St Clair Weekend, The Story

[Ratickle]

Well, my second weekend of racing.

Didn't go exactly as planned, but had a great time.

I'll steal some shots from others to help, (Thanks Freeze, Bruce, Pete), and some from ones Terri took.....

Didn't get there until Friday at about 9:00 PM, so not much happened that evening. Found Jeff, Dean, Jim, George, and many others.

And of course, the Batboat......

[Ratickle]

Saturday had to get there early, 9:00, for the dunk test.

You get to do a belly flop, back flop, swim two lengths, drag someone two lengths, and be drug two lengths for a starter......

[Ratickle]

Then you get to prove you know how to clear a regulator and buddy breath.

Once you pass that, they strap you into a floating fake cockpit, give you a regulator, attach a steering wheel, turn you upside down and you get to prove you can get out without drowning.......

[Ratickle]

After that, take your new certification, (I passed so Dean had to put gas in the boat), go to registration and get entered.

It was at the St Clair Inn. Met Ron there for the first time and had a nice chat. Was great to see both Orgs assisting everbody....

[cosmic12]

Very cool I didn't know they did that stuff on the spot.
OK, so don't stop there we know it was a long week end.

[Ratickle]

Then hurry up and wait time for all. Open water for testing wasn't for an hour or so. And this race we wanted to make absolutely sure Dean and Derek got the testing done in Wahoo, even if we didn't get any time in. They had just finished the boat the day before.......

It got pretty rough, but they did get a few laps in.....

Looked real good......

George and Jim tested also. Then George dropped Jim off at the seawall because he was way to tired to walk all the way back....

[Ratickle]

We waited for the wind to die down, but it didn't happen so we went out to test, (train), some anyway....


Rough.....

[Ratickle]

We did one lap, decided wasn't gonna learn a thing in that water, just possibly break something, and came back in......

Dean found out Two Trick Rick's backup class 6 boat wasn't gonna make it, (he already broke his cat in Harrison), and we decided Rick and I would run the Batboat in both Class 5 the first race and SVL the third race. That way Dean and Derek could really concentrate on race 2 with Wahoo......


More hurry up and wait. But gave us time to chat with everyone, learn more about Jim's world famous Margaritas, (Terri really likes them ), and get ready for dinner.

Went to dinner with Pete, Tammy, George, Jimmy, Jeff, Ryan, and Isaiah. Great food, and crazy stories........

[Ratickle]

Next morning race meeting at the firehouse and off to hurry up for race one.

Tyler got a great start, we were far outside. Did okay on lap one sitting slightly back in 4th place waiting to see if Rick and I could get a boat to go in circles together.....

Then that sneaky Tyler ran through the infield, everyone followed but us, and 100 yards was opened up in froint of us......

Tyler said after he lost a prop there before and was wishing ill upon us.....

[ChiefApache]

I can't imagine the ride in the bat boat in rough water. I think I'd pee my pants.

[Ratickle]

After that, we started running the inside too. Tried to chase down Typhoon. Every time we tried to pass, he closed the door. Tried tight corner, out and back across, big sweeper, everything we could. No luck. Randy always ran the corners just perfect......

Come to find out we had broke out, (Rick said we had, wanted to run down Tyler and go for the checkered), but we were hoping others would have broke out worse. The only other one to break out, Tyler by less than us.....

[Ratickle]

So, after that, we had a belt slipping and making noise so it was try to figure out what was wrong. Belt was bad, ran all around, Dean had one back at the trailer or truck. Found it and Rick got it installed in time to watch the second half of Dean and Derek's race. They ran great and finished second.....


Sweet!!!!!!

[cosmic12]

Great thread wonderful story, love this stuff, waiting for more

[Ratickle]

Next was race three.....

The SVL guys were gracious enough to let us run with them. So, One Of Chris's Batboats and ourselves went for it. Unfortunately Chris's fastest, the Red one, was broke so he had to use the silver one.

And, we were supposed to have a bigger prop to compete, but it didn't make it, so we knew we would be down about 8 mph to the SVL's. Oh well, at least we could race Chris for last. And, maybe everybody else would break.....

[Ratickle]

There were a few boats there just a little faster than us.......

[Ratickle]

Anyway, we finished 5th in SVL out of seven. Beat Chris's silver one and one broke. Had a blast, but would have loved to had the bigger prop and a belt that wasn't slipping. Wouldn't have been lapped by the other SVL's then......


Jim said he was getting ready to buzz me real close at the end but we barely finished before he could.....

He sounded disappointed......

[Ratickle]

Lots of thanks to go around here.

Dean and your family, an incredible 10 days. Gotta do some more. Thanks for your patience and the desire to race.

Rick, glad your boat broke...... (You know what I mean)......

Derek and family, thanks for all the assistance and tips.....

OPA and OSS, great groups, keep on keeping on.....

And of course a ton of others like Freeze for the video hookup and pics. (Wonder what the video will show??????

Mikey from Supercat for the encouragement, interview, and excitement....

Jason from Powerboat for the interview and concerns.....

Pete, Tammy, Rob, Ryan, Isaiah, Ron, Smitty, Alan, and a ton of others...


And Jimbo; driving tips, introductions, boat assembly and disassembly, and Margaritas


I'll be back.......

[Ratickle]

Some more pictures from the weekend......

[Ratickle]

Everybody who's nuts should do this at least once......

[2TR]

I can't imagine the ride in the bat boat in rough water. I think I'd pee my pants.

Like this ??



Great play-by-play Paul !!! and Liek I said before you drove one hell of a race.

Rick K