SPRINT 10-09 - Tuakau - SUN 13 Dec 09

With a brisk early morning breeze we assembled down at the mighty Waikato river to complete the winter racing series on Sunday the 13th of December.  Some will tell you the number 13 is unlucky and as the events of the day unfolded I began to believe it is so.  Firstly we had roll call or as it was a Rrrr.  It didn’t take too long at all, Den, Ree, Cam, Rog Greg, Simon & Sheila and several boys out in the river.  The list of apologies took longer to read out, but never mind.  Usual blah de Blah was read out and all mumbled acceptance, then Sheila decided we had to move camp so she could get a better view so she could accurately carry out the most important job of timekeeping. 
Den & Ree did the usual double act of co driving each other, Greg sat beside Simon all day and waved his good wing from time to time.  Must have done OK as Simon managed to have the FTD during the early rounds.  I jumped in with Roger and told him the first rule of river racing was not to wet the co driver.  Didn’t do me any bloody good as he told me later he doesn’t wear his hearing aids when he is racing.  Thanks Rog. 
We sometimes get away with not too much interference from the Ski boats but today was not the day with the Red flag out to stop competitors entering the course being waved from time to time. The other little problem was the wind as it was not constant so sometimes you might be lucky and get a good flat run through the course and a quick time or as my luck would have it a combination of a HUGE wake and a very stiff breeze combined at the end bouy to provide the watching spectators with a very spectacular view of P1 very airborne and then very wet as Rog and I tried to turn it into a submarine.  A bit too much water inside the boat,  the bilge pump going full bore and a little help was required to help us to shore.  I told Rog I would pay him back for getting me wet but I think I over did things a bit. (Luckily I always have the Bilge on when we are in the river). These boats are very forgiving and it did not take too long to get P1 fired up again and we were able to complete the day. 
Simon and Den scrapped over first place with the old master coming out on top, (he just loves to mess with peoples heads eh), Simon second which gave him the points required to take out the series, Rog was third, Ree 4th and yours truly at the other end of the field. 
We then adjourned to the club rooms quite early where very soon we were joined by Wayne & Pam for the aftermatch, They must have wanted a bit of a lie in or something but they were there for the Prizegiving and had made the effort.  We need to sell the two boats or encourage people to lease a boat on a meeting by meeting basis so we can get the numbers up again as once people have a go they realize how much fun you can have for very little money. 
To you all have a safe Xmas and New year, remember to check the Blog for Working bee dates ect and lets pull finger and hit the ground running in 2010. 
Regards
Cam

Sprint 9-09 - Meremere - Sun 22 Nov 09

Sprint 8-09 - Meremere - Sun 11 Oct 09

Sprint 7-09 - Meremere - Sun 20 Sep 09

Sprint 6-09 - Meremere - Sun 9 Aug 09

Sprint 4-09 - Meremere - Sun 10 May 09

We have to be there by 9, Drivers Briefing at 9:30. Simon says.
When we arrive, they’re the only ones there. Simon says.
Drivers Briefing in 2 minutes – Simon says.
So I get caught to do the briefing.
Simon says, Greg pick a course. “Course 1, ‘cause it’s got twice through the Start-Finish channels.” Greg says we’re not allowed to use the speedbowl or channel 4, so it’s a different sort of flow today. We need to let the topsoil mods settle in for the next season.
Simon says, “I’ll do the demo.” So he does.
Three times, finally getting it right!
We’re off. Simon says.
Rodger seems to be the only one that likes lawn-mowing today, except in his last run it appears to have changed to “navigational error”, Simon says. His navigator Kirsten doesn’t agree.
Wayne and Steve still can’t do without each other in the boat – they had a nice lightweight nav for some of the middle runs though, Simon says. But Wayne had the last laugh – he got into the Top Five, beating his cohort by over a second, Simon says.
Simon says he’ll ride in the monster (Superboat supercharged superspeed) so that when he gets back in the Pred, it’ll be a doddle.
So Simon says.
But it didn’t seem to help, Simon says.
He changes to driving Greg’s Group A V8 instead, so that when he gets back in the Pred, it’ll be a doddle.
So Simon says.
But it didn’t seem to help, Simon says.
Sheila, Simon says, gets quicker by the run, and in the end, becomes a member of the elite “Husband-Beater’s Club”. Sheila snaps into 3rd , well into the Top 5. “Bugger!” Simon says.
Ree, with Sheila in the Simon says seat, gets to grips with the difficult course and gains a very creditable second, Simon says. And Den manages to scrape in another Simon says first.
“I’ll grab 4th then,” Simon says.
Simon was the only one in contention for the DoD loo seat today, by ramming the launch pool wall, so Simon would have had it easily.
Simon says “No.” Cam forgot to give the DoD loo seat to anyone, so gets it automatically for not getting back from Europe quick enough. Simon says.

