May/June 2018 Propeller Magazine by APBA

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 3 • MAY/JUNE 2018

APBA.ORG • USA: $5.00

JESUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

Stock and Modified Hit the Water

ORANGE CUP REGATTA

Crowning the King of the Lake

CHARLES STRANG

Thank You, Charlie

NGK F1

Series Start

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 (llikert@apba.org) or visit www.apbahs.org .

IN THIS ISSUE 17640 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe MI 48021-2563 PHONE: 586.773.9700 WEB: apba.org EMAIL: apbahq@apba.org twitter.com/APBARacing facebook.com/APBARacing ACCOUNTING MEMBERSHIP SANCTIONS/ HIGH POINTS PROPELLER EDITOR

Linda Likert Sabrina Haudek Cindy Minoletti Tana Moore

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

2018 APBA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT NATIONAL COMMISSIONER TREASURER SECRETARY EX-OFFICIO LEGAL COUNSEL REGION REP CATEGORY REP

Howie Nichols Chris Fairchild TBA Steve Compton Mary Williams Mark Wheeler TBA Jean Mackay-Schwartz John Runne Fred Hauenstein Mark Tate Jerry Davids Kyle Bahl Adam Allen Rick Sandstrom Jeff Brewster

president@apba.org VP@apba.org NC@apba.org treasurer@apba.org secretary@apba.org mark.wheeler@wmich.edu legal@apba.org jean84c@earthlink.net j.runne@hotmail.com fhauenstein@new.rr.com mtate@suncoating.com racer3d62n@hotmail.com racerkyle@hotmail.com azallen@hotmail.com info@propshopltd.com jeff_brewster59s@yahoo.com

COUNCIL-AT-LARGE: Penny Anderson, Jeffrey Conant, Richard Fuchslin, Patrick Gleason, Sheri Greaves, Alex Jennings III, Jack Meyer, Steve Noury, Jan Shaw, Rachel Warnock, Bob Wartinger, Matt Yarno

2018 RACING CATEGORY CHAIRMEN Inboard Modified OPC PRO Stock

Dutch Squires Tom Sutherland James Chambers Jr. Kristi Ellison Jeff Brewster

inboardracing@apba.org modifiedoutboard@apba.org jchambe1@tampabay.rr.com prooutboard@apba.org stockoutboard@apba.org

2018 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Inboard Endurance Ted Kolby Junior Classes Jeff Williams, Mark Wheeler Offshore Mark Wheeler Outboard Drag Chris Fairchild Special Event and Thundercat Robin Shane Vintage and Historic John Krebs H1 Unlimited (interim) Charlie Grooms

ted@tedkolby.com junior@apba.org offshore@apba.org chris@fairchildracing.com robin.shane@verizon.net krebs233@yahoo.com cgrooms@cliftyengineering.com

2018 REGION CHAIRMEN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16

Dave Jones Scott Reed Ann Marie Shaw Richard Shaw Jeff Titus Eli Whitney Kris Shepard Aaron Wachholz Denver Ray Mut Rick Sandstrom Julian Rucki Roger Carr Buddy Tennell Carleton Callahan Justin Squires

dmj-dmj-32-d@att.net reed28n@gmail.com instpov@yahoo.com shawracingt2@yahoo.com jstitus2@embarqmail.com donaldeli.whitney@sbcglobal.net racershep46@att.net xtremeh2@gmail.com denvermut@hotmail.com info@propshopltd.com renegadep28@aol.com rcinr12@aol.com btennell@bellsouth.net carletoncallahan@yahoo.com novakid@yahoo.com

From the Top 2 APBA Scorers Test When do you have to take the test? 3 In Brief 4 Suited for Safety 6 Race Calendar 7 Juiced! 80th Orange Cup Inboarders crowned in Lakeland 8 The Road to Ecuador “The neatest thing I’ve ever done.” 10 #HowToHashtag People you want to reach are on Instagram 12 Charles D. (Charlie) Strang Thank you, Charlie 14 NGK F1 Series 2018 Don’t miss the excitement! 16 Jesup Championships! Stock and Mod hit the water 18 Hydro Basics Engines, gas and oil, restrictors, tuning 20 P1 SuperStock Champions Welsh duo at UIM Awards 22 Category Corner Outboard Performance Craft 23  H1 Unlimited 24  Inboard 25  Modified Outboard 26 Junior Classes 27  Stock Outboard 28 Region Roundup 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 28 Race in Peace IBC ON THE COVER: Tony Black’s NM-100 National Modified  tearing it up at the 80th Orange Cup.  F. Peirce Williams photo

PROPELLER© welcomes unsolicited articles and photos. Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publication and do not represent official APBA policy. Advertising herein cannot be construed as an endorsement by APBA or its members. PROPELLER (ISSN 0194-6218) (USPS 0047-800) is published six times yearly for $35.00 (U.S.) $55.00 (foreign) by APBA, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021-2563 Periodical postage paid at Eastpointe, MI, and additional mailing office. Postmaster: send addresses to APBA, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021-2563.

from the TOP BY HOWIE NICHOLS, APBA PRESIDENT Racing Heats Up for the 2018 Season

APBA President Howie Nichols with dad Pete and daughter Becky at Hinton, West Virginia.

It’s on! The 2018 season is off to a great start. At the beginning of March, the 80th Orange Cup Regatta welcomed Inboard, OPC, Stock, and J Classes to Lakeland, Florida. We often refer to champions being crowned, but in Lakeland, the King of the Lake got to wear an actual crown! Hats off to Gene and Pat Engle, Central Florida Racing Club, and Polk County Sports Marketing for a successful event. In mid-March I had the privilege of attending the UIM Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo. It was a beautiful event in a beautiful place. Imagine the Hall of Champions ceremony on steroids. (L-R) Bob Wartinger, Howie Nichols and Fred Hauenstein Jr. represented APBA at the UIM Awards Gala in Monaco March 17th.

We were sorry that World Champion (and APBA Vice President) Chris Fairchild was unable to attend due to a random traffic accident. But Chris, like all racers, accepts the occasional bumps and bad breaks. Next time, Chris. In early April, it was the Outboarders’ turn to hit the water at the Jesup, Georgia Winter Nationals. All those winter-weary northerners got to enjoy some Southern warmth and great racing! We had a great time. A few people got wet, but nothing got hurt but feelings. Thanks to the race committee, referee John Runne, scorer Monica Allen, rescue team, and all the race teams that showed up ready to race. I hope you didn’t run into too much snow on the way back. The Board of Directors continues to work on integrating improvements to our computer system into our region, category and points structures. We are moving ahead and want to make changes that will benefit all of our members. As I promised before, there will be no surprises. APBA is a membership organization, and we are listening to you. Do you have questions or concerns? Talk to your region and category chairs, Council and Board members.

It is eye-opening to see all the champions from all over the world. Our sport is enthusiastically followed everywhere, in different languages and different classes and categories. We dressed up (no T-shirts and jeans) and were proud to represent APBA and the USA. We really enjoyed being part of this wonderful celebration. Bob Wartinger, who chairs CominSafe, and UIM Senior Vice President Fred Hauenstein Jr. were there too.

We were so sorry to lose Charlie Strang on March 11th. He was such a bright, positive, steady hand—truly a founding father of boat racing as we enjoy it today. We are grateful to have known him, and send our heartfelt condolences to Barbara. Finally, please keep an eye on your category rules. The deadline for rule changes is May 1st, so make sure you have the most up-to-date version. Thanks to the category chairs and commissions who pay attention and get these right. Go fast, turn left, help out when you can. See you at the races!

APBA scorers test BY SALLY TITUS AND LISA JENNINGS

There are many dedicated scorers in the many categories within APBA. The Regatta Scoring Committee thanks each and every one of you for all the hard work you do.

Some scorers think that no matter when they take the test, it is good for two years; ie: if they did not take it in 2016 but did take it in 2017, why is it not good for 2017- 2018? Sorry, but that is not how it works.

In the mid-1970s the Committee decided to prepare a test that each scorer would take each year in order to be considered a qualified scorer. Questions on the test covered information from most APBA categories. This was long before computers and email, etc. so the process was all conducted by mail. It was tedious work to create the test, and just as tedious to get it out to each scorer... take...return...correct, etc. However, the system worked. Soon after this, the Scorers Handbook was created as a helpful â&#x20AC;&#x153;how toâ&#x20AC;? guide.

This is how it works:

OK...fast forward to the present. Every year the Regatta Scoring Committee meets together during the APBA National Meeting. When we looked at the statistics regarding how many scorers take the test annually (approximately 120) and how many of Monica Allen scoring at the these are the same people each year (85% or more) 2018 Jesup Winter Nationals. we decided to change the test-taking requirements. F. Peirce Williams photo

1. Take the test in an even year and you are still qualified for the next (odd) year, as it is the same test. 2. Take the test in an odd year, and you are qualified for that year only. 3. Quick review: Test taken in 2018 is OK for 2019. Test not taken in 2018, but taken in 2019...you are qualified for 2019 only. 4. When a new test becomes available in 2020, every scorer will need to re-qualify.

General Racing Rule 30, Duties of the Scorer, Par. 2 was changed to read: The Scoring Test will be updated every two years. Scoring candidates must take and pass the scoring test with a minimum required passing grade prior to being named Scorer. Scorers who have passed the previous test shall be grandfathered for a period of 45 days after the new test comes out. There has been some confusion as to how this works. The test is updated (new) on the EVEN year and remains the same for the following ODD year. Example: The test was updated for 2016 and remained the same for 2017. If Jane took and passed the test in 2016, she was considered a qualified scorer for 2017; she did not have to take the same test again. HOWEVER, if Jane did not take the test in 2016 and wanted to be a qualified scorer in 2017, she would take the test in 2017. (Remember, this is the 2016-17 test.) We have cycled through a test that stayed the same in 2016 and 2017, a 2-year cycle. Now we are starting a new 2-year cycle. The Scoring Committee wrote the new test and made it available in 2018 (even year) and it will be the same test available in 2019 (odd year). 3

in brief... NOTICE OF ELECTIONS This year, APBA members elect four members to the Board of Directors for a

Quake at the Quarry 2018 For the 5th consecutive year, East Bay Boat Club will host the “Quake at the

APBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS

The Region 11 race is expected to attract teams from Arizona, Texas, Washington, Oregon and California. The program will feature SO/MOD/PRO/OPC and Inboard classes. Daniel Wilde will have the J-Birds’ program rigs set up for younger drivers, and the R-11 300SSH rig will also be available.

two-year term. The Board makes decisions that affect all categories and regions. If you have energy and ideas that can help APBA, please consider running. If you know someone who is well qualified to serve on the Board, urge them to run. APBA is a membership association. You make it work.

1. By July 1: Nominations are received at APBA Headquarters. You may nominate yourself or any other APBA member in good standing. 2. By July 15th: APBA Headquarters notifies the nominees. 3. By August 1st: Any nominee wishing to be put on the ballot should send a letter of intent and a brief personal profile to apbahq@apba.org or APBA Headquarters, 17640 E. Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe MI 48021-2563. All nominees that agree shall be placed on the ballot. 4. By August 20th: Proxy ballots are mailed to each APBA voting member. The ballots list all nominees, with bios, and have space for write-in votes as well. 5. By September 14th: Each member’s completed, signed ballot in its designated return envelope is postmarked. Note: The ballots do not go to APBA; they are mailed to a special post office box office, to be counted by an independent public accounting firm. Ballots must arrive by September 19th. If you send your ballot to APBA, or mail it late, it will not be counted. 6. By the 1st business day following September 19th: The independent auditor has counted the ballots, certified the ballot count, and communicated the results to APBA Headquarters. 7. On the second business day after September 19th: An Annual Meeting of the Members is held at Headquarters to verify the results. (All APBA members are welcome to attend this meeting. However, because it is held during a weekday, typically only APBA staff and the President attend.) The meeting is basically to certify election results, not to change them. 8. The Secretary shall notify the members of the results. Election results are posted online as soon as possible, and the new Board takes over Nov. 1 (the start of the new racing season).

