Diamond Cup 2008

After an interesting season opener in Lacey, boats were prepped for battle on the waters of Gene Coulon Park in Renton WA. Race #2 on the calendar was the Diamond Cup, coordinated by Tony and Danny Minalia and sponsored by Hansen Racing. The weather forecast called for partly cloudy skies with highs around the mid 60’s. The water was good until the pleasure boats started taking off, but it would settle back down by midday. Then, in typical Coulon fashion, the water would get bad again just in time for the final flights of heats. Boat counts were at 15 for division 2 and 17 for division 1. With a field of unpredictable or untested boats and gear, the predictions this early in the season are still a big question mark.

Both the Minalia boats decided to join the fun for the Diamond Cup. Danny got his new Pay ’N’ Pak out there. And I must say, it turns a lot better then last year’s boat did. Tony also got the paint job finished on his Holset Miss Madison. But a very hard stuffing of the nose in his first heat would put him on the beach for the rest of the day. I guess Tony is getting into a habit of crashing his brand new boats in their first race. He did the same thing last season with his Smokin’ Joe’s at Wild Waves. Gene Melang had his Coors Dry in the field, but the bugs in the system didn’t allow him to race. Hopefully he can get it figured out soon.

The damage done to boats would not end with the Holset. Pete Schille’s U-95 would be beaten up before the day was over. Mitch Dillard and his Vacationville were having problems with his motor. The problems were so great that he had to pull out of competition.

Division 2 Conny: Boats in the heat were Van’s PX, U-95, Pay ‘N’ Pak, Design 360, Miss Rock, and the Miss Exide. Even before the gun fired, U-95 was in a bad position. First off, he hit the exit buoy for turn 2 on his way down the front stretch. Second, he spun out. Finally, he was in the way of all those screaming boats!! Luckily everyone managed to miss the U-95, and it was a good start. The Pak would not make the start, and turned  into the infield. The cause of that is still unknown. The Van’s PX would shoot out to an early lead and stay there the rest of the race. While behind him, the Design 360 and Miss Rock would battle for position. Water conditions had deteriorated drastically from earlier in the day. And boats were flying and flopping everywhere. However, they all managed to stay up-right. Finishing order for the Conny was the Van’s PX, Design 360, Miss Exide and the Miss Rock. The two boats that didn’t finish were the U-95 and Pay ‘N Pak. Mark decided not to advance to the Final heat as he would be driving his Beacon Plumbing in that one.  This allowed the Design 360 to advance instead.  This would become a huge break for Mike Krone on the day.

Division 2 Final: Those who managed to make it to the final heat were Beacon Plumbing, Squire Shop, Freddie’s Club, Notre Dame and the Griffon Bud.  Design 360 joined them as the trailer. The heat began with a mishap on the front stretch after the start. The controversy involved Freddie’s Club, The Squire Shop and Notre Dame. It appeared that just after the start, the Squire was forced inside the course by the Freddies, then re-entered the course, hitting the Notre Dame. Both boats will race another day, but at the time, the Squire was in pieces and the Notre Dame was sinking. The Squire would get a DQ for re-entering the course and causing the accident. A lap penalty would be called on the Freddie’s Club for a racing lane violation. Later, he would find himself upside down, and would not finish the race. When the dust cleared, only three boats were still running. Beacon Plumbing held the lead for most of the laps but then spun out in the fourth lap. The Design 360 persisted, took the lead and then took first place honors. Beacon Plumbing got going again after another spin and finished second.  The Griffon Bud finishing third.  It was the third win for Mike Krone, his second with the Design 360.

Just as much damage was done to boats in the preliminary heats for division 1 as was done in the final heat for division 2. In his second round of heats, Bill McGraw’s outrigger Pay ‘N’ Pak rolled over in the first turn. Mike Schultz’s Miss Thriftway came around the corner and swung too wide, hitting the over-turned Pak. Damage was also seen on Dale Van Wyk’s Miss Seattle, when he blew over and landed up-side down in front of Pete Schille’s Etta in one of his heat races. When he got to his boat, there was a hole in the bottom of it. Dale got it patched up, and it would go on to race again. As the day went on, the water got worse. By the third flight of prelim races, drivers had to be really careful of the rollers coming in.

Division 1 Conny: Harrah’s Club, Miss Spokane, Miss Madison, Etta, Miss Seattle and the “Blonde Bombshell” Miss Bardahl. Dale Schroeder was driving the Harrah’s Club for Dan Clark and he seems to be used to the first place position, no matter what boat he drives. The Harrah’s jumped out to the lead and stayed there. But he had to earn it. The Etta was charging hard the entire heat. In a last ditch effort to pass the Harrah’s, the Etta caught a gust of wind and then a roller that put him on his back. The Bardahl would also end up on its back before the race was over. The eventual winner was the Harrah’s, Miss Seattle in second and third went to the Spokane.

Division 1 Final: The pack of heavy hitters made it to the final heat. The usual faces were the Slo-Mo-IV, Timex, and Seattle Too. The newer boats popping up in the final were the “Lady in Black” Wayfarer’s Lady, Miss Lapeer, Harrah’s Club as the trailer and the Miss Seattle was the alternate. Out of the first turn, the Slo-Mo had its usual first place. But the race was for second. Off the corner, the Timex and Wayfarer’s were deck to deck. Down the back stretch they battled. But the “Lady in Black” was too far inside, cut two buoys and was out of contention. That left the door open for the Timex. It took him a couple laps, but by the 4^th lap, the Timex was within striking distance of the lead. On turn two of the final lap, the Slo-Mo swung wide and left a lane for the Timex. But the Timex didn’t take it and the Slo-Mo jetted out to take the win. The finishing order of the final heat was the Slo-Mo first, Timex second, Seattle Too third, fourth to the Wayfarer’s, and fifth to the Lapeer. The Harrah’s Club blew over on the back stretch and did not finish.

Congratulations to our two winners, Mike Krone and Mitch Dillard. Mitch celebrated his 44^th birthday at the race and got himself a nice birthday present. Thanks to our sponsor Eddie Hansen of Hansen Racing for providing the great prizes. And thanks to the coordinator’s Tony and Danny Minalia for putting on a great race. Finally thanks to the Renton Parks Department for allowing us to use Gene Coulon Park.

We will again be at Coulon Park for the Harmsworth Trophy Race on May 18^th. The sponsor will be Bill’s Bodacious BBQ and race coordinator will be Bill McGraw. ‘Til then, take it easy, fix those boats, and get ready for more “Carnage at Coulon.”

-Tony “Hired Gun” Minalia