Kankakee OPC report
twostroke4ever:First twostroke4ever:Last
registration and inspection. The Ladies in registration were great. Pre race
safety inspection went well as everyone formed a line past the inspection
tent. The updated Sport C boats looked great. Testing was open for every
class that day until 5:00pm. Something just seemed different though.
Black Diamond rescue was there in force and let me tell you, these guys are
the best I've ever seen. The Kankakee people really love us and it showed
with every interaction with them. Every thing went smooth.
Day two , Saturday Racing started at 12:40 and ran non-stop through 17 heats
of racing. One heat short for the day,
Ran qualifiying for the UIM race and the first heat of the four heat UIM
format. One boat did not pass fuel inspection and was out for all UIM events
for one year I'm told. Saturday night was sponsored by Dominos and pizza
for all as much as you could eat.
Day Three, Sunday had a full schedule, at drivers meeting everyone was asked
to step up and make this work for there was 21 heats to run. And they all
ran. The last heat on sunday though the start flare could have been
considered the start of the fireworks for the evening. Not quite, but close.
Sunday night party was sponsored by the Kankakee rescue team. Great
hamburgers. The grill was sizzling.
Day four, Monday was cool and very windy. A crose wind on the coarse made
racing very exciting to watch. Only 12 heats to go and the finals were done.
We lost a boat in the morning practice to wind as the very impressive
rookie, Glyn Mathews learned about wind currents on a narrow river. Glyn was
ok but the boat needs more work than a pit area can provide in one hour.
All races were going great until, yes you guessed it. SST 45. These little
rockets are just a little sensitive in a good wind. Lucky for all of us, it
was cross wind on the river because that much wind down the shoot would have
put us all on the trailers.
Our blow overs for the week end and no one left in the ambulance All drivers
safe.
The SST 120 race was incredible. The crowd got their money's worth that is
for sure. The fastest SST 120's in the country were here and they showed
Kankakee fans the racing they deserved. The SST 45 race saw two leaders
throw it away by missing bouys while leading until one driver decided he was
fast enough and it was now time to prove it. And show them the way he did.
Three starts for the SST 45 final and one man was marching to the front
every time.
After the races were done. I can't count the number of people that came up
and said this was the best nationals they attended. Everyone had fun, every
had a great time. Every one worked together. I truely enjoyed it myself.
Now for results
Sport C was domitated by none other than Allen Hunting. The class is froozen
pending an apeal on the second place boat so I can not give you anymore
details. Allen won both qualifing heats and was on the pole for the start
SST 45
16 boats in the final starting on two flags. Tricky start because of the
cross wind and out of the first turn came Gordy Miller. Gordy missed a bouy
on lap three taking him from 1st to thirteenth. Jeff Berghuaer took over the
lead until Shaun Torrente ran him down to take his place out front. Shaun
went inside a bouy on lap 8 and also made up the bouy but back in the pack.
On lap 11 Spencer Love blewover. Spencer was ok and they all go back to the
start dock. On the restart both Miller almost blows over and hits Jeff
Berghauer knocking him into the center of the coarse and back to last
place. Up front RJ west was really running fast and drove past them all. Lap
13 Barry Hawk of Florida blew over. while waiting to line up at the start
dock Shaun Torrente discovers a starting problem. He climbs out on the deck
and Gordy Miller idled by so Shaun could grab on and Gordy towed him to
shore for service. Shaun was out as they unable to indentify and fix a
broken starter soleniod wire. Restart # 2 not even completing a full lap,
home town boy Rodney Schuh blew over right at the out ramp. Rodney is ok but
out of the race. This restart gives Berghauer a chance again. RJ West
showed them all he was fast as he ran out front to the end.
1. RJ West
2. Gordy Miller
3. Jeff Berghauer
4. Warren West
5. Jay Fox
6. Mark Schmerbach
SST60
This class belonged to one man and Paul Pittman never looked back. How ever
this was the saddest thing of the entire event for me. Home town boy Sam
Miller ran his qualifing heats. These were for dock position for the final.
Sam purchased local fuel and was disqualified for having alchol in it. This
was the correct call by the inspectors. The referee and race chairman
decided we would let him run the finals but put him and the least advantages
point on the dock for the final. There were only 7 entries and we wanted to
have as many boats as posible. After all the heats were only for dock
position. Here come the bad part. Sam Miller drove the best race of his life
and finished second in front of 15,000 home town fans. The run was reviewed
in detail on fuel for the nationals and Sam was disqualified from the event.
