The second stop on the 2007 CT schedule was in Lacey for the 2007 Classic Thunder Diamond Cup. We would like to thank Eddie Hansen of Hansen Racing for some of his very nice scale driver figures for us as on of our sponsors. Fifteen boats showed up to race in each division. And the competition was high. Along with the level of competition, the speeds where unusually high for such an early race in the season. However, our good old friend, the wind, would make sure things didn’t go too fast. Boats were loose and wild, but they stayed on the water, for the most part.

Division 2:

-Trendwest/Mitch Dillard

-Appian Jeronimo/Jeff Howard

-Winston Eagle/”Evil” Pete Schille

-Beacon Plumbing/Mark Beatty

-Bubble Budweiser/Brent Hall

-Design 360/Mike Krone

-Coors Light/Clint Crane

-Oh Boy! Oberto/Mike Schultz

-Circus Circus/”Battery” Dave Sacry

-Griffin Budweiser/Mike Schultz

-Cooper’s Express/Dale Van Wyk

-Coors Dry/Brent Hall

-Pay ‘N’ Pak/Danny Minalia

-’76 Budweiser/Dale Schroeder

-Shakey’s Special/Steve Dumanis

Some of the stiffest and fastest competition was experienced in heat 2A. Appian Jeronimo, Beacon Plumbing, Trendwest, Design 360, and the ’80 Budweiser were drawn into the heat. It was expected to be one of the fastest all day. And it was. Off the start, the Trendwest had some difficulty staying straight, doing a complete 360. Another problem occurred when the Bud got loose and almost went on its lid in the first turn. Things smoothed out and the Trendwest came back to win the heat.

Other heats of division 2 were much of the same as in 2A. 2C saw some close racing. The Winston Eagle and Coors Dry went into the first turn together. Down the back stretch they went with the Coors poking its nose out front. Through the second turn the boats came deck to deck. But by the time they crossed the start/finish line, the Coors had pulled away. Then just as the heat ended, the Winston decided to do a flip right in front of the video camera. Sure enough, it was caught on tape. And boy, the guys were happy to see that!  Several of us had to get a second and third look at that on Brent’s video camera.  Other boats in that heat were the Cooper’s Express, and Coors Light.

Final Heat:

There was some wild running in this one. Not to mention lightning fast running. The unstoppable force that is the Trendwest and Mitch Dillard, took home the Diamond Cup. Mitch is now 2 for 2 on the season. Close behind is the funny sounding Appian Jeronimo and Jeff Howard. When I say funny sounding, I mean funny sounding. Whenever this boat hits the water for the final, it makes a loud, high pitch squeal sound. No one can quite figure out what exactly it is, but it doesn’t appear to affect the speed. Third place went to the tandem winged Coors Dry. This boat is driven by Brent Hall and has some serious speed. During testing, it kept throwing a prop. But that has been worked out and now is running like the rocket sled it’s suppose to be.

The rest of the heats in div.2 were close and competitive. Rookie drivers, Steve Dumanis and Danny Minalia got some wheel time. Congratulations to Steve Dumanis for passing his driver qualification test prior to the race!  Steve’s Shakey’s Special had some difficulties at the Stratton Memorial and made it impossible for him to drive.  Rather than devote any more time changing the hull, Steve spent the next two weeks building a brand new hull to replace it.  That’s determination!  Good work Steve.  A broken flex cable component kept him on the beach most of the day, but the new boat is a big improvement on the first one.  Dale Van Wyk was working out the bugs in his Cooper’s Express. Tony Minalia was testing his unfinished Smokin’ Joe’s, which is expected to be racing at the next race.

Division 1:

-Slo-Mo-Shun IV/Mitch Dillard

-Notre Dame/Bob VandenAkker

-Value Mart/Dale Schroeder

-Pizza Pete/”Evil” Pete Schille

-Mariner Too/Dave Sacry

-The Dutchman/Mike Krone

-Miss Seattle Too/Mike Krone

-Checkerboard Miss Bardahl/Mark Beatty

-Berryessa Belle/Dale Van Wyk: Tony Minalia

-’69 Notre Dame/Dale Schroeder

-Parco’s O-Ring Miss/Clint Crane

-Miss Seattle/Dale Van Wyk

-Tahoe Miss/Dan Clark

-Miss Thriftway/Mike Schultz

-Timex/Mark Beatty

More fast racing was experienced in division 1. We saw even closer competition than in div.2. In at least two  heats, the winning order had to be decided on the final go down the front stretch to the finish line. Pizza Pete and Valu Mart in heat 1B came off the final corner together and had to sprint to the checkered flag to see who would win. In the end, the Pizza boat held the Valu Mart by 1 boat length.

Berryessa Belle and the Timex got hooked up into a good battle in heat 2A. The Belle was on the inside and the Timex on the outside. For almost 2 full laps, the Belle held the Timex off. In the first turn on lap 3, the Belle and Timex tapped each other. The Timex boat would run off to win. The Belle settled down and took second place points.

Final Heat:

Cleaning house and finishing the job was the focus of the Slo-Mo-Shun IV. For the second straight race, Mitch Dillard ran away with the win. He says it looks like it runs up hill and might change some things on it, which we all hope he’ll do. But for now, we’ll have to deal with the “Grand Old Lady”. Other people did finish the final heat too. Second place went to Notre Dame and Bob VandenAkker. Third went to Pizza Pete and “Evil” Pete Schille.

The unstoppable Slo-Mo had a perfect day. This brand new hull, owned and driven by Mitch Dillard slipped a coupler in her first 2007 heat of racing, but otherwise had a clean sweep in the season opener as well. A surprise boat to watch is the Valu Mart. The boat was bought by Dale Schroeder from Pete Schille in the off-season and has been running really strong. The Shamrock Lady and Bob VandenAkker have been a force to be reckoned with as well. Last season’s high point champion, the Miss Seattle driven by Dale Van Wyk, has not had too much luck these first two races. But it’s a long season, he’ll get the bugs worked out.

We’re going back to Coulon for the next race. It will also be our last visit to Coulon this season. The Harmsworth Trophy on May 20th will be up for grabs this time and Bill McGraw will be the race coordinator.  His dad’s restaurant, Bill’s Bodacious BBQ will be co-sponsoring the event with him.  The season is shaping up to be close, fast, competitive and fun. So let’s keep the shiny side up and give our fans some action. See you on the water.

Tony Minalia