Thank you's for the Reunion.

[F-12]

I wanted to start a new thread for all the people that made this the best racing experience out of a boat.
Joe Rome, John Schubert, Wayne Baldwin, and Ron Hill went above and beyond to put on the most wonderful get together I have attended in many years. I got to see some long time friends that still mean a great deal to me and seemed like we never lost touch after a few minutes of catching up. I am very honored you allowed me to help on Friday night and glad everyone enjoyed the Florida Iguana I brought for a little Down Home flavor.
Tim and Ann Chance made me feel like I never left racing, making me dig deep into what I learned a long time ago and were very patient when it took a few minutes to come up with a solution (senior moment, you know)
There are many more that need to be thanked for coming very long distances for this special event. Alan Ishii, my good friend who really hasn't changed a bit, Gene and Norma East for all the help they gave to the Tim Chance Racing effort and for being long time friends, Dick O'Dea for not forgetting one of the most embarassing moments I ever had while working for Walt Blankenstein (couldn't remember any of the good one's), John Yale, Hoz Compton, Art Neadeck, Dick Pond, Bruce and Shirley Summers. I could go on for a while. These are the people that made racing what it was many years ago and who made it an enjoyable event for whomever they came in contact with.
I especially want to thank Tim Butts for coming with his son Ryan. He helped me decide to run DOH and promised me the best ride of my life. He didn't break his promise............The Aerowing WAS the only way to fly.
Thank you guys again and I hope in the future, when the next reunion is planned, you include me for anything I can do to help.
Everyone try to stay in touch and remember that even though we are only related by Boat Racing, we are family none the less.

[David Weaver]

For those who attended the reunion and enjoyed the racing at the Nationals, I invite you to stay involved with ALKY / PRO racing. The USTS and other local clubs always can use a helping hand and the support of fans on the beach.

For the USTS, we are always in need of assistance when conducting our events. The tasks are not always the most fun, but they are essential for putting on the show and growing our sport successfully. IF you have an interest in helping out, please contanct any of our board members. Our Web-site has contact information and the schedule of events for the blanace of 2007. www.ustitleseries.org.

There is no doubt that our volunteers and officials are as every bit as important as our racing participants in putting on a successful race and show.

[Tim Chance]

Great reunion. Good to see everyone. Special thanks to Charley Bradley and Gene East for the help in the pits with my return to Pro racing. Only problem I had all weekend is that the clock in my head and the clock on the judges stand appear to be in different time zones. That's ok I pretended those 11 other guys were behind me and if I could catch 'em, I'd lap 'em.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Thanks for the alligator Charley. It was a special and unexpected treat. It was good to see you again after all these years.

[F-12]

Great pictures Wayne as usual. After seeing what the kitchen looked like after I got done, I have decided to enter a new TV reality show.........."World's Messiest Chef". I think I have a chance...................The guys at the VFW cleaned up before I could get back and handle it. They were a great bunch. They all got to eat some gator and as messy as it was, there wasn't one complaint. I did, however, get a request to bring some up next year. You never know......................

[David Mason]

Great pictures Wayne as usual. After seeing what the kitchen looked like after I got done, I have decided to enter a new TV reality show.........."World's Messiest Chef". I think I have a chance...................The guys at the VFW cleaned up before I could get back and handle it. They were a great bunch. They all got to eat some gator and as messy as it was, there wasn't one complaint. I did, however, get a request to bring some up next year. You never know......................

So you need to bring some again ! Was great to meet you Charley, see you again sometime.

