maybe try driving that boat at Lock Haven?”

—Jimmy Cummings, after working in the pits overseas, deciding he wanted to start racing in Stock Outboard, 2014. “[The U.S. A-Team] definitely made boat racing a bigger part of my life.”

—Todd Anderson, after returning from Barcis, Italy, 2013 While these results are certainly positive, there is a secondary trend that arose over the years of the team’s existence. Team members that spent more time with the organization were able to turn their experiences into career skills, expand their resumes, and stand out from the crowd in applications for jobs. While many of us who grew up in boat racing families used the physics or mechanics of boat racing for science projects, the younger U.S. A-Team members are expanding tremendously on this theme. Concrete skills learned on the team are now paying real dividends in their lives (and helping to pay for their racing) or directly impacting their opportunities to work in the real world in their selected fields.

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Mike Akerstrom- Plastics Engineering Student From my first year on the team, in 2013, I knew I wanted to continue to be part of this organization. With the need to fund this new annual expense, I turned to an internship program offered through my university. For the past three summers I’ve had great paid internships that have funded my overseas racing and built up my resume, making me more employable in the long run.

The best part was the fact that my experience on the U.S. A-Team was what made my resume stand out, and helped to land these coveted internships. It’s become something of a revolving door: my education plays into boat racing— especially UIM racing. Concepts I learn in class can be applied to boat designs or mechanics, giving me an edge on the race course. Boat racing allows me to test out what I learn in the classroom, giving me real-world experience and making me a better student and intern. The cycle snowballs on itself and has enabled me to beat out my classmates for these highly sought-after internships. Moving forward, I’ve applied to graduate school; my work and experience with the U.S. A-Team again elevated my application.

Jimmy Cummings- Biomedical Engineering Student One of the biggest take-aways from my time with the U.S. A-Team is confidence. My experience on the team definitely prepared me for high-stress environments, showing me that with enough skill, preparation, and resolve, just about anything can be done. These experiences have transferred quite tangibly into my field of study, internships, and now more than ever, as my classes place more emphasis on real-world applications. I’m a better student, and I’ll be a better engineer thanks to my time spent with the U.S. A-Team.

Valerie Lighthart interviewing Billy Allen, Tallinn Estonia, 2016.

(R) Rachel Warnock engaged in international relations, Barcis Italy, 2013.

degrees in those very fields. Over the past years I have watched and assisted closely as Billy Allen built the U.S. A-Team into what it is today. The experience has been invaluable in terms of the business I now hope to build.

Todd Anderson- Aspiring Entrepreneur

Valerie Lighthart- Author, Photographer, Model, Filmmaker I originally joined with the U.S. A-Team to start my career as a filmmaker. While I had worked on film sets before, this was the first time I was directing, calling all the shots. I was completely in charge of the project, which was formidable and exhilarating. A plethora of difficulties popped up along with the project, each of which presented me with a question: How do I react to this? Do I fold or do I learn? The people on this team endowed me with the confidence and dedication to shove through what was put in my way. I think that improved me both as a director and as a human being. Because of this team, at the age of 18, I had made an international documentary of significant relevance to a thriving sports community. The whole experience of being so completely in charge of a project made me more conscientious and focused as a filmmaker.

I have a better eye for shots; I’m able to actually direct people (which was an immense struggle beforehand). I truly know what it takes to make a film from the inside—what it means to shove through innumerable obstacles and create something significant to my career and to my team.

The importance and value of networking was heavily conveyed to me during my time with the U.S. A-Team. I remember immediately being impressed by the composure and communication skills of Racer Allen and David Recht—two successful retired businessmen that travel with the team.

David, in particular, was something of a role model for me in terms of how he communicated and effortlessly networked with the other teams. I started a business with my brother earlier this year; and as with all new ventures, networking and customer relations are critical in getting the ball rolling. I now emulate David’s and Racer’s personas when working with potential customers, or other interested parties. Watching them and seeing how they interacted with the other teams helped to prepare me for this role. Because of the time I’ve spent with them, networking and customer relations come more easily to me; I sound more professional, and clients come to us more readily as a result.

We just moved the business out of the garage and into an actual shop.

