RACES/EVENTS

We arrived in Celina on Wednesday evening (and had a nice chat with our welcoming committee who already checked in at the Best Value Inn Motel). Thursday morning we left early for the park where the event took place. A little shy (who were those funny looking red-t-shirted guys?) we stumbled over to Bob and Brian Blazer and some others we knew of Jim's boat dock. We received a very, very warm welcome by everyone we met, so we felt right at home. Sometimes surprised by the faces matching the nicknames on the various web-boards, you soon see the same camaraderie, friendliness and hospitality you appreciate so much with this hobby.

The races were on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday was open water. The term "open water" should not be read as "play-boating" (as we know it). You get about five minutes per heat to do some testing and not many boats are allowed on the water all at once. Also with more than three "dead-boats" in the water, the session was stopped. I must say excellent planning, discipline by both boaters and officials were impressive. Bob & Brian Blazer, Dan Kramer and pit boss Matthew Waldron took good care that everything went smooth and safe. That is something the European boaters need to learn a bit more. Before the trip, we had various offers coming in to race a couple of boats during the event. We thought it would be best to compete in the super sport stock class. Jeroen and I eagerly accepted the invitations, Andre declined by saying in sort of Schwarzenegger way; "I will just take pictures". Now if you know Jeroen and I, you know we do not to accept no for an answer, so we entered Andre in the race, without him knowing it. Marc Levac, Dom Mauro and Brian Blazer were in the loop to. As the entry list was on the web to, we decided to enter Andre as Mr. A.A. van Buuren. AA for Andre Abtmeyer and Van Buuren was the nickname our royal prince used for entering anonymously in an ice skate-race some years ago. Only upon registration at the truck with Brian Blazer, it became clear to Andre he had to run some laps…… You should have seen the expression on his face! Ever see a guy’s face when his girlfriend is telling him she is pregnant? In the evening we had the traditional cook-out! Now I understand what bbq-ing is all about. And the crab from Carlo tasted very good to! It got really late and we were lucky Jim Maples brought us back to the motel as self-appointed designated driver. Thanks Jim!

Jeroen got a Razor from Dom Mauro, Andre an Insane Mono from Marc Levac and I got a PI Fountain from Dom Moreno and Bob Fin. We all got some time on the water on Thursday. I was one of the last to come in after some rubbing with Butch "The boatman and I want to have some fun" Fields. It was a prelude of what was to come the following days.

The races in the US are a bit different than on the European side of the big pond. A six to eight lap "explosion" of adrenaline, excitement and action. It is over before you know it (now where did I experience that feeling before......). There's is the anticipation and tension of mill-time before the start. Looking to find the best position and spot to launch yourself over the starting line, right on the clock. Sometimes you wish time was just a little bit slower, this is one of those moments. Once passed the starting line, everybody rushes to buoy #1, trying to get there first and leaving the mayhem there behind you, preferably in your prop wash. Well as everybody has the same ambition, you do not need a vivid imagination to see what is going to happen there. Really bad crashes were just a few. I believe I saw 5 total loses (of which two had radio-problems). Most of the crashes are blow-offs and barrel-rolls. So that actually is not bad considering the amount of different classes, heats and boats that are competing. That takes that out that old saying that racing only causes more damages. I have seen worse things happen on a play-day. Taking in account everybody plays nice and fair, of course.

Friday morning! Race day! Entering the park, you can feel the tension. Everybody is a bit nervous….. You can tell by how many times tools are dropped and even the simplest job becomes a mission impossible……. The opening ceremony comprised a speech by the mayor and officials and the singing of the national anthem. Dan Kramer asked if anybody else wanted to sing their anthem, as so many different nationalities were present. Well all looked as us Europeans to but we thought it was not a good idea; it would have ended the event before it got started. Our flag on the driver stand was a good solution for all attending. As karaoke is very popular in Japan Mr. "H" (Okuma, Hiroyuki) seized the opportunity and stood proudly next to Dan on the stand and sang like there was no tomorrow.

In the early hours of the day it was still a bit chilly and the sun was quite low on the water. Aiming for buoy #4 was somewhat of a gamble. The British call this a "closing your eyes and think of England my dear!" feeling. As the drivers were on a driver stand some extra view of the oval was provided for. The driver stand also housed the speaker and the officials and below was the transmitter stand. The pit area was divided into "odd and even" heats, making the preparation and start smooth, fast and safe. After starting the engines ("gentleman you are on the clock"), the driver went up the stand and the pitman threw the boat into the water. The pitman then came up the stand as well. That is what we have in Europe to, although a driver stand is something to be put on our something-we-already-should-have-done-list.

For us foreign guys the comments by the pitman needed to be translated in our minds, so we had to concentrate really hard. Once on the water you have 2,5 minute mill-time before the start. You need to find your position and lane and hold it. Once in the thick of it all, a mistake is very difficult to correct as you only have 6-8 laps. Although a bad start does not mean you are out of the race and lots can and will happen.