[Gene East]

Wayne, great pictures of Chef Bradley and his culinary masterpiece.
Dave, too bad you didn't get any gator. I probably ate your share, but don't wait for an apology. There ain't gonna be one! You snooze, you loose!
Next time we'll have Charley bring a whole gator, maybe two; and we'll forget about the burgers and brats.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I think Charley needs to tell us about when and where he cleaned and cut up the gator tail.:)

[F-12]

You don't miss a thing do you Wayne...............It's a good story but better if you were close by.
I brought the gator with me after picking it up in Ocala, FL on the way up. It was on ice and pretty well chilled by the time I arrived at the Baymont Hotel. When I arrived I put everything into my room. After I unpacked I knew I needed to start the gator marinating and started on my project right in the sink, in my room. Unfortunately, the gator meat was in a very large chunk (about 2 1/2 feet long and a little over a foot in diameter. I forgot to mention the skin was still on it. So, I proceeded to skin and cut up this dinosuar when a maid came down the hall and knocked on my door to see if everything was satisfactory. When I opened the door I still had some gator skin in my hand and blood running down my arm. She kind of freaked out until I explained to her I found a very rare Illinois Alligator on my way and was just getting it ready for the freezer. She got a bad look on her face and walked away. It was never brought up after that but I'll bet she won't forget it.................That's a fresh Florida Gator.

[Tim Chance]

I brought the gator with me after picking it up in Ocala, FL on the way up. It was on ice and pretty well chilled by the time I arrived at the Baymont Hotel.

Don't believe him. It was road kill. I know that for a fact. I only got two pieces because I was second in line behind Gene East. On my way to Inverness next year I'm going to run over one of my own and have Charley cook it in the pits. Everybody is welcome (I'm gonna squash a big 'en).

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I myself would not want to run over any gator big enough to cook tail without driving over it with a Caterpillar. Wild hogs down here are big enough to turn over a pickup.:eek:

Tim, the only way you could have been second in line behind Gene and no more left is if Gene made more than one line.;) Charley warned me it was hot. It was going so fast that he stacked the hot pieces up the SS bowl toward himself and as he added the fried chunks, they slid toward the center.

The kitchen was a little hot so maybe you checked in while Charley was out front of the VFW cooling himself down with a cold beer.:D

[jrome]

Two of my favorite people, Alan Ishi and Ray Rodda, reinact a very famous picture from 30 years ago!!!! Who would have thought that Ray still has it in him to tote Alan around. That is just two of the fine people that I had the pleasure to visit with at the reunion. More later......:D

[Dave_E71]

Two of my favorite people, Alan Ishi and Ray Rodda, reinact a very famous picture from 30 years ago!!!! Who would have thought that Ray still has it in him to tote Alan around. That is just two of the fine people that I had the pleasure to visit with at the reunion. More later......:D

I had seen that picture before but I had no idea that the "carrier" was Ray. That's pretty cool!
And Wayne, get your butt to another Series race, the offer is open any time. Hell, I'm putting together a 125 hydro for myself next year, we could take turns......OR, I'll look for a runabout, but that's all you (as I once heard Eric Pugh say and have taken to heart, "you run about 2 laps and then fall out :eek: ") besides, I'm too old to take the training wheels off :D

Dave

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Believe it or not Dave, I did bring my uniform in case I got crazy enough to get in a cockpit, but Russ kept us so entertained at the VFW, I never got away to get tempted.

That Krier runabout doesn't look like it requires training wheels. The only thing I would worry about though is when setting up for a turn, it would seem a little different with only one point sticking out.:D

On a side note I saw a very surprised look on Ralph DeSilva's face when I told him the first new boat we ever bought was an A-B DeSilva runabout. At that point I realized that because we bought it through Freddie Goehl and Arlen Crouch at Bryan Marine, he never knew who it was for. It was a beautiful boat, but I wrecked it the second race. Eric was right. And for several years I had a collection of left tennis shoes because every time I fell out of a runabout, I lost the right shoe. I kept thinking some day I will lose a left and need one, but I never did.:D

[epugh66]

The only thing I would worry about though is when setting up for a turn, it would seem a little different with only one point sticking out.:D

And for several years I had a collection of left tennis shoes because every time I fell out of a runabout, I lost the right shoe. I kept thinking some day I will lose a left and need one, but I never did.:D

OMG, you guys are starting to qute me.

Don't worry about the single point, easier to aim at the bouy. Also, I too had a collection of single shoes, that is till I started wearing wrestling hi-tops:)