Weekly up-date
News and Racing schedules:
1) A new story by Fred Farley about Bill Stead is available. Too long to send out in the newsletter, but extremely
interesting and riveting history as only Fred can tell it. Send request to me for copy of Fred's article.
2) SOA (Seattle Outboard Association) Dec 2005, PIT PREVIEWS Newsletter, The "J" Project: Tony Perman
reported a good turnout at the Hydro Museum for the initial meeting on the JProject, in which several JHydros will
be constructed by kids and parents with the help of the museum and racers. These boats (5 Sorensen Kit hydros)
will be completed through the winter and raced by the kids as new drivers next season. Unlimited and outboard
racers J W Myers and J Michael Kelly were on hand to help the young builders. It was decided that work
would be weekly for two hours from noon to two on Saturdays, and assistance from SOA members is welcomed.
Darrell Sorensen will be in town to help start the project and David Williams is working on arrangements for
loaned motors. Craig Fjarlie said that there's a suggestion we hold our novice school at the museum in March.
(John Paramore, see http://www.seattleoutboard.org)
3) DETROIT RIVER REGATTA ASSOCIATION REGATTA REVIEW #35 (12/06/05): The Chrysler/Jeep
Superstores APBA Gold Cup is scheduled for July 14-16, 2006. The Unlimiteds Detroit annual holiday party
and auction is this Saturday, Dec 10th. The party is in Warren at Skinny's Sport Bar, 13330 E. Ten Mile Road,
just West of Schoenherr. Call Hank Kosciuszko, President Unlimiteds Detroit at 586-754-7131 for details.
Sportswear and souvenirs of the Gold Cup is available at Pure Image, for 2005. Call 1-800-337-6057 or visit
their web site for details: http://www.skidfin.com/detroitmerch.html Anyone may join the DRRA to volunteer
their support of the Gold Cup event, see: http://gold-cup.com/volunteer/ Before December 31st dues are $25.
After the 1st of the year, dues are $35. Detroit River Regatta Association (DRRA), 17640 E. Nine Mile Road,
Eastpointe MI. 48021. Phone 586-774-0980 (Brian Reed)
Letters:
4) I'm sure you noticed I attended the ONE reunion and kinda faded away. My wish was that I had known about
the first one! Couldn't make 2 or 3 because WE were RACIN at the time and getting too old to make everything.
Keep writin' the good stuff. (Don Rudy) Editor's notes: Wished you had known about it too.
5) Editor's notes-The following letter from FJ is continued from Boat Racers Newsletter #14. "On Sunday
morning a Lion's Club member running the gate, pulled a gun on me, when I had all the correct credentials to get
in and kept me out with my car, and then after walking into the park, I found 40 parking spaces just sitting empty.
The Lion's canceled a $10,000 fireworks show that had permits, and an exhibition of K-boat racing and Cracker
boxers. One IHBA guy had his "own" souvenir stand and trailer there, which got broken into and over $40,000
worth of articles mysteriously got stolen with the Lion's Club running security. TNN left right after Tom Black's
crash at 2 pm on Saturday, where he was anounced dead over the PA system, and ESPN left at 7:30 PM after
Cantrell died. He should have walked away by all rights, as the crash was so soft, even considering that it was
over 200 mph. This is why Boat Racing is never going to get big. There is too much power to let things get
covered up and passed over in the name of money. There was a brand new owner of the new Central Division,
of IHBA, owned at the time by Justin Chandler, who got railroaded out in just 4 more weeks after the Chow-
chilla, Marble Falls, and Augusta races. Chandler, after having to pay IHBA another $40,000 for the stolen articles
out of another trailer break-in incident at Marble Falls, lost a total of $80,000 out of pocket for the stolen articles,
that was supposed to be guarded by the IHBA. After the rough count of around 8-10,000 people for Sunday's
race, the Lion's Club told us that we only had a draw of 11,000 attendees at the 3 day race. We had over 35,000
bands made up for paying spectators, and after the race we had 5200 armbands left. We explained, but the Lion's
club wouldn't budge on the count. TV doesn't want to show death on their programs. Crashes are spectacular
and OK, but Death is a NO-NO, and Dragboat Racing is still feeling the hit from that hot weekend back in 1997.
28,000+ paying fans came out and saw 2 racers lose their lives, we lost our trust in the organizers, and then
watched many boats run over 200 mph with a lot of crashes during the rounds. In the end who really lost out?
Everyone who loves boat racing!" (FJ)
6) The following interview was continued from a previous newsletter, part 14. Interview with Richard Parks, co-
founder of The Boat Racers Reunion, by Ron Henderson, sponsor of the Lady Dragon Award.
RH: On a positive note, the Cracker Boxers really thought you did a great job.
RP: The Cracker Box Club is one of the nicest and most professional organizations that I have ever met.
These men and women are dedicated to the sport that they love. It is just impossible not to like these
racers. It isn't easy racing one of those crackerboxers. They may not go as fast as the big boats, but
the thrills and chills are every bit as exciting as in any other part of boat racing. A special person in
the crackerboxers is Dr Tom Scherer, who makes it his life's goal to help every cracker boxer in every
way that he can. But Dr Tom is not unique in this respect. They rush to the rescue of anyone who has
trouble during a race. They will help their points competitors even at the risk of losing the champion-
ship. They are just incredibly nice people. They helped me out numerous times. Having the Cracker
Boxers on your side can mean the difference between success or failure in any event that they are
present at. For chills and thrills at an affordable price, join the Cracker Box Club.