AWARD NOMINATIONS Think about people who have led the way in APBA. Who has made a difference, worked hard on behalf of the sport, and perhaps has not been recognized? Nominate them for one of APBA’s highest non-racing awards. Honor Squadron - email annfitzgerald@comcast.net R. Steven Hearn Leadership Award - email apbahq@apba.org (formerly the Don Allen Sr. Memorial Leadership Award) Write a nomination letter describing the person and his/her service to APBA, and send in by October 1st. 4

Quarry” in Lathrop, California at the Brown Sand Mossdale Quarry, June 16-17. Located on I-5 near Silicon Valley and Bay Area bedroom communities, the Mossdale Quarry is is a prime venue for spectators and easily accessible to race teams, with accommodations just two miles from the pits.

The October 2017 event saw action-packed, lead-changing CSH racing. With entries from Region 10 (WA/OR) and Region 15 (TX), the 750ccMH and 850ccMH classes will come back to life in Region 11 (CA) and drivers will delight fans with close competition. 2017 brought Daren Goehring, Jason Williams, Jason Schrock and Joe Johnson driving for “Li’l Fox” Racing; and Matt Allen, driving for Schulte Racing, putting on a great show...Let’s Go Racing, Boys! —Jean Mackay-Schwartz

from hereu to tthere intrigued by instagram?

By Jean Mackay-Schwartz and Sherron Winer Co-chairs, APBA Promotional and Marketing Committee “People First” is the current social media trend. As news feeds change, and brand advertising costs more, personal engagement is key. How can you use this trend as a marketing opportunity? Consider using Instagram to connect to a wider, younger audience. Owned by Facebook, Instagram started as a network for sharing images. Through photos and video, you can create a marketing message that sparks interest, encourages fans to follow along, and draws them to your race. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Instagram is not about text. Your story is your photo or video. The brain processes images almost instantly, and we remember visual messages better than text. An Instagram post lasts 24 hours—longer than on most media. You can link posts to your other social media platforms to extend their reach. Engage your followers often, but don’t bombard them. Social media are most effective when a new post appears every 24-72 hours. Instagram does not have a filtered feed. Every one of your PUBLIC posts shows up in the feed of every single follower. To build your following, search topics relevant to your event and subject. When you find a post you like, double-tap the image, or tap the heart. Followers follow. CREATE AN ACCOUNT: Download the app (App Store or Google Play Store). Once you are signed up, www.instagram.com offers excellent step-by-step guides to sharing your photos and videos. Make your posts “PUBLIC.” That way they will show up on pages with corresponding hashtags. TAKE YOUR BEST SHOTS: Success depends on a visually appealing mix of photos and videos to keep your audience engaged. Upload your best images highlighting your race or event. Use vertical shots; they are easier to view on mobile phones. Try some Instagram filters, or editing apps like Afterlight 2 ($2.99) to create stunning photos you can share directly to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Read about hashtags in Rachel Warnock’s article on page 12. Use your dedicated hashtags on your event flyers, posters, print ads, and programs. Do you need help with social media or event marketing? Email us at winer.sherron@gmail.com or jean84c@earthlink.net. APBA’s Promotional and Marketing Committee can help to get you from HERE (an idea) to THERE (a successful race). The next HERE to THERE article will focus on Facebook, the most widely used social media platform.

remember when

Above, Fred Alter, Roy Duby and Jack Schaeffer, Jr. at the 1995 Detroit Cup race. Roy Duby was the driver in the Miss U.S. 1, who established the world record at 200.419 mph in 1962 at Guntersville, Alabama. Paul Kemiel photo

boat builders and suppliers list We asked for updates to the APBA Boat Builders List (which actually covers everything from hulls and hardware to safety gear). Many of you responded; thank you. As a result, we were able to update information. If you know of new suppliers, or changes to current listings, please email editor@apba.org . We hope to make it as easy as possible for newcomers to enter the sport and find the boats, engines and equipment they need. And, if you have used equipment to sell, or are looking, check these: APBA CLASSIFIEDS http://www.apba.org/classifieds FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/boatracinggaragesales/ HYDRORACER http://hydroracer.net/forums/forum/buy-and-sell SCREAM AND FLY https://www.screamandfly.com/forumdisplay.php?25-Buy-and-SellMarketplace

suited for safety

__________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ _____________________

BY DON (ELI) WHITNEY, APBA SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

_________________ ____________ _______

estrained drivers, please note that there is a recall notice on a safety harness. Please check your equipment to see whether it is affected. The notice involves driver restraint camlock harnesses sold by Ruian Dragon and Ruian Dongjinlong (shown at tirght). They are defective and do not meet SFI 16.1 certification standards. April 2, 2018 Notice of Recall: Driver Restraint Assemblies Manufactured and Certified to SFI Specification 16.1 by Ruian Dragon and Ruian Dongjinlong. To All Racers, Sanctioning Body Officials, Equipment Wholesalers and Retailers, Driver Restraint Assemblies Manufactured and Certified to SFI Specification 16.1 by Ruian Dragon and Ruian Dongjinlong have been found to be non-compliant with SFI Specification 16.1. All camlock type Driver Restraint Assemblies Manufactured and Certified to SFI Specification 16.1 by Ruian Dragon and Ruian Dongjinlong must be immediately be removed from service and returned to Ruian Dongjinlong. This recall includes Driver Restraint Assemblies Manufactured and Certified to SFI Specification 16.1 by Ruian Dragon or Ruian Dongjinlong and sold under the “TANAKA” brand: Ruian Dongjinlong Auto Parts Co., Ltd Building 1, No.2 South Development Zone, Economic Development Zone, Feiyun Town, Ruian City, Zhejiang, China Tel:+86-13486706757 +86-0577-66853034 Fax:+86-0577-65028808 E-mail:alanwanautoparts@vip.163.com www.djlseatbelts.com The notice came from SFI Foundation Inc., 15708 Pomerado Road, Suite N208, Poway, CA 92064 (858)451-8868 FAX# (858)451-9268 website: www.sfifoundation.com email: sfi@sfifoundation.com While you’re at it, here’s a reminder for all: take the time to check ALL your safety gear, including the fire extinguishers on your trailers!

race calendar REGION 1

5/19 6/9-10 7/13-15 8/26 9/7-9 9/22-23

Standish ME Milton NH Thompson CT Fall River MA Standish ME Kingston NH

REGION 6

PRO-SO-J PRO-SO-J PRO-MOD-SO-J OS PRO-SO-J PRO-SO-J

REGION 2

6/2-3

Whitney Point NY

MOD-SO-J

REGION 3

5/20 Point Pleasant Beach NJ OS 6/16-17 West Milford NJ INB 6/23-24 Berwick PA MOD-SO-J 9/1-3 Lock Haven PA PRO-MOD-SO-J 9/8-9 Mays Landing NJ INB 9/15-16 Landing NJ INB 9/23 Lake Hopatcong NJ OS 10/13-14 Millville NJ MOD-SO-J REGION 4

5/5-6 Edgewood MD 6/16-17 New Martinsville WV 6/24 Ocean City MD 7/28-29 Cambridge MD 7/27-29 Leonardtown MD 8/4-5 Ravenswood WV 8/18-19 Parkersburg WV 8/31-9/1 Wheeling WV 9/29-30 Hampton VA 10/5-7 Leonardtown MD

MOD-SO-J VINTAGE OS INB VINTAGE OPC OPC VINTAGE INB VINTAGE

REGION 5

4/20-22 Miami FL 5/12 St. Cloud FL 6/1-3 St Petersburg FL 6/2 Jacksonville FL 6/15-17 St. Pete Beach FL 6/29-7/1 Sarasota FL 11/16-18 Tavares FL 11/17 Englewood FL

OS OS OPC OS OS OS VINTAGE OS

4/28-29 Waynesville OH VIN-INB-PRO MO-SO-OPC-J 5/26-27 Franklin PA PRO-MOD-SO-J 6/5-9 Springfield OH SE-SOLAR SPLASH 6/21-24 Constantine MI PRO-MOD-J 7/7-8 Marietta OH OPC 7/21-22 Trenton MI OPC 7/29 St Clair MI OS 8/10-12 Springfield OH VINTAGE-OPC 8/11-12 Indian River MI SO-TC-J 8/25-26 Dayton OH INB-MOD-SO-J 9/8-9 Hillsdale MI PRO-MOD-TC-J 9/28-30 Duffy OH SE-OS-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-TC-J REGION 7

5/18-20 6/2-3 6/9-10 6/15-17 6/22-24 7/7-8 9/1-9/2 9/15-16 9/22-23 9/22-23

Pell Lake WI Huntington IN Mukwonago WI Lawrenceburg IN Rock Falls IL Madison IN Evansville IN Beloit WI Madison IN Wausau WI

PRO-MOD-SO-TC PRO-MOD-SO-TC-J MOD-SO-J OPC PRO-MOD-SO-J INB-UNL INB PRO-MOD-SO-J Vintage OPC

REGION 8

6/2 Lake Ozark MO 7/14-15 Forest Lake MN

OS OPC

REGION 9

9/1-2

Shreveport LA

OPC

REGION 10

4/21-22 4/28 4/28-29 5/5-6 5/5-6 5/19-20 5/19-20 5/24-28

Riggins ID SE-JRR St John WA SE-JET SPRINT Testing Only Yelm WA VINTAGE-INB-MOD-SO-OPC Castle Rock WA PRO-MOD-SO-J Chelan WA VINTAGE-INB-OPC St Maries ID SE-JRR Bremerton WA PRO-MOD-SO-J Grants Pass OR SE-JET SPRINT

5/26-27 Newberg OR PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J 6/2 Everett WA PRO-MOD-SO-J 6/8-10 Richland WA VINTAGE-INB-OPC 6/16-17 Soap Lake WA VINTAGE-INB-IE-PRO MOD-SO-OPC-J 6/16 St John WA SE-JET SPRINT 6/29-7/1 Rogue River OR SE-OBRR 7/7-8 Gold Beach OR SE-OBRR 7/15-22 Moses Lake WA MOD-SO-J 7/27-29 Kennewick WA VINTAGE-INB-UNL 8/18-19 Eatonville WA SE-PRO-MOD-SO-J 8/18-19 Pateros WA VINTAGE-INB-IE-OPC 8/24-26 Lewiston ID SE-JRR 9/2-3 Grants Pass OR SE-OBRR 9/8-9 Spanaway WA INB-IE-OPC 9/22-23 Lincoln City OR SE-INB-IE-PRO-MOD SO-OPC-J REGION 11

4/21-22 Oroville CA SE-INB-IE-OS-PRO MOD-SO-OPC-JCLSES 5/12-13 Hoopa CA SE-OBRR 5/19-20 Oroville CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J 6/9-10 Willow Creek CA SE-OBRR 6/16-17 Hoopa CA SE-OBRR 6/16-17 Lathrop CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J 7/28-29 Nicolaus CA VINTAGE-INB-PRO MOD-SO-OPC-J 8/18-19 Klamath CA SE-OBRR 9/22-23 Nicolaus CA VINTAGE-INB-PRO MOD-SO-OPC-J 10/27-28 Lathrop CA INB-PRO-MOD-SO-OPC-J REGION 14

