A Family Racing Tradition
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A Family Racing Tradition
Ron...Jim and Sean are at this moment are planning an assault on some kilo records at Oroville in February. Motors are being prepared and Jim will shortly be flying to Italy to pick them up. Hopefully, it won't take long to get things dialed in. There's a new twist here too. There will be some VTR experimental devices designed to aid the motor in reaching and maintaining optimum horsepower throughout the run. There are also some other big names in racing behind this project. I have been invited to be a part to help record the efforts. Earlier tests on another boat were not completed due to unexpected circumstances so this will be the first major leap. I am working on trying to get away to make the kilos. It is a tough time for all of us on the project to get away, but it could become one of those historic times when you kick yourself if you weren't there.
As you can see from the above records, Jim and Sean are no strangers to set ups for kilos. So if it all works as planned you could see some really fantastic speeds come out of that event.
When Jim lived in California, we never were very close. Seems I've only talked to Sean a time or two, but we seemed like old friends.
Jim and I are probably closer friends today, than when we lived five miles from each other.
The McKean family's love of the sport of boat racing runs deep!
Good luck Jim and Sean at the kilo's. Great seeing your performance in DePue!
From Sean's old babysitter and candy supplier
What's the odds on the weather at that time Bill? I saw something about a marathon being held, so I wasn't sure what all events were scheduled. I need to rejoin APBA. Guess I better go to their website, but in the meantime as you live so close as far as weather for a kilo, would you rate the possiblities around 50/50 or cross your fingers that it will be good? It's not a 100% yet that I can make it, but at this point I am going to start looking at flight times in and out.
Hey Alan, if I make it out there I want to see your face in person.:cool::D
I wish the both of you the best of luck with the kilo's. I built the kilo boat that they have used for most of the records and hopefully they will be using for this project. I also built the capsule boat they are using in the pics above.
Sean and Jim, change the rear pads this time! With the additional speed, you are going to need them.
Below is a pic of Sean setting the 350cc kilo record with the boat I made for them.
What are the dates in Feb? If you are there Wayne, guess I have to be too.
The dates are February 23/24. Go to the Region 11 web site at
www.boatracingr11.com. I approved the sanction yesterday and should be on line on the APBA web site in a few days.
As far as weather who knows. I will say this when it is good it is the best Place in the USA for a Kilo. As Bob Wartinger. The elev is 200 ft.
a few years ago Miss Bud went through one way at over 228 mph. Last year Terry Klemm did over 110 mph in a 1100 Runabout with a 600CC Rossi. We have a Marathon in the afternoon to help onset the expense.
Believe me when i say conducting a kilo is a money losing deal. If it were not for People Like Teri Ziemer, Bob Wartinger, Jim McKean, Rich Fuchslin for donating large funds to keep to going it would be history.
I also thank Dewald for donating a Propeller for us to raffle off. APBAHQ and K&K for working with us on the Sanction and Insurance. The Surveyor for donating his time. And Then there is the Membership of Region 11 who make it happen.
If you are flying in to Sacramento (SMF) the site is about 50 miles north. AA has flts from DFW to SMF.
The Kilo site is the Thermalito Afterbay Hwy 99 and 162.
Watch the Region 11 web site for more info on Hotels.
a block of rooms has been set aside at the Gold Country Casino(Indian). $79/nite
That would be great. If you come I will let you come up on the Dam and shoot pictures. Not really a Dam more like a Berm or Dyke
Here is a little better resolution copy of Sean's racing card (which he made obsolete after the Nationals last year). :)
Best of Luck in Oroville.
Jean
What a fantastic piece of photography amateur photog.
I was trying to think of who might be out there that would be interested in mostly midwest, southern and east coast drivers, & what to print up then I thought of this is idea. How about a complete copy of my autograph collection in a binder? The prints would only be copies of autographed originals, but they would still be on photo paper. Would that be of interest Bill?
Carl,
We can load up and head out Thursday morning before. I will need a pit-bitch and as for you Mark, (Johnson) I will pick you up at the Sacramento Airport. I will need Schwartz's and your assistance to precisely measure how far I may have my head is up my ***.
