2007 Northwest Scale Hydroplane Championship

[Marty Shallenberger]

I want to thank all that made this a great event including the weatherman; we had calm, dry, clear and warm (for Seattle) weather. I know you all want details so here we go.

After 5 rounds of preliminary heats of 30 boats on Saturday and Sunday we moved to the main event of 2 connie's and the final. Jim Putich driving the 03 Lumar won the second connie and moved up to the first connie that he also won that moved him into the final (the hard way) as the trailer boat.

The seven-boat final was comprised of some of the best boats and drivers in the sport including Roger Newton, the CZAR. After a race of disqualifications, washed down boats, racing collisions that left none of the boats running the winner of this years race was long time racer David Jenson running his 69 Pride of Pay N' Pak.

The final field was made up of the following boats and drivers.

93 Bud Lee Robertson

95 Pico David Brandt

97 Crazy Tomato John Stubbers

69 Pay n' Pak David Jensen

85 7-11 Roger Newton

72 Notre Dame Bill Brandt

03 Lumar Jim Putich

Lee Roberson won the Show n' Go trophy.

Mike Schindler won the concourse trophy with his beautiful 73 Redman

The Mini Thunder Class of almost ready to run Miss Vegas Boats turned out to be a crowd favorite when they ran a 10 boat final.

Jerry Dunlap will be giving a complete recap but I will tell you that Al Waters running a boat that came out of the box the day before the race took third place and that David Jensen running his Freddie's Club won the Show n' Go trophy.

Personally I had a great time and I hope that everyone else did also.

Marty

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

The 10 boat Mini Thunder Final was won by Russ "I Love My Sport 18" Nachtweih. Russ nailed the start and lead the entire final. District 8 Director, Lohring Miller was second and NAMBA president, Al Waters placed third. Al was running a "loaner" from Marty that had never hit the water till Sunday morning. Lohring did the setup work on Al's the "BOAT" - black felt tip lettering covered with clear tape. The Mini Thunder final was a race of attrition. Four fast running Vegas driven by Eric Bourlet, David Jensen, Paul Dunlap, and myself encountered various mishaps causing their demise Thanks to Marty for including the Mini Thunder event in the event.

 

[Darin Jordan]

Could someone please give a detailed account of what exactly happened in the final?? Sounds like caos... If I pop in to visit Roger this week... am I going to see a damaged 7-11 boat, or just one that's drying out???

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

Could someone please give a detailed account of what exactly happened in the final?? Sounds like caos... If I pop in to visit Roger this week... am I going to see a damaged 7-11 boat, or just one that's drying out???

As I recall, Lee Robertson's '93 Bud didn't get on the course, one of the Brandts was involved in the accident with Crazy Tomato, another Brandt was DQed for washing down a boat, and the Czar was DQed for washing down David Jensen. Or something like that. It was ugly, but "Some days are diamonds and some days are stone." And it seemed like most of the boats in the final were "Between a rock and a hard spot."

JD

 

[Duck899]

Could someone please give a detailed account of what exactly happened in the final?? Sounds like caos... If I pop in to visit Roger this week... am I going to see a damaged 7-11 boat, or just one that's drying out???

As I recall, Lee Robertson's '93 Bud didn't get on the course, one of the Brandts was involved in the accident with Crazy Tomato, another Brandt was DQed for washing down a boat, and the Czar was DQed for washing down David Jensen. Or something like that. It was ugly, but "Some days are diamonds and some days are stone." And it seemed like most of the boats in the final were "Between a rock and a hard spot."

JD

Jerry, your wit and humour never ceases to amaze me...... :lol:

Thanks for the cd from Crazy Al's......

Was Chris Denslow at the race taking pictures?

Cheers

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

Could someone please give a detailed account of what exactly happened in the final?? Sounds like caos... If I pop in to visit Roger this week... am I going to see a damaged 7-11 boat, or just one that's drying out???

As I recall, Lee Robertson's '93 Bud didn't get on the course, one of the Brandts was involved in the accident with Crazy Tomato, another Brandt was DQed for washing down a boat, and the Czar was DQed for washing down David Jensen. Or something like that. It was ugly, but "Some days are diamonds and some days are stone." And it seemed like most of the boats in the final were "Between a rock and a hard spot."

JD

Jerry, your wit and humour never ceases to amaze me...... :lol:

Thanks for the cd from Crazy Al's......

Was Chris Denslow at the race taking pictures?

