lnt_depue_boat_races_072525 by Shaw Media

Welcome from the DePue Men’s Club

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome fans and racers to the shores of beautiful Lake DePue for the 2025 Lake DePue APBA PRO National Championship Boat Races in association with the U.S. Title Series. The DePue Men’s Club is immensely proud to be hosting an unprecedented 39th year of the Illinois Valley’s most spectacular summer celebration.While experiencing many highs and a few lows, we have been truly fortunate to continue to bring this exciting event to our boat racing fans.

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

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

year. Sincerely yours,

year. Sincerely yours, Trent Solorio, President

DEPUE MEN’S CLUB 2025 OFFICERS

LAKE DEPUE PRO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BOAT RACES

Wednesday, July 23

2025 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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

• 11 a.m.: Food vendors open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

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

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

Thursday, July 24

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

• 11 a.m.: Food vendors open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

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

Friday, July 25

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

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Gardens open

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

Saturday, July 26

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

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Gardens open

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

Sunday, July 27

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

• 11 a.m.: Food stands open

• Noon: Beer Garden opens

• 6:30 p.m.: Award Ceremony and Ra e Drawing DAILY ADMISSION: $5 • PIT PASSES: $20

2025 RACING SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 23

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

Thursday, July 24

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

Friday, July 25

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

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

• Noon: Championship racing

First Half

C-Service Runabout, 125cc Runabout, OSY-400, 500cc Hydroplane

Second Half

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

Saturday, July 26

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

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

• Noon: Championship racing

First Half

C-Racing Runabout, 700cc Hydroplane, 250cc Runabout

Second Half

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

Sunday, July 27

• 10 a.m.: Drivers meeting at Shelter

• 11 a.m. to Noon: Sanctioned Testing

• 12:30 p.m.: Championship racing

First Half

1100cc Runabout, 125cc Hydroplane

Second Half

250cc Hydroplane, 350cc Runabout, 1100cc Hydroplane

VILLAGE OF DEPUE

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

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

Mr. Trent Solorio

DePue Men’s Club

DePue, IL 61322

Trent,

On behalf of the Village of DePue I want congratulate you on hosting the 2025 APBA/US Title Series Pro Nationals. This is the 39th year that your organization has hosted this event and it is a great accomplishment!

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Hoffert

Village President

WELC OME RACE FANS TO THE 2025 PRO NATIONALS IN DEPUE, ILLINOIS

On behalf of the U.S. Title Series, I would like to welcome you all to the 2025 Pro National Championships. The PRO Nationals is a race that we look forward to each year and this year — the 39th consecutive year that the Pro Nationals has been held at DePue — is no exception. Teams from the Midwest, East and West Coasts and Canada are excited to be making the trip to DePue for the opportunity to race for a National Championship. We are looking forward to an exciting and memorable event.

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

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

Sincerely,

Pete

Nydahl USTS President

U.S. TITLE SERIES 2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

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

BOARD MEMBERS — Paul Bosnich II, DePue, IL • Ben Thompson, Fort Pierce, FL

Jerry Davids, Newport News, VA • Paul Bosnich, Williams eld, IL

JR BOARD MEMBER — Gary Merkel, Depue, IL

U.S. TITLE SERIES 2024 RACE OFFICIALS

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

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

ASSISTANT REFEREE — Michael Ellison, Green Bay, WI • RISK MANAGER — Andy Kirts, Clio, MI INSPECTORS — Rex Hall, Smithville, MO; Karl Williams, Spring eld, IL; Jerry Davids, Newport News, VA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phone 663-8311Spring Valley, Illinois SINCE 1931

SM-LA2253317

0 2 5

Welcome, Great to See You Back

Enjoy your visit and stay safe Widmars

John

Linda & Dennis Roesner

Andrew, Dusty & Natalie

Bryants Foxes

Eric & Annabelle - Christian

Bernadette & Dave Gertie, Jack, Caleb

Tiger, Elizabeth & Ruby

Lenny & Kirsten – Avery, Dilyn, Ryne

Eric R. – Max, Luke

Carolyn & Brad – Eveylyn, Payne, Beckham, Trudessa

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

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

Welcome Race Fans

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A PRIMER ON APBA PROFESSIONAL RACING OUTBOARD BOAT CATEGORIES AND CLASSES

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

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

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

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

— hydros and runabouts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DALE HOFFERT, BRADFORD, ILLINOIS

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

PRIMER

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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

