San Diego this weekend
 

The Hydro's are running this weekend. 3000 hp 200 mph.

Lites blown alcohol, naturally aspirated alcohol Hydro's

The Propra gang gets to do exihbition races (offshore) inshore. Renegade- In the red- Ragamuffin and a couple newcomers as well as the rest.

sst45's- drag boats -cracker boxes- k boats

I am sure that there is more but I have not seen a schedule.

Should be a good weekend.

pat W

By the way U-37 will be flying. She came by the shop to get dialed in for this weekend.

We broke track record at the last race..........:evilb: :evilb: :evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Here is some info about this weekend , I borrowed it from the pacificoffshore site.

Hotel Info:
http://www.paradisepoint.com/Paradise_home.aspx
San Diego, Ca Schedule of Events

Sep 13, 2006 (Thursday)
8:00am-5:00pm Dry Pits Open “Ski Beach”
7:30 Pm Free Committee Dinner EVI Hospitality

Sep 14, 2006 (Friday)
9:00am-5:00pm Registration: Dry Pits POPRA Trailer
9:00am-5:00pm Dry Pits: Ski Beach
9:00am-5:00pm Inspection: Dry Pits Ski Beach
9:30am- 10:00am Drivers meeting for testing Dry Pits POPRA Trailer
10:30am-10:45am Testing
4:45pm-5:30pm Testing
6:30pm-9:30 pm Live Music from “Private Domain”

Sep 15, 2006 (Saturday)
7:30am-8:30am Physicals: Paradise Point Resort
9:00am-9:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting: Paradise Point Resort
8:00am-9:00pm Registration: Dry Pits POPRA Trailer
8:00am-9:00pm Inspection: Dry Pits
8:00am-5:00pm Dry Pits open: Ski Beach
8:00am-5:00pm Fueling: “offsite”
9:00am-4:00pm Crane: Ski Beach
9:00am-5:00pm Wet Pits: Paradise Point Resort
10:45am-11:00 Race One Vee’s
1:55pm-2:20pm Race Two Cat’s
6:30pm-9:30 pm Live Music from “JPX” KVI
9:30pm Fireworks Fiesta Island


Sep 16,2006 (Sunday)
7:30am-8:30am Physicals: Paradise Point Resort
9:00am-9:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting: Paradise Point Resort
9:00am-5:00am Crane: Ski Beach
8:00am-5:00pm Wet Pits: Paradise Point Resort
10:30am-10:45pm Race one Vee’s
2:10pm-2:45pm Race two Cat’s
4:00pm- 5:00pm Awards: Dry pits

http://www.thunderboatregatta.com/pd...duleandmap.pdf

Here is the rest of the info for this weekend.

pat W

Pat, can you explain why Popra seems to be so uninterested in letting people know what's going on with their racing. I met Kevin Cooper at the Rum Run. Seems like a really good guy and I'm not trying to break balls, but seriously...

Worse than the "Secret Car Club of America"!

Are there race teams? Do boats actually show up for the races? It bums me out because I'm genuinely interested and there doesn't seem to be much reciprocal interest in getting anyone involved.

I wish I had known, I am flying out to Burbank to pick up a truck and would have went to the races, but I am on a tight schedule.

Pete B, I was going to drag John down there, but I'm tied up and it sounds like he might be too. Make him take you to Dr. Hoggly Wogglies for lunch. :D

The schedule has been on the web site all year and S.D. and has been on there from the start? What should I done different??? If you would like to volunteer and help with marketing them step.

2007 POPRA Race Schedule
July-- 21,21 Long Beach, Ca
Aug—16,19 Orange Beach, AL
Sept-- 8,9 Pittsburg, CA
Sept-- 15,16 San Diego, Ca
Sept—28-30 Lake Of the Ozarks, Missouri National Championships
Nov-- Worlds TBD

Hey Kev, like I said, you seemed like a good dude when I met you, and I wasn't trying to bust your balls, but since you asked... How about a de minimis amount of public communication about what's going on with POPRA? The web site is there, but significant portions haven't been updated all year.

How about race results and an entry list so we can see if it's worth it to haul our asses down to SD or up to Pittsburg?

Volunteer? I signed up to be a patrol boat for the Rum Run. I emailed repeatedly to get confirmation about what was going on with the event (and I know other guys did too). I finally got a phone call the friday before the race. As you know, there are many different ways to spend your free time in Southern CA, and I know that I don't generally put my schedule together the day before I do something... We ended up watching the Rum Run with six people and a cooler on the boat instead.

My gas, my time, for free. Well granted not free. You guys would have had to hit "reply" on your email and say "Dude, here's what's up... you're in." a week or so before the race.

It's funny, I quit car racing to go boating again. I actually said to you, "man racing a single engine boat has to be cheaper than racing a car because you don't have to buy tires!". But, cost was a small factor in getting out of car racing. Wasting my limited free time with a bunch of "Charlie Foxtrot" nonsense was the #1 reason why SCCA doesn't get my entry fees anymore.