It reads.a viloation require him to sit out the remainder of the sanctioned
event. So in fact the race committee was in erro in letting Sam run and I
can't apoligize enough for taking this great run away after the fact. My
fault. Its a shame to fill a field of 60s at the nationals we had to push
rules far enough to get us all in trouble. I except the responsablitiy for
this. No where in town had fuel that would pass except the fuel avalible on
site.
1. Paul Pittman
2. Blair Kants
3. Scott Landgraf
4. Randy Schuh
5. Skye Wallace
6. Andy Felton
SST 70
This little hot rod class looks very deceiving from the out side. Paul
Pittman used a modified 60 engine loaned to him from Jeff and Ron Titus's FV
rig. Paul had to add 50 lbs of lead to run it. Tyler Kratochwill ran a
modified SST 60 engine that Ron Anderson had biult for Greg Jacobsen. I
think Blair was also running the canadian version of SST 70. Mark Schmerbach
drove George Young 1/2 V-6 Mercury for the first time that morning. and only
had five laps in it before race time. So Mark was learning to drive it as
the race went on. The first qualifing heat Pittman was on the inside and
Mark chased him close. Mark looked just like a 45 driver with to much pitch
as we tried to sweep the turns but still stayed with in 50 yards of Paul at
the first heat. The second heat Mark was on the inside and pulled away by a
little bigger margin than Paul beat him the first heat. The final it all
Schmerbach as he started from the pole and drove George Young boat like it
was his own.
1. Mark Schmerbach
2. Paul Pittman
3. Blair Kants
4. Tyler Kratochwill
5. Stott Landgraff
6. Sam Miller
7 Andy Felton
8. Skye Wallace
Formula V
Ernie Brown had the field cover every heat with starts that even John Force
would be proud of. How ever in the final while leading the gearcase came off
and sent him for a violent ride. Boat was damaged and gearcase and prop gone
but Ernie will race again another day. This left the door open for Jeff
Pira's tower of power to bring it home follwed by Jeff Grigg who was
struggeling with some gremlins.
1. Jeff Pira
2. Jeff Grigg
3. Jeff Baker were all inspected by Jeff Titus
4. Lon Sawyer
5. Ernie Brown DNF
Jose Aquirre DNS
SST 100
Central Ill controled this as home town favorate Jon Guimond nevver looked
back to see him and Tom Newberry had pulled away from the field
1. Jon Guimond
2. Tom Newberry
3. Frank Erion
4. Jim Macier
5. Gordy Miller in Franks other boat
6. Bill Ziebarth
7. Jeff Delph
Super Sport.
New this year the hulls we've seen before but these new production 150 hp
engines put on a good show. Jack Barsh won the final heat but was 10 lbs
light.
1. Donnie McDowell
2. William Schackow
3. Joseph Becker
4. Bill Gohr
5. Jeff Pira
6. Andy Anderson
Champ
One boat showed up as most were at a race opposing this one.a number of SST
120s ran to make the show
1. Lynn Simburger
2. Steve Fryza
3. Michael Schubert
4. Kris Sheppard
5. Dave White
Mod U
Two Mod Us and the rest SST 120s showed Kankakee fans just how fast water
can be thrown in the air. Lynn Blistered then as Mike Schubert showed what a
120 boat with a trick 2.4 can do.
1. Lynn Simburger
2. Mike Schubert
3. Glyn Mathews
4. Kris Shepperd
5. Mark Weibler
SST 120 UIM Millennium Cup Championships
What a Show. This was a battle like we have not seen for a long time. Most
impressive event. Four 15 lap heats wow!
Heat 1
1. Chris Fairchild
2. Nathan Worthy
3. Glyn Mathews
4. Mike Schubert
5. Vince Voison
6. Shaun Torrente Yes thats right, he was in Byron's spare boat
Heat 2
1. Nathan Worthy
2. Chris Fairchild
3. Mike Schubert
4. Shaun Torrente
5. Vince Voison
6. Steve Fryza
Heat3
1. Chris Fairchild
2. Nathan Worthy
3. Shaun Torrente
4. Glyn Mathews
5. Mike Schubert
6. Vince Voison
Heat 4
1. Nathan Worthy
2. Chris Fairchild
3. Byron Harris
4. Mike Schubert
5. Shaun Torrente
6. Vince Voison
As you can see both Chris and Nathan had two 1st and two seconds going to
fast time Chris gets the nod by 4. seconds
UIM WORLD MILLENNIUM CHAMPION FOR 2000 is
1. Chris Fairchild
2. Nathan Worthy
3. Mike Schubert
4. Shaun Torrente
5. Glyn Mathews
6. Vince Vioson
14 boats entered
SST120 Mercury Racing 10th Aniversary National Title race.