U.S. TITLE SERIES

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

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

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

MODIFIED OUTBOARDS

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

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

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

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

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

JUNIOR CLASSES

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

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

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

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

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for

2024 LAKE DEPUE PRO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2024 Pro National Champions

125CC R

250CC R

350CC R

500CC R

700CC R

1100CC R

125CC H

175CC H

250CC H

350CC H

500CC H

700CC H

1100CC H

K-PRO H

K-PRO R

C RACE R

C RACE H

C SERV R

C SERV H

OSY-400 H

Brady Brinkman Spring eld, IL

Jerr y Davids

Newport News, VA

Jackson Hall Dekalb, MO

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

Vinny Buskirk R acine, WI

Ryan Gowin Tacoma, WI

Brian Palmquist Diamond Lake, IL

Ethan Fox Omaha, NE

Amy Nydahl New Prague, MN

Doug Hall Dek alb, MO

Shane Kimble Danville, IN

Rayce Bosnich Williams eld, IL

Jonathan N ilsen Tahuya, WA

Justin Gibson Washington, IL

Jonathan N ilsen Tahuya, WA

Justin Gibson Washington, IL

Bob Wartinger Des Moines, WA

2024 US Title Series Champions

K PRO H

K PRO R

125CC H

125CC R

175CC H

250CC H

250CC R

350CC H

350CC R

500CC H

500CC R

700CC R

1100CC H

1100CC R

Rayce Bosnich Williams eld, IL

Brian Palmquist Diamond Lake, IL

Brady Brinkman Spring eld, IL

Ethan Fox Omaha, NE

Amy Nydahl New Prague, MN

Brandon Payne Center Point, IA

Vinny Buskirk R acine, WI

Jerr y Davids Newport News, VA

Eric VanOver Cincinnati, OH

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

Jerzee Holman Cilo, MI

Eric VanOver Cincinnati, OH

Jason Sailer Brook eld, WI

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SCORE SHEET 2025 PRO NATIONALS

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

POINTS BY ORDER OF FINISH

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

HOW TO WATCH A PRO NATIONAL RACE

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE FINISH: e

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

FL AGS

RED FLAG Ac tivity is stopped, Slow Down

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

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

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

CHECKERED FLAG ........Finish

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DALE HOFFERT, BRADFORD, ILLINOIS

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

USTS TECHNICAL RULES

ENGINES

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

2. Turbochargers or superchargers are prohibited.

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

4. Tuned intake and exhaust is permitted

5. Propulsion must be by water-driven propellor.

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

B. Tractor lower units are not legal.

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

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

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

BOATS

No minimum weights apply

1. Hydroplanes shall be f ree of all restrictions.

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

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

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

125 and 175 R — 11’ 6”

250 and 350 R — 12’ 6”

500, 700 & 1100R — 13’

FUEL

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

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

CLASSES

CLASS

DISPLACEMENT

125 Runabout and Hydro Single cylinder up to 128.75cc

175 Runabout and Hydro 175cc maximum

250 Runabout and Hydro 257.5cc maximum

350 Runabout and Hydro 350cc maximum

500 Runabout and Hydro 500cc maximum

700 Runabout and Hydro 700cc maximum

1100 Runabout and HydroO ver 350 and including 1133cc

K PRO HEvinrude and Johnson 15A

OSY-400 Yamato 80, 102, 202, 302

RACING IDENTIFICATION LETTERS

HOME STATE OF BOAT OWNER

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

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

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

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

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

E Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, ...............District of Columbia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W .........Wisconsin

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

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

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

ABOUT SAFETY

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

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

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Parish of the Nativity

Saturday, 4:00 p.m. - St. Anthony Church (English)

Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - St. Anthony Church (English)

Sunday, 10:30 a.m. - St. Anthony Church (English)

Sunday, 12:15 p.m. - St. Mary Church (Español)

St. Anthony Church is located at 510 Richard A. Mautino Dr., Spring Valley, IL

St. Mary Church is located at 312 Park St., De Pue, IL

LaSalle VFW Post 4668 24th & Donahue Streets P.O. Box 1664

LaSalle, IL 61301-1664 815-223-6665 www.lasallevfw.org LaSalleVFWPost4668@gmail.com EUCHRE TOURNEY

1st & 3rd ursday of the Month 6:30pm till nish

Wed., urs., and Fri. 5pm

2nd

IN MEMORIAM

Tim Chance

Dec. 16, 1940 – April 8, 2025

Tim Chance grew up on the shores of Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota, spending his days on the water, whether it was playing hockey on the f rozen lake in the winter, or speeding around in a boat his dad built for him in the summer.

Tim ran his rst race at 15. It was a r unabout free-forall in 1956, and Tim was the rst in the B class to cross t he line. It fueled a lifetime passion.

