MAPES MILE HIGH TROPHY 2004

On Sunday, June 27^th, Classic Thunder held its 2004 Mapes Mile High Trophy Race on Angle Lake in Seatac, WA.  For the second straight year we have held the race as part of the city’s annual weekend-long International Festival.  The race was sponsored by Jeff Howard and the City of Seatac.  Over a thousand visitors packed Angle Lake Park on Sunday for the event and the atmosphere was really neat.  Bands were performing, venders were selling, kids were playing, sun was shining and boats were racing!  We couldn’t have asked for more.  The water was fast and the wind kept us on our toes.  It would come and go, change direction and really made you have to keep an eye on the conditions.  We had an awesome time and appreciate being invited back for a second year.  There has even been talk of the city hosting a second race during the year.  Sounds good to me!

MR. P’S BATTLES TO MAPES WIN AND POINTS LEAD IN DIV.1!

Competition in Division 1 was outstanding all day long.  Most of the heats saw deck to deck racing.  It’s become really clear that there is not much separating a lot of these boats in terms of performance.  Many boats had success during the day.  13 boats checked in to make a run for the trophy.  John Dyer’s new Rebel’ Suh made its debut and performed really well.  Look for this boat and driver combination to show improvement in the second half of the season.  We also saw the first appearance in our 2004 season from the beautiful Blonde Bombshell Miss Bardahl driven by Jim Clark.  He ran consistently and earned his way into the final heat.  Some of the regulars on the scene were Dale Van Wyk’s Miss Seattle, Craig Mullen’s $ Bill, Danny Sacry’s Miss US 1, Dave Sacry’s Short Circuit, Dave Helton’s Miss Burien and Bob VandenAkker’s Notre Dame.

The Final Heat saw Pete Schille’s Mr. P’s and Mitch Dillard’s Gale IV cross the start line together and go back and forth for the entire heat.  The two were so close together all the way down the front stretch at the end of lap one that they could have been mistaken for Siamese twins.  Jeff Howard’s Miss Budweiser stalked them from close behind.  The lead changed hands at almost every turn during the heat.  In the dramatic final lap Mr. P’s held a small lead up the backstretch.  Gale IV was threatening.  Mitch found out just how quickly the hunter can become the hunted.  Miss Budweiser came out of nowhere and was on his tail.  The Gale boat bobbled and spun in the middle of the final turn in an attempt to make an inside run on Mr. P’s and was passed in no time by the stealthy beer boat.  The speedy Mr. P’s had taken on all comers and beaten them to the finish line.  The Bud would make a strong second place finish.  Gale IV was able to get back on plane and finish third ahead of Jim Clark’s steady running Miss Bardahl who earned fourth.  Chris Cootsona’s Waferers Club Lady, winner of the Consolation heat, came from the trailer position to take fifth.  Mike Krone drove the ever-improving Hurricane IV to a sixth place finish.  This was an awesome day of racing filled with stiff competition.  It was a hard fought affair all the way down to the wire.  When it was all over, the orange boat had captured its first victory.   Congratulations to Pete Schille’s Mr. P’s.  Winner of the 2004 Classic Thunder Mapes Mile High Trophy Race in Division 1!  Mr. P’s has now taken the season points lead away from the Gale IV.  You’ll need to keep an eye on this points race for the rest of the year.  It’s even closer than last year.  Unbelievable!

MULLEN GETS FIRST CT WIN AT ANGLE LAKE.

PAK VICTORIOUS AT MAPES IN DIV.2!

Division 2 action was as hot as the weather at Angle Lake.  10 boats made up the field and put on a great show for the people at the International Festival.  All year long these boats have been the source of some really exciting racing.  The Mapes was no exception.  We also got a glimpse of one of our newest division 2 boats.  The long awaited Island Security Systems was on display.  Mike Krone is nearing completion of the boat and has started putting some gear in it.  We should see her running at the next race. We also saw Pat Malaspina make his first runs after replacing his Astro 25 with brushless gear in the Squire Shop.  I would say the experiment has been a successful one so far.  The boat looked really fast. A very quick American Speedy Printing with driver Dave Helton, Jeff Howard’s Dewalt Tools, John Dyer’s ’76 Atlas Van Lines and Dale Van Wyk’s 83 Atlas Van Lines were some of the competitors that were in the pits. 

The Squire Shop advanced to the trailer position in the Final Heat by winning the Consolation over American Speedy Printing.  Speedy Printing ran fast, but had to make up a penalty lap after cutting inside of a buoy early in the heat.

The Final started with Pete Schille’s Stroh Light and Craig Mullen’s Pride of Pay’n Pak hitting the line first.  They were side by side with the Pak holding a slight lead heading for the first turn with the Stroh on her outside hip.  Mitch Dillard’s Coors Dry was close behind with Danny Sacry’s Weisfields and Bob VandenAkker’s Candyman in tow.  Just after the two lead boats hit the line, the Stroh somehow got into the roostertail of the Pak and up she went.  The boat went over backward and fell into about lane 3.  She would finish the day with pickle forks pointing toward the sky.  Luckily no one hit her and the race continued.  The Pak was able to stretch out a bit of a lead as the others navigated past the stranded Stroh Light.  The Pak held about a half straightaway lead going up the backstretch and never looked back.  The Coors gave chase for the next four laps, but the Pak was moving too fast and was driven to well.  She would not be denied her first victory and held on for a decisive win.  Congratulations to Craig Mullen’s Pride of Pay’n Pak.  Winner of the 2004 Classic Thunder Mapes Mile High Trophy Race in Division 2!  Coors Dry finished a respectable second.  An impressive Weisfields finished third.  Candyman came home fourth and Pat Malaspina came from the trailer spot with his Squire Shop to finish fifth.

I would like to take this time to say thanks to Jeff Howard for co-sponsoring this event and providing the cool prizes and trophies.  Thanks to Larry Ellis of the City of Seatac, Parks and Recreations for hosting the event and allowing us to be included in their International Festival again.  Thanks also to all of the folks that showed up for the race and came by to say hi during the day.  Thanks to Jeff’s wife, Theresa (hope I got it right) for being supportive and acting as our “trophy girl”.  I hope all of you had as much fun as I did.  Thanks for all that you do for Classic Thunder.  “That’s what it’s all about”.

Next up is the Diamond Cup on July 11^th at Lake Pleasantin Bothell.  You all know that this is one of the biggest undertakings each year thanks to Bob and the merchants of the City of Bothell.  I think the folks at Lake Pleasant RV Park are going to be looking to have a good time too.  This is one to look forward to.  Let’s hope the weather is going to cooperate this time.  Sounds like they’re planning a big barbecue and some other stuff too.  Let’s give them a race to remember and have a great time.  This will be race #6 on our schedule.  So far the racing and the sportsmanship have been outstanding.  Thanks for that too. 

Don’t forget that you need to get your boats in shape so that you can pass tech inspection.  Get to the lake early so that we can get that stuff done first in case you need to make changes before the race.  Check the rulebook for details on what your boat needs to have and what things are allowed for rudder and skid fin measurements etc.  If you still have questions, ask someone.  We’re always willing to help.

Sincerely,

Mitch Dillard

Classic Thunder Commissioner