The boats. We know the monos, hydros, cats, riggers and c-boxes here to. In Europe these boats have a more scale like appearance and more "engineered". The monos in the US are more stable and well setup (like the AC’s, Strykers, Hurricanes, Insanes, Aeromarine, etc). The cats look less spectacular as they run more stable as a result of their design. The c-boxes are very fast (to fast for many). If they ran in the offshore class for instance they could hold their own very well. I heard in the pit-area that when they allowed tuned pipes in that class, the "gentleman-fun-cbox-class" seized to be. They however look very spectacular. Even more spectacular are the sport hydros (Whiplash, Insane, Stryker, and Aeromarine). The dash they make for lane#1 at the first buoy is very impressive and it is rare that all boats finish their race. They are so fast that is very hard for the drivers to keep up with the events on the water. Respect to them and the officials who have to judge what is going on.

The first 3-4 contenders in the super sport stock class (in which we competed) have so much speed they could compete in the European offshore class with mod motors and tuned pipe. So it actually is all in the set-up of the boat, but that is nothing new now is it? We did not do to bad I guess, finishing 9, 10,11th place in a field of 22 boats. Another thing I learned from Mr. Bench race himself, Mike Gilman, was that the intimidation starts at unloading your car….. Good lessons Mike, I will put them to good use!

Interesting are the open classes and the results as well. The electric powered boats give the internal combustion propelled boats a run for their money. But as always, the fastest boat does not always win. "You have to finish, to finish first". As always after the finish, there is some discussion going on regarding who did what, to whom and when. I have a huge respect for both drivers and officials but there is always the human factor as no electronic devises are used during the race. European boats are equipped with transponders and the course is governed by officials and electronic counting devices. That rules out the human factor or at least brings it back to a minimum. I have to give it to the officials to make the call on an incident that happened in a split second involving 2-3 boats….. It was however very refreshing and re-assuring to see that after the race everybody was just good friends as when they started the race.

The park itself was nicely divided into camp-spots for everybody. Most of the competitors have a truck and trailer (boy are they big!) with everything in it. Looking into 1-2 trailers you see a workbench (bigger than my hobby-room), several boats, chargers, inverters, generator, the obvious bbq and sometimes even an ac unit. Same as in Europe the suppliers and manufacturers show their merchandise. With one big difference, they race too. So every now and then the shop is closed. That is a good thing because you get "field-tested" stuff and so is the advice and instructions.

What struck me is the very simple set-up of the boats and simplicity of the hardware. I have read and seen it on Jim’s boat dock and sites like Modelgasboats.com, but seeing it in real life you get the chance to see it working. And it works. Rubber bands to hold down the RC boxes, etc. Very effective and purpose built for racing. All with the K.I.S.S. principal in mind. Although I have seen some problems with on-off switches and battery packs. I even saw 1-2 of the dreaded plastic battery-holders. Furthermore lots of IV bag set-up for fuel and meticulously setting up of the boat.

Nice thing was the raffle-table. We brought with us some gifts (club hats, shirts, etc) and Jeroen and Andre contributed some extra things for the raffle-table, like tuned pipes, carbs, calendars, etc. So if you see some guys with those red shirts and/or hats, you know they were at Celina. As usual I bought the tickets and somebody else took the prizes. That’s the story of my life though, so I have no problem with that. I beat (well only just) Mike, Andre and Jeroen in the super sport class…. can’t buy raffle tickets for that now can you? Could not buy tickets for the wonderful burgers Ron & Cindy Cook (yes it is in the name), cooked for us as well. Ron & Cindy, thank you and also for the tips for eating out in Chicago!

As the races progressed, Saturday evening came. We were all invited for a sit-down dinner at the local American Legion. Everybody dressed up nice (some even took a shower) and the dinner tasted really good. The beer tasted even better (never knew Bud-Light was such a heavy drink). During dinner the raffle for the Insane Hydro was announced and Jeff Michaud even brought another Hydro to the raffle-table. We also got to vote for the "Johnny Ber Award". Come Sunday, Dan Kramer rightfully was announced the winner.

Sunday was the last day of racing. Sadly that day always comes too soon. Some runoffs were needed to make a discussion in the various classes. And the Trophy-dash was also very interesting. Eyes closed, pedal to the metal, hammer down and hope you can reach the finish. There is no holding back because the heat race is over. Sunday afternoon was for the award ceremony. Top dogs took top prizes although there is always room for surprises. But experience next to the right set-up, counts to. Next to contributions to the raffle table during the event, some to the sponsors also put up some extra prizes in most classes. Well to all good things that must come to an end, so did the Gasnats. The event closed in the early afternoon because everybody needs to come home safe and sound. The distances in the US are big, so competitors driving 15-38 hours to get back home deserve some respect. We talked some more and had a couple of soda’s to end the event for us. Then came the time to say goodbye to everybody. What remains are good friends, nice memories, pictures, video and new friendships….. Although I did not take home an award, the trip to the Gasnats in Celina, meeting and spending time with you all, was the first prize for me!

I like to thank Jeroen and Andre for the effort they invested in organising the trip, for lending Jeroen's camera and for being such good friends. Now I need to start saving up for next time…….

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