THEN WE CAN WATCH SEAN DO IT RIGHT!
J-Dub
I hear that the world famous Dean Hobart will be fielding an entry as well.
Cant wait... I have some old Modesto pics around here someplace I'll have to scan them tomorrow and see who can guess at the "players"...
Carl
Looks like I'll make Oroville after all.:D I got discouraged and dropped plans when it didn't look like the Vapor Trail Racing stuff wouldn't be ready in time. Joe Flow has been working his tail off to get it ready and looks like he'll make it with a couple of days to spare. It will have to be put together on site though. The motors cleared customs two days ago. Jim will be there in a wheelchair and IV's. Seems the motors will be sporting IV's too. Jim's are because of an infection in his foot that occurred after some screws in his foot came loose. He won't be jumping around, but he'll be there. Sean is an old hand at these high speeds, so if the mechanical stuff all comes together it can be an exciting weekend. I've never seen alky rigs run that fast:eek:, so I looking forward to it very much
I've got to pick up a copy of "The World's Fastest Indian" today. Joe Flow requires all the team members to watch it before the kilos.;):cool: It's a real long shot to pull something like this off without any prior testing and working the bugs out, but if it all comes together it will be an event to remember. Pictures will follow.
Hey Alan and Carl.....you guys still coming? Lee Sutter.......if you read this, try to make it. I have been carrying a couple of pics with me to the races since 1979 to get your autograph. That would be a good time to add yours to my collection.:cool:
What are the dates for this one Wayne? I am trying to get something scheduled out there so I can watch Sean shatter this record. (I didn't say attempt because he's got the 'Wayne Baldwin Syndrome' He could break some of the standing records without a boat. ) It's going to be exciting..............
The dates are February 23,and 24. Sign up and drivers meeting Feb 22.
For those who are flying into Sacramento Airport (SMF) when exiting the Airport Do Not Head North. Go south towards Sacramento for about a mile or so. Stay in the right lane then take HWY 99/70 to Yuba City/ Marysville. About 5 miles Hwy 99 and 70 split. Take hwy 99 (left lane) to Yuba city. If you are hungry stop at Stevens Farm House. Neat little place that has good tri tip sandwiches. Continue through Yuba City to Live Oak then past Gridley the Levee will be on your right to Hwy 162. Turn Right on 162 and you are there.
Go to the Region 11 web site for more info. Gold County casino has a block of rooms. Today feb 15 is the last day for the rate. I like to stay at the Comfort Inn 530-533-9673
The Java hut down the street from the Comfort inn has great Coffee and Sandwiches for those who want to have something in the pits.
Hey Charley...looking forward to seeing you out there. I have to call Ray Yates after I get my stuff booked so he will know when to come. How about you Ron? Are you coming?.....& Skoontz???
Bill...I haven't gotten a long lens for my digital camera yet, so I will also bringing the old 35mm stuff. How far from the levy is it to the line of path of the kilo?
I think our guys are all staying at the Days Inn. Guess I'll Google a map.
Wayne,
Bring a Hawaiian shirt with your, we are having a party Saturday night at Oroville with an Hawaiian theme.
More info at www.boatracingr11.com
Darrell
Distance, Depends on how far out they want to run from the levee. We do not like them to close as we cannot pick them up with the scanners as we are about 20ft up from the water. I would say 50 to 100 yrds would be were we like them to run. The faster guys we would like further out as we can follow on the scanners better
All of my Hawaiin shirts are short sleeve Darrell. & those girls in the picture didn't even have any shirts.;) What about any leis?:D Looks like fun. I am looking forward to meeting a bunch of people from BRF as well as seeing some old friends.
Bill, that's about what I was thinking so I'll do some testing with my 500mm lens. In my experience you don't want to get too close to a structure like a levy or dam as it seems to have some ground effects causing a boat to lift. I think even a slight breeze against a solid wall tends to back up causing air to pack in and make a boat handle squirrely.
