Bakersfield March 21-22

Five CSRs were ready for action at Bakersfield. This race is conducted by SCSC, an inboard club. They ran all outboard class at the race with back to back heats. Even though this was a bit time consuming and on top of that everything was shut down for over an hour for a wedding at the Rio Bravo, the races were finished on time. The CSR's were very last on the schedule on Saturday. Fortunately there was cloud cover late in the day and the setting sun was not a problem. On Sunday we were up early (about 4th.) and everyone in the class got a early start home. The weather and water conditions were absolutely perfect. The only losers were the drivers who did not come to the race.

In the first heat on Saturday Rick Love and J. W. Myers had a great race going, neck and neck all the way. Going into the last turn they came up to a lapped boat, J. W. took the inside and Rick had to go around the outside. Rick beat J. W. to the finish line by a few feet. Darrell Sorensen followed a short distance behind. Ed 'Tito" Smith did not get started and Jerry Geren misinterpreted the flag signals and pulled in to the infield before receiving the checkered flag. When informed on the results from the judges stand it was learned that Rick's great performance was for nothing as he had jumped the gun at the start. In the second heat Rick and J. W. were back at it again, however this time they both jumped the gun. Darrell got the heat win, with Tito in second and Jerry finishing third.

In Sundays race the first heat went to J. W. followed by Darrell, Rick and Tito. Jerry had the misfortune of flipping in the second turn. J. W.'s motor started acting up after the finish and he could not get started for the second heat. That heat went to Darrell, with Rick in second and Tito in third.

Saturday 3-21.

1. Darrell Sorensen 2 - 1

2. J. W. Myers 1 - BG

3. Ed "Tito" Smith DNS - 2

4. Jerry Geren DNF - 3

-. Rick Love BG - BG

Sunday 3-22

1. Darrell Sorensen 2 - 1

2. Rick Love 3 - 2

3. J. W. Myers 1 - DNS

4. Ed "Tito" Smith 4 - 3

-. Jerry Geren Flip - DNS

Class sportsmanship. While the class before CSR on Sunday was running, Ed "Tito" Smith was warming his engine with the boat on his launch dolly in the water when the force of his propeller moved the boat forward and tangling his prop in the launch dolly. The result was a damaged prop that was stuck on the shaft and only a few minutes before the start of the race. The whole class pitched in to help. A foot came off a drivers spare engine and a prop was loaned. All this was installed in time so Tito could start the race.

SORC Chairman Craig Bowman invited to attend the 50th Annual Newberg Race.

This Spring at Newberg, Oregon on Memorial Day, we will be celebrating the 50th Annual Regatta. Yes! 50 years of Stock Outboard, & 50 years at the same race site.

The Newberg Boat Club, was Founded in 1946. Each year Improving Programs, the Park, Docks, Ramp, Concessions, Bleachers, & Beer Garden. Not to forget the Saturday night bon fire where you can bring your old dead Hydro, Runabout, or Tunnel & throw it on the coals. The club puts out a lot of work, for a fun weekend for all participants.

The Newberg Boat Club is a family oriented organization involved in water recreation, and boating safety. The clubs first race was a marathon starting in Albany and finishing in Newberg. Since then, with membership in American Power Boat Association, (NBC) has supported sanctioned Stock Outboard Races. Unlike, Seattle Outboard, or Columbia Outboard, Newberg Boat Club has no racing members.

Region 10 stock commissioners are working on funding for travel expenses for Craig.

---- Races in April ----

Indio, CA April 4-5.

There was great racing here at the winter nationals, go back for more. The weather will be even better. This will also be the APBA 45SS nationals.

Grass Valley, CA. April 25-26.

The race will be at the Greenhorn site, that was last used in 1987. This race site is great for runabouts. Well protected and not to wide. Camping available at the race site with showers and store. Motels are close by in Grass Valley.

Bold, 99% firm

1/17 Indio CA Darrell Sorensen

1/18 Indio CA Ed "Tito" Smith

2/22 Brawley CA Ed "Tito" Smith

2/22 Brawley CA Tito Smith Jr.

3/21 Bakersfield CA Darrell Sorensen

3/22 Bakersfield CA Darrell Sorensen

4/4-5 Indio CA

5/23-24 Newberg OR (50th Annual)

5/30-31 Chowchilla CA

6/6 Everett WA

6/13-14 Copperopolis CA Divisionals

7/4-5 Marysville CA

7/11-12 Olympia WA

7/18-19 Pateros WA

7/18-19 Isleton CA

8/2-8 Wakefield MI CC Nationals

8/15-16 Indian River MI Mar Nat..

8/29-30 Copperopolis CA

9/5-6 Sutherlin OR

9/12-13 Quinault WA

9/12-13 Suisun City CA

9/18/20 San Diego, CA

9/26/27 Yelm WA Records

10/10-11 Pleasanton CA

Driver Points

1. Darrell Sorensen (4) 4-C 1825

2. Ed Smith (4) 350-C 1138

3. Allen Sutfin Jr. (2) 125-C 619

4. Billy Rucker Jr. (1) C-3 600

5. J. W. Myers (2) 47-R 525

6. Rick Love (4) 35-C 427

7. David Rudge (2) 183-C 300

8. Jerry Geren (2) 158-C 169

9. Adam Allen (1) 11-M 0

Answer to last months trivia.

Evinrude Speeditwin

Thanks to Ed "Tito" Smith and Jerry Geren for paying for the postage on this issue.