The U.S. A-Team would like to thank the APBA Historical Society, and all their supporters—whether you sent a donation, bought a T-shirt, or followed us on social media, it is through your support that these results are made possible.

Rachel Warnock- Communications & Media, Aspiring Entrepreneur In 2009, when I first asked Billy Allen to let me help with some of the logistics and organization of the newly formed U.S. A-Team, I had no idea it would play such a large role in my career. From 2010-2012 I created handouts and media content; organized events, travel, and shipping; plus built my first website. After finishing grad school in 2012, I translated these skills into self-employment. I contracted with three different businesses, each of which relied on acute organizational skills, delegation of tasks, and most importantly, creating websites and media content. After moving to Massachusetts in 2014, I easily landed a job in media and communications as a direct result of my five years of experience with the U.S. A-Team, beating out candidates with college

Todd Anderson making valuable connections and friendships, Nottingham England, 2015.

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INBOARD

BY JIM SECHLER, INBOARD CHAIRMAN

Happy New Year! By now I’m sure most of you are busy cleaning up after the holiday season; I hope all of you had time to relax and enjoy spending time with your families.

Judging by the number of rule proposals we have received (over 25 of them!) it looks like we will, once again, be busy at the 2017 National Meeting. Many of you are already looking forward to the 2017 race season; and by the way, Lakeland is less than 60 days away!

One particular topic that I have thought about many times over the years has been the question of how best to award national points within the Inboard category. Is our current system good enough or could it be better? Are we really awarding for both achievement and participation, or only achievement? When I was actively running for High Points I not only studied different scenarios within my class but other classes as well. Over the past several years, there have been a few proposals regarding changing the High Points format and, after reviewing them, I would always run my class’s point totals through the proposed system. However, I would always conclude that, in general, our current system was still the best overall.

Over the last 12 years in many of the more popular classes, High Point championships were decided in the last weekend of racing. This made for exciting racing all the way to the end of the season. Unfortunately, in classes with fewer boats or less participation, trying to get a legal field of four boats at enough races can be as challenging as winning the race itself.

This affects both the racers and the race sites, as some racers will stay home if they think fewer than four boats in their class will attend because they know they won’t receive any national points for their trouble. For some, getting prize/tow money and trophies is not enough enticement to go if they know they are not getting national points.

Finally, in some classes where there are only a few active boats, it can be difficult to convince three or four teams to show up at a race they normally wouldn’t plan on attending, in order to help a racer out who is trying to win High Points.

I remember one racer saying, after receiving a DNS the very first heat at the first race of the year, that his chances of winning High Points were now nearly impossible. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true; if he could not convince at least three other boats to show up at another race he would not have any opportunity to make up the points lost due to the DNS. It is for these reasons that I put in a proposal that would give any racer 50 participation points for showing up at an event and making a start, regardless of how many other boats in the class are at the event. These points are in addition to the current points system. This proposal, along with an update to the “Combination of Classes” rule, will allow any boat that shows up at a race to run in combination with another class and receive 50 points. This change will have no affect on the heavily supported classes, as the participation points will cancel each other out as every boat that meets the “best 15 days” requirement also has (15) 50 point days. But classes in which only five or six days of racing are traditionally needed to win High Points, going to more events can play a bigger role in the calculation of High Points. This will also help racers in those classes make up for a bad heat, because one additional weekend of racing could make up for a DNS in a heat even if they are the only boat that shows up at the event. This will also help race sites, as any racer that shows up will receive national points regardless of any other class participant.

I hope that you will take a minute to understand the proposal and support it. I hope the Commission also supports the idea.

It’s not the answer to all our troubles but I hope it’s a step in the right direction.

All the best in Racing!

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MODIFIED OUTBOARD

BY TOM SUTHERLAND, MODIFIED OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN

The Mod Category is inducting three drivers into the Hall of Champions this year.

Rick Miller and Eric VanOver earned the first two spots, but the third spot was up for grabs until the last race of the season in Tabor City, North Carolina. George Luce, Amy Sweeney, Brandon Boyd, Austin VanOver and Jerry Davids, Sr. were all in contention, but it was Brandon Boyd who showed up at Tabor City to compete in eight different classes,

accumulating over 6,000 total points to win the Bob Goller Award and the final Hall of Champions position.