As is stands now, I can go out in the ocean and run by myself as fast as I want. I can even see other boats often as not and run with them. So, why would I either a) drive 100 - 300 miles to see 5 boat run (again an assumption, I don't have any clue how many boats are running Popra events...) or b) buck up a grand in entry fees plus ancilliaries to go drive around by myself like I do every weekend anyhow?

I assume that this is your passion and to some extent your business. Even undertakers a tax return preparers have to market a little bit to get clients, and using those guys is inevitable...

The Propra club has never really promoted the races from what I have seen over the years. I do not remember the last time I heard there was a race on the radio or the local news. There was a sign right before the parking lot where the boats are parked.

The fleet of boats have been reduced over the years with people joining national circuts that were local racers reducing the fleet. When teams like KAAMA and Gentry were west coast teams there were some promoted races and natonal interest. I think that the level has dropped a little. The amount of money that was backing those teams attracted other teams. That paid for the rescue,cranes,staff,promotion,tv ect....

We would have backed this coast but the "club " mentality has kept us away. We need to be able to sell product to be able to help the sport, the same goes for Arneson and anyone else that is currently excluded from the rules.

In turn there would have been money in the organisation to afford to have people respond to emails or write on the internet.

My advice is to go to the race in San Diego if you are interested and talk with the teams that are there and give them a hand. Bring your boat and race or just show up and watch Kooper roll.

pat W:D

The last part is some funny $hit Shifter. Were thinking about mounting a Bravo upside down on Kevin's boat.

Your right on many counts about the club. For the past 6 or so years it's been about the money. Low boat count and $25-$35K to produce a race make it tough to find advertising money. Van does a nice job in Pittsburg every year with local radio and TV advertising. We did TV in 2005 in the Huntington Beach area. Other than that, promotion has been scarce. Of course when you tie into an existing event, ie. Thunderboat regatta, there isn't much need for advertising other than event details and team bio's on the web site.

P class racing has opened the door for your products. I'm well aware you would like to run side by side with the spec class guys, but , honestly don't see that happening. It has nothing to do with your drives. It has to do with the racers wanting parity in their class.

I'm working on a new project that might be of interest to you. We should meet in San Diego or I can call you next week.

Jim

Hey shifter, do you make a drive that works upside down? I here that Cooper is testing the boat upside down to see if it runs better since it seems to want to go that route on its own.

I am in my rookie year at this, but everyone around us treats us like we are veterans. The Renegade Team, Music Giant, Uncle Bob and Paul, Brunner, Rique Ford and the RagaMuffin guys would give you the shirt off their back to help you make the race. I am blessed to be apart of the Traveling Circus that is the POPRA.

If I could only land a big sponsor like "Shifter". Maybe I can bribe him with a $5.00 and a bag of sunflower seeds to help us out. Cuz that's about all I have.

Is that with or without shells. Normally we work for peanuts but we will try sunflower seeds.

Flashwave, If we mount the drive far enough back it will work both ways.

The only time we normally see the competition or run next to them is when we are lapping them, remember Ventura in 01?? When we brought out Ragamuffin with the WSD drives. Maybe that is why we are banned????

I will be in San Diego Saturday.:D

How about a self righting coast guard boat for koop?

pat W

Just mount the drive dead center on the transom vertically.

Being a surface drive it should then work on both the intended bottom and the new bottom (the deck) reguardless of which end is up.:D

Thanks guys. I appreciate the input. I know that you guys have a more expansive agenda than guys like me.

I did get to have a good look at the In the Red Skater (and talked to Mike S. for a while) at the Rum Run this year. And I got to talk to Kevin a bit as well.

I'm definately in for at least the Rum Run next year and hopefully a couple of the other relatively local races as well.

Hey shifter,
I want a surface drive that I can mount on the front of the boat

Hey mon, no problem mon. We make it look like a porcupine if you want. thrust in all directions.:D Its about time you come and play.

You know if the rules allowed it we would hve the drives somewhere else. It does not make sence pushing a rope does it. Something on a pod?

We will have a new class for us called experimental (x class) We will be rolling out X-1 soon, she is running a little late for this season but she is close.

How did it feel to run the old boat today???? Did Troy do anything wrong?

Results from today:

Amsoil
In the Red
Music choice
There were several others running Bijon/Vern 1st race for Bijon (www.definition.com,TJ and little Scot-(Ragamuffin), Fair play, Lavycraft, Raylar, Sarab, ect...

U-37 outside the pole 163.5mph Elstrom 165mph.

more tomorrow

pat W



More tomorrow.

www.abrahydroplanes.com

I borrowed this:evilb::evilb::evilb:


San Diego: Saturday Heats 1A and 1B
September 15, 2007
News and information about the first set of elimination heats at the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta on Mission Bay.

Withdrawls

After breaking a gear box during late afternoon testing, the U-21 All Access Presented by Southwest HiReach has removed itself from racing action on Saturday.

Heat 1A

Dave Villwock in the U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus needed to finish fourth out of five boats to clinch the 2007 ABRA National High Points Championship, but Jean Theoret in the U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing had a different agenda.

The French-Canadian hit the start of Heat 1A at the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta perfectly and led the field to the first turn. The U-16 gave strong chase and after half a lap had caught up, bringing both boats into turn two.