It's two weeks sinse we came home with the Tasmanian Devil, a 23' Cedar Dugout Canoe. Last weekend we went out and did a little testing which I would say was a success because we didn't get the motor wet. Tomorrow is a Canoe race at LaPush, Washington. I loaded the Van with the canoe, the motor and everything else I thought I might need.

My wife and two children thought that this would be an event that they had to come and see. We headed out in the morning for a 5 hour drive to LaPush. Upon arriving in the small costal town of LaPush we were greeted with waves from the Locals. In the center of town there was a small festival going on. The people in the street cleared a path for us to go through. I stopped and asked where the race was and they gladly assisted with directions. We arrived at the pit area which was adjacent to all the fishing boats, in a small bay behind the break water from the Pacific Ocean.

Several Racers and their crew greeted us and began to ask questions. The three most common questions were, Was I going to race?, Did I go testing?, Did I flip the canoe?. After a half hour of questions I finally recruited a few of the Racers to help me get the Canoe down to the water. I then put the motor on the boat which brought on another bunch of questions. They had never seen a Yamato Outboard raced on a canoe before. After answering their questions I finally was ready to go for a test ride. My primary purpose was that I needed all the seat time I could get before the Race. My secondary purpose was that I wanted to show the other racers how well the Yamato Outboard runs.

We launched the canoe and one of the Racers held the canoe as I climbed in and started the motor. Before I could get in the proper sitting position I had motored about 60 feet from shore and had run over a fish Net Anchor line. It wound itself up in the propeller and stalled the motor. Now I was at anchor to far from shore for anyone to give me a hand. I had to jump into the water untangle rope from the prop and then there was no chance that could ever get into the Canoe so I had to swim the Canoe back to shore. Boy was I ever embarrassed. My second attempt was a success and after making a dozen laps around the Bay I returned to the beach.

At 30 minutes prior to the starting time for the Race a Gentleman came over to me and collected the registration fee, asked my name, the name of the Canoe and said Drivers Meeting will be in 15 minutes. When Drivers Meeting was called I walked up to the same man and he instructed me to draw a number from his hat, it was the number 3. He then gave us brief instructions for the starting procedure. We were to go across the bay and up into the mouth of the River, turn around and then we were to get lined up side by side as we motored on the River. If we were successful at this task he would then drop the green flag, which would be the signal for the start of the Race. We were then to go around the Oval Race course that was marked with 6 orange bouys in the middle of the Bay. The Race would consist of 8 laps and the red flag would indicate the finish of the Race. He then explained that there were 8 participants and that the Driver that had drawn #1 had the inside lane and that #8 had the outside lane. I then raised my hand and asked if I could trade my number 3 for a number 8. His response was, that I could not and that I must start in the lane drawn. Boy, now I was nervous.

The first Heat of Racing was called to start. I motored away from shore and as I was getting on plane I tipped the Canoe a little to much and took on a boat load of water. The motor was still running, but there was so much water in the canoe that it wouldn't get back on plane. I returned to the beach and a few of the other Racers pit crew helped me bail the Canoe out. To my surprise the rest of the Racers returned to the pits and waited for me to get ready for a restart. I successfully got on plane the second time and we all gathered in the mouth of the river for the start. Once we were all lined up side by side the green flag was dropped and the Race began. I was comfortably running at full speed when I was going in a straight line, but turning was still a big problem. Entered the first turn in 2nd. place and exited the turn in 4th place. After 2 laps I had made my way to last place, but I was gaining confidence and driving skills. On lap 4 I jumped to the outside lane and began to start passing the 7th place Canoe. As each lap continued I would pass another Canoe and by the end of the Race I was in 5th. place.

After a 30 minute rest the 2nd. Race (final heat) was called to start. As I was motoring away from shore I was thinking that this ain't so difficult and that I had a good chance at winning this thing. I did however draw the #8 starting lane for this heat and I Would have to go like Hell to win this thing. We all attempted to get lined up for the start, but we were all in a bit of a hurry to get that lead to the first turn. After 6 restarts we were finally lined up well enough to get that green flag to drop. As I was motoring toward the 1st. turn I noticed that where was a lot more wave chop in the bay. This may have been because the Tide had changed or because of all the milling we had done during the restarts. Nonetheless I had thrown caution to the wind and was out to win this thing. Upon exiting the 1st. turn I was in 4th. place. As I was chasing down the 3rd. place Canoe I noticed he was making a big arch of the straightaways. Being a Seasoned Veteran of Course Racing I know that the shortest distance between two bouys is a straight line. So upon exiting turn 2 I jumped to the inside lane and beat him to the next turn., That's Cool. I then had my eyes on the 2nd. place canoe. I finally was on his tail coming through turn 1 when I decided to make my move to the inside lane and straight shot it to the next turn bouy. After passing through his roostertail I noticed it was a lot rougher than it was coming out of turn 2. I gave the throttle a good twist and we were off for the next turn bouy. Tas & I took a couple of good bounces off the waves, but we were going like Hell. Then Tas's bow buried into the next wave and then went straight up with a half twist. This move spit me of the Canoe lake a bad piece of meat and I was now swimming again.

All was not lost and I learned some valuable lessons. First, Indeed allot more seat time and Second, Canoe racing is a kick in the ------ (well you know).

Stay tuned, Next Fall I'll tell you about point to point racing in the River.

Racer Ric.