John Mauck, longtime racer from Churchton, Maryland, won the Paul Kalb Award with 7,200 points in 350 Mod Hydro with a Divisional win, a Winter Nationals win, a second place Nationals finish, eleven weekend wins and one second place.

The Rookie of the Year Award is awarded to a new driver with the most points in a single class. This year’s Modified Outboard Rookie of the Year is Steven Kohlenstein from Baltimore, Maryland who scored 3,869 points racing 850 Mod Runabout in 14 races. Steven also raced 750 Mod Runabout to earn an additional 3,007 points.

Congratulations to all of our champions!

(R) Brandon Boyd raced to a spot in the Hall of Champions.

F. Peirce Williams photo

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Here is Lily Deware racing AX Hydro at Tabor City. F. Peirce Williams photo

REGION ROUNDUP

REGION 2 2016 was again a slow year for Region 2 with one Vintage event and a Stock Outboard event. Looking to 2017, we will again have at least one Vintage event and, I believe, two Outboard events. I have been reaching out to former members in New York and Canada, trying to get the membership of Region 2 back up, and possibly push for some returning and/or new venues.

Hope you all had a great Holiday Season, and best wishes in 2017.

—John Krebs REGION 5 Happy New Year! That sounds funny, as I am writing this a few days before Thanksgiving. I know winter is coming as the snowbirds are already arriving in my hometown, Lake Placid (Florida, that is).

The Region 5 Fall Meeting was great! It was very well attended, and that means good discussions were held and issues covered and solved. They ate all the brownies and cookies, too. Howie Nichols reported on the grant received from the APBA Historical Society, and how that enabled us to repair/upgrade our Region rescue boat and equipment. The floor of the rescue boat was completely replaced, fuel tank problems repaired, and multiple other issues fixed. Howie is currently researching an upgrade for the video portion of the starting clock system. We really want to thank the Historical Society for the grant that is enabling us to make much needed repairs to our safety and race equipment. Thank you—thank you—thank you!

Howie Nichols was re-elected to the APBA Board of Directors. Region 5 is lucky to have Howie! If something

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is needed, his is usually the first phone called or email contact made.

One more BIG piece of news to brag about: Jeff Reno will be honored in January by being inducted into the Hall of Champions in the OPC Category. This has been quite a year for Jeff and Carole. Region 5 is very proud of both of you.

When you read this it will be early January. Please note that Capsule Training will be available on January 22nd in Temple Terrace, Florida.

If you need more info, contact me at jstitus2@ embarqmail.com .

Races were placed on the Region 5 Calendar in multiple categories. P1Superstock has scheduled five events in Florida in 2017. Classic Race Boat Association will host their fall and spring Vintage events in Tavares, Fla. Jesup, Georgia will host spring and fall events in Stock, Mod, PRO and J. The Orange Cup Regatta in Lakeland, Fla. is the first weekend in March...Stock Outboard, AX and Inboard records will fall! Stuart, Fla. is scheduled for May 19-21. For details see the schedules as listed on the APBA website.

Hope to see you all in Los Angeles, California at the Annual Meeting at the end of this month!

Thanks again for listening.

—Sally Titus REGION 10 As the Region 10 off-season rolls on, the folks at Tacoma Inboard hosted a great Region 10 Banquet. Commodore Ana Cappelletti brings us up to speed: “After all the papers have been filed, engines and

boats are being winterized, and each club is holding their annual elections. We are happy to report that Tacoma Inboard has a couple of new members that have joined the board.

2017 Tacoma Inboard officers and board are: Commodore- Ana Cappelletti Vice Commodore- Jeff Bernard Treasurer- Sue Troxell-Harvey Secretary- Kim Hamilton Board members: Tim Hamilton Tony Newton David Dodge Dorie Ross Jim Harvey “Tacoma Inboard wants to thank Mike and Lisa Malmo not only for serving on the board, but also for the many contributions they have brought to the board and our races. THANK YOU! Mike and Lisa aren’t going anywhere; they will still be very involved at our race sites!

