Hydroplane races heat up chill
Dave Warren, right, of Lake Stevens, held on to win the Grand Prix class at this weekend's Solar Cup races at Connelly Park. Warren, outpaced Ryan Mallow of Tacoma.
MOSES LAKE - It may not have been as warm as some would have liked at this year's Solar Cup, that didn't lmean there was a lack of heat brought to Connelly Park this past weekend.
The seventh annual event held by the Moses Lake Irrigation & Rehabilitation District (MLIRD) aka "Moses Lake Regatta" played host to the American Power Boat Associations (APBA) inboard hydroplane class commonly known as the Grand Prix West ("GPW") with the races also held in conjunction with the Seattle Drag & Ski circuit.
According to Julie Smith, administrative assistant for the MLIRD, a total of 50 boats participated in seven different classes, 324 team members ?- including boat owners, drivers and crew members - were involved in the event, and a count of 3,842 people attended the race at the park. The number of spectators did not include an uncounted number of persons seen watching from areas not affiliated with the park area.
Seven classes battled it out for top honors and points on their respective circuits during the weekend.
"A Solar Cup Committee was formed here in Moses Lake this year to help support and promote the hydroplane races," Smith said. "The Committee was able to raise financial support for advertising and some prize money for race class winners.
The race ran extremely smooth and the entire weekend was a huge success thanks to Ana Cappelletti, the race director and Seattle Drag & Ski."
Besides the actual classes that battled it out for prizes there were also seven Vintage Boats that were showcased in an exhibition setting and five GPS95 boats - new Class 95MPH only - were also presented just for show to the crowds at hand.
Two SE boats - new class, beginner runabouts - were also shown.
The final results of the races this weekend are as follows:
*SUPER STOCK (name of owner and driver; if one name listed, held both titles)
1. Kelly Stocklin (Sammamish), 2. Lenny Baker (Edmonds), 3. Sid Rennells (Warren, Ore.) and Charlie Marquard (Puyallup).
*GRAND PRIX
1. Dave Warren (Lake Warren), 2. Tom Eckenberg (Everett) and Brian Mallow (Tacoma).
*NATIONAL MODIFIED
1. Mack Elliott (Olympia) and Jeff Bernard (Kent), 2. Pat Bertrum (Eatonville) and Chris Bertrum (Eatonville), 3. Rod Bourke (Snohomish).
*5 LITRE
1. Jeff Bernard (Kent), 2. Dave Cossette (Kirkland) and Mike Kelly (Auburn), 3. Jimmy Mauldin (Friday Harbor).
*2.5 LITRE MODIFIED
1. Jerod Knellekan (Eatonville), 2. Leslie Warren (Spanaway), 3. Pat Bertrum (Eatonville) and Karen Toulouse (Eatonville).
*2.5 LITRE STOCK
1. Dustin/Justin Squires (Lakewood, Col.), 2. Dave Solway/Chris Fanaris (Tumwater), co-owners, 3. Austin Eacret (Burien).
*1 LITRE
1. Jim Sechler (Detroit, Mich.) and Dan Kanfoush (Niagara, N.Y.), 2. Perkins Glass (Seattle) and Brian Perkins (North Bend), 3. Kayleigh Perkins (North Bend) and Jesse Roberson.eattle).
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