HISTORY 2003

 Gold Cup goes to the Gale IV in Division 1!

The Classic Thunder Gold Cup, sponsored by RC Hydros.com was held at Waughop Lake on August 24th.  It was all that we thought it would be.   With a very exciting 2003 race season nearing its end, this would be a race that would stand out in the minds of all competitors.  The stakes were high, the points potential was even higher and the thrills of racing were at their highest.  The Waughop water was fast and the setting was ideal for what would be a race to remember.

Qualifying started the day off. Season points would be awarded to the top six qualifiers on a normal race points format.  Top qualifier would earn a trophy and 400 points, second would get 300 and so on.  Boats were timed on three lap qualification runs and were given three attempts to qualify.  Sixth place went to Bob VandenAkker’s Notre Dame.  Fifth went to Craig Mullen’s $Bill.  Fourth went to Mitch Dillard’s Gale IV.  Third went to Pete Schille’s Harrah’s Club.  Second fastest qualifier was Dale Van Wyk’s Miss Seattle.  However, when all was said and done, it was Jeff Howard’s Miss Budweiser that showed us all the fastest way around the course.  Congratulation to Jeff Howard’s Miss Budweiser, winner of the Top Qualifier Trophy at the 2003 Classic Thunder Gold Cup!

10 Boats in all qualified for Gold Cup competition in Division 1.

Heat 1A was won by Pete Schille’s Harrah’s Club followed by Mitch Dillard’s Gale IV and Bob VandenAkker’s Notre Dame.  Craig Mullen’s $Bill blew over while leading the heat and did not finish.  Doug Tulip’s Checkerboard Bardahl also did not finish.

Heat 1B saw a five lap dual between Dale Van Wyk’s Miss Seattle and Jeff Howard’s Miss Budweiser.  The Budweiser came away with a final lap pass and the victory, followed by the Miss Seattle in a very close second.  Gary Simpson’s Chrysler Crew was third, followed by Mike Krone’s Cabover Bardahl and Jessica Van Wyk’s Berryessa Belle.  The Belle had been in third place at the end of four laps when she mistakenly pulled to the infield thinking she had finished.  She later completed the required number of laps to pick up fifth place.  It can happen to anyone.  Jessica ran very well all day long.  It appears that a new radio in the Belle has cured the glitching problem she had been having.

Heat 2A began with a flying start by the Harrah’s.  I mean “up, up and away!”  The Harrah’s blew over just after hitting the start line at full speed.   The Gale IV went on to win followed by Chrysler Crew and Cabover Bardahl.  The Checkerboard Bardahl and Harrah’s were unable to finish.

Miss Seattle was the victor in Heat 2B over $Bill, Notre Dame, Berryessa Belle and Budweiser.  The Bud got an extra lap for striking a buoy.

Miss Seattle also won heat 3A followed by Chrysler Crew.  Gale IV jumped the gun at the start and finished third, ahead of  Berryessa Belle and $Bill.

Heat 3B was won by the Harrah’s followed by the Budweiser, Notre Dame and Cabover Bardahl.  The Checkerboard Bardahl continued to have problems and was withdrawn from competition.

The Harrah’s also won Heat 4A over the Gale IV, $Bill, Notre Dame and Berryessa Belle.

Heat 4B went to the Budweiser ahead of Miss Seattle, Chrysler Crew and Cabover Bardahl.

The Consolation Heat was won by the $Bill followed by Notre Dame.  The heat was highlited by a first time blowover for Jessica in the Berryessa Belle at the end of lap one.  The Belle and the Cabover Bardahl did not finish the heat.

The Final Heat shaped up to be a great one.  Five out of six of the top qualifiers would be in it, three of which are still battling for the season high points championship.  Gary Simpson and his Chrysler Crew had earned enough points to be in their first final heat ever.  Way to go Gary! $Bill had shown good speed all day and would be coming from the trailer position.  Get ready because this was a good one.

