The Michigan Cup 2013 (June 28,29,30)

[jfrancisco892]

Let me not forget to Thank Mike Pags, Howard Tucker, Mike Ball, Alan Nayman, Terry Davis,
Jimmy Francisco, Doug Peterson, & Jeff Cerves, for some great pit work.
Hopefully the Wave Blasters will be there in mass next year.
Met some new racers, families & old friends so happy I made the trek....I am so amped for next year !!!!
Ken
OK....time to take another nap....

Thanks for the shout out. I am glad I got to meet you and it was an honor to race side by side with you in sv27. Looking forward to seeing you again next year!

[T.S.Davis]

Our opportunity could not be better than the next nationals. I hear Al Water's may be the CD too
I could easily see 50+ racers and 300+ boats. That may even be a low target.
:

Yep and yep.

I just got an email from Al this afternoon. He's still up fer it. If you've not been to a race called by Al you're missing out. He's not perfect but he so loves racing. It comes threw in his commentary.

There are many people outside of the usual suspects that I'm harassing already.

[ray schrauwen]

It would be difficult for me to say thanks to individuals for the greatest time I've ever had racing Rc Boats so I'll just say thanks to everyone.

I'm very humbled by this experience. The perch on the drivers stand, the care from the Elks Lodge group, the best pit I could ever ask for.
I really don't care that I burnt up a pair of esc's and a UL-1 motor because the big picture is the whole experience. My two stinky boats are sitting outside until I can clean them out tomorrow. Hard to believe that esc's can make that much of a mess but, when they were encased in conformal that's what ya get. I'm still frikin puzzled as to why a week ago I could get 6 minutes out of that green mono setup only to have it detonate on me 1/2 way through Q-offshore The motor is a champ though, still runs fine...not sure if I will rebuild as esc's of that caliber are not cheap. My PTSS has a nice warp in the deck from the cooked speedo, some filler will fix that. What does it take to swing an M445 witha UL-1?? Pond time I suppose but, watching Mike Ball run his with a 1800kv motor has me thinking...

I'm in for 2014 Nats, I'd be a fool to miss it after how incredible I was cared for by all. Hopefully I'll be even more organized than this year... getting there.

I did miss out on going into Ken's trailer and bugging him about his awesome boats. Ken, you remind me of Steve Reesor, so focused and prepared. I didn't want to bug you because you were so focused and "in the zone". That's a cool trailer you've got there, something I would like to aspire to. I have to figure out how to get more sleep . Wendy and I will look into renting an accessible RV possibly next year so there is less driving time and more fun time... Oh yeah, more sleep time, right!

If I missed out on thanking anyone personally before we scooted out, I'm terribly sorry. You can blame Doby for that, he was our guide out of the boonies to the highway... more maps next year or maybe a GPS... or two right John?!

I'm pleased and confused that I was able to do so well in P-limited sprint, a pair of classes I've never ran or tested for. I just said WTH and by gosh I got my first class win in the cat class! Jazzed, oh yeah! I still thought I was in the top 5 for sprint P-spec mono??? how did I place Fred?

The fireworks was simply over the top. Monday night we had fireworks in town that paled in comparison, you yanks know how to put on a show and know how to party. The family atmosphere was awesome. Wendy said she has never had so much fun, she is an incredible woman that I will marry some day. Who knows, maybe I'll surprise her and get it done at the 2014 Nats instead of the 2015 summer solstice as we had planned.. Shhhhh! That would be cool huh? A wedding at a Nats... hmmmmm....

Lets keep the energy going until 2014! Elks lodge or BUST!

[mojoracer]

A note from the gentleman who won the mini mono and cat hull in our raffle:


Bob,

My son Andrew would like to thank you and your club for the Mini Mono Boat he won in the raffle. We just happened to have the right size battery at home so he's up and ready to try it out.

My family and I enjoyed race day getting to walk around and meet everyone. You have a great group of members; everyone including some of the children took the time to talk about their boats.

I'm looking forward to joining your club for next year and to possibly race in the race you have scheduled for July 21st. Could you please forward the links we talked about in the garage the other night?


Thank you,

Jim Dydra

[Jeff]

I just heard the sad news, a major investigation is under way in a fallout from the race. It seems that the upper penisula was left of the trophy's and a revolt is ensueing.Lock your doors and do not discuss with anyone what happened.

[T.S.Davis]

That's Michigan's middle finger. Ever travel across it? Speed limit is 55 everywhere. It's like N1 mono all the way across.

