2007 Silver Cup

If the 2007 Classic Thunder racing season had to come to an end, Sunday’s Silver Cup at Woodland Creek Community Center in Lacey was the perfect setting for it.  17 Division 1 and 15 Division 2 boats were treated to blue skies, warn temps, bright sun and a sometimes tricky wind.  The club closed the book on a great season of racing, trading stories and enjoying all that Classic Thunder has become.  The day also brought out a pretty darn good BBQ done right next to the pit area.  After all the sun and food, a nap seemed appropriate but the racing just seemed a better option.  The finale of the day was the “Apple Core” event which has become an urban legend. (more on this later).  After 3 flights of fast, well driven and competitive preliminary heats, run throughout the day, it came time for the “show”.

            First, the Division 2 Carnage (Connie just can’t be used for this one), saw some of the strangest events of the season.  No boats ever collided, but almost all of them had their own personal issues.  It was almost as though fate was working its plan.  Pete Schille’s Winston Eagle needed to win the heat to have any chance of overtaking Mitch Dillard for the season point championship.  At the start of the heat, things looked good for Pete, then bad, then horrible, then outstanding.  Dale Van Wyk’s Cooper’s Express lost a dummy motor (which he later retrieved by running over it with his own boat), Mike Krone’s Design 360 was out front and then lost his driver and had to stop , Mike Schultz’s Budweiser was ahead and lost power unexpectedly and could not get it done and Tony Minalia’s Smokin Joes ran well before taking a DNF.  Mark Beatty’s Lite All-Star came from the trailer start at let it all hang out, up and over with a spectacular flip in the front stretch.  The Winston had fallen off the pace by hooking a sponson and suddenly he was the only boat still circling the course.  The Winston would move on as the alternate boat in the final as the Trendwest and Freddie’s Club had tied for the last two spots in final.  Pete had to hope that one of the boats from the final would not be able to start.  Then things went bad again.  No one would accept a bribe to “fail to get into the water on time and all 6 boats (due to the tie) were ready to run at the 30 second mark of the final.  No chance to catch Mitch for the title.

            In the final Mitch’s Trendwest, Dave Sacry’s Circus Circus, Jeff Howard’s Jeronimo, Clint Crain’s Coors Lite, Brent Hall’s Coor’s Dry and Dale Schroeder’s Freddie’s Club all charged to the start.  Circus grabbed the lead followed by the Trendwest, Jeronimo, Lite, Dry and Freddie’s.  Coors Dry was making up ground in third when he ran into trouble and stuffed the nose hard in the backstretch.  Coors Lite and Freddie’s seemed to lose power as the heat went on.  Dave’s Circus held off every challenge made by Mitch and Jeff.  After leading for 4 and a half laps the Circus came into the last turn only to come upon the two slower boats.  Dave made the only decision he had, to go to the outside.  As Mitch approached the two boats, enough room had been created to allow him to squeeze between the exit pin and the other boats and make a hard charge to the finish.  The Trendwest used it’s power to take the checkered flag less than a second in front of the Circus.  The Jeronimo finished 3^rd the Coor’s Lite 4^th and the Freddie’s Club 5^th.  Congratulations to Mitch Dillard for not only winning the 2007 Silver Cup but also for being the Division 2 High Points champion with the Trendwest!

            The connie for Division 1 did not lack for excitement either. Dan Clark’s Tahoe Miss, Dale Schroeder driving Dan’s Miss Bardahl, Jeff Howard in the 1967 Parco’s, Clint Crain in the 1970 Parco’s, Brian Deatherage’s Miss B & I and Tim Becker’s US 5 all raced to move on to the finale.  Unfortunately the Bardahl and US got tangled up with each other early and were out of commission.  The Tahoe received a lap penalty for cutting off the B & I in a turn which was closely followed by the B & I going dead in the water.  The 67 Parco’s was too much for the 70 Parco’s and Jeff moved on to be the trailer in the final.

            The final consisted of Tony Minalia driving Dale Van Wyk’s Berryessa Belle, Mark Beatty in the Timex, Dale Schroeder’s “ugly” Valu-Mart, Dave Sacry’s Mariner Too, Pete Schille’s Pizza Pete and Howard’s Parco in the trailer spot.  The Timex roared to the lead at the start with the other 4 frontline boats right behind and Jeff exactly 5 seconds behind them.  After lap 1 the Valu-Mart did a 360 degree flip, landing right side up but facing the wrong way.  After the field went by, Dale was able to resume racing in the correct direction.  Tony in the Belle stayed close to the leader in second and stayed out of trouble biding his time.  The Parco’s, as is often the case, began to quickly sneak up on everyone and soon passed the Belle.  The Timex held the lead for 4 laps before Jeff started reeling him in next.  As both boats came down the backstretch for the final time, Mark carefully set up for the buoy at the entrance of the last turn to keep the fast approaching Parco’s outside.  A gust of wind, a slight bounce and Timex found herself inside the buoy with no chance to recover.  1 lap penalty – victory to the Parco’s.  Again Jeff Howard, who seems to own this pond, comes from the trailer to win another race.  Congratulations to Jeff and the Parco’s team for winning the 2007 Division 1 Silver Cup.  Jeff is one of the best drivers CT has and he again proved that point.  Also, congratulations to Tony for picking up a good second place finish and to Mark for driving a great race for third.  Somebody give that guy a beer.  He did all he could, and then some, to hold the Parco’s at bay. 

            Then came the Apple Core 2007.  One timed lap around for time in the rowboat.  Only the toughest competitors dare enter this event.  No medical staff, no oxygen, no nothing.  Mitch didn’t win this one; neither did Tony, Danny, Brent, Mike K or Jeff.  Yep, Kudos to Dale Van Wky with an outstanding effort to not only win the 07 event but take over the lead in points for the 3 years it has been held.  (We understand Jessica had to drive home because Dale was pooped.

            CT would like to thanks Lacey Parks for allowing us to use such a great venue and to all our sponsors and supporters for a tremendously exciting and rewarding season.  Can’t wait for 2008.  Mitch will soon be emailing news about the banquet and a possible exhibition race in a couple of weeks.  This 14^th season went by so fast, but we’re already planning ahead for the next one. 

Spokane Dan