J. Michael Kelly in the U-13 Spirit of Detroit fell into third, and Dr. Ken Muscatel in the U-25 Superior Racing held fourth. Jeff Bernard -- despite being in the top five in overall qualifying -- fell back to fifth. Team manager Mike Weber said, "The boat lost an oil seal which resulted in too much oil in the engine. When Jeff would hit the gas, there was nothing there."

After one lap, the Beacon Plumbing and the Ellstrom Elam Plus continued to battle, neck and neck, but at the exit of the first turn, the orange and white boat driven by Dave Villwock went dead in the water, leaving the Bill and Jane Schumacher owned hull alone with the lead.

The green and yellow U-13 continued to pull away, but was no real threat to Theoret. Muscatel finished third with Bernard finishing fourth.

The U-16 suffered a failure of the wheel within the hot section of the engine. The wheel separated into three equal parts at 120 degree intervals, with one section hitting the inside of the cowling on the right, one section hitting the inside cowling on the left, and one section going through the bottom of the boat, leaving a hole about the size of a loaf of bread. The team expects to be back on the water in the morning.

"It'll be about a one-foot by one-and-a-half foot patch. We should have it done by dark," said Jeff Minar, crew member of the U-6.

Heat 1A results

Finish Boat Driver
Points Speed
1 U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing
Jean Theoret
400 146.337
2 U-13 Spirit of Detroit J. Michael Kelly
300 138.120
3 U-25 Superior Racing Ken Muscatel
225 127.614
4 U-5 Formulaboats.com Jeff Bernard
169 113.311
U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus
Dave Villwock
DNF

Fastest Lap: U-16, Lap 1: 157.089 mph

Heat 1B

Mike Allen has had the last two races off, but his driving didn't look a bit rusty as he lead and won Heat 1B of the San Diego Thunderboat Regatta from wire to wire.

The U-1 Formulaboats.com left the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto and the U-10 Miss Ahern Rentals along the frontstretch and led by three boat lengths, as the red boat crossed the start/finish line.

"We had our timing run, and I was going slower than expected at my starting point. I couldn't make up the time and I missed the start by a second and a half," said Steve David, driver of the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto. "When I got to the [first] turn, I was going so fast, I got into [Allen's] roostertail, and started to go over. Somehow, the boat came back down."

Allen left his foot on the gas and opened up a large lead on David who had to hold off a late charge by David Bryant. Bryant pulled even at the entrance pin of the second turn of lap three, but had to swing wide to avoid the U-1's air scoop floating in the water that flew off the U-1 during lap one. That extra bit of racecourse was all that David needed to finish second.

"Everything went perfectly. The crew worked real hard to put this boat together yesterday and today, and a lot of credit goes to them. It's nice not to have to do anything major tonight," said Allen.

David Williams in the Miss Lakeridge Paving was half a lap off the pace at the start and blew the engine at the beginning of the final lap, resulting in an official "Did Not Finish."

Heat 1B results

Finish Boat Driver
Points Speed

1 U-1 Formulaboats.com
Mike Allen
400 148.488
2 U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto Steve David
300 144.594
3 U-10 Miss Ahern Rentals David Bryant 225 144.324
U-48 Lakeridge Paving
David Williams DNF
U-21 Miss All Access
Presents Southwest HiReach Brian Perkins
DNS

Fastest Lap: U-10, Lap 3: 151.298 mph


:ernaehrung004: One in the bag!!!!

pat W

go in the red. i know that girl has it in her. droppem and let her eat.

dude, go down and help troy with our old boat. pat work your magic on the old girl.

She will be ready for the worlds.

We won pro 4wd in Antelope Valley today too with Rick Huseman and the Fabtech Toyota.:ernaehrung004:

pat W

hey pat.we missed you last weekend.chris did got married.what were the results from pitts?sometime this winter i will come down to see you guys.have you heard from earl at all?is he still involved with nascar.i need your number so i can call you.hope to venture down there soon....craig

pics from today
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That all for today. I did not get anymore photos because the batteries died. Long day!
congratlations to Steve David who won. We lost a prop/exited thru the wing before the main (shaft broke). Finished 3rd in main.

pat W

craig
Earl is still with TRD. come down anytime, say hi to Chris.

Thanks Pat that was awesome! I was tied up all weekend, so I really appreciate it! I'll make sure to refer to Hewland stuff as "Junk" in deference to your kindness! :D :D :D

When I was younger we'd go to Thunder on the Lake in Onondaga Lake every year. I miss seeing the unlimiteds run. Hopefully I can get my ass in gear next year and bring my kids down to check it out.

We saw the Definition boat (sans decals) out testing on Labor Day weekend in Long Beach harbor. She looked and sounded awseome (probably closed on us at over 30 mph differential)!

Thunder Fun!! @ San Diego
 

Shifter:
Great shots and lots of nice closeups!

We had a lot of fun at the event this year running the Raylar
race boat in the special heats that they arrainged. I hope we can actually get POPBRA and some others to stage a race in San Diego next year! We'll be ready!!

Best Regards,

Ray @ Raylar

someone finally bought the old woody boat.