6/2 Knoxville TN 6/15-17 Nashville TN 6/22-24 Guntersville AL

OPC OPC INB-UNL

REGION 15

5/4-6

Port Neches TX

OPC-J

Juiced! 80th Orange Cup BY JIM AID • PHOTOS BY F. PEIRCE WILLIAMS AND POLK COUNTY SPORTS MARKETING

The 80th running of the Orange Cup Regatta lived up to all the pre-race billing, with the largest field of Inboards ever at Lakeland. Good times were shared by racers both past and present. Friday’s schedule was full, with 22 dunkers filling up the morning, followed by afternoon testing to shake off all the winter bugs. Dutch Squires, Wally Johnston and Tom Pakradooni jumped in to complete the 2018 boat inspections before the hulls hit the water. Jim Potter had assembled a full inspection kit and was ready if needed. Then everyone pigged out at the season opening pit barbecue, honoring recently departed racer Jim Appley (race chairman for the Southland for over 30 years!). Great BBQ and even greater race stories told by a host of old timers. Believe it or not, Saturday started with an on-time drivers meeting. APBA President Howie Nichols was in attendance for this 2018 kickoff event! The wind didn’t get the message, but ultimately died down, and we saw some great sideby-side racing for Saturday’s “King of the Lake” heats. The winner of each class was presented with the “King of the Lake” trophy, and the pictures confirm that each class winner was coroneted. With Katelyn Shaw’s win, she proved to all of the racers that women can be “kings” of their class too! Sunday’s running of the 80th Orange Cup Regatta championships was also delayed a bit due to wind, but the tornado caused by the flatbottoms and skiffs sucked that wind right down! Dave Shaw declared the course ready for the hydros. With great pit coordination from Jeff Titus, and help from the team on the judges stand, all the heats were run and (like Saturday) there was plenty of close racing on Lake Hollingsworth’s 1- mile record course. At Saturday’s drivers meeting, Gene Engle (the Orange Cup’s race chairman for at least 30 years), and the Polk County Sports Marketing group were presented with the Jim Appley Memorial Trophy for their dedication to our sport. As the racers departed on Sunday, many declared the 80th Orange Cup Regatta the best ever. The race committee will be working hard this year on suggestions

to improve the event, and we all look forward to an even bigger and better race next year. So...mark your calendar for the 81st running of the Orange Cup Regatta on the first weekend of March, 2019. Now that’s a good way to kick off the 2018 race season! The Race Committee wishes all continued good luck for the rest of the year. See you in 2019! Results of the 80th Orange Cup Regatta run on Lake Hollingsworth, Lakeland, Florida, March 2-4, 2018

SATURDAY’S WINNERS: KING OF THE LAKE

SUNDAY’S WINNERS: 80TH ORANGE CUP

SE:

KATELYN SHAW MAYS LANDING, NJ

JSS:

JIMMY STEWART ANNAPOLIS, MD

MIKE BUTURLA POMPANO BEACH, FL

1 Litre:

JEFFREY BERNARD KENT, WA

2.5 Stock:

DOUG MARTIN PURCELLVILLE, VA

2.5 Mod:

TOM THOMPSON CAMBRIDGE, MD

JIM AID LARGO, FL

5 Litre:

JEFFREY BERNARD KENT, WA

DOUG RAPP WINDHAM, CT

NM:

SCOTT LIDDYCOAT SUFFOLK, VA

The Kings (L-R) Doug Martin S-33; Gene Engle receives the Jim Appley Memorial Award from Jim Aid; Ed Thompson, Jeff Bernard and Gary Chalfant; SE winner Katelyn Shaw..

Katelyn Shaw SE127 swept her class both days, to be King of the Lake and Orange Cup winner. F. Peirce Williams photo

Doug Martin rocks to a weekend win in the S-33.F. Peirce Williams photo

National Mod King Scott Liddycoat gets some respect. Polk County Sports Marketing photos

the

Road to Equador 2018

__________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ _____________________

BY JACK THOMPSON AND MIKE AKERSTROM

_________________ ____________ _______

he American Power Boat Association is known as an organization that sets the standards in boat racing. It’s no different in Ecuador. Each year, the Ecuadorian cities of Guayaquil and Vinces invite an APBA driver to compete in the world-renowned Regata Guayaquil-Vinces. At 64.3 miles, it is known as the world’s longest marathon for C Stock Runabout-style boats. This year, Mayor Cristian Villasagua sponsored three APBA drivers: Mike Akerstrom; Dustin Pearson; and Eric Wienczak. And, for the first time, an APBA referee was invited to help officiate in the 62nd running of the event: Jack Thompson (Region 1). Alan Akerstrom served honorably as pit crew. Dustin was the only repeat U.S. driver, having finished second here in 2016. This year, the U.S. contingent traveled to Vinces a week before the race to set up and test with the help of our “extended family.” Dr. Rogers Moscoso Muñoz, Jose Peñafiel Piedrahita and their families opened their homes to us.

Iron Mike Akerstrom testing.

Mike Akerstrom said, “This was the neatest thing I’ve ever done.” Mike recalled: We lined up on shore in the city of Guayaquil on an average 100° day, and Dr. Rogers Moscoso Muñoz began the 10-second countdown. When he reached zero, we all started our own engines, and the battle began. The first obstacle: big wakes from boats that got better starts. Those little 10’ 4” Austin copies can be caught between two swells, taking the next wave smack over the bow.

Boat racing in

A shared love of boat racing and the camaraderie of the Ecuadorians created a lasting friendship. With the help of our hosts, Master Mechanic Cesar Patino and a large group of skilled friends, along with tips from Regate veteran Dustin, the boats came together. When Mike Akerstrom’s boat needed a new bottom, lawyer/boat builder Javier Arias installed it overnight. After changing out Eric’s boat to make him more competitive, the U.S. drivers were ready.

Ecuador is like the Daytona 500 in the States. ____________________

_______________ Race day, March 18th, brought beautiful weather and __________ approximately 30,000-50,000 people to see the finish of the race in Vinces. Boat racing in Ecuador is like the Daytona 500 in the States. Children grow up wanting to be boat racers in the same way U.S. children want to be race car drivers or NFL players. Starting from Guayaquil 64 miles away, 47 boats headed down the river towards the finish line. The winner usually crosses the finish line in about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Ruben Guerrero from Guayaquil crossed the line first with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, 2 seconds. Luis Ernesto Rodriguez from Vinces followed in second, and Dustin Pearson of the USA in third. Mike Akerstrom finished 21st, suffering electrical problems 10 miles from the finish. Eric Wienczak had problems right from the start, but a major glitch put him out of the race midway, and he had to be towed to Vinces. Still, our drivers made the USA and APBA proud, and look forward to doing better in 2019.

What will the future bring...? Dr. Rogers Moscoso is extending another invitation to the 2019 Regata Guayaquil-Vinces—to the C Stock Runabout winner of the 2018 Top O’ Michigan Marathon Nationals in August. The APBA/USA contingent thank our Ecuadorian friends and officials for the 2018 invitation and hospitality. And, we promise to learn more of their language before the 2019 Regata Guayaquil-Vinces.

Those of us that made it to the buoy in the middle of the river, and through the first left-hand turn to head upstream, were surrounded by floating waterlily islands—from a few inches wide to 20 feet or more across. Drivers that missed the tricky, winding paths through the Rio Guayas and ran into the lilies came to a very abrupt stop. The lilies inundate the Rio Guayas all 18 miles to Samborondon.

Once in Samborondon, drivers who paid attention to the map turned left into the mouth of the Rio Vinces, and immediately rolled it through a hairpin turn (reminiscent of the Devil’s Elbow at Top O’ Michigan). As we continued up the narrow, winding Rio Vinces, this is where the real battle began: he who slows down the least storms to the front of the pack. Hazards in the Rio Vinces include low-hanging electrical wires and at least two opportunities to go the wrong way. If we could spare a moment of concentration, we could appreciate the beautiful scenery along the way—banana and cacao plantations, bamboo fields, and riverside villages. Mostly, though, we had to fight for 45 miles up the river to the town of Vinces. I was too preoccupied with electrical issues to enjoy the surroundings, and was happy to arrive in Vinces, where 30,000 fans awaited the arrival of the Campeon del la Regata. Made it! Then, just when we thought our marathon was finished, a new one began—the party marathon that envelops the town of Vinces well into Monday morning. We survived both, and hope to return... 62nd Regata Guayaquil - Vinces, March 18, 2018 1st: Ruben Guerrero Aspiazu (1 H 8 min 02 s) 2nd: Luis Rodriguez (1 H 8 min 04 s) 3rd: Dustin Pearson (1 H 9 min 04 s) 4th: Hoodoo Garcia (1 H 13 min 02 s) 5th: Joaquin Moran Falquez (1 H 14 min 05 s)

Jack, Mike and Alan with local fans.

For more, take a look at ecuadorboatracing on Facebook.

Above, Dustin with a young future boat racer. We all spent hours taking pictures with locals. At left, Mike, Dustin and Eric in the streets of Vinces after the race. Their custom shirts were a gift from Doctor Rogers. Below left, Team Patino (Akerstrom photo); thousands of people turned out for the Regate; and below, 2018 Champion Ruben Guerrero Asplazu receives his trophy from Shirley Paulette Crespo.

#HowToHashtag BY RACHEL WARNOCK 64W & 22B

Rachel manages the U.S. A-Team social media channels, along with a few others. Examples shown are from Instagram accounts she manages. Let’s be real: In today’s world, if you’re not on social media, you don’t exist. Social media provide free or low-cost advertising; and as a sport pushing to promote itself, it behooves us to have a strong social media presence. Whether you are selling an event to spectators or to potential sponsors, the more followers you attract, the better. Some platforms are ideal for race promotion; others will leave you taching 10k with the clutch in neutral. As Facebook’s algorithms* become increasingly antagonistic to businesses and organizations, more people are turning to Instagram for advertising and brand exposure. In response, Instagram is making their platform ever more business-friendly. While Facebook pages are still relevant, I highly recommend more clubs jump on the IG bandwagon. Let’s look at some demographic statistics:

A post on Instagram (IG) lasts up to about 24 hours, much longer than Facebook (5-6 hrs.) and Twitter (18-30 minutes). It is easy to link your IG account to your FB and Twitter accounts, so Instagram posts automatically populate those feeds as well, saving you time and hassle. Snapchat has potential for marketing the J Classes and Driving Schools, while YouTube should be used as a tertiary site. Twitter can be leveraged in terms of local politics and race site development. But Facebook and Instagram are our strongest platforms, where most of our efforts should be channeled. Of those two, Instagram offers the greatest potential for reach, exposure, and advancement. Instagram is my favorite social medium, with over 800 million users and a phenomenal growth rate. In just six months, the U.S. A-Team IG page gained 1/4 the number of followers our Facebook page took 8 years to muster, and is growing steadily. Even more impressively, while 80% of the FB followers were already in the sport, Instagram is drawing over 60% nonboatracing followers. That 60% represents potential sponsors, new racers, and people open to product endorsements, which potential sponsors like. During the last team event, over 400 people visited the team profile over four days. Although the U.S. A-Team Instagram account has a relatively small following, our reach and interactions with followers consistently net “good/ average” to “excellent” percentages. While your post shows up in your followers’ feed for about 24 hours, it stays on your profile page indefinitely. Profile pages on IG are much more frequently viewed than on Facebook and Twitter (i.e: 400 visitors in 4 days). People often visit a profile and scan through, “liking” past posts. It’s important to have an attractive, dynamic-looking page. Keep your posts classy, your captions playful, and your pictures thrilling. You’ll do well. Note: unlike Facebook and Twitter, Instagram is largely visual; and you have to be selective about your content. You also can’t share posts; you have to expand your reach through hashtags, which leads us to...

Now, let’s look at average lifespan of posts on each platform:

What’s a hashtag? Hashtags are the real power of IG. Think of each hashtag as a fishing pole with its own special bait. The more you use, the more lines and types of bait you have cast. Your main hashtags should be searchable. I saved a list of hashtags in my phone that I paste into each post, then tailor: subtract or add a few, then post. Each hashtag is an opportunity to attract new followers to your page. You can use up to 30 per post. As you type in hashtags, suggestions will pop up. Make note of these; you may want to use some of them. When choosing hashtags, search to see what other pages are using, and which are most popular. For instance, #race (9 mil) and #watersports (1 mil) have a greater reach than #boatrace (62k). Avoid acronyms like #apba or #ssoa. Descriptive hashtags like #americanboatracing, #boatraceamerica, or #bestofboatracing are more searchable, are currently unused, and may be

*Algorithm: a complex series of “if this, then that” math equations that ultimately determine the success and reach of a post.