Beautiful up there but more critters than people. Those folks think of us as trolls from under the bridge anyway. That's pretty accurate BTW.

[R.J.S]

How'd the 20 man start race go ???

[fas]

Ok

Now that the week is over here are a few of the high lights that I remember from the race
Sean standing on the driverstand for the first heet missing the left turn for the offshore course and saying oh well its the first heet LOL
the look on Mike balls face when he ran a 1:17.52 with his q-sport
only to have Mike Pags run a 1:17.50 the next heet and he was pitting for him with the boat I build for Mike
How happy Ray was when he placed 1st in P-Limited Cat
Looking at the Door prize table after Tom set it up and saying Wow that's a lot of stuff( I think everybody got three things after that is was come get what you want)
every class but 1/8 and open mono going at least 2 flights each
Ty holding Terry to lane one in P-Limited Cat
Running my first real open Cat Thanks Mikey
My son looking at me and saying Dad I can drive Please let me do it( so he went and got his own pitman and he placed 3ed in Kids SV-27) why is it you kid will listen to somebody else over you with stuff like this LOL

That's it for now
If anybody has a picture we took with with everybody in it please send me a copy as I am doing a something for the next prop wash

Fred

[ray schrauwen]

I almost forgot on very sweet memory... Tyler, Terry's son. This young man has so much enthusiasm it's just amazing and the way Terry handles it is precious. Terry you have an amazing son, I wish I had one just like him.

The best part was just before I got into the truck to leave he thanked me, shook hand and gave me a hug. Almost brought Wendy and I to tears. I didn't want to leave.

Wendy and I smiled all the way home until we had to have a sleep stop in Canada because she was so tired.

Still gets me choked up thinking about Tyler & the way he interacts with you Terry. I missed the boat with kids but, yours and all the kids there were amazing and so well behaved, something you don't see too often anymore. Can't wait to get the pics off of Wendy's phone....

[T.S.Davis]

Thanks Ray, love that kid. He's kind of our club mascot.

He's been through a lot himself. 13 doctors at one point. Maybe that's where the compassion comes from. He didn't get it from his people hating father. Maybe from mom.

He's the most frustrating, exhausting, exciting, fun, laughing, source of pride and joy in my life. Enthusiastic? Yeah that's the word. Although pain in my ass might be more fitting. Someday he's going to be a hostage negotiator. Kid don't take NO for answer. Wouldn't change him for noth'n either.

[Shooter]

...and he's a good pit man too!!

Ty and Landon were trying like heck to drive the 'Pearl' on Saturday night. I kept telling them I blew up the batts (which was true), but they persisted. They kept showing up with multiple batts they had found over at daddy's tent area. For some reason all my packs are soldered 'polish' with the male bullet on the positive side. Never realized it, but apparently everyone else does it opposite.

[T.S.Davis]

Everyone else in your club at least.

He's soooo not ready for those beast. He may well have convinced me to build a new P mono for him this winter though. It's al in my head.

[Ken Haines]

You Tube Video

Hey Terry,
Any word on the Youtube Video yet ?
I think they may have gotten some great footage.
To that end any other video's of the race yet from anyone ?
Thanks,
Ken

[Doby]

I'll be uploading some this weekend...I know I have some of Terrys P-Mono attempting 3D boating...and failing.

Ken... I have some of your yellow Open Offshore mono as well.

[madmikepags]

OK now that I've had a few days to think about it here's my point of view. I have been racing some sort of RC since 1988-99 and I estimate I have been to over 1000 races over the years, some good some not so good and a few spectacular, Hands dow this was the BEST race I have ever attended, The venue, the people, the racing, my family and My second family now the MMEU guys. Up until this point the best race I attended was the 1996 1/8 scale offroad world champoinships in england and IFMAR spent well over 100 grand putting on that race.
Racing for me started off poorly with my very first heat flipping my LSO 1/4 lap into the race, Oh well right there pretty much cost me any chance at high pts or Mr offshore, but what it did do is leave the door open for both of my daughters to beat me in that class!!!! Now they both can say they beat me at a BIG race!!! Which is going over great at home!!!! I recovered from that and had a decent first day, and had some really good close racing with some really good racers.

Lets look at P-mono, going into the 3rd round Doug peterson had 2 firsts and so did I, unfortunately the stars did not allign and we did nort get to race each other so we each took a first and the winner had to be determined by time, I won by less than a second. This was unfortunate because I was looking forward to racing Doug, His boat was very strong and I don't thing I could have beat him in a heads up race.