This was for the jackets and racing parts certificates provided by Mercury
Racing to celibrate the tenth year of producing the same race engine.
Pure domination , boy he must have wanted this won. tricky water from windy
conditions made this the race to see.
14 boats entered
1. Chris Fairchild
2. Nathan Worthy
3. Gary Pugh
4. Vince Vioson
5. Shaun Torrente
6. Steve Fryza
I would like to write so much more but I'm still worn out from a great week
end of racing at the biggest Tunnel boat race in the country. 126 entries.
Up 27 entries from last year. I believe everyone had a great time.
On behave of Great Lakes Boat Club I would like to thank all The Kankakee
people that worked with us and made this event possible. I would also like
to thank Fred Miller for all his pre race work that made tis possible and
the entire race staff that made this years event such a fun time. Remember
that why we do this sport is for the fun and comoradary of our friends from
coast to coast. Its not the money, its the family.
Sorry I rambled for so long
Thank you all
Mike Wienandt
Race director
Jeff
racers and organizers of the Nationals. He did his best to accommodate all and it was one of the
best races I have attended in a long time as a racer. I also want to thank Mark, Merwin and Tony on
the Mercury truck for all their help after I flaked some pistons in testing. Mark even reopened the
truck for some bearing grease I needed during the drivers party. Ever build an inline by flashlight?
Thanks guys!!!! Jeff
Mark J
> and finished second in front of 15,000 home town fans. The run was
reviewed
> in detail on fuel for the nationals and Sam was disqualified from the
event.
> It reads.a viloation require him to sit out the remainder of the
sanctioned
> event.
Well, as Sam's mechanic, I can say that this was very depressing to all of
us. Rules are rules, however and I am glad to see that the inspectors are
enforcing them. Due to this DQ, we are considering hauling Sam and his boat
up to Moose Lake in two weeks where we will try one more time before the
season is over.
Other than that, I can say that Kanakee was the best event I've been to in a
long time. I'd like to thank Mike for everything he and everyone else did to
make it such a success. The racing was great and the food was just as good.
Thanks,
Mark Jakob
Miller Racing
Barbara Hill
My dad disqualified hundreds of people in his forty years of
inspecting....only ASSHOLES blamed him....He was blind...much like Edgar
Rose.....Edgar once made me drill a hole in my "C" Runabout deck.....the
measurement was an "Inside" measurement... When I bitched like hell...Edgar
calmly explained that he could have had me drill the hole in the bottom.....
I felt very bad about the DQ, but!!!!
Speedvision also covered the race.....and may again NEXT YEAR!!!!
After a phone conversation with Mike Wienandt, I feel certain that the
2000-2001 OPC Commission will look into a rule change regarding gasoline.
The Mid West is experiencing what we had a few years ago....our answer,
maybe not a good one, but was see what the local gas does....and race
according......."I know there is stuff out there,"
but when every gas station in town won't pass...change the rules....
Mark J <ma...@capstonebank.comnospam> wrote in message
news:VXvt5.477$3C5....@news.goodnet.com...
Bob
>
I think they did last year as well. Any idea on when it will air?
Mark
helmet guru
>Thank you all
>Mike Wienandt
>Race director
>
probably the best race report i've seen in years, thanks mike..
Jeff
gas was bad (ethanol) and all the pumps said so. The officials announced at the drivers meetings
that there was no good gas in town. There was 89 and 110 octane on site, although expensive. 110 was
$4 per gallon. Illinois is a grain producing state and the HQTRS of ADM the largest producer of
ethanol additives for gas so it is to be expected in Kankakee. We do have the fuel of the day rule
EXCEPT Championships and records. Still more fuel work to be done.... Jeff
KWSEEBOLD
Jeff
a distinct advantage. In this case SST 60 fuel played no part in the performance.