Locations: #explorejackson, #cascadiaexplored, #wickedlocal. You can tag a location as #WakefieldMI, #Michigan, or both. Fun, unique one-offs: #whataview, #fearlessleader, #shesincharge.

we tag, adds to our metaphorical weight in the battle of the algorithms. It’s a snowball effect. Your account name should be the name of your club or organization (@USA.TeamRacing). Choose a name that is currently unused. Be searchable: Both hashtags and accounts can be searched and followed. You can search and follow @USA.TeamRacing and #fastboatsrock equally, so be sure to include your main hashtag in your account profile. Try it! Open an Instagram business account for your club or event. It is free, and allows you to “View Insights” (see post at left). Choose your unique name and an official hashtag. Then edit, upload and post a few of your best photos, throw in some hashtags, and see how many followers you attract. The people you want to reach are out there, and they are on Instagram.

great options for an APBA official hashtag. Here are some suggestions for your posts. Type in your caption and hit post. Then, in the Comments section, type # followed by your tag, i.e: #fastboatsrock, #wildride, #checkeredflag or #needforspeed. Use numbers and letters only. Official hashtag: Develop your own official hashtag that reflects your brand: #badgerstateracing, #boatraceamerica, etc. Descriptive Hashtag: You want a hashtag like #fastboatsrock that speaks to your brand; ideally, one that you can dominate, but that others might borrow. #fastboatsrock can easily be applied to something else, thus searched by people who don’t even know us, making us easier to find. Create a hashtag that capitalizes on your local vernacular and regional points of pride! Event-specific: #USNationals, #WorldChampionships, etc. Racing-specific: #gofastturnleft, #greenflag, etc. Racing-related: #horsepower, #torque. Themes/feelings: #americanspirit, #americanmuscle, #bringitdontsingit. Generic but related: #travel, #international, #watersports, #race.

Borrow tags: Hashtags can help a niche organization cast a net both targeted and wide. They allow you to speak to both the specific subject (boat racing) and the underlying personality trait that makes the subject attractive (thrill-seekers and speed-lovers). I’ve used #americasteam (football fans), #americanmuscle (motorcycle enthusiasts), and #horsepower (car enthusiasts)—all logical demographic crossovers. I use those three in every post, and our posts have slowly risen in the search results for these specific hashtags, which has helped gain followers from these demographics. It shows the power of wielding hashtags strategically to benefit our sport. Every follower we gain, or post 13

Charles D. (Charlie) Strang, Jr. Some people do more in a lifetime than most of us ever dream of. Charlie Strang was like that. From age 10, when he fell in love with a Century Cyclone race boat, he was a self-described “outboard motor fanatic.” He got his first boat at 15, and had become a New York State Champion by the time World War II halted racing. Charlie continued thinking, creating, and loving boat racing well into his 90s. People called Strang a genius. That’s right; he held about three dozen patents. The kid from Flatbush graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn with a Mechanical Engineering degree. After enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII, he was assigned to test aircraft engines at Wright Aeronautical Corporation’s experimental engineering department. Charlie then worked at the Flight Propulsion Research Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (now NASA) until 1947. He taught at MIT, where he did research in tribophysics, designed a stern drive, and met Edgar Rose, with whom he later worked at OMC.

In 1951, Charlie became Director of Research at Kiekhaefer Mercury Marine, and eventually was named Executive Vice President. After the company was sold, he did consulting for two years before joining Outboard Marine in 1964. In 1966, he served as Director of Outboard Marine Engineering (OMC) and later became president (1974), CEO (1980) and Chairman of the Board (1982). His Board of Directors, of which he was very proud, included Bill Marriott, astronaut Frank Borman, NASCAR owner Bill France, and Harley-Davidson CEO Richard Teerling. The “Father of the Stern Drive” revolutionized the industry and helped make OMC very successful. Strang pushed for a boat and engine package model. He insisted on high product quality, and competitive horsepower in both pleasure boats and racecraft. Charlie was a savvy and gifted manager, bringing out the best in his employees without micromanaging them. He retired in 1990, due to an age limit that he himself had helped promote. In 1998, Bill France announced that Charlie would become NASCAR’s National Commissioner; he held that post for 10 years. Strang’s interim gigs were diverse: consulting for Volvo-Panta; and working for Rover Motor Cars of Great Britain, American Chain & Cable Corp., Chantal Skin Care Corp. and Chantal Pharmaceutical Corp. For Charlie, “retirement” just meant deeper involvement in boat racing. Serving the Union of International Motorboating for many years, he was named Senior Vice President and was the only American to serve as UIM President. (Strang estimated he’d crossed the Atlantic 150 times, so was relieved to be able to Skype his way to some UIM meetings.) 14

In APBA, he devoted over 50 years to official service coast to coast, in all racing categories—as measurer and referee, on Council, on technical committees, racing commissions, and the Safety Committee, where he contributed greatly to the creation of better helmets and jackets. As President, he helped bring the Offshore category into APBA. He served as National Commissioner for years until his death. That in itself is a complex job, requiring thorough knowledge of the rules and research of incidents to arbitrate appeals. Charlie definitely earned some laurels. They include being an Honorary APBA Life Member and Honorary Life Commodore. He was inducted into the APBA Honor Squadron in 1966. The Charles D. Strang Ultimate Service Award was named for him in recognition of his decades of service. In 1990, Charlie was elected to the NMMA Hall of Fame; and in 2015, to the MOPAR Hall of Fame. President George H.W. Bush presented Strang an American

Success Award in the Rose Garden in 1989. He also received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from a Florida university. Ironically, this 96-year-old dynamo passed away peacefully while sleeping in his chair on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Charlie is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara, and his sister Sandy (Renn) Jachimowski. He was preceded in death by his mother Ann Strang; his aunt Bess Kitchen; and his father, Charles D. Strang, Sr. A memorial was held Sunday, March 18, 2018 in Antioch, Illinois. Donations are suggested to Honor Flight,www.honorflight.org/donate-now/. The organization brings U.S. military veterans to tour monuments in Washington DC. Please sign Charlie’s online guestbook at www.strangfh.com. Thank you, Charlie. Race in peace. Above, L-R: Charlie with Manuel Carnakis; with Carl Kiekhafer; suited up; at a 1960s award presentation (Charlie at lower left); with James Wilson, Jim Jost and Bill Muncey; above, Charlie vehemently abstaining from a vote; Barbara and Charlie with the first Charles D. Strang ultimate Service Award; and Charlie enjoying the 2008 PRO Narionals. Photos from Quincy Looper Racing, Journal of Classic Cars.com, Scream and Fly Magazine, Jean Tennell and APBA files.

NGK F1 Series 2018 BY VAL COLLINS

The NGK F1 Powerboat Championship racing series has once again gathered the stars of the powerboat world to delight fans with world class racing excitement for the 2018 season. This outboard series features the always-magnificent Formula 1 class, along with the speedy F-Light tunnels, thunderous Tri Hulls and the J Hydro class to show off the budding talents of the junior racers. Adding to the thrill of seeing live racing action at the 6 events, spanning 5 different states, fans will also have the luxury of watching the action from several different forms of race broadcasts. Television? You bet! NGK F1PC has partnered with Greenlight TV and CBS Sports Network to run concurrently with the NGK 2-year sponsorship renewal agreement. Television coverage of the racing action will be increasing from 3 episodes to 6 episodes, giving each of the 6 races its own 30-minute show. F-Lights and Tri Hulls will also be included in the coverage. CBS SPORTS NETWORK Air Dates and Times: Port Neches, TX will air on Wed., May 23 at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM EST

Above and facing page: Leland Broge’s first test session. John Broge photos Below, Kelly Ireland, new F-Lights driver in her past career as a ski racer. Nikki Yedor photo

Gulfport, FL will air on Wed., June 20 at 8:30 PM and 11:30 PM EST Nashville, TN will air on Wed., July 11 at 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM EST Watch CBS Sports Network or NGK F1 Powerboat Championship Facebook page for other television air times. But that’s not all. Live feeds of the F1 finals at each race can be watched in real time on the NGK F1 Powerboat Championship Facebook page. Be sure to visit their Facebook page and click LIKE, then Share! www.facebook.com/ NGKF1PowerboatChampionship Champions from the inaugural 2017 season were: J Hydro - Natalie Schubert; Tri Hull - Darryle Middleton; F-Lights - Mark Schmerbauch; and F1 - Terry Rinker. However, a slew of new drivers are joining NGK F1 Powerboat Championship ranks with hopes to contest some of those crowns. Joining the F1 line-up this year is new F1 driver, John Edde. But he is not 16

entirely new to the sport; he raced F-Lights previously, and years ago worked for legendary boat builder, Roark Summerford, at S.T.V. Race Boats. Edde’s team will also campaign the same F-Light boat he drove last season. That boat will be driven by new driver Debby Mobley, who is prepping for her rookie season with “practice, practice, practice” and “working out 5 days a week.” In fact, more than a handful of brand-new drivers will make their entrance onto the Series in 2018. Water ski veteran Kelli Ireland will be swapping her skis to jump into the cockpit of a raceboat, as did her mentor years ago—former water skier turned F1 champion boat racer, Greg Foster. New F-Light driver Tim Kraft saw his first boat race on the Kankakee River back in 1984. He was struck by the racing bug after watching the legendary F1 driver Bill Seebold make a turn at 120 mph. Kraft said, “I knew it was something I had to do.” Third generation racer Leland Broge will also join the circuit in the F-Lights class. Leland is the son of superstar John Broge, a former World Champion boat racer and popular race announcer. Leland’s

grandfather Bob Broge was a boat racer who began his career back in the 1950s; and Leland’s brother JR is also a well-established driver himself. The talented Broge team has been busy this winter making changes and modifications to his boat to ensure it can fit his 6’4” frame, as well as re-rigging the entire boat to be ready for the season opener. The F1 fields in 2017 often drew an unprecedented field of 20 or more F1 tunnels, which provided incredible action on the water and kept the fans on their feet. With the addition of the supporting classes, the fans are kept entertained for a thoroughly exciting day at the water. With an expanding list of drivers, expect even more excitement in 2018. Tim Seebold, NGK series manager, is pleased with the steady expansion and evolution during these early stages of the NGK series. He remarked, “We’re committed to making this sport better for the racers, the sponsors and, most importantly, the fans.” Check out the series schedule and add these races to your calendar. Don’t miss the excitement!

2018 NGK F1 POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP Race Schedule: May 4-6 Port Neches, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J Hydro. http://pnriverfest.com/ June 1-3 Gulfport, FL - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull. http://www.gulfportgrandprix.com/ June 15-17 Nashville, TN - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J Hydro. http://thunderonthecumberland.com/ Aug. 3-5 Pittsburgh, PA - F1, F-Light. http://yougottaregatta.org/ Aug. 10-12 Springfield, OH - F1, F-Light. http://www.springfieldf1grandprix.com/ Sept. 14-16 Orange, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J Hydro. http://www.orangetexas.org/sport-tunnel-boat-races/

Jesup Championships!