“We look forward to seeing all attendees at our annual December breakfast meeting on December 3rd at Tim and Kim Hamilton’s house. Scott Edensword is making us another delicious breakfast in a nice, cozy atmosphere.

“Tacoma was the host of this year’s Region Meeting and banquet. A huge thank you to David Dodge for getting the great venue, and to Kim Hamilton and Lisa Malmo for the decorations and centerpieces along with procuring and organizing the raffle items.

Thanks to our amazing emcee Brad Luce, for doing a

great job as always. To Julie Sparrowgrove, thank you for putting together the slideshow, and to all of the clubs for donating items for the raffle, and the many people who personally donated. A fun time was had by all!

Our Region Chairman Rick Sandstrom presented Campbell/Ness Crane with a framed picture of one of their cranes at a race site for them to hang in the main office. This was presented for all of the many years of continued service at all of our race sites. They are an amazing company, and our very own Tyler Ulsh received the award on behalf of his company.

“We are looking forward to our TIRA banquet coming up on January 21st, 2017; place still to be determined.

The holidays are right around the corner, so we wish all a very happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas!

We should all be thankful that we can share such an amazing sport together through the ups and the downs. Be safe and enjoy this holiday with your family and friends.”

Northwest Outboard Marathon Association has had a memorable year, reorganizing itself and starting to bring OPC Racing back to the Northwest. Here’s Mike White’s wrap-up on their activities: “NOMA is still increasing in membership and are currently in the process of electing this next year’s officers. We meet every third Thursday of each month at the Buzz Inn in Everett WA. The Sport C class of OPC has been busy since the last issue of the Propeller with four races: Hydros for Heroes at Oak Harbor WA with 5 boats registered, the Terry Troxell Memorial Regatta at Pateros WA had 4 boats, the Yapachino Memorial Regatta at Spanaway WA had 5 boats, and the Norm Evans Memorial Apple Cup at Manson WA had 5 boats registered.

“All Sport C boats started and finished the weekends.

We have heartfelt gratitude for all the volunteers who helped with the registration, scoring, setup and teardown of the pits, along with the many hours spent on pre-race organization. The Norm Evans Memorial Apple Cup marked the last race for Region 10. There is a possibility that a couple of the Region 10 Sport Cs would head to California for two additional races in October, one being the North American Championship race for Sport C. “As always, thanks to Steve Walde and George Stewart from California for their support in Region 10 races. The F1/F150 V6 boats received much enthusiasm from the fans at the Seafair Hydroplane races. There was a total of 11 boats participating in

the race. NOMA and Region 10 volunteers helped crew for the out of state boats. Also, 5 boats made it to the Norm Evans Memorial Apple Cup race in Manson Wa. “NOMA elected the following officers for 2017: Commodore Jan Norvold, Vice Commodore Linda Shephard, Secretary Wes Fridell and Treasurer Kim Coker.

“Region 10 high points awards for 2016 OPC went to Formula 1 Mike Nass, Formula 150 Mike McClellan and Sport C Mike White. Also, the Babcock Award was given to Wes Fridell. OPC is looking forward to the 2017 race season with much enthusiasm, preparing the list of races Sport C and V6 boats will be attending.

Capping off the Inboard news are Jim Codling’s musings from the land of Seattle Drag and Ski: “Our Region 10 awards party was a nice success at the Bellevue Hotel. An upscale event was carried off very well, with about 125 folks attending. Our region meeting was directed by chairman Rick Sandstrom, and covered most of the news known early in the offseason. Rick mentioned that most of the changes for 2017 will come at or after the Annual Meeting in LA in January. A sizeable contingent is expected to travel to the 3-day meeting.

“At this time, it looks like several teams are switching classes for the coming season. While we had 6 to 9 boats in the hotly contested 1 Litre class, and 4 to 6 boats in the 2.5 Litre class, that will change up a bit as at least three of the current teams are switching to the less expensive “stock” class. The 2.5 championship team will have to tune up the ol’ #36 boat, as a piledriver will be chasing that team in 2017.

“The #36 Eacret boat’s driver Austin Eacret won the George Babcock Award for the Inboard Division. An interesting season lies ahead for our racers as we travel the country racing. It looks like crowd favorite Junior Classes will be absent at a couple of races due to conflicting Stock “Nationals” type events. We will miss them, as a lot of the crowd who have kids came out to see them run at our Inboard events.