Cheers

I'm not sure Chris was there taking photos. I probably have over 100 photos from Sunday. I love shooting the 1/8 Scale boats.

JD

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

Here's a shot of the Czar's 7-11 and David's rigger Pak racing during the final.

JD

 

[Duck899]

Here's a shot of the Czar's 7-11 and David's rigger Pak racing during the final.
JD

Looks like they are running down the backstraight setting up for the start.....

 

[Al Waters]

I will try and do this from memory as I didnt get home until 3 AM this morning. My flight was delayed to San Diego just a bit.

Going to work was not fun today. But if I had it to do over again, I would certainly do it again. This is a great race with a bunch of great people who were there. I really enjoyed having dinner talking with Mike S, the CZAR, Marty, and the others. We all really learned a lot from each other.

Now the race. It was a first for me not seeing at least one boat finish the Final. We know who won and we wonder what happened to others. First, I have to say that Jeff Stubbers and Lohring Miller did an incredible job of judging while I was announcing the Final. We went over the entire race and all of the positions of the boats after the race so that they received their proper placement for the awards presentation. Jeff and Lohring were turn judges and stood next to me during the race communicating the calls.

David Newton was unable to make the race on Saturday so the CZAR ran David's 7-11 for the weekend.

There were six boats in the Final with Jim Putich as the trailer. I am not going to get into who was a DQ or a DNF as that is not important. Plus, I don't have my notes in front of me.

I do remember that Dave Brandt died before the start in the right turn. He later told me that he lost a motor. Don't know exactly what the cause was as he was going to check it out when he got home. Lee Robertson died in the front straight just be fore the start. Five boats made the start of which three of them were DQ'd and the other two were a DNF as the race progressed.

Was the driving sloppy? Not even. These guys are good and they had to be good to get to the Final this weekend. The left turn was not the easiest to see when the sun was shining.

With the trailer boat down a quarter of a lap, that left the other four going through the turns together. This was not a spread out field. Unfortunately, during the race, whether it was from called dead boats or by way of racing, the four boats eventually ended up with a called DQ or a called DNF.

That left the trailer as the only remaining boat running. Unfortunately, things happened so fast that the trailer boat hit a dead boat resulting in a DQ. You really had to be there to understand the situation. My story doesnt tell it all when you have fast boats, bright sun, aggressive drivers who are very good drivers, and not only hulls floating, but cowl and wing parts also. After the race, we told Jim in the LLumar, its too bad that you didnt think to just shut your boat down, take a DNF and you would have won the Final.

It s always easy to say after the race when we have time to think about things like that. Jim did not know that he was the only one running. Not his pit mans fault. Things were happening really fast.

This is where Jeff and Lohring came in. We knew who did not start but we then had to note who got the DQ's and in which order of sequence. We had to do the same for the DNF's.

David Jensen was the longest running of the DNF's and declared the winner. The rest of the positions were based on DNF''s and then DQ's who ran the longest and then to the DNS's.

To give you an idea just how close the racing was, we had one heat where tow boats were side by side when they finished a qualifying heat. I wanted judges help for the call on the finish. My judge on the right selected boat A and the judge on my left selected boat B. What does that tell you? It was a dead heat right in front of me. We gave the same finishing points to both boats. That is just how close the racing was.

Check your schedule for 2008. If you want to see some of the best racing, best set up boats, and best racers, the Northwest Scale Hydroplane Championships is a good place to be.

Thanks, Al Waters

 

[SayMikey]

Here's a shot of the Czar's 7-11 and David's rigger Pak racing during the final.
JD

Looks like they are running down the backstraight setting up for the start.....

Here is my take on the final<mind you i was a spectator. Bill Brant jumped the start before that Lees boat died in the front near the stand,The Mator died in the 3rd turn. That put Czar in the lead for a couple laps,David Jensen bearing down on him big DADDY <Czar cut number one and almost hit David washing him down DQ Czar One boat left The Llumar I forgot his name but he came to the final from winning CONCY# 2 then CONCY #1. He would have won but during completing the race all alone he hit a boat so it went back to the last boat that died without being DQd . By now you wonder about the Brants all i can remember is both died before Roger BRAIN FARTED. Sure glad i was far from the CD stand or id still be there scratching my head. The final was a tough race but every heat was contested the final was showed how much everyone wanted to WIN!!! Great race I NEED THE DATE ASAP FOR NEXT YEAR gotta plan ahead ya know........ In all the heat of battle every racer treated me and everyone else like family hats off to all who were there..........................Mike <aka 73 RedMan PS big thanks to Roger Newton for helping me all weekend an honor to be with such ROYALITY as the RCU and UNW guys

 

[PakMan]

Could someone please give a detailed account of what exactly happened in the final?? Sounds like caos... If I pop in to visit Roger this week... am I going to see a damaged 7-11 boat, or just one that's drying out???