JESUP, GA APRIL 5-8 • UNOFFICIAL TOP 5 RESULTS • PHOTOS BY F. PEIRCE WILLIAMS

ASR Peter Lauer Nate Mitchell Devin Adams Kelly Allen Pete Nichols ASH Nate Mitchell Abby Pond Casey Carr BSH John Wlodarski Wayne Adams Callie Shensky CSR Carson Fabbro Joe Pater Chris Fabbro Adam Allen Tim Weber

CSH (15 boats) Dana Holt Joe Pater Mikey Pavlick Matt D’Agostino Dan Parker 15SSH John Wlodarski Callie Shensky Dylan Runne Abby Pond Robert Trolian 20SSH Mikey Pavlick Casey Carr Dana Holt Joe Pater Valerie D’Agostino

Austin VanOver 1-S cleaned up in three Mod classes. Looks as if he’s off to a great start in 2018. Sam Chambers photo

25SSR Tom Nuccio Mike Affholter Jim Kerr Joe Pater Tom Schlarb 300SSH Mikey Pavlick Tom Schlarb Herb Lanphear Dave Deck Jack Deck 200MR Peter Lauer Bruce Hansen Karissa Mitchell Kelsey Bennett Andy Hansen

200MH Andy Hansen Raymond Hammond Erin Proctor Summer Dircksen Bruce Hansen 250MH Rhett Hebert Ty Hebert Dave Deck 350MR Nate Mitchell Mike Affholter Charlie Blackwood Tom Schlarb 350MH Braxton Miller Mike Thierfelder John Mauck Rhett Hebert Jamie Jablonski

400MH Mike Thierfelder Ty Hebert Rick Miller Braxton Miller 500MR Logan Sweeney Jasen Dircksen Tom Weber Austin VanOver Chris Williams 500MH Austin VanOver Braxton Miller Matt Allen John Matthews Alex Jennings IV 750MR Steve Kohlenstein John Wlodarski George Luce

750MH Austin VanOver Eric VanOver Jasen Dircksen Larry Gottschalk Brian Palmquist 850MR John Matthews George Luce Steve Kohlenstein Jason Hay John Wlodarski 850MH Austin VanOver Jason Hay Jasen Dircksen John Matthews Jeff Ruth

At left, ASR and 200 MR Champion Peter Lauer. F. Peirce Williams photo Below, CSH Champion Dana Holt 3-S bested a field of 15. Sam Chambers photo

Nate Mitchell 5-P claimed titles in ASH and 350MR. F. Peirce Williams photo

Hydro Basics:

A Beginner’s Manual for Outboard Hydroplane Racing Engines, Gas and Oil, Restrictors, Tuning BY JOHN M. ADAMS mixture, etc. If you take a stock engine and tune it perfectly for a day of racing, you probably will have an advantage over half the boats on the water, which are running in less than perfect tune. If you have a 0.2% speed advantage in a typical 3-mile race among 60 mph boats, you could win by four boat lengths! So a very tiny advantage can make a big difference in racing. Figure 1 As of this writing, all racing engines are two-cycle. This likely will change in time, much as it did in motocross racing. Four-cycle motors are generally heavier and develop less power for the same displacement. Stock Outboard racing is supposed to be “stock” (as originally produced without modification) but that is virtually impossible to control unless engines are sealed. APBA does have a sealed engine class, 300SS, where the engine has a seal that cannot be tampered with without showing evidence. You will notice in racing that some motors are faster than most others. There are many reasons for this, but it may be as simple as the owner just got lucky and got a fast engine from the factory (not usual, but it does happen). More often, the motor has been “blueprinted” (modified to the maximum limits allowed in the specification sheets) by an engine builder to be the best possible in each area specified. New racers will be frustrated by this, but in time they will learn to take their motors to the good builders for a tune-up. There are so many different motors that it is impossible to tell how to “soup up” a motor. In Modified classes, limited modifications are encouraged. In PRO classes, about the only rule is bore and stroke in an engine. There are some generic things to know, however. The simplest thing a racer can do is to make sure your engine is tuned properly. This involves spark timing, spark plugs, carb setting or jet sizes, gas/ oil

Tuning can get very technical, but there are basic things you can do if you do not have access to weather stations, computers and Dynos or load cells. Probably the easiest is to “read” your spark plugs. The color of the plug will tell you a lot about your carb jet setting (gas to air mixture). A perfect setting will yield a nice tan-colored spark plug after it has been raced. It takes a new plug a couple of races to color properly. Too rich will be dark, or black and oily; too lean will be dry and white. Too rich means the jet size is too big and your ratio of gas to air is too large, so you are putting too much gas in the engine. Rich settings tend to start well and seem to run pretty good, so you can be fooled into thinking it is OK. An engine running too rich will not develop as much power as a properly jetted engine. Too lean means there is not enough gas; i.e. the fuel jet is too small. Some engines like the Yamato have an adjustable jet with a needle valve. Turning it in (clockwise) causes it to lean and turning it out (counterclockwise) causes it to richen. When an engine runs lean it also runs hot—often too hot. They generally start hard but run faster lean, and then better leaner, and then they “stick.” I have heard it said many times, “It was really running good just before it stuck.” When an engine sticks it can be bad. The piston and rings get so hot they stick in the cylinder and the engine stops suddenly! The rings are usually shot afterward; the piston is often shot as well. Sometimes the cylinder is hurt, but less often than the rings and piston. This situation can be avoided by always checking your plugs for proper color.

You may ask, “Why do I need to check the plugs after I get it jetted properly?” The reason is that proper jetting can change at every race for reasons beyond your control. It depends on the amount of oxygen in the air, and air changes. The biggest change is in air density. If the air is dense, there is more oxygen to make power and you need more gas to have the correct ratio of fuel to air. Cold air is denser than hot air. Humid air is less dense than dry air (counterintuitive, I know). Air density depends on the altitude of the race site. Low altitude sites have denser air. So on a hot, humid day at 2000 ft. altitude, you need a smaller jet than a 50-degree dry day at sea level. Cool air at low altitude will contain more oxygen to burn; so the engine will be more powerful and, if tuned properly, will make you go faster. This is why so many records are set at places like Lawrence Lake at about 400 ft. elevation in the fall or spring when it is cool. Below is a chart showing basically how air density can change from the most to least. For simplicity I did not include humidity, which has a smaller effect than temperature and altitude. 100% air density is dry air at 59° at sea level. Temperature Altitude Fahrenheit Sea 1000ft 2000ft 3000ft 50

101.5 97.9 94.4 91.0

99.6 96 92.6 89.2

97.7 94.2 90.8 87.5

95.9 92.5 8 85.9

94.1 90.8 87.5 84.3

100

92.5 89.1 86 82.8

Table 1. Air density % as a function of temperature and altitude above sea level (0ft) So you can see you get a lot less air (14% less) on a 100° F day at 2000 ft. altitude than a cool day at sea level. Therefore you need to jet properly. But even with that, you will be way down on power on the hot day, as will all your competitors.

Besides proper jetting, you can also adjust your oil ratio. Your engine does not burn the oil mixed in the gas, but the oil displaces the gas, so decreasing the oil increases the gas amount and raising the oil lowers the gas. This is an easy way to fine-tune between jet sizes if needed. Be careful to not go too low on oil or you may stick your engine. Speaking of gas, I always used low-test gas or low-octane gas. The reason is there is no more energy in high octane and it costs more. Many believe high octane gas burns slower than low octane but experts say it burns at the same speed; just that high octane does not knock in high compression 4-cycle engines. In a 2-cycle engine the compression ratio is low. Of course your gas must be alcohol-free per the rules. Alcohol has less energy than gas, so you do not want it anyway. Farm stores usually have alcohol-free gas; ask around to find a local source, or check here: http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp Also, airports sell alcohol-free gas, but it is usually 100 octane and expensive. Figure 2 shows the location of the main jet in an OMC A engine. This is typical of carburetors with fixed jets. They are usually brass and can be purchased in a large variety of sizes (openings). They are removed with a flat screwdriver. Figure 3 shows a typical Yamato carb with adjustable main jet being the large knob below the carb.

Figure 2. OMC A carb with float bowl removed. The brass jet is located on the top and another jet is shown on the workbench. Figure 3. A typical Yamato carburetor. Main jet adjustment is performed with the large knob. IN is leaner, OUT is richer. Another tuning item to check is spark timing. This is a little more difficult to do properly, so you may want to seek the help of an old-timer. Generally, once you set the timing, you will not have to fool with it from race

to race. Timing adjusts when the spark plug fires as the piston is compressing the fuel/air mixture. The spark plug preferably fires before the piston reaches top dead center (TDC) since it takes a certain amount of time for the fuel to ignite and heat up the air in the cylinder. You want maximum pressure to occur just as the piston moves from compression to the expansion stroke. The exact best timing for your engine is probably best determined by the manufacturer, but each racer will have a strong opinion as well. I have found it does not seem to be a critical adjustment unless it is way too early or way too late. If it is way too early, it will fight against you when starting, and can pull the rope right out of your hand! When this happens, it usually means the key on the flywheel has been sheared off and it has slipped. Normally this only happens after the motor went into the water while running—not good for many reasons J. Can you win with a stock engine? Absolutely, if it is tuned properly. As I said, if your engine is properly tuned for race day conditions, you will have an advantage over a good number of your competitors whose engines are not. I no longer race; but when I did I was very competitive and set several records at Lawrence Lake. Every record was set with a box stock engine! However, sadly, today it may be more difficult to set records with a box stock engine. Not cooling your engine properly is another way to ruin your day by “sticking” it (getting so hot it stops suddenly). For most engines with water pumps, this is not an issue. But with a Yamato, one must always be concerned about adequate cooling. Props, engine height, kick-out angle and water conditions all can affect cooling. If you stick your engine due to lack of cooling, change something or it will keep happening. Usually, you will see lower compression after sticking your engine, and that is not good. Many race with a CHT (cylinder head temperature) gage to help them avoid overheating. Restrictors are plates that go between the carburetor and the intake to “restrict” the amount of air an engine can get. This is an easy, cheap way to lower the power and slow down an engine to make it fit into a slower class. Generally, adding a restrictor can change the optimum setting for the jet, so one must experiment to achieve the best performance with a restricted engine.

How do you experiment with an engine? The easiest way is with a test wheel. A test wheel is a plate of some sort that you put on the prop shaft instead of a prop in order to load your engine. If the load is well matched to the engine, you can run the engine wide open in the water and watch the RPMs while you tune the engine for best performance. Talk to your fellow racers to get the right test wheel for your engine. Fluted test wheels are the most common, but sometimes they cavitate, making it difficult to get steady readings. I personally have much better luck with flat disc test wheels (see Figure 4). Ask friends what the RPM is for best power is for your engine. Generally it will be between 6000 and 7500 RPM. The Yamato spec says 6600 RPM for a 302. When testing on the beach with a test wheel load, you find the best jet by looking for the one that gives the highest RPM and accelerates well. Test wheels generally do not work well in a test tank unless the tank is very large; they want to cavitate and/or blow all the water out of the tank.

Figure 4. Flat disc test wheel. Dyno (dynamometer) testing is another option. Dynos are expensive and most are not suited for small engines. If you have access to a dyno, it is by far the best way to test engines, in my opinion. Horsepower is measured by this equation: HP=RPM x torque/5252. RPM is easy to measure, and if you have a test load of some sort you can tune for max RPM and infer from that that you are close to maximum power. However, to know for sure, you need torque data—and for that you need a dynamometer.

P1 SuperStock Champions

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Welsh duo join the world’s best powerboat racers at UIM Awards Ceremony in Monaco A year ago, Sam and Daisy Coleman arrived back at Heathrow on an Air India flight and the customs officer asked if they had anything to declare. “We certainly have,” replied Daisy excitedly. “We’re world champions!” To reinforce the point, Sam reached into his holdall and pulled out an impressive trophy. A week earlier the brother and sister, who were the reigning P1 SuperStock UK champions, had left their home in Pembrokeshire to fly to Mumbai. There they joined powerboat racers from eight countries to compete in the inaugural UIM P1 SuperStock World Championship. The weekend of March 17th, 2018, they travelled to Monaco, along with other 2017 UIM world champions of offshore and circuit racing, to receive their accolades at the annual UIM Awards Giving Gala at the Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo. The event celebrates the best racers and successes of last season and is attended by more than 450 guests from sport, business, the boating industry and international media. As they awaited the afternoon press conference, Sam and Daisy thought back to the event in Mumbai last year. It was the culmination of six years’ work, developing a new paradigm for the sport that showcased the best P1 SuperStock racers in the world in a superb setting. Tens of thousands of spectators around the natural amphitheatre of Mumbai’s splendid, sweeping bay, together with millions of viewers worldwide of Sony ESPN’s live television coverage, enjoyed three days of intense racing as Powerboat P1 made its first visit to India. Sam and Daisy completed a clean sweep of victories on the opening day, and were applauded by the international media core as they entered the evening press conference. They attributed their success to fitness, setting consistent lap times and detailed race preparation. “It was a very technical course; it is essential to seek out clear water and choose the right line when you’re racing in a pack of 12 boats on a never-seen-before race track formed by an extraordinary 6,500 red and yellow buoys,” explained Daisy. “Selecting when to take the compulsory pit lap was also crucial,” she added. The finale to the weekend in Mumbai was an energy-sapping 50-minute race in a temperature of 35 degrees (95° F). The Colemans again recorded a hat trick of victories to lift the world championship crown. “We’re honoured to be here in Monte Carlo to collect our award,” said Sam as he entered the Salle des Etoiles with his sister. “The exceptional success of the inaugural Mumbai event shows that powerboat racing can be a thrilling sport that is capable of engaging sizeable new audiences.”

Sam and Daisy Coleman enjoying Monte Carlo.