“With Jim Sechler as the new Inboard leader for 2017, he will have a new commission that includes Aaron Stephens and Bob Schellhase as our Region 10 Inboard commissioners. We hope to make several changes to particular rules from 2016, especially in the runabout classes. Our clubs are working on the current sites, trying to get renewals for ’17. The large cost of a race requires a lot of footwork this time of year. If you have a sponsor idea, please share it with your commodore for some exploration to help cover

our events.”

Seattle Outboard is heading into 2017 with a few changed race dates in the offing, and most of the same crew at the helm of the ship. There appear to be a good number of Northwest racers who will take advantage of dirt-cheap airfares to head to Los Angeles for the APBA National Meeting in January. If you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself to attend at least one APBA Meeting, as it is where the decisions are made that have a direct effect on your category of racing.

At the forefront of the Stock Outboard discussion will be the cooling issues with the Yamato 321, which should provide some spirited discussion. Mods and PROS will be planniong their combined Nationals in a new location—Constantine MI. And there are a number of different rule proposals being brought to the J Committee for discussion. Never a dull moment in that meeting. Finally, there’s the Category Awards Presentation and the Hall of Champions/Honor Squadron Banquet to top it all off.

Most of all, it’s a great chance to get together for a few days with our racing friends from across the country. We hope to see you all there in Los Angeles!

—Patrick Gleason REGION 12 Wiest Lake, Dec. 10-11, 2016 While the rest of you were freezing, the Southern California Outboard Association was holding the first APBA race of the season. It was a great weekend, with the temperature in the low 70s and no wind for two days. SCOA has shown that APBA racing is not dead in Region 12.

This was the first race that SCOA has held in a while, and it took a lot of work from many people that I want to thank (and if I miss someone, I apologize.) There are race sites in the country that have hosted an annual event for years—Trenton comes to mind—and even though events have not been held at Wiest Lake annually, it has played an important role for Region 12. Races have been held here in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s and now 2010s. Seven decades is a long time.

David Hale, Steve Gender and I went down Friday to do some work. We had to chop down a lot of bushes so that the clock could be seen from the race course. We also got all of the buoys ready, and put some in place.

The clock was set up. All of SCOA’s equipment was in a trailer that was stolen a little over a year ago, so we had to borrow. We thank Region 11’s East Bay Boat Club for the use of their clock. Kent Gabrelson made and

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donated two complete sets of flags for the club to use.

Wiest Lake is an Imperial County Park and is not very large, so when Steven and I drove up Saturday morning, the whole park was covered with boats, trailers and RVs. Dean Wilson (Region 12) was busy taking entries.

Dean took the scorers test just so this race could happen. Jean MacKay Schwartz from Region 11 came to be the referee and see her ASH get tested. Race Director Scott Schatz was busy finishing the course and getting everything ready. The rescue team was there all weekend and did a geat job. In addition, the rescue team was responsible for six drivers being able to do capsule testing.

The races got off to a late start on Saturday, but over the two days all of the racing was completed. This race was a success—due not only to almost all of Region 12’s drivers attending, but also the drivers from Region 11. Dean Wilson (Region 11), Jean MacKay and RJ West made the long trip. You can’t go much further south in California than Brawley.

We were able to give a couple of J Hydro drivers some time on the water, including Spencer Love’s youngest.

Roger Carr, Region 12 Chair, was the inspector, but in addition he manned a radio with the judges stand all weekend in order to get theclasses off the beach in time. There was no PA, as it had been stolen. SCOA treasurer Bobby Peebles was there to handle the money. It is a big job at the first race; he and Dean not only had to do entries but take in APBA memberships.

When you have a small event like this, most of the

drivers are racing in multiple classes. Because of this, to get heats started you need everyone to help everyone—and this is what happened in the pits. It was really great to see all of the help; this is what boat racing is all about.

will be good also. Again, when the number of drivers in a region is small, you need all of them to attend a race in order for it to succeed. That is what happened here.

Thanks to everyone, and especially anyone I forgot to mention.

