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2007 Mapes Mile High |
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Day before the race…very nice
weather. Day after the race...sunny and hot. Sunday found the club
on the shores of Angle Lake at the annual Seatac International Festival for the
running of the 2007 Mapes Mile High Regatta. It also found us standing in the
rain and wind for much of the day. Mike Krone and I set up a course with
nice wide turns and, for the second race in a row, we got to use the really
cool outer course markers that Mike made. I didn't get to visit the
festival but I think the weather had a big impact on attendance. That was actually
the only positive thing about the rain for us in that it kept the swimmers away
and hot, impatient kids from trying to jump off the dock. And as far as I
know, nobody threw any rocks...always a plus. Racing was good all day and saw some
especially good deck to deck duels in both divisions. Despite the wind
and rain, water conditions were perfect for some very fast competition.
Bill McGraw made his first appearance of the season with the OUTRIGGER PAK and
it looked as fast as ever. Bill had two heat wins going into the final
but fell on bad luck when his boat hooked and missed a buoy. His day
ended with a fourth place finish in the final which I know was a disappointment
for Bill, but we all hope to see him again this season. Two new Classic
Thunder members qualified and raced for the first time and both finished the
day with points. Division One had Tim Becker driving Mike Krone's old
MISS US 5 originally built by Mitch Dillard and recently refurbished by David
Gardner. Tim had a good day with no problems and a fourth place finish in
the Div 1 consolation race. The other new driver was Joe Hunter with a
CELLULAR ONE hull purchased from Mike Schultz. Joe's boat is very fast
and in spite of some damage suffered early in the day, Joe made it into the Div
2 consolation race. Everyone in the club is thrilled to have new members
out racing with us and we all hope the "new guys" are having fun and
will be back for more. Jeff Howard had a great day in the 67 PARCO'S
O-RING MISS, winning his first race with this new boat. The hull looks
smooth and fast and leaves all of us wondering if it can live up to the
legendary two time national champion 64 BUDWEISER it replaced. Mitch
Dillard took second in the final with his SLO-MO-IV and added to his already
large points lead. It was a good race between Mitch and Jeff in the final
but Jeff was too strong. Mitch kept
applying the pressure, but Jeff never faltered and the Mighty MO had nothing
for the Parco. Mike Krone had another steady day in the DUTCHMAN coming
from the trailer spot to finish third in the final. The biggest surprise
came when the points were totaled and the gear box boat had jumped into second
in season points! Dan Clark and I had the only two boats not to
advance even into the consolation race...so while the rest of you were battling
it out, we were plotting to overthrow the club. Division Two had a good final heat as
well with Mitch Dillard winning his third race of the season. Mark Beatty’s
formidable BEACON PLUMBING gave chase but would go home with second place finish
behind the dominant TRENDWEST which won every heat it was in. Mike Krone
finished third in this final to match his finish in the Div 1 final with the
DESIGN 360. Jeff Howard's APPIAN JERONIMO and my WINSTON EAGLE again hit
a buoy in the final and were dropped to fourth and fifth place
respectively. Credit should go to Jeff who had to make massive
repairs to the APPIAN after the last race. A collision had ripped away
most of the left sponson, but it would have been hard to tell as the
replacement performed flawlessly and the boat ride looked none the worse for
wear. The only disappointment was that after the accident a few weeks
ago, Jeff was unable to retrieve his boat under its own power. “A real
man would have driven that thing back to the dock.” (sorry Jeff...old joke). So that's it...many thanks to everyone
who came out to the race. Tony drove the Dale Van Wyke’s BERRYESSA BELLE
strong all day, Steve Dumanis in the SHAKEY'S SPECIAL, Dave Sacry's MARINER TOO
and CIRCUS CIRCUS, Brent Hall with the Coors Dry and Bubble Bud, Clint Crain and
the COORS LIGHT, Danny Minalia and the sometimes very hot PAY 'n PAK, TAHOE Dan
Clark, and Mike Schultz who, with the assistance of a replacement speed
controller from Jeff, drove his THRIFTWAY to a heat win. On to the GOLD CUP with sunny
skies and a resurgence of the faltering PIZZA PETE racing team! See you all there, Pete
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