Jeff Reno #34, and John Ludwig #98 on the sraightaway in Lakeland, Florida. F. Peirce Williams photo

Category corner Outboard Performance Craft BY JAMES CHAMBERS, OPC CHAIRMAN

The 2018 OPC Rule Book is updated and available for reading and/or downloading from the APBA website. Be sure to read the APBA Bylaws, General Racing Rules and the General Safety Rules. The Board of Directors made several changes to the Bylaws that may affect you, as well as the rules changes/updates in the OPC Category section.

As a result of this change, ballots were sent to active participants in SST 45, Formula 150 and GT-1 for a vote.

One change to note: In previous years, the OPC Commission reviewed rules proposals as well as necessary changes and updates. After approval of these rules, they were sent to the active drivers for their vote. General rules were sent to all drivers, and class rules were sent to drivers active in that class.

Rule 20 Classes: Par 3 Super Stock Classes Par. A, SST 45 Motor Standards: New Par 6: SST 45 carburetor throttle plate screw is a non-inspectable item.

APBA Bylaw 12.7 Rule Change Procedure states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For those categories that have not adopted other procedures, the following shall be applicable...â&#x20AC;? (See paragraph below.) APBA Bylaw 12.7.2 changed the procedure followed in prior years by stating the following: Technical and Racing Rules shall be determined by the appropriate racing commission without going to ballot of the category members. Note: The OPC Commission did choose to adopt another procedure. The Commission added a rule which modifies this Bylaw within the OPC Rule Book. OPC Rule 1, General Management, new paragraph 4: Racing members of record as of October 31 shall be eligible to vote on class technical rule changes for the class in which they participated. The OPC category shall be responsible for expenses incurred. The ballot will be sent no later than February 15. The OPC Chairman will be responsible for seeing that the ballot(s) are emailed to all eligible members. Ballots must be returned to the OPC Chairman, via email no later than February 25. The OPC Chairman will determine the results and then notify APBA Headquarters of any rule changes.

The following rules were either approved by the OPC Commissioners at the Annual Meeting in Chicago in January or received a passing vote by ballot as stated above.

Rule 20 Classes, par 5, Altered Classes, GT-1 Motor Standards: New Par 6: Mercury 200XS The engine must be raced as homologated with the following exceptions: any tuner. Rule 3, General Rules, Par 7, OPC Minimum Age Requirements: Sportsman Class Mini GT, GT-PRO . . . . . 12 Add immediately below: The minimum age required for the Mini GT and GT Pro classes shall be ten years with a minimum of three (3) driving school sessions that include at least five (5) laps on a race course by themselves. Driving School may be attended by 9-year old participants, but these children cannot compete until age 10. Upon the completion of three (3) driving schools, the driver will be on rookie status until released by the referee. 2018 looks to be a very active year. Please refer to the individual websites for American Performance Racing, Powerboat Nationals and NGK F1 Powerboat Championship. When an APBA club applies for a sanction, this date and information will be listed on the APBA Website. Go to the menu above in white letters and click Schedule to see the Race Schedule. This page will show you all sanctions applied for in the current year. 23

H1 UNLIMITED FROM HYDRO NEWS AND H1 UNLIMITED.COM Hydro News April Boat Roster Update U-1 Miss Madison...The team appears to be back on track with the announcement that Cindy Shirley will take over crew chief duties (a first in Unlimited racing) after the sudden passing of Dan Hoover. And, the construction of the new hull will pick back up since the team hired Mike and Larry Hanson to complete the build with the installation of the hardware. Hopes are to have the new hull ready to test in the Tri Cities on June 1. U-2/ U-7 Spirit of Detroit...Boat builder and driver Bert Henderson has been very busy this offseason, making significant repairs on both the U-2 Trendwest hull and U-7 T-5 hull. The U-2 is back in owner Dave Bartush’s downtown Detroit shop, while the repairs on the U-7 have just begun. Henderson says the team will race in all six H1 Unlimited races this year. No word on which of the two hulls they will race, and if any testing will take place before the season opener at Guntersville. U-3 Go3 Racing Team...Repairs on the hull were started last week. They aren’t major repairs, but replacing decks that have weakened from racing. This team will not compete in all six races this summer, and are sponsorship dependent to see which ones they will race. Tri Cities is a certainty with the local sponsorship from Charlie Grigg and his Ace Hardware stores. U-9 Jones Racing...A very quiet offseason for Jones Racing. The only news to come out is that Jeff and Mike Campbell will retire after this season. The brothers had a huge impact on this team becoming a major contender on the H1 circuit. U-11 Unlimited Racing Group...Another team that has kept extremely quiet in this offseason. U-12 Graham Trucking...Add this team to the “having no news to report” list since they last raced in September 2017. U-16 Ellstrom Racing...The Ellstrom family has been focused on their off-road racing program. No official word at all if they will hit the water in 2018. At this point, it appears unlikely. But, the way this sport goes, don’t be surprised to see this team show up this summer.

U-21 Go Fast Turn Left Racing...The team is hard at work completing a brand new race hull for the 2018 season. The goal is to have it ready for the June 1 test in the Tri Cities. The O’Farrells are seeking sponsorship, which will likely determine which races they will compete in this summer. U-27 Wiggins Racing...Aside from announcing that the U-27 would be on display at the Talladega NASCAR race on April 29 to help promote the new Guntersville, Alabama race in June, it’s also been extremely quiet from this team. We do expect to see Charley Wiggins race his boat in Guntersville for the season opener. Like most other owners, he is sponsorship-dependent, and that will determine when they may race this year. U-99.9 Leland Unlimited...New driver Aaron Salmon and his crew have been hard at work making major repairs to the only hull left at Leland. The boat was in a blowover last August in Detroit. The hull may not be fast, but it will be dependable. 440 Bucket List Racing...Kelly Stocklin and his team have been very busy in the offseason, making repairs all over the orange hull; and they just got two refreshed turbines from Whispering Turbines. They’ll be racing all 6 H1 races this summer. H1 Unlimited Champion’s Gala Awards Celebration Feb. 17th. Greg McCorkle photo

H1 Unlimited teams will get their first chance to test their off-season modifications when we converge on the Columbia River at the Lampson Pits on June 1, 2018. Multiple teams are scheduled to attend the open test only three weeks in advance of the season opener in Guntersville, AL June 22. If you can’t make it, we will be livestreaming the event on YouTube. Also, check the KONA/SWX listings for local coverage inthe Tri-Cities area. Here’s the 2018 H1 Unlimited schedule: Guntersville Lake Hydrofest June 22-24 www.guntersvillelakehydrofest.com 68th Annual Madison Regatta Summer Festival July 6-8 HAPO Columbia Cup July 27-29 Seafair Weekend featuring the Albert Lee Appliance Cup August 3-5 Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Gold Cup August 24-26 HomeStreet Bank San Diego Bayfair September 14-16

INBOARD

BY DUTCH SQUIRES, INBOARD CHAIRMAN The Orange Cup Regatta at Lakeland, Florida, is in the books. As hoped, the regatta got the APBA inboard season off to a fast and successful start. The wind was not kind, which eliminated the hope of records. Maybe next year... The committee is already planning for a bigger and better 2019 regatta. Commissioners and officials provided feedback and made some excellent suggestions. The information has been sent to the Central Florida Racing Club in planning for next season. Look at the Orange Cup Regatta article in this Propeller for more details and results. Thanks to all racing teams, officials and volunteers that made the race a huge success. 5 Litres have a lot to race for the season. Steve Huff, 5 Litre class rep, has put together the Northwest Pro-Lite series. 5 Litres racing in Region 10 will be competing for a $10,000 purse. Inboard racing supports Steve and the Northwest Pro-Lite Series. 5 Litres, get fired up for the NORTHWEST PRO-LITE $10,000 SHOOTOUT. The Baker family of Chester, Maryland, love boat racing—especially 5 Litre racing. Thanks to brother Al, who spearheaded the project, the Bakers will be sponsoring a $5000 DASH for the CASH in the 5 Litre class. The Dash for the Cash will take place at the KNRA Regatta July 28-29 in Cambridge MD. Wheeler Baker says, “The family loves APBA boat racing and 5 Litre racing, and we want to see a return to the heyday.” The SE class has quickly developed into one of Inboard’s largest classes. With the growth and popularity of the SE class, a desire to increase the speed limit has also been growing. In an effort to insure the rules are being followed, the IRC has raised the maximum speed from 85 mph to 90.0 mph (zero tolerance). To monitor the speeds, the IRC has also implemented a GPS rule. Read the new SE rules to be sure you are in compliance: Rule 55.1.2 through 55.1.3.2.

APBA 2018 TENTATIVE INBOARD RACE SCHEDULE EASTERN UNITED STATES WESTERN UNITED STATES June 16-17 Greenwood Lake, May 5-6 Chelan, Wa W. Milford, NJ May 19-20 Oroville, CA June 22-24 Guntersville, AL (GP Only) June 8-10 Richland, WA July 6-8 Madison, IN (GP Only) (Will include Driving School) July 21-22 Rocky Fork, OH June 16-17 Soap Lake, WA July 28-29 Cambridge, MD June 16-17 Copperopolis, CA (Hosted by KNRA) July 7-8 Olympia, WA August 25-26 Dayton, OH July 27-29 Tri-Cities, WA (Selected Classes) July 28-29 Nicolaus, CA Aug. 31-Sept. 1-2 Evansville, IN August 3-5 Seattle, WA Eastern Divisionals August 18-19 Pateros, WA Sept. 8-9 Mays Landing, NJ Sept. 8-9 Spanaway, WA Sept. 15-16 Lake Hopatcong, NJ Western Divisionals Sept. 15-16 Indian Lake, OH Sept. 14-16 San Diego, CA Sept. 23-24 New Martinsville, WV Sept. 15-16 Oak Harbor, WA Sept. 29-30 Hampton, VA Sept. 22-23 Manson, WA Summer Nationals Sept. 22-23 Lincoln City, OR 1/4 Mile & Kilos Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 Nicolaus, CA October 6-7 Chelan, WA (HARM Exhibition) October 12-13 Bakersfield, CA October 27-28 Lothrup, CA

Officials and race volunteers, the Inboard Racing is offering a $20 discount on APBA Inboard official shirts. You can order ladies’ or men’s button-down or polo shirts; jackets are also available. The discount on officials’ shirts is good through May 15. Please take advantage of the sale and help APBA Inboard Racing present a professional image. Contact Ann Fitzgerald, salesinfo@racing-images. com, www.racing-images. com or 609-889 9181. Be safe and have fun!

Braxton Miller drove it like he stole it in Jesup, Georgia. F. Peirce Williams photo

MODIFIED OUTBOARD BY TOM SUTHERLAND, MODIFIED OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN The worst thing about boat racing is wintertime— all work and no play. While there were still piles of snow in the north, the Eastern Winter Nationals were held in Jesup, Georgia. Congratulations to all of the winners. Our new Modified Winter Nationals Champions are: Peter Lauer – 200MR Nate Mitchell – 350MR Logan Sweeney – 500MR Steve Kohlenstein – 750MR John Matthews – 850MR Andy Hansen – 200MH

Brett Hebert – 250MH Braxton Miller – 350MH Mike Thierfelder – 400MH Austin VanOver – 500MH, 750MH and 850MH. For the rest of us, the beginning of the season is just around the corner. Please make sure that all of your safety equipment is up to date and in proper working order. It’s easy to overlook the safety stuff over the winter, while repairing, fixing and improving on last year’s equipment. For those of you that have been around for a while, please take some time to help out the new guy, or

someone who has been struggling and could use a little help. Many of us have equipment, parts—and maybe some knowledge—that we probably will never use. It could be just what it takes to help someone win and keep them in the sport. Maybe someday they will do the same for someone else.

JUNIOR CLASSES milling as a form of musical chairs

BY MARK WHEELER AND JEFF WILLIAMS, JUNIOR CLASSES COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRMEN Unlike most of the APBA classes, J Hydro and J Runabout drivers experience the most danger during the milling period. Participants in JH and JR have far more incidents during the milling period than during the actual race. The likelihood of a collision increases as the length of the milling period increases. The longer Junior drivers mill, the more likely a collision. This comes about for two main reasons. First, at some point during the milling period, the drivers form a circle and mill as a group. The longer

the milling period lasts, the tighter and smaller the circle of boats becomes. At some point, the circle becomes too tight and too small for all the boats in the heat, and a collision takes place. In effect, one or more “players” lose the game of “musical chairs.” Second, as the milling time increases, J Hydro and J Runabout drivers become more and more focused on the starting clock, and less focused on other boats. The reduced focus on other boats, together with the tightening circle of boats, leads to collisions.