I could give my perspective having had the luxury of some hind-sight to sort it out in my head... , but to be honest, immediately after it all happened, I had no clue. That 4 minutes was intense... from the first second.

David Newton would probably be the one with the sharpest memory as he was coaching his Dad driving his boat.

I asked him if he was nervous... David said he was more nervous coaching his Dad than if he was driving himself.

Let me know if you want one racers viewpoint.

DJ

P.S. - The 7-11 was not struck. It should be OK, just the driver will be 'damaged'.... and likely fired!! David is the only person I know of that could fire the Czar... you're awesome Czar! Thanks for all that you do to promote R/C.

 

[Bill Brandt]

For whatever it's worth...

I didn't jump. I was DQ'd for verring out causing John Stubbers to go into my roostertail. I then pulled the Notre Dame off the course. Did I verr out? Doesn't really matter, I was called for it and that's it. The Notre Dame ran flawless. Russ has built a boat that has been proven and I thank him for it.

My son Dave Brandt's motor did let go in the mill causing him to go dead.

David Pakman Jensen drove a superior race as he always does. If you want to race against the very best then DJ is the man to race. Total 1st class all the way and by the way his dad, Gary is a top driver himself.

This was a very well organized race. Marty should be commended for his efforts. Al Waters, what can ya say? Al did his regular masterful job CDing the race. I did have fun calling the mini thunder final. That was a hoot.

It was great meeting Mike S. New friendships are what its all about.

Come race with us next year. My Dave and I would like another shot.

Bill Brandt

 

[lohring]

This was the most hotly contested race I have attended all year. The competition really started in the second connie and ran all the way into the final. Jerry's picture shows how the first two place boats raced for several laps in the final. I've never seen such beautiful boats raced so hard. Al showed his experience as a CD by first determining exactly how the connie winner could start under any set of circumstances and by then sorting out the final.

Al actually finished ahead of me in the Mini Thunder final, so I thought he was second. However, he touched a buoy and owed another lap. All the credit for my showing goes to my crew chief, Jerry Dunlap, who ,unlike some better known crew chiefs, knows how to cheat without getting caught. He needs to spend a little more time in Russ' garage, though.

It was a perfect weekend.

Lohring Miller

 

[PakMan]

For whatever it's worth...
I didn't jump. I was DQ'd for verring out causing John Stubbers to go into my roostertail. I then pulled the Notre Dame off the course. Did I verr out? Doesn't really matter, I was called for it and that's it. The Notre Dame ran flawless. Russ has built a boat that has been proven and I thank him for it.

My son Dave Brandt's motor did let go in the mill causing him to go dead.

David Pakman Jensen drove a superior race as he always does. If you want to race against the very best then DJ is the man to race. Total 1st class all the way and by the way his dad, Gary is a top driver himself.

This was a very well organized race. Marty should be commended for his efforts. Al Waters, what can ya say? Al did his regular masterful job CDing the race. I did have fun calling the mini thunder final. That was a hoot.

It was great meeting Mike S. New friendships are what its all about.

Come race with us next year. My Dave and I would like another shot.

Bill Brandt

Wow. A comment like that, coming from you Bill, means a lot to me. Thank You!

Just for fun, let's look at some numbers. Between Bill and Dave, they each have run about 840 heats during the past 12 years (5 Heats x 14 Races Annually x 12 years). And they test, test, test. By my calculation that puts their boats out on the water over 3300 times in just over 10 years. They are trying to get better each time out, and their record proves they do it! If you want to race the best, find the Brandts. Effort, integrity, competitive drive, and not accepting less than the best is why I enjoy racing against the two of you so much. See you in a couple weeks Champ.

Al and Marty pulled off another great event. Mark your calendars for 08'.

DJ

 

[mt. gay rum]

Man One Brandt DQ the other died before the Start...man thats unheard of,,,Czar what the?????? Man David must of been going crazy!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like lake full of Parts floating around... I hope someone has this on tape.....Oneboat running and still hits a dead boat,,,I've been in that spot and its nerve racking (boat running and trying to miis all the dead wood)....Glad AL and his gang CD'ed this Final...Sounds like a WILD ONE...