The boats hit the line on time.  The Harrah’s was first across with Gale IV on her hip and the Miss Seattle and Bud next to her.  Chrysler Crew hung back a bit and $Bill made the trailer start at a five second delay.  The Harrah’s had a slight lead on the Gale IV and Seattle up the backstretch.  Harrah’s overshot turn two and pushed wide.  The Gale IV and Miss Seattle passed her on the inside.  Gale IV led at the end of lap 1 followed by the Seattle.  This continued up the backstretch.  Just behind them, the Harrah’s was now in a battle with the Budweiser for third place.  The Bud passed the Harrah’s on the backstretch of lap two.  $Bill had passed the Chrysler Crew and was giving chase also.  Gale IV continued to lead in laps 3 and 4, followed by the Miss Seattle.  The Bud and Harrah’s continued their dual for third place.  The Harrah’s passed the Bud in turn two of lap 3 and they would continue mixing it up for the remainder of the heat.  The Gale IV held on to its lead over the Miss Seattle and crossed the finish line first.  Dale Van Wyk’s Miss Seattle finished a strong second.  Pete Schille’s Harrah’s Club was able to hold on for third.  Jeff Howard finished in a close fourth place.  Craig Mullen finished fifth from the trailer position and Gary Simpson finished sixth with the Chrysler Crew.  This was some of the best racing we’ve seen in one heat!  What a race!  Congratulations to Mitch Dillard’s Gale IV, winner of the 2003 Classic Thunder Gold Cup in Division 1!

Gold Boat takes Gold Cup in Division 2.

Griffon Bud wins at Waughop!

Five boats contested for the Gold Cup crown in Division 2.  Before the day was through we would see all sorts of action.

Heat 1 would start it all off with a dominant victory by Pete Schille’s Tide, followed by Mitch Dillard’s Griffon Budweiser and Craig Mullen’s Pride of Pay’n Pak.  Bob VandenAkker’s Weisfields and Dale Van Wyk’s Executone were unable to finish the heat.

Heat 2 saw more of the same as the Tide again cruised to victory over the Bud, Weisfields and Executone.  The Pay’n Pak was unable to finish this time.

The Griffon Bud won Heat 3 ahead of the Weisfields, Tide, Executone and Pay’n Pak.

Heat 4 started with a tangle up between the Tide and Executone.  The two of them got together just after the start and spun to the infield.  The Griffon Bud and Weisfields exited turn one together.  The Weisfields clipped the Griffon’s wings as the beer boat passed on the outside.  The Griffon continued with only one upright holding the tail up, but managed to hold off the Weisfields and take the win. Weisfields was second, followed by the Executone and Tide.  The Pak was unable to finish the heat.  Don’t worry, all of the tail pieces from the boats were recovered and put back together.  

The Pay’n Pak was off and running well in Heat 5 and took first followed by the Griffon Bud and Weisfields.  The Executone was unable to start the heat.  The strangest event of the day was a post-race incident at the end of this heat.  The Pay’n Pak had finished the heat and pulled to the infield.  The Tide finished, began to slow down and surprised us all by hitting the Pak.  The Pak’s cowling was knocked off, but no damage was appearant.  The Tide was disqualified from the heat for causing the accident and will be starting from the trailer position in her next three heats.  That one left us all scratching our heads.  Anything can happen.  It has been reported that the throttle on the Tide stuck open unexpectedly.

At the end of the day, we counted up all of the points and found that the Griffon Bud had won the Gold Cup.  Pete Schille’s Tide finished in second.  Bob VandenAkker’s Weisfields finished third.  Congratulations to Mitch Dillard’s Griffon Budweiser, winner of the 2003 Classic Thunder Gold Cup in Division 2!

We at Classic Thunder would like to thank Andy Kunz and RC Hydros.com for their sponsorship of the Gold Cup.  One of their speed controllers was given as a prize to the winner of division 1 and another was won by Dale Van Wyk in a drawing at the end of the race.  We certainly appreciate their support and look forward to working with them in the future.  Thanks to Doug Tulip for his post-race awards photos.  Thanks also to Dan Clark who must have taken four rolls of pictures for us during the race.  We hope they all turn out O.K. and look forward to seeing them on the web site.  Thanks to our webmaster, Ray Finney for making that all possible and for maintaining such a great web site.  Thanks to all of you who turned out for the Gold Cup. It was a heck of a lot of fun and the competition was great.  Thanks to Pete for the neat buttons he provided for heat wins.  This is a great club full of good people that work together.  Thanks especially for that.  Next up is the final race of the 2003 season, the Silver Cup.  It will be held at Coulon Park on September 21st.  I don’t know if I can wait that long.  The points race in Division 1 will be decided in that race for many of us.  This includes the championship spot.  You don’t want to miss this one.  I keep saying this, but “It doesn’t get any better than this!”  I can’t think of a better way for us to end the season.  Let’s get ready for it.

There’s one last thing.  I know that we all miss seeing “Battery” Dave around lately.  We’ve heard that his wife is very ill.  I want to ask you all to keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  I know that he and his wife need those prayers and would appreciate them.  I can only imagine the emotional and physical struggle they are going through right now.  God bless them and grant them peace in their time of need.  

Thanks again and God bless you too.

Sincerely,

Mitch Dillard

Classic Thunder Commissioner