All too often, a well-meaning race committee extends the milling period to allow a JH or JR driver to leave the pits and/or get on plane. When a race committee extends the milling period for a JH or JR race, the committee must realize that it is increasing the chances of a collision among the boats already on plane. A reasonable suggestion would be to limit the milling time for these young drivers so it ends before the music stops.

Jackson Gallagher won his first race at Jesup, Georgia. In the rain. And they still dunked him. Sam Chambers photo

Joe Pater 53-M in hot pursuit of Chris Fabbro 2-F at Jesup, Georgia. F. Peirce Williams photo

STOCK OUTBOARD Always thinking safety….

BY JEFF BREWSTER, STOCK OUTBOARD CHAIRMAN Now that I have returned from a nice, warm championship race in Jesup, Georgia, I reflect on some of the discussions I had with fellow racers voicing their concerns. Over the weekend three different topics came up repeatedly; and since they all share the common theme of safety, I thought I would share them with you. Please send feedback to myself or to one of our many commissioners. Item one: Kill switch lanyards – This topic came up at the end of the last National Meeting, where the SORC discussed the need to possibly change this rule to make the cord length shorter, and/or change from the red bungee type of material to cordage. The concern is that the length of the cord may not allow us to shut down our engines fast enough. Many of our NBRA friends were in attendance at Jesup, and one mentioned that their leadership had 28

just passed a one-foot maximum lanyard length for their drivers. That is all I know about their decision at this time. However, I found it interesting that we were both on the same thought process at the same time. Item two: Race course design – As you know, we all race the course of the day and hope for the best. Many times the course will change several times throughout the day due to damaged buoys. At Jesup we had three-pin turns that were very “pointed” in design—not a sweeping arc. By pointed, I mean that the middle buoy was much farther down than the entrance and exit. This essentially made for a one-buoy turn. Many felt that this was not a good design at all for several reasons. This could be true, as we had many lost buoys and drivers getting wet at this race; and many felt it was due to the course design. Watch for course design this season, and let us know if you find one safer than the other.

Item three: Rookie testing – The Jesup race committee provided a few minutes for a rookie to take his first laps on a full race course. It was also the first time in his new boat. I thought that this was a wonderful idea. There is nothing a rookie needs more than seat time. Many race committees try to find time for our J drivers, and that’s great. But, a few extra minutes spent prior to a race or in between sets could be very valuable for the safety of the new driver and the rest of the competitors. I hope you have a great—and especially a safe— season in 2018. Hoo buoy! F. Peirce Williams photo

REGION ROUNDUP Walde driving Sport C #560. Steve Walde with crew and family.

RJ West, SST 45 #93 – Gleason Racing Photography The crew (L-R): Tim King, Chuck Skelton, RJ West and Dean Wilson.

Region 11 is proud of our drivers recognized at the Category Awards presentation in Chicago: (L) STEVE WALDE OPC - SPORT C RACING 2017 HIGH POINT CHAMPION Accumulating 4,200 Points – 10 Races (R) ROBERT J. WEST driving for Skelton Racing 2017 OPC HALL of CHAMPIONS AND SST45 HIGH POINT CHAMPION Accumulating 4,200 Points – 10 Races

REGION 5 Summer is coming! I will not complain about the heat (I promise/maybe) because too many of you had a unusually cold, snowy winter and you will LOVE the heat...maybe. No Stuart Sailfish Regatta in 2018... I sure will miss that event. I need to back up two months. The 80th running of the Orange Cup Regatta in Lakeland was held the first weekend in March. The sun was shining and the rain did not fall. However, the wind did blow. 10-12 mph wind was enough to keep the Stock Outboard classes on shore both Saturday and Sunday. BUMMER! Jim Aid came to the committee meetings and wanted to add something new to the awards program: “King of the Lake.”The winner of each class each day was invited to have his/her picture taken in the “throne” area wearing a crown and cape. A lot of competitors had fun with this. I saw Jeff Bernard and Katelyn Shaw get their pictures taken, and I know there were many others. Region 5 is proud of this event... 80 years! Wow! Our thanks to Gene and Pat Engle, their Central Florida Racing Club, and Polk County Sports Marketing. And thank you, Josh Hicks, and everyone else who worked all weekend. All of the seven Inboard classes and OPC SST120s were able to run both days. Although no records

were set, the racing was exciting and there were no injuries—my kind of boat race! Owners and drivers travelled from California and Seattle, plus the Midwest and Northeast. I know many had hopes of grabbing that record and I am sorry the wind blew. We don’t have sleet and snow way down here, but the wind can blow...welcome to Florida.

I write this article, Howie and his wife Kristen are in Monaco for the UIM Awards Ceremony. Once he gets home he has a couple of weeks before the Jesup, Georgia race. (He is the Race Director.) Busy man! APBA and Region 5 are lucky to have people like you!

I just saw a copy of the article Jim Aid wrote in much more detail about the Orange Cup Regatta. Jim (Inboard driver that he is) wrote about the Inboard class winners. Not to leave anyone out who came to Lakeland, I want to talk about the OPC SST120 races. OPC ran two 6-lap heats on Saturday; and the overall winner was Ashton Rinker from Tampa, Florida. Sunday was interesting. One 15-lap final was scheduled. Easy, right? In the first lap, and restarts of same, there was an incident with a new driver, Richard Young. He was OK; the boat, not so much. Then on the restart of lap 1, Jeff Reno and Tom Ludwig took each other out. They were OK too. So we were still on lap 1, and this time no problems for the rest of the event! On the summary sheet I had to explain to Cindy Minoletti at HQ how three people who don’t show up on the lap sheets still get positions and points, as they did make a legal start. OPC scoring is sometimes interesting. I want to say how proud Region 5 is of the new APBA President, Howie Nichols. The Annual Meeting in Chicago this January was excellent! As

ROOKIES RULE IN REGION 3! At the Feb. 10th Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association banquet held at Rode’s Barn in Swedesboro, NJ: Rookie of the Year Mike Flockerzi raced CSH and CSR his first year. Former Rookie Chloe Sees won High Point awards for AXH and ASH, the Vince Hilsen Award for most hydro points in Region 3, and the Mike Kench award for most total points in hydro and runabout classes won in Region 3. Chloe typically races four classes a weekend—and she had knee surgery before last season! Jill Glossner photos

A quick note... by the time you read this column in Propeller, Jeff and I will have moved to Jacksonville, Florida. This means new phone numbers and email addresses, as that area is ATT, not Embarqmail. My cell number will not change. Remember that you young folks change this stuff much more easily than some of us old folks. I promise to get the information to APBA, as Jeff is the Region Chairman. Thanks for listening... —Sally Titus

REGION 6 Quick update of APBA Region 6 activities: for now, mostly quiet on this Midwest front. Racing will break out in Franklin, Pennsylvania for the annual Memorial Day weekend regatta put on by the Three Rivers Club! Good times and good weather are in the forecast (well, good times; Punxutawny Phil cannot be relied on any more). Bozo woodrat forecast six more weeks of winter. As of today, it is still snowing! Mid-April! Way to go, Phil! NOT! Anyway, by Memorial weekend, the ice floes will be gone and the riverbanks will echo with the highwinding wail of Mod and Stock outboards! By the time you read this, the annual Region 6 Test and Tune will have happened, with some APBA Driving School mixed in with the testing and presumably tuning (no high C’s, please). For the first time, activities will be held at Caesar’s Creek State Park, which looks like a good site for the future. That weekend is the test for the Creek, too. An A+ grade is expected! Constantine Speedweek! When: June. Where: Constantine, Michigan. What: Two consecutive weekends of outboard boat racing—Stocks, Mods, PRO and J! Mod and PRO Nationals take place one weekend, MHRA the other. Speedweek was SRO last year, should be SRO again! Other stuff: February saw our Region 6 Spring Meeting take place, with good turnout and plenty of discussion. The Saturday evening Awards Reception was SRO! Thanks to all who turned out, and especially to the sponsors who helped bring on the munchies: Michigan Hydroplane Racing Association, Marine Prop Riders, Royce and Kathy Richards, Tom Johnston Racing, Box 21, Region 6 Inboard Racing, and CE Engineering. In the end, we were $17.94 to the good, which is seed money for next year’s awards. It was decided by the Region

BOD that we will still need an awards reception and other functions regardless of any outcome of reorganization, so the 2019 Region 6 Spring Meeting will still happen. It will be bumped out into February a couple of weeks due to the APBA Annual Meeting (or Convention or whatever) moving into early February in Orlando, Florida. The Region 6 Fall Meeting is on as scheduled for October 20-21, 2018. We will again meet at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg, Ohio. — Don (Eli) Whitney APBA Region 6 Chairman

REGION 10 April marked the start of Region 10’s 2018 racing season. Our first event, right off the bat, was the 5th Annual Kenmore Cup Regatta, an exhibition race held on the legendary Sammamish Slough. The Slough is a narrow, twisting river that connects the two major lakes in the Seattle area, Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish. Back in the day, outboard racers would run the entire 14 mile length, stop at the end, refuel and return. Development and insurance regulations have made it impossible to run the entire length (at least for now), so the current event runs about one mile. Some 20 entries showed up, ran their boats one at a time on timed runs, and had a great time. Ana Cappelletti tells us what Seattle Outboard Association is up to: “And so it begins... with a busy year ahead of us, we are getting excited to start the season off with a few races and events. As I write this, we are getting ready for this coming weekend at the Kenmore Hydroplane Cup. We have some boats on display at the 192 Brewery (also our title sponsor for the event) on Friday, April 6th. The next day boats run the Slough, reminiscent of the good old days! The week following, we will have a test weekend in Moses Lake on April 14th-15th. Two weeks later, select outboard classes will join Inboards at the Lawrence race on April 28th29th. We will have two record courses: 1-1/4 mile on Saturday, and 1-2/3 mile on Sunday. The weekend following, we will be racing in Castle Rock, with beautiful Mount St. Helens as the background! To cap off the month of May, we will be attending the Armed Forces Day in Bremerton, WA on Kitsap Lake. Phew! As I said, we will be busy, but if we were sitting at home, we wouldn’t be doing what we love! See you at the races, and stay safe on the water!” Part of the Kenmore Cup Regatta was an exhibition

of Vintage boats, moved this year to the Kenmore pit area. The 2018 display included the 1982 Atlas Van Lines, and a bevy of Inboards. Ron Morrison details Vintage preparations for our new season: “For Region 10 Vintage, the off-season has brought both work on the hardware (the race rigs) and the software (the means by which we actually put the display activity on the water). The 2018 regatta schedule is solid, with 12 events – 10 for Vintage Inboards, two for Vintage Unlimiteds only. For the full schedule, check the Region 10 Vintage website, www.nwvintagehydros.com. “An early 2018 season event is the new regatta at Chelan, Washington. The Region 10 Vintage gang knows this beautiful site well, as it is the home of the annual late-season Vintage stand-alone Mahogany and Merlot regatta. Thanks to the racers, APBA officials and Chelan folks for the time and work put in to make this new regatta happen. Getting any APBA regatta on the water these days is complicated and expensive—for a new one, even more so. Love those sponsors who step up to make it happen! “Region10 Vintage projects are moving forward: “The money for the Vintage school boat has arrived. This is what was needed for Jim Olson to actually get to work assembling the pieces. Now having it on the water this year is in the viewfinder. “Another project is the ‘Vintage Poster,’ featuring images of the region’s outstanding Vintage racing hydroplanes. Jill Glass is the point person here. It is targeted to be done and available at the Richland Regatta. One more activity is training Vintage inspectors. That project has now achieved an outstanding result. Within the Vintage Division there has been a push–and push again–to get all owners and drivers signed up and tested as Vintage inspectors. There are now 20–yes, 20– tested and approved. The workload can be spread around, and the result will be positive for all. “Well done!” The Sport C gang in Region 10 is also working hard to prepare for the season, as Mike White notes. “Looks like Sport Cs will all go to Lake Lawrence in Yelm April 28th-29th. OPC racers are also excited about a new race over the mountains in Lake Chelan, put on by Seattle Inboard Racing Association, May 5th-6th. Sport Cs, GT-1 and F150s will be heading over. Then, Sport Cs head