Tim’s rst championship was the NOA/CBF CanAm Title C Hydro. Some of Tim’s other notable victories include winning the Mayor Daley Cup in Chicago. He was “General Grant” at the last North/S outh race ever held. Tim also won a North American Championship in class OD (700cc) and a National High Point Title in 350ccR.

Over the years, Tim raced everything from Stock, Mod, OPC and PRO Outboard, with PRO being his main passion.

Having his fam ily involved in racing was important to him. His wife, Ann, was chief scorer for many years, his No. 1 supporter and the glue that held camp together. His daughter, Shannon, granddaughter, Lyndsay, and grandson, Henr y, all raced, with Tim as their proud crew chief and mentor. Tim knew the importance of growing our sport and keeping boats on the water, o ering his equipment to be raced by many drivers over the years.

Tim’s rst visit to Depue was in 1961, competing with a Swi hydro, a B Hot Rod, and an A König. is was the rst

of many visits to Depue over the years. He raced just about every PRO class, but his favorite was 1100cc Runabout, with Shannon as his deck rider.

Tim’s passion for racing went beyond his own racing program. When he moved to St. Louis, he formed a racing club called Outboard Central. He was also big into promotion, publishing a magazine called Hydroplane Quar terly.

He also built many boats (Chance Cra ) for young drivers, including rst boats for some notable names of our sport. But Tim felt that his greatest accomplishment was being one of the founders of the US Title Series.

Rest In Peace, Tim Chance. Your family, friends, and all of the lives you touched, will miss you very much. But your legacy will live on.

— Ann Chance, Shannon Chance

IN MEMORIAM

Paul Christner

July 8, 1953– Nov. 4, 2024

For 25 years Paul Christner’s life evolved around pro outboard racing and Quincy Welding.

Quincy Welding at 5th and State in Quincy, was o cially opened for business in 1949 by Paul’s father, O. F. (Chris) Christner as a welding and machine shop. e business was probably best known as the manufacturer of the Quincy Mercs and Quincy Looper race engines.

Quincy Welding took production Mercur y outboards and converted them into racing engines that dominated the Johnson and Evinrudes in the 1950s. e Quincy Loopers carried that domination in pro outboard racing into the 1960s and up to the early ’70s.

Paul was born in 1953 and by the time he was six years old he was traveling to outboard races with his father and the Quincy Welding racing team. He o cially went to work at Quincy Welding in the early 1970s, working on race engines and running the dyno for eng ine testing.

Paul and his father modi ed/produced many racing engines over the years: J-A-B-C-D-E-F-X-Z in the form of deectors and Loopers, which were stock, modi ed and pro alky Quincy Welding also manufactured one-of-a kind, experimental racing engines for many clients, both corporate and private.

Quincy Welding known by some as the “Area 51” of Mercur y. e shop did many covert projects for Mercury in the 1950s to 1970s and also some secret projects for OMC. Some of their e orts and contributions are still realized by today’s racers.

In the mid 1970s, Paul and his father together reinvented the Quincy racing engines into the “Z” s eries engines that later became quite successful too

Paul would frequently take racing boats down to the Mississippi riverfront to test motors on t he water, including some engines raced by legendary championship driver

Paul mainly built and developed outboard race engines with his father, although he did race brie y in 1975 and 1976.

Quincy Welding closed its doors in 1984 but that did not end Paul’s involvement in pro outboard racing. Racers would frequently call Paul to help problem solve issues they were having with their race engines. He also began collecting vintage outboard racing engines from the 50s to 80s, including both Quincy Loopers and Konigs from Germany.

In the early 90s, Paul began a project with his father to bui ld an experimental 2 - 4 cycle engine. He was heavily involved in the project from early drawings to bui lding of the prototype motor. e concept of the engine is a 2-c ycle motor integrated with the durability and fuel e ciency of a 4-cycle motor that does not need oil mixed with gas to operate. e patent was led for the engine in 2007.

Paul passed away in November 2024 from a sudden heart attack, ending the Christner/Quincy Welding racing history.

For those wishing to read more about Quincy Welding and the histor y of pro outboard racing, please go to the Quincy Welding website at www.quinc ylooperracing.us

Jerr y Waldman.

IN MEMORIAM

Ralph Desilva

June 1, 1922 – Dec. 20, 2023

Ralph Desilva is the f ather of the mo dern runabout

John Desilva, Ralph’s father began building race boats in the 1920’s. Young Ralph and younger brother, Bill, were bit by the racing bug at an early age. ey both worked as kids in their dad’s shop, bucking nails, sanding, sweeping the oor and other odd jobs.