SCOA is planning a race at Havasu Landing March 18-19, and with one under their belt, it looks as if this

—Ernie Dawe

RESULTS BRAWLEY, CA- LAKE WIEST - DEC. 10-11, 2016 SATURDAY CSH BONUS RACES SUNDAY DEC. 10, 2016 Casey Jones DEC. 11, 2016 ASH Casey Wright Robert West SST 45 SST 45 Kent Gabrielson Jeffrey Conant Robert West Robert West Roger Hewson Mike Wright Dean Comer Jared Wallach Kenny Knudson Wesley Gildart Mark Halyak Dean Comer 20SSH 300SSH Spencer Love Spencer Love Roger Hewson Jeffrey Conant Jared Wallach JH Kent Gabrielson Steve Genter JH Chloe Schatz Kenny Knudson David Hale Lily Love Lily Love David Hale 20SSH Chloe Schatz ASH 300SSH Kent Gabrieson ASH 1) Mike Wright Steve Genter David Hale Robert West (tie) Jeffrey Conant Roger Hewson Wesley Gildart 1) Robert West David Hale Kenny Knudson (tie) Mike Wright 45SS CSH Jeffrey Conant 3) Wesley Robert West Casey Wright CSR Gildart Spencer Love Kent Gabrielson CSR Dean R Wilson Dean Comer Casey Jones Wesley Gildart Dean R Wilson Jared Wallach Kenny Knudson Wesley Gildart Terry Grave Paul Stewart Mike Wright Terry Grave Mark Halyak Kent Gabrielson Mike Wright

CAPTION THIS

OK, wise guys and girls, every picture tells a story... send your best caption for this photo to editor@apba.org .

Dave Anderson from Kirkland, WA in DSH at Hinton, West Virginia. Christine Brewster photo 24

CSH Kent Gabrielson Roger Hewson Casey Wright Casey Jones 20SSH Roger Hewson Kent Gabrielson David Hale Kenny Knudson 300SSH Jeffrey Conant Steve Genter David Hale 45SS Robert West Mark Halyak Jared Wallach Spencer Love Dean Comer

BONUS RACES ASH Robert West Mike Wright Wesley Gildart 20SSH Kent Gabrielson David Hale Roger Hewson Casey Jones CSH Roger Hewson Casey Jones Kent Gabrielson Casey Wright

RACE IN PEACE DAVE BRYAN • 3/28/34-10/26/16 A dear friend of boat racing passed away Oct. 26, 2016 after a battle with lung cancer. Dave Bryan loved boat racing.

I first got to know Dave in the early 1970s when we were racing CSR. Dave was severely injured in a boat race in Needles, Cal. in 1972. Dave didn’t let that stop him. He raced, helped others race, and worked hard for the sport. He built the judges stand at the 1977 Nationals.

A drywaller, Dave finished my new garage for free. He attended the Stock Nationals from at least 1971-1983, racing CSR. In 1983, Dave won the CSR Nationals at Oroville, Cal. He always wanted to set a world record in the class, so Dave and Judy went to Yelm, Wash., for many years, and he actually built boats for record runs.

He finally did set a world competition record in CSR. After winning the 1983 Nationals, Dave quit racing to concentrate on his business. He moved to Las Vegas and did quite well during the construction boom.

In the early 1990s Dave began attending boat races again. He said that he deeply regretted having stopped racing. He said, “I wondered why I ever quit; all my friends were here.” He was in the pits, helping racers again with his vast knowledge and many stories.

Ron Hill and I were able to go see Dave three days before he died. It was very difficult, but I will always be glad that we did go. Dave’s death leaves a big hole in my heart, as in his family and among all who knew him. He is survived by his grandson Jason, son Danny, daughter Marla, and his wife of 64 years, Judy.

—Ernie Dawe ANDY BUTTERFIELD 2/26/67-10/31/16 Andrew (77M) Butterfield of Utica, Michigan, passed away on Monday, October 31, 2016.

Mike Ross, who had shared snowmobiling and boat racing with Andy for over 30 years, wrote, “What a great guy Andy was...He was like one of our family.”

We will miss Andy’s wonderful smile and spirit.