to Newberg, Oregon, May 26th-27th. Then on to Richland June 8th-10th for 3 days of racing.” Our Inboard clubs are working hard, and there’s some exciting news about sponsorships in the Northwest, a new series, and some major prize money on tap. Tacoma Inboard’s Chris Fanaris provides us with the details: “Hello, race fans. The racing season is quickly approaching for us here in the Pacific Northwest. Just this weekend, Region 10 Rescue and Patrol held their last capsule training session at the Fife pool. As always, our safety crew did a fantastic job rotating the drivers through the stations and truly focusing on individual training. Kudos to R10RAP. “Behind the scenes, we are seeing value in Tacoma Inboard and Seattle Inboard joint club meetings. It seems with our lines of communication opening up and barriers dropping off, we are collectively accomplishing more club business. Plus, it is always a good time when you can break bread before a meeting at a great establishment like Round Table Pizza in Burien, WA. Whenever there is cheese pizza involved, you can always count me in. “TIRA races are on track and moving along. Tim Hamilton and Sue Troxell-Harvey are working out logistics for the Spanaway Western Divisionals and the Pateros events. The biggest hurdle seems to be finding local sponsors to support the races. Although this is not ground-breaking news, it is getting more challenging to find the right supporters in this ever-changing market. We are encouraging all participants to talk up our sport to local businesses and ask that magical question, ‘Do you want to sponsor this race?’ If you have a line on a potential race partner, pass that information on so that we can get those businesses involved right away. “Speaking of sponsors, two really big local sponsors jumped onboard along with Steve Huff Motorsports, and created a point series championship for our popular 5 Litre class. There is much excitement going around, because this is the type of exposure we need to keep limited hydroplane racing alive and well. I know I’m getting excited. We have some really fast 5 Litres competing for the title and the cash, of course. “That’s all for now. It is time to get ready for Lawrence Lake!” We close out the spring Region 10 news with Seattle Inboard’s Jim Codling, who brings us news

of a “new/old” event that has just recently been added to our Northwest schedule: “All the owners and drivers are getting their boats and crews prepped for the long season just ahead. Seattle Inboard starts off the season at Lawrence Lake, with two different courses for the race. “It looks like Chelan downtown is back. The missing race is on the docket just after Lawrence Lake, put on by SIRA with Chairman Cole pressing the throttle on the race... Woo hoo, back to Chelan! “Look for a 1-1/4 mile course on Saturday and the premier 1-2/3 mile run on Sunday. Then it’s on to Soap Lake, where the event will be televised in Eastern Washington—a good opportunity to get some support for your boat and our sponsors. Both the City of Soap Lake and the Grant County folks are ready for this race. Outboards, OPC and Inboards, and the beautiful Vintage group will be there. Get your rooms early. “More later—see you at your club meetings. There is LOTS happening.” That’s about it for now. Time to pack up the truck and get ready to go racing! —Patrick Gleason R-19

REGION 11 Welcome, racers and fans of Region 11: February started out with Region 11’s awards banquet: many awards, great food and everyone celebrating the previous year’s accomplishments and highlights. There was a meeting to discuss general racing rules, advertising, publicity banners and other topics. Not much has happened in the racing world in Region 11 since our banquet; however, many teams have been busy getting their rigs ready. Joe Johnson has been stockpiling motors for his upcoming season; Brian Vincent will debut his new rig this year; Brian Rodriguez has been working on his new 300SSH. In Crackerbox Land, all teams have been working hard getting their hot rods ready. There were bottom repairs and freshened-up motors in the P28 and 99P camp. In the P111 camp, a new motor arrived, and P5 had some bottom improvements. The 99P and P111 teams will also be sporting new race trailers. By the time this article comes out, most of us will

L-R: Joe Johnson’s race shop, and Brute Racing.

have competed in the Bakersfield event on April 14th and 15th. Then it’s on to the time trials in Oroville April 21st and 22nd. Region 11’s first race of the season will be held on May 19th and 20th at the Oroville Afterbay at the Larkin Road facility. Looking forward to seeing all of the Region 11 racers at this exciting family event, and would like to invite any out-of-region racers to share the fun. For more information on upcoming events, follow us online at www.boatracingr11.com. The following are all on Facebook: East Bay Boat Club, California Speed Boat Association, Northern California Outboard Association, and Sport C Racing. Look them up, like and follow them. A big shout out to Tony Lombardo and his beautiful bride-to-be from the Region 11 family. They will be tying the knot on May 19th. Kudos to them! Be safe in your travels, and we will see you at the races. —Nancee Gillis, Publicity Chairperson

REGION 12 Southern California Outboard Association (SCOA) held the first APBA race for 2018 on March 3-4 at Havasu Landing. The races were blown out on Saturday, but all of the scheduled classes got to get in two races on Sunday. This race is held on Lake Havasu, which is a big lake, and it can get rough. Just a little wind can make the course unraceable. Even if the wind is not blowing, there are a lot of pleasure boats on the lake which can also make it rough. SCOA has been holding the race there since 1999. There have been skips in some years, but in the years we have raced there, we have been fortunate with the weather. This race is supported by the Havasu Landing Resort and Casino, along with the Chemehuevi Tribe. SCOA is very thankful for this support, and hope that it will be continued in the coming years. Tito Smith, Stock Outboard racer and member of the Tribal Council, was the person responsible for starting this race back in 1999, and SCOA thanks him and appreciates the hard work he has done over the years. The entire community of Havasu 31

Landing has been supportive of this event. My son Steven and I did not attend this year’s race, for a number of reasons. We thank all of the drivers who did attend—especially any out-of-region drivers, notably BOD member Jean MackaySchwartz—for coming.

A fast run down Sammamish Slough. Gleason Racing Photography

On April 14-15 SCOA will be holding the Western Divisionals for Stock, SST 45, SST 120 and SC at Lake Ming in Bakersfield. It will be history by the time this is printed, but I sincerely hope that a lot of you come out and support APBA racing.

Jimmy Hagerl. Steven and Jimmy raced J Classes together not so long ago. Don and MaryEllen have been dear friends for some 40 years, and I offer sincerest wishes and special condolences for their recent loss.

I was staggered by the news of the passing of

—Ernie Dawe

RACE IN PEACE HOWIE BENNS Racing legend Howard W. Benns, of Fort Myers, Florida and Grand Island, NY, passed away March 12, 2018 at the age of 78. His daughter Lynda was at his side, along with special friends Tom, Shirley, Sal and Joan. Howie piloted many hydroplanes, including Sudden Seven, Dinomytes, Owensboro’s Own, Lauterbach Special and Miss Budweiser. In 1973, Bernie Little asked who the best Limited driver was. APBA Inboard Commissioner Bob Wanamaker did not hesitate: “Howie Benns.” So Benns drove the Miss Budweiser—and won his first Unlimited race, along with two more, in his rookie year! Howie is survived by his daughter Lynda, grandchildren Kimberly and Ryan Moss, and special friends Charlie Miller and Mike Yensan. A memorial service was held April 14th in Grand Island, New York. —www.fullercapecoral.com - Leslie Field photo

FRED BOWDEN Fred E. Bowden, 75, passed away February 17, 2018. Fred began his career as an electrician, became an electrical contractor, and founded F&D Bowden Construction Inc. He was involved in many Monrovia, California civic groups. Along with boat racing, Fred loved hunting, fishing, Nascar, skiing, cars, poker nights and family outings. Fred is survived by his wife of 54 years, Diane, daughter Traci (Gary), son Todd (Kristy), sister Sally, five grandchildren, and black Lab, Stone. Please consider a donation in Fred ‘s honor to Ducks Unlimited, Sonoran Institute, The Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, or City of Hope. —Pasadena Star-News; Bowden family photo

BILL GRADER William E. Grader, 89‚ passed away quietly at his Edmonds, Washington home on March 17. After serving in the US Navy Reserve, he excelled in engine repair at Sand Point Naval Air Station. His custom 1936 Mercury was featured in HOT ROD magazine. In 1958 he founded Bill’s Auto Parts, and partnered with

boat builder Paul Edgar to create the Misty 225 hydros. After a flip in the Misty, Bill hung up his helmet, but stayed in racing. He created a line of dirt track racing motors called Thunder Engines, which added more records and trophies to his collection. He also started Jobbers Supply, an automotive warehouse. In retirement, he continued restoring classic cars, building race engines, and home renovation; and loved playing billiards and poker at the Ballard Eagles. In addition to his intelligence and skills, Bill was known for honesty, fairness and decency. He is survived by four children, five grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. —myedmondsnews.com

JIM HAGERL James “Jim” R. Hagerl, 40, of Cloquet, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at home. Jim graduated from Northern Michigan University, and started a master’s program at Bemidji State University. A teacher, he most recently served as a Program Coordinator for Northwood Children’s Services. He also volunteered with Young Athletes Foundation and Courage Kenny, and was a member of the Milltown Milers Running Club and APBA. His parents Don and MaryEllen wrote, “He was... a true Marathon Champion. This winter we found a journal of Jim’s from an English course. He wrote that he was so proud to win Top O’ Michigan Marathon Nationals (first of many) in the BSR class. His father Don was his idol and it was a major goal for him. We do not know who was more proud—Jim or us. Reading about it years later was such a beautiful discovery.” Jim is survived by his wife, Jessica Winkels-Hagerl; parents; in-laws Dan and Donna Winkels; brother Chris; sister Amanda Hagerl; a niece, nephews and friends. Donations suggested to the American Brain Tumor Assn., 8550 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631. —Hagerl family

HARRY PINNER Harry M. Pinner, Sr., 89, of Lake Worth, Florida, passed away January 30, 2018. Harry established Pinner Props, and manufactured racing outboard propellers for over 50 years. He gave many racers the edge to win championships and set records. Harry was inducted into the Gulf Marine Racing Hall

of Fame and the APBA Honor Squadron, and was a longtime APBA Council member. A Korean War Veteran, he loved family and friends, fishing, all motorsports and being a grill-master. He was always willing to help racers. Harry is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, June Agnew Pinner, son Harry (MaryAlice) Pinner, Jr. and grandsons Joseph Michael and Justin Matthew. —The Palm Beach Post, Feb. 7, 2018

RICHARD SIDOR Richard Lloyd Sidor, 89, of Grand Rapids, Mich., passed away March 26, 2018. Richard was a Korean War veteran, and a life member of the Casino Club, American Legion, Boat and Canoe Club and Breakfast of Creston High School, Class of ‘47. He retired from Michigan Wheel Corp. after 35 years as the outboard racing propeller polisher and finisher. Richard was known for spaghetti dinners he served friends, family, and boat racers for many years, enjoying camaraderie and fun with the “Wild Ones.” He enjoyed playing cards and bowling, fishing with the guys in Rice Lake, and traveling with friends. He is survived by his son Tim (Vicki) Sidor; grandchildren Nichole, Danielle, Jamie (Melissa) Rykse, Jason (Brittney) Rykse, Jared (Ashley) Rykse; three great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family thanks Angel Care for all their help. A memorial was held in Grand Rapids on April 21st. Contributions are suggested to Grand Rapids Home for Veterans/Kozy Korners. —www.memorialalternatives.com

LARRY SOARES Longtime racer Larry Soares, 91, passed away April 4th. Larry was a diehard COBRA member who became very loyal to APBA. Larry and his sons Tim and John raced for years in APBA. Larry raced Sport C, SJ, UJ, MOD U and MOD VP. His wife Joy was very supportive of their racing. She was a very good scorer. She scored many a Havasu and Parker boat race. Joy passed away in 2012, ending a happy 63-year marriage. The last time I saw Larry was at Long Beach, about five years ago. His son John was driving my boat and we had kind of a wild setup. Larry told John he was crazy to be driving that thing and he wasn’t coming back on Sunday. John and I never raced that boat again! He was a retired railroader, so those guys in Lake Paradise better give him room in the corners. —Ron Hill

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