2006 APPLE CUP

It was a sweaty, sunny July 23rd.  Classic Thunder held it’s annual Apple Cup, the seventh race of the season, on the calm waters of Lake Waughop.  After enduring very rough conditions at the Gold Cup just two weeks earlier, the good water was a welcome sight.  Mitch Dillard, our beloved Commissioner, was the race coordinator and provided prizes from a new sponsor, REMOTE CONTROL HOBBIES of Woodinville.  We would like to thank owner Dave Kelly for his support and interest in our club. 

The day began with 15 Division two boats and 16 Division one boats.  There were several “firsts” at the Apple Cup, including an experienced racer entering his first Classic Thunder event.  Nelson Holmberg made his CT debut driving a really nice looking 73 RED MAN in Div II.  After some help from several members to find a skid fin (thank you Mike S.), Nelson had the RED MAN on the water running fast and steady.  Dale Schroeder launched his beautiful new 69 NOTRE DAME and it showed well right out of the box.  Dale also raced Dan Clark’s 76 MISS BUDWEISER in Div II, and made a deal to purchase the hull at the end of the day.  We even saw Tony Minalia put his unfinished turbine SPORT BOAT on the water for some preliminary tests.

Both divisions saw good close racing all day long.  I should say we saw HOT racing all day long as temperatures reached near record highs.  Most racers spent the day chasing bits of shade, and chugging water.

The Division 2 Final included Pete Schille in the KYYX which had a perfect day through the prelims, Dave Sacry’s CIRCUS CIRCUS, Jeff Howard had the ELAM handling better than we’ve seen so far this year, Brent Hall in his extremely fast BUBBLE BUD, John Dyer driving the resurgent PRIDE OF PAY’N PAK and Mitch Dillard who overcame three penalty trailer starts left over from the Gold Cup and a trip through the consolation race to become the trailer in the Final.  The PAK crossed the start line first, just ahead of the KYYX and the ELAM…but was just a little too much ahead and was called for jumping the gun.  The BUBBLE BUD never made it to the first turn with a spun coupler.  KYYX led the first two laps with the ELAM on her hip, looking for a way around, and the CIRCUS a very close third.  The PAY n’ PAK’s jumped start became mute when the boat later spun in front of the ELAM.  The collision took both boats out of competition and the TRENDWEST jumped into third.  The KYYX finished a perfect day out front, winning the Apple Cup.  Dave took second place in the CIRCUS and tallied his career best finish in Classic Thunder!  TRENDWEST finished a long day in third place and keeps himself alive in the season points chase.  Mitch better be wearing his vulture shirt from here on out because Brenda has her eye on the “BERNIE”.

Division 1 looked like a three boat shootout all day long between Dale VanWyk in his MISS SEATTLE, Mitch Dillard with the MISS U.S. and John Dyer‘s GREAT LAKES 2.  Also making the final were Bob VandenAkker’s NITROGEN TOO, Pete Schille’s CABOVER BARDAHL, and Jeff Howard, who came in through the consolation race, in his defending champion MISS BUDWEISER.  He would start as the trailer.  It was a great start that saw several boats hit the line together.  With some impressive driving everyone made it clean through the first turn and it was six boats up the backstretch.  The CABOVER had made an outside start but dove to lane one in the first turn behind the roostertails and caught the frontrunners going into turn two.  Pete soon discovered that he was in way over his head as he spun the BARDAHL into the infield.  MISS SEATTLE was in front with the U.S. on his tail.  Mitch is always an intimidating driver to have in your rear view mirrors but Dale showed once again that there is nobody better at holding the inside lane.  Five boats crossed the finish line still within a quarter of a lap of each other.  Dale and the MISS SEATTLE prevailed and took top honors at this year’s APPLE CUP and held onto the points lead in Division 1.  Mitch finished second but maintained his extremely close chase for the championship by defeating the Miss Seattle in a preliminary heat.  Bob took third in the NITROGEN TOO and John came home fourth with the GREAT LAKE’S.  Jeff finished fifth from the trailer position and the CABOVER BARDAHL limped home in sixth place for the second race in a row.

Everyone in Classic Thunder sends our thoughts and prayers to the VandenAkker race team.  During the race Bob’s girlfriend Judy got word that her eldest son was injured in a rafting accident and sustained serious internal injuries.  We all hope he’ll be ok and has a speedy recovery.

After the race was over and done, there was one more thing to take care of…and that was the “APPLE CORE”.  Last year we had some fun taking turns doing a timed lap in the rowboat.  So this year despite the heat, seven crazy club guys took a shot.  In an amazing outcome, Dale VanWyk beat last years champ Mike Krone across the line by less than two tenths of a second!  (Both drivers declined to have a row off).  Someone very Evil finished third about five seconds back, then Mitch redeemed himself from last year by coming in fourth.  Young Tony Minalia had speed and endurance but struggled in the turns, he came home a respectable fifth.  Jeff had a mechanical failure going into the first turn and he believes this cost him the win…after a quick oarlock repair he was able to salvage sixth.  Finishing last this year was the oldest of the Minalia clan.  Dad Danny missed two buoys (which he actually circled back to pick up) and also had an oarlock blowout which send him sprawling into the bow of the boat, and the oar off on a journey of it’s own.  Highest praise must go to Danny for maintaining composure and finishing his lap, I know this only makes him hungry for next year.  So Dale won the battle but the war is far from over!  This completes only heat two of the now infamous “Apple Core” regatta. 

Thanks to everyone for a really fun day and for supplying lots of cold drinks.

Pete