Class 6 - St Clair River Classic, 2012

[Ratickle]

One of the much anticipated classes in St Clair, after the great turnout for the class in Tawas a few weeks earlier, was Class 6. I must admit, I was approaching this one with mixed feelings in some ways.

On one hand, Rick (2TR) and I are pretty good at yanking each others chains since we raced together in Dean's Batboat and got the Hot Shots foldout in Powerboat Magazine. On the other hand, Gary and I are also good at yanking chains, so after their great showing in Tawas with the green to checkered win, we had a bet that they would breakout in St Clair because of the current (and their past history there)....

Well, a good class, some gret boats and teams, and another great turnout of boats....

The list;

607 Akula
613 Bad Newz
623 Country Service
667 Hurricane Force
644 Knot Guilty
603 Mammograms Saves Lives, Bat Boat
626 Maxed Out
619 PFE Racing
602 Sikorski Racing, Batboat
633 Wazzup II


10 very even boats, one checkered flag- the anticipation builds....

The start from Pete's point of view......

 

[Ratickle]

Going on, as appears to be in the above start photo;

Wake only, with no boat, closest to the camera - Start Boat
Lane 1 - 603 Batboat
Lane 2 - 623 Country Service
Lane 3 - 644 Knot Guilty
Lane 4 - 626 Maxed Out
Lane 5 - 619 PFE
Lane 6 - Wazzup II
Lane 7 and beyond, cannot see in the pic.

One of the things that was hammered home in the drivers meeting, the start was to be;

Line up on the pace boat at almost "No Wake" speed.
Stay in your lane and behind the pace boat as he comes up on plane
As soon as the pace boat feels he has a good line with the boats on plane, the green will be given
You must hold your lanes until you are COMPLETELY through the first corner. Not the first turn buoy, the entire first corner.

Well, that didn't quite happen in Class 6....

You be the judge, I'll post the sequence and then give my observations, (maybe).

I will say up front, there were some really upset teams after the race was completed, and there was a meeting with Bob and Smitty after the awards were given out. I had no iron in the fire, so I stayed away. I do not know what the outcome of that meeting was, but I'm sure besides my start pics there are others, along with video from some of the boats.

 

[Ratickle]

 

[Ratickle]

 

[Ratickle]

So, I was shooting from in front of the host hotel, approximately 200 yards from the start/finish, approximately 1.25 miles prior to the first turn.

Mikey was having a fit announcing the start of the race.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

You must hold your lanes until you are COMPLETELY through the first corner. Not the first turn buoy, the entire first corner.

Well, that didn't quite happen in Class 6....

Sounds familiar.

 

[Ratickle]

 

[36Tango]

I will say that it was interesting how the actual start was much different than what was talked about in the Firehouse that morning. The videos will also be interesting to see.

Ratickle- If I could get the pic file of that last shot with the Early Detection BatBoat and Knot Guilty, I would appreciate it. My email is jeff@ar-jay.com

 

[Ratickle]

I will say that it was interesting how the actual start was much different than what was talked about in the Firehouse that morning. The videos will also be interesting to see.

Ratickle- If I could get the pic file of that last shot with the Early Detection BatBoat and Knot Guilty, I would appreciate it. My email is jeff@ar-jay.com

I like that, "Interesting and Different" .......


I'll get it to you.

 

[Ratickle]

 

[Ratickle]

 

[Ratickle]

 

[Ratickle]