Record Trial, Flint MI, Oct 4-5th.

[Doug Smock]

Congratulations fellas!!

[Terry Keeley]

[Terry Keeley]

[Terry Keeley]

[Terry Keeley]

[Terry Keeley]

[longballlumber]

Mike Ball had a nice running P Hydro and with some great driving set the 1/3rd oval at 19.143 sec. Mike also ran his Phil Thomas Q Sport Hydro to a record setting 23.144 sec oval on Sunday, congrats Mike! Pop Steve came up Sunday for a visit, great to see you again Steve.

While setting some records are a very cool thing.... The picture above was a great surprise and the highlight of my weekend!!!! For a couple of non-photogenic mugs, that is a really great picture!

Thanks,
Mike

[Kaotic]

This was my first event and it was a blast, I'll be there come spring for sure!

[Terry Keeley]

Nice pics.

We had crap water all day for our club race. Did it ever lay down for you guys up there?

Thread lake's so well sheltered from the normal western winds it was quite runnable both days.

[ray schrauwen]

I've got to come out and try to beat that 23.144. I think I can, I think I can, lol.... Got to be there to find out. Nice stuff gents. Too broke to make it out, maybe spring though. I'll make a plan.

[longballlumber]

I've got to come out and try to beat that 23.144. I think I can, I think I can, lol.... Got to be there to find out. Nice stuff gents. Too broke to make it out, maybe spring though. I'll make a plan.

That's the fun of it Ray, I think 23.144 is a solid number, but I know there are racers/boats out there capable of running quicker times. The thing I like about the TT's you can put real times on the boat and the driver (no BS involved). You don't have to worry about traffic or dead boats. Actually it's a great environment to test props and boat set up. At the end of the day, lap times have more meaning than top speed IMHO.

Later,
Ball

[keithbradley]

Nice pics.

We had crap water all day for our club race. Did it ever lay down for you guys up there?

I made multiple 100mph passes both days, but they were in "chop". I also realized after going back and watching videos that there were a few spots in the lake where waves would just swell for no apparent reason. There is a good portion of that lake that is somewhat sheltered from the wind, so the windy conditions make for some odd waters. It could look relatively smooth near shore, but you go out in the recovery boat a little ways and there are some substantial rolling waves there. I actually had the best luck when the water looked the most choppy. Small chop isn't a problem but that subtle roll will take you off your game in a hurry.

This is the best it got all weekend. Sunday night, just as it was getting dark. I let off on my first pass because I was aimed a bit closer to shore than I was comfortable with. 99 times out of 100 I would have let off on my second pass too...it was over by the time I passed the first timing light and it never recovered. When you absolutely know it's going to be your last chance of the year to put down some good numbers, that trigger finger gets awfully heavy, and you end up just gritting your teeth and hoping for a little luck. No such luck this time. The sound of this one hitting the water would send chills up your spine in person.

[keithbradley]

We had a lot of this stuff, where it was runnable for fun but of course limiting. I think Mike set an oval record in conditions like this too. The P-rigger he brought was a total rocket around the course...very impressive.

[keithbradley]

Bert Dygert's 1/8th Circus Circus ran several very respectable 26's, best being a 26.148 sec. oval, nice running boat Bert.

What a beautiful boat this was! Carbon/Kevlar construction that Bert molded and laid up himself. It's worth coming out just to see some of the work that guys like Bert and Terry do. These guys are on another level.