Saymikey I told you thoses west coat guys were top notch...glad you enjoyed it....

 

[SayMikey]

Man One Brandt DQ the other died before the Start...man thats unheard of,,,Czar what the?????? Man David must of been going crazy!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like lake full of Parts floating around... I hope someone has this on tape.....Oneboat running and still hits a dead boat,,,I've been in that spot and its nerve racking (boat running and trying to miis all the dead wood)....Glad AL and his gang CD'ed this Final...Sounds like a WILD ONE...
Saymikey I told you thoses west coat guys were top notch...glad you enjoyed it....

Hey guys lets all not forget that 6 foot log that floated out when the race started. Im sure that distraction was plenty for turn 1. Awesome race Awesome racers. Just get me the date for next year ASAP im ready to roll again......Mike

 

[Al Waters]

David Jensen brought up a very good point about Bill and Dave Brandt and the things they have learned over the years making them as good as they are. Especially because they run a pickle fork and a round nose showing that both style of hulls are capable of being right there in the hunt (which means that there might be hope for me some day)

I was talking to Dave Brandt during the day and he was telling me how more and more boats can go super slow during the mill and pop up to full speed at the expiration of the clock. Obviously that means that it is more and more difficult for the guys who have been doing it for quite some time as they now have more competition coming down for the start.

I noticed some of the hulls were pushing water away from the sponsons at slow speed and some (like DB's) were riding on top of the water at slow speeds. Dave admitted that in trimming their boats, they look for a setup not only at top speed in the straights, through the turns, in rough water, but also at slow speeds. You can be slow to the start for lane one, but you have to be able to reach top speed in as short as distance as possible.

Maybe everyone has known this all along and works on doing this. I sure did not so I did learn something from the Brandt's. That is the beauty of this race. Being able to go home and take something with you that will improve your boat set up. And of course staying up late listening to the CZAR's hydroplane stories while mini-czar is providing the Internet hydroplane picture show.

Its just a lot of fun all the way around.

Thanks, Al Waters

PS...... Thanks Marty for the Miss Vegas loaner and to you Lohring for setting it up to be racing ready to quickly. Its a very good package for those wanting to get into the hobby.

 

[CamcorderRacer]

Man One Brandt DQ the other died before the Start...man thats unheard of,,,Czar what the?????? Man David must of been going crazy!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like lake full of Parts floating around... I hope someone has this on tape.....Oneboat running and still hits a dead boat,,,I've been in that spot and its nerve racking (boat running and trying to miis all the dead wood)....Glad AL and his gang CD'ed this Final...Sounds like a WILD ONE...
Saymikey I told you thoses west coat guys were top notch...glad you enjoyed it....

I am the Compleat Camcorder Guy you saw taping the event and I want to say that I'll post some highlights on YouTube shortly. Right now I'm at work!

 

[Jeff Stubbers]

David Jensen brought up a very good point about Bill and Dave Brandt and the things they have learned over the years making them as good as they are. Especially because they run a pickle fork and a round nose showing that both style of hulls are capable of being right there in the hunt (which means that there might be hope for me some day)
...

Sorry Al, but Bill runs the '72 Notre Dame, which is NOT a round nose boat... So there still isn't any hope for you. :lol:

 

[PakMan]

David Jensen brought up a very good point about Bill and Dave Brandt and the things they have learned over the years making them as good as they are. Especially because they run a pickle fork and a round nose showing that both style of hulls are capable of being right there in the hunt (which means that there might be hope for me some day)
...

Sorry Al, but Bill runs the 72 Notre Dame, which is NOT a round nose boat... So there still isn't any hope for you. :lol:

Jeff,

I think Al had a little 'glitch' in his memory when typing that... I mean the guy is tired... He must have been trying to put together sentences that made reference to Gary running a Round-Nose, and me with a 'pickle'... or a Log as I affectionatley like to call it. I'm sure Bill would like to say Al had a 'glitch' in his memory for the final, but it was a joint decision as I understand it. No, then again, Bill said his peace and accepts the call.

I also need to point out here that both the Stubbers brothers took a hit for the team this past weekend. Bill and I did learn some lessons. I learned mine from Jeff, and Bill from John. You guys deserve some credit for your efforts, sorry Jeff, and I also enjoy running with the two of you quality, aggressive racers.

Al, there is always hope.

DJ