Q sport was a crazy class, Mike Ball easily has the best Q-sport in the country and everyone knows it. goin into the second round him an I each had firsts and were racing against each other, I hit a great start and took the lead but Mike was closing on me, on about the 3rd or 4th lap the pressure was too much for me and I cut a bouy, mike backed off and cruised to an easy victory. The third round came and Mike won his heat and ran a Blistering 1:17.52. I was so impressed but now had no chance at winning the class. The only thing I could do was try and break the record. Mike heard me say that and said "hey go for it man" I looked at my daughter and said "Ava gimmie those cupping pliers!!!!" I asked Mike to pit me and time me on the run and he was more than happy to. I had a what I thought was a pretty good run but I was sure Mike's boat and run was faster. He clicked the watch at the end of the run and didn't look at it, we looked at each other and I asked how was it, he said I don't know. we both looked at the watch at the same time and both couldn't believe it I had beaten his run by 2 HUNDRETHS OF A SECOND!!! his comment as he saw the watch " dude, you just pooped in my cheerios"!!!!! Since Fred forgot to time the race my time was not really official, Mike should have the record but neither of us decided to apply for the record. I would like to Thank Fred for building this boat, I did very little to it to get it to run great and the build is immaculate!!!!! Mike is a class act and great racer and compettitor.

LSH was onother class that was very close going into the 3rd round again me and Mike Ball had 2 firsts, again though we didn't get a chance to race each other, I won my third heat and Mike was a looking like he was gonna take an easy first in his 3rd heat, but the Racing gods were not shining on him his speedo crapped out and he didn't even get a chance to run.

Open cat was really close too, If it weren't for Fred smacking Terry's boat when it was upside down he would have ran away with that class. Chris K won it and his cat is pretty damn impressive. 2nd and 3rd were me and John Einstein tied, neither of us had timed runs so we went to places, I had 2 wins and took the 2nd. Johns boat was strong and Looks really really cool!!!!

Q offshore is my class, it's been mine for 5 years, theres not a boat in the country thats been able to compete with me for 5 years, UNTIL NOW!!!! I didn't even realize how close it was until it was all over. Fred came within a 1/4 of a lap of me, for example I won the Nats this year by over 6 laps!!!! And Open offshore Fred crushed everyone. Hats off to Fred as the Mi Cup Mr Offshore!!!!

SV27 there was some great racing too in kids and adult, Ken Kubota (I'm a sad man, I can't remember his last name) had a large cheering section from the elks club faithful. But Ken Haines mas just too much in this class!!! Thanks to Mr Haines for lending his Extra SV to My daughter Ava, she really liked driving this boat and eventually won the class!!!!

The Kids P-lim Mono class was a lot of fun, 5 rounds over 2 days, and it was WIDE open, After the first 3 rounds my Daughter Nina was in the drivers seat with a 1st and 2 seconds but was the only one that had completed all 3 rounds, she needed a couple of decent finishes and it was all hers. in the 4th round she was trying to make a pass in turn 1, I told her it was her choice race hard or lay back, she decided to go for broke and she hit a buoy and flipped. She had the greatest attitude she just looked at me and said "Oh well thats racing daddy" My daughters finishe Ava 2nd and Nina 3rd, but The Guy to beat was TD!!! Tyler Davis came back from down a couple hundred points the first day and whooped some butt!!! I was so proud of my Daughters the way they drove and how they handled themselves in general and I was proud of all the kids, the class was very compettitive and it was fun to watch!!!!


The OPEN Hydro class was insane!!!! these are some of the fastest boats you've ever seen and these guys made it look easy!!!! Howards Boat was just rock solid and fast as hell, a very tough combo and he drove great all weekend, Howard's a lot of fun to pit with drive against and just a blast to hang out with in general, really great Job Howard congrats you deserved it!!!

In scale we lost a few boats to attrition and the last 2 rounds were just Myself and John Einsten. The last heat of the entire race was the last scale race, we decided to try and put on a show, John got a great start and I was in tow, he held lane 1 for 4 laps, I was gaining on him but not much he was driving really well, but luck was not on his side on lap 5 he blew off goin down the front straight and ended upside down. Bummer.

I know I'm forgetting a bunch of other races but these are ones that stick out in my mind. Huge thanks to the MMEU guys what a great job putting this together, Thanks to the Elks for unwaivering hospitality a great attitude and an amazing fireworks show. I want to thank My wife Regina and her cousin Max for making the trek and enduring the long days of racing. My wife told Max (she would probably never tell me to my face) she has a new respect for what I do at these races and all the work it takes to get all mine and my daughters boats ready.