After the day’s pressure, all the watchers were taken for rides in Preds and V8s. And after the rides, the Champagne was popped, and the Predator’s 15th Birthday cake and bubbles enjoyed by the faithful lingerers.

So Simon says. Check the photo!

Den

Sprint 3-09 - Whitianga Waterways - Sun 5 Apr 09

Well, here goes my write up for the fantastic Whitianga Speed weekend.
First, thanks must go to the organisers of such a great weekend of festival and speed. WELL DONE, PLEASE MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
The weather played a great part, it could not have been better. Our accommodation at Aotearoa Lodge was great and our hosts ensured we were well catered for and would like to return next year, thankyou sincerely for your kind welcome to us all.

Thanks must go to John Booker for his efforts in all the organisation that was undertaken. The track was a challenge, especially when two of the islands all but disappeared under water. Thanks Den for your pole markers.
It was great to have time on the Saturday to do the Tiki Tour up the river to the Coroglen Pub, great scenery, great fun pushing the boats over the boulders, even more fun when you do not have shoes on. We were honoured to have a fly past x10 by the honoured club presidente. Well, Greg, have you come down to level ground yet?
Sunday was a great race day with some new found friends amongst us. Graham and Cliff, thanks for the tractor to haul us in and out, we all thank you and hope you enjoyed your day racing with us, you were both great. Would love to see more of you both.
Ist place for the day went to Den followed by Simon, Ree, and Cam, next was Rodger and lastly myself.
Thanks to every member, helper and all the spectators who helped make it a great weekend. Cheers, see you all at the next sprint at Meremere on Sunday 10th May. Cheers and happy Easter. Wayne

SPRINT 2-09, Tuakau, Sunday 22 March 09

It was great! You should have been there! - Wayne

SPRINT 1-09, Meremere, Sunday 22 Feb 09

Welcome all to a new season of fun and racing.
The weather could not have been better for our first sprint. Five boats ready to race, track looking great, everyone raring to go.
It was nice to see some of the V8 guys come down to race with us in our boats too.

Today was my first outing to the track in my new boat P14, having purchased it from Nick in January. It is good to racing MY boat.
I would like to thank all members of the club for helping and sharing over the last six or seven months until I got a boat. Thanks to Campbell for the use of P1 for the winter series, Den and Ree for the drive of P9 on the river, I obviously was not trying hard enough first time out in a boat because Ree reached over with her left foot, mashed the pedal to the floor and yells “That’s how it’s done.” Thanks Ree.
And Den for showing me the way around the track and how to drive.

Now back to the events of the day.
After Gregs official stuff, course of the day given and half studied, a second course given (definitely less dizzying than the first), boats wetted, engines warmed we were off racing, Den setting the mark for the rest to chase, seems familiar.

John Mincham driving a pred P14 for the first time, soon came to grips and set brother Graeme in his sights. Strategy: kicked me out as navigator. Get Tahlia as nav (very busy, 4 drivers to sort out), good move, she pointed and coached the good lines and times dropped all day to a second place finish.
Great, thrashed in my own boat. I can’t blame P14 now can I?

Graeme Mincham in P1 then P9 seemed to be enjoying the scenery on the way around the track. Not something he gets to do in his fire breathing super boat.
I think Rueben his navigator was heard to say “Hey dad we did not crash”.

In fact NO land claims were made all day. Hey are we all getting good or just not trying hard enough? A great days racing was had by all.

Cam was out in the group A boat, giving sponsors rides, great to see the ear to ear smiles on those returning to the trailer.
Cams results getting better as the series continues, top 8 finish last outing. Keep up the good work.

Racing finished - thanks to Kathy on the Timing, Amy on the flag flapping.

Then onto Beer and Hamburgers from the bbq, thanks to the cooks.

Prize giving. See results above. Tahlia seemed to take just too much enjoyment presenting Dad with the DOD award. I can’t remember what for though.

See you all next time
Cheers
Rodger