Quake on the Lake

Waterford, Michigan

July 21-22, 2007

 J and Fae Report

 

Roostertails were flying on this fast course as the eighth annual Quake On The Lake roared to life on Saturday, July 21st. This venue sits down in a bowl with tree protection providing a very fast track and is measured for accuracy. Thusly, this race combines great racing with the potential for records. Even though we cannot find any official results online to confirm potential records, we can say that three boats threatened existing five mile five lap standards. They were Dutch Squires (S-83) Mega Bucks, Dan Kanfoush in Jim Sechler's (Y-1) Fast Eddie 2 and Tommy Thompson in the English families' (A-25) Fat Chance. These boats were flying and definitely were in the area of the records. The Marine Prop Riders have put a lot of love into this event creating a highlight on each year's calendar and this year was no exception.

 

Here are the J and Fae boat totals : (Y-8) (T-5) (S-10) (A-8) (E-8) (NM-6) (GNH-7) (JSS-5) Total-57

 

JSS boats were dominated by Bill Pierce (JS-25) Code Red and Tom Pakradooni (JS-99) Veri Cheri. They traded first and seconds to lead both days. These two teams are good for boat racing as they show up everywhere and always run strong. Dennis Macy (JS-45) The Menace took both thirds as the skippers thrilled the crowds as usual with their unusual actions.

 

T boats once again had the battle of the mini-titans. Kelly Shane (T-1) Tangled Up In Blue and Brandon Kennedy (T-25) Shameless Say What squared off for another showdown in what is becoming a great rivalry. Brandon won Saturday and Kelly took the win on Sunday. That is only fitting for these two proud racing families. Brandon also got his first live dunk test on Sunday after a blowover in heavy traffic in turn one. He is ok and the boat was equipped with a new engine in a matter of minutes. The Kennedy family is always ready for anything. Mark Butler (T-72) For Pete's Sake had a solid weekend taking a second and a third. Desiree Wilson (T-20) Hot Flash got a third on Sunday.

 

Y boats are getting faster and deeper with each two stroke monster appearance. Six vessels were screaming and scooting around at scary speed. The power to weight ratio is about exhausted in this class.(think Tasmanian devils) Dan Kanfoush is an absolute blur in the aforementioned (Y-1). He is chasing his own records and someday may lap himself. He took every heat easily. Keith McMullen (Y-80) Outlaw is stout as well, taking a second and a third. Dave Archiable (travelin, tinkerin man) has his (Y-91) Trafficade Mistress Knot Rod running again. Bobby Kennedy brought it home second on Sunday. Scott Heckman (Y-222) Miss Lynn took third Saturday in this seldom seen craft. Adam Wilson (Y-20) Windshear and Sean Bowsher (Y-52) Roostertails Racing were flying as well. It was a fast field.

 

E boats were dominated by Tommy Thompson in the (E-816) Batt Boat. Several boats were fast but Tommy always had the answer winning every heat. Batman would have been proud. Scott Blackwell (E-617) My Theory ran a strong pair of seconds. Scott is always a force in region six. The veteran Stover Hire (E-37) Hire Voltage and Joe Less (E-600) Centsless 12 got thirds. The Centsless team did an impressive repair job after Valleyfield problems. The kamikaze class put on its usual wild show in every first corner.

 

A boats had great potential as the eight boat field was loaded with mega-fast hulls. Tommy Thompson (A-25) Fat Chance is arguably the top hull in this class combining ridiculous speed with reliability. Don Mashburn decided to double-team his old partners with Nick Pellerin (A-60) Mr. Bud and Dan Kanfoush (A-600) Mr. Bud Too. Add in Randy Lynn (A-63) Water Pistol and you get the picture. Speed Baby! However, with 2.5 Mods you also get gremlins. Tommy (A-25) and Nick (A-60) ran great as almost everyone else broke. Both boats got a first and a second and Dennis Wright (S-2) Superior Miss took a third Sunday. Speed plus gremlins equals 2.5 Mods.

 

S boats saw the demon from Denver (Lakewood did not rhyme), Dutch Squires (S-83) Mega Bucks enter the pits. Game over, as Dutch is totally sick. He's legal too as several teardowns have proven. He just turns the key and it is like Willard Wilson revisited. Goodbye field for four heat wins. Bobby Kennedy (S-25) Shameless is up and flying again, a welcome site, and he took two distant seconds. Mark Johnson (S-9) Honey Bun ran a little off song to two thirds. Can anyone catch (S-83)? Hopefully we will see his immaculate craft some more and find out.

 

GNH boats presented the usual strong field in region six. Seven "ground pounders" (thanks Bob Blazer) were ready to rip. Cal Phipps (GNH-41) Happy Go Lucky is a beast and so is Jimmy Deel's (GNH-8) Deel Me In. The problem is that Cal can only drive one of them. Even Super Cal, a tremendous shoe, can't solve this riddle so George Kennedy drove for Cal. Marty Wolfe (GNH-22) Summer Wine and Thom Heins (GNH-115) Mas Epoxy are bombs as well. What a field! Cal's (GNH-41) got both wins with Thom Heins (GNH-115) taking a second and Hootie (GNH-22) a second and third. Mario Miraldo (GP-59) Baby Doll plowed home third Sunday. The ground pounded Mr. Blazer.

 

NM boats showed a field with four super fast warriors. Dennis Johnson and Marty Wolfe have a certifiable manic machine in their (NM-93) Desperado. Tony Black (NM-928) Illusion (formerly Darryl Monnette's Fantasy) and Mike Movinsky (NM-116) Valvoline are very impressive. Mike Weiner's (NM-81) Country Boy with Super Cal aboard is a sight running on the outside like Gordy Reed used to do in the Miss Jenny. Unfortunately the Country Boy dropped the term hydro on Saturday in a spectacular corkscrew blowover in turn one. Cal is ok and the boat lost a sponson. In a perfect world we can get the stud Eastern NM's to challenge the (NM-93) and the (NM-81) some day. That would be the sickest match up imaginable. Back to the race, Hootie (NM-93) is fast and consistent taking both finals. The qualifier on Saturday between Hootie and Cal was outstanding. Mike Sadlon (NM-89) No Excuses and Tony Black (NM-928) took seconds. Jackie Meyer (NM-333) Gotcha and Stover Hire (E-37) Hire Voltage got thirds. Speed was everywhere!

 

Once again Pontiac Lake proved to be a perfect site for great speed and drew a fantastic field. This event supports the Rainbow Connection and will help fulfill a dream for four year old Emma Godin. That wonderful story highlights a great regatta. The field ran strong and fast for Emma and a great show was enjoyed by a big crowd. These families are racers but more importantly they are good sports, proving there are bigger things than trophies. A cool race gang! See ya on the Eastern Shore. J and Fae