World War II began and the Desilva boys were o to the war. Bill was in the Navy and Ralph in the Army.

Once home, the question was what to do for a living?

e sport of power boat racing was gaining popularity a er the war. ey were in Los Angeles where the sport was really growing rapidly With the lessons learned from their father, they decided to go into the boat business.

Early r unabouts would gallop at speed up and down. e boats were l ike riding a bucking bronco.

Ralph designed the rst boat that would maintain its attitude at speed and not gallop. is drastically increas ed the speed and e ciency of the boat. e boat he designed was dubbed the “Banana B oat” because of its shape. e banana boat was fast but it didn’t turn very well. Ralph knew that a better turning boat would be a huge advantage. e boat that Ralph came up wit h was called the “Box.” It was not a pretty b oat, but an experimental design that was built with a number of changes to the bottom of the boat.

It was a success and with a few changes became known as the “Flat Deck.” It dominated pro racing in the 50s and 60s.

In the later 60s, speeds increased dramatically with the introduction of the Quincy looper and the Konig from

Germany. e at deck was becoming prone to blow overs as it wasn’t designed for the blinding speeds of these new motors.

Homer Kinkaid , the Pro Racing chairman at the time, came to Ralph and Bill and asked them what could be done to make a safer more stable boat. e answer was the sexy KR design, “Kinkaids’s Responsibility.” e KR made all other boats obsolete overnight. It dominated for the next 20 years

Yes, Ralph designed hydros. He o en commented on how he didn’t like the hydro. He came up with a number of very successful hydros in spite of his dislike. A er all, he said, “ I’m a boat builder and you have to g ive the customer what they want.”

One of the designs was called the “Slingshot” and was the fore r unner of the mo dern pickle fork hydro.

Desilva boats have won e very runanbout national title in every class in all the kneel-down categories, including the junior novice class. ey also won every pro hydro class, too.

ey even built a drag boat named the “Hot Tomato” and an endurance boat that won the famous nine-hour Parker Arizona race.

When asked what is his favorite racing class was, without hesitation he answered the antique C-Service runabout. e 1929 Evinrude “ Speedi Twin” was just a shing motor. He watched it as a kid and at that time a boat powered by the Speedi Twin struggled to go 30 mph. In his words,” It was a piece of junk.” He watched the evolution of the motor as it was precision built by engine builders’ Tommy Newton, Stan McDonald and Stan L evandusky, to name a few. e C-Service runabout has been an active class for more than 95 years, with top competitors reaching 55 mph.

We lost Ralph last year at the age of 101. He was active in the boating community his entire life. His in uence in boat racing will be remembered forever.

Mostly, he was a ver y nice man loved by many.

ELDREDGE FAMILY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF BOAT RACING

By Denise Eldredge

Remember the old adage, e family that plays together, stays together? I wonder if my grandfather had any idea that 100 years a er he started racing boats, his family would still be involved and spending many weekends together at the boat races!

Marshall Eldredge, Sr., the Patriarch of the Eldredge Racing family, began his racing career in 1925 in Boston. His career spanned 26 years, during which time he par ticipated in and won many events. He also set both competition and kilo records throughout his career.

In May 1937, at the young age of 36, Grandad won the 10th Annual 130 mile boat race on the Hudson River from Albany to New York. A er winning that race, he and my grandmother traveled to Europe to join a group of American drivers going to the Speckels race at Paris and other speed-boat regattas

In addition to participating, he was als o well known for his mechanical capabilities. He served as the professional mechanic for Clinton R. Ferguson. Granddad built the Eldredge X eng ine, which was the rst outboard engine to exceed 60 mph in competition.

He a ls o bu ilt the engine t hat won more than 25 Nati onal C hampionships from t he early 1930s through the 1950s.

Granddad leaves a tradition of the love for t he sport of boat racing. His family continues that tradition today Over the years, both of his sons, all of his grandchildren, most of his great grandchildren and even his great, great grandchild have all raced or are racing boats.

On the water this weekend will be his great grandsons Jason Sailer (M16) and Marshall Eldredge IV (4). Both are 4th generation, and his great, great grandson Cooper ompson (14), 5th generation. Also, on display at the announcer’s booth, will be the Eldredge X engine (a special thank you to Jay Walls for that!).

Don Eldredge and Marshall Eldredge Sr.

The enti re E ldred ge R acing family are t hankful and blessed that our gr andfather got us started in this t radition. But e ven more i mp or tant t han our family racing toge ther, is tha t we b elong to the e ven larger bo at racing family t hat loves this sport .