—legacy.com JOHN “JAY” CROWLEY • 2/10/67-10/5/16 Jay Crowley grew up loving music, history and (thanks to uncles Joe and Peter Crowley) power boat racing. Jay started in J Runabout at age 9, then went on to A Stock classes, and eventually to the PRO 250cc Hydro class.

Jay is survived by daughters Rebecca and Sarah. You may make a memorial donation to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701.

—from South Shore Racing Association MEL LARSON • 1929-2016 Longtime motorsports supporter Mel Larson, 87, peacefully passed away, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016. His wife Marilyn and family were by his side.

Mel was born in Plymouth, Mich., to Oleta Mae and Algot Larson. While in the U.S. Air Force at Luke Air Force Base, he met the love of his life, Marilyn. He later owned and operated a dragstrip near Phoenix. He was also known throughout the NASCAR community for racing, and was instrumental in the inception of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He then moved to Las Vegas and joined Bill Bennett’s Circus Circus team. (Mel was executive vice president of Circus Circus properties for 20 years.) Mel was always very generous with his time, helping others with great advice and guidance.

Mel will be missed by his wife of 37 years, Marilyn; brother Alvin; children Melinda Larson, Jenny DiPaulo, Steven Larson, Carol Osborne, Teresa Sussman and their children; and his sister-in-law Joyce Adams, her daughters and their children. The family suggests donations to the Animal Foundation in Las Vegas.

Thunder in the Valley Inboard Regatta, he recognized the role that he could play as a Safety Coordinator. He purchased the necessary safety equipment with his own funds and and formed his own safety team to travel the Inboard circuit for years. He worked closely with the late Stan Fitts to enhance driver safety.

Brian helped design and implement a consistent capsule training protocol for APBA. Whether on a rescue boat or on a committee, Brian saved racers’ lives and never stopped educating, improving and supporting APBA. He also served two terms as Region 1 Chairman and wrote the region news with his wife Sharron for years.

Brian received the 2011 Don Allen Sr. Leadership Award for his contributions to racing safety. Condolences to Sharron, and all his friends and family.

EDDIE SPENCER • 1949-2016 Eddie Ross Spencer left this world November 3, 2016 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona after a long, hard battle with cancer and dementia. He was the second of six children born to Ross J. Spencer and Dora Mae Spencer in Payson, Utah.

In 1966, Eddie enlisted in the Army. He was a proud Vietnam veteran who loved his country.

— H1 Unlimited HANK RUNNE Henry H. Runne, 85, of Kutztown, PA, was a true boat racing ambassador. The smart, skilled, kind patriarch of a racing dynasty passed away Thursday, November 3, 2016.

Born in Elizabeth, NJ to the late Henry J. and Catherine (Kordes) Runne, Hank became a self-employed machinist in Roselle, NJ. The widower of Doris G. (Sandve) Runne, he is survived by his sons Richard (Sheri) Edward (Elizabeth) and H. John (Robin), eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Despite failing health, Hank was determined to attend the 2016 Lock Haven Labor Day Regatta to be with his boat racing family one more time.

He married the love of his life, Marnell Braithwaite Spencer, on February 6, 1970. They had two children, Clinton Eddie and Shana Leigh. A professional carpet installer, Eddie and Marnell opened Spencer’s Carpet and Tile in 1987. He retired in 2014 due to his illness.

A true adventurous spirit, Eddie loved boats, cars, motorcycles—anything with a motor. He enjoyed fishing, off-road racing and much more. He was also the 1980 K Boat National Champion.

Eddie is survived by his wife, children, granddaughter Brooklyn Davis; father Ross Spencer; sisters Gayleine (Bill) Lund, Sherrie (Vennie) Kraync, Kathy Stimpson, and Lori Spencer. He was preceded in death by his mother, brother Chris, son-in-law Michael Allan Davis, and nephew Carter Benson.

—Fishers Landing Racing Club

Eddie made friends wherever he went. He was a dreamer and an adventurer.

BRIAN SMALL

Thanks for all the memories.

Longtime APBA Safety & Rescue champion Brian Small, 64, of Dracut, Mass., passed away Dec. 13, 2016.

Although Brian was never a racer, after watching the Lowell

—Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. 8, 2016