I've been trying to book this trip since 6 CST. I finally got all concluded but the hotel. These so called internet bookies don't provide all the info and assume if you are doing it through the internet, you know your way around. I got so confused about the info they wanted I was using words not allowed here. They said my middle name was optional. When they got to the part to complete it they asked for additonal drivers. There was none. What they actually wanted was my full name to see if I was not a risk, but I could not complete the form without naming myself as an additional person. Not a very well set up questionnaire. I would have given my middle name in the first place if it wasn't optional. So I am expecting after I check in at the hotel how come I registered as one when there is an additional person.;):D
So I will get there around noon on Thursday. Check in. Then head out for the race course. Carl...I will start hounding Alan tommorrow if I haven't heard anything by then.
Here's the deal. The Mckean team will be running an oil cooled motor if everything clicks. The water is very cold. Optimum performance from motors comes from proven temperature ranges. Outboards are cooled from water circulating throughout the water jacket from whatever water source they are operating in. Water in-water out. This system that will be on the McKean record attempts will be a closed loop system. Vapor Trail Racing has utilized the basic concept in other forms very successfully in auto racing. It is not the envisioned final set up at this point, but it will be the first step of a proving ground for the ultimate setup. At this point it remains a long shot, but if the trials prove out, this first stage could very well be a historical moment in outboard history. Of all the many developments in the marine engine history, one constant remains the coolant. The Oroville Kilos could set some rethinking of this standard in motion.
Bill, I was looking on a map and was figuring the kilos would be just off the Oroville Dam Road. Is that correct? And where would the pits be?
Yes that is correct Oroville Dam Blvd is Hwy 162. Follow my Directions from SMF airport on a earlier post. I will PM you my phone nbrs.
Okay Bill, I'll do the same. I will be bringing the autograph collection now instead of shipping it. I need to go through my photos and print up some of people I think may show up so I can add to the collection. Rich Fuschlin is bringing fuel for the McKeans so I know I need to find one of him.
Jim McKean is flying in hooked up to IV's in a wheelchair with a VRP motor so I don't know how much help the attendant's will give there. Joe Flow is flying in with all the canisters, pumps, and secrets hooked up to clear plastic tubing, so I don't know how much security is going to help there. Luckily, I will arrive before any of them get to security.;):D I went through that before in Nigeria when they wanted to know if my 50 some odd little metal cans with screw on lids were "Bom-bes".:eek::D:cool:
Sean is already there at Oroville. Talked with Joe Flow and Jim McKean earlier. We are all still on go. Even without kilos, we have testing to get done and the next stop may have to be Florida. But we have airline tickets and all the expenses already dumped into Oroville, so in the meantime it may only be us on the water with a competition set up if nothing else.
If you are still coming to test you might want to test at the south forebay. Take Grand ave go west. It is not far from the kilo site. You might have a short window Friday between storms. Give me a call and I will drive up. If you guys don't string me up.
Wayne:
If you are still heading out, I highly recommend eating at The Depot in downtown Oroville. Anywhere you go, it's always good to tell the locals you are there from where you are from, to enjoy the boat races. That town is so supportive of the races they should be used as a model to promote racing events all around the country.
Last time we were there, the hostess was dumbfounded that we were not Cheryl Rucker. Apparently, she made this big reservation, and we got there just ahead of it...The lady is asking us stuff like "Are you sure you are not Cheryl Rucker?" I had to show her my license to prove it... .The food was great!
We will be testing at Lake Hodges this weekend for Bakersfield....Other than the drive, I love Oroville!
Things were looking good again until a couple of hours ago Skootnz. The plans were to test the "Hot Foot" and see what corrections, if any. were necessary. I had already talked to Bill about moving to the Oroville racing site when Joe Flow called and said Sean was pulling out in the morning. I didn't know he just got married and was on a short fuse to catch a plane for their honeymoon in Italy. Can't say I blame him for not wanting to hang around for some test runs.:D
I'll call you in the morning Bill.
Sorry about the confusion John, but it was late last night when we got the call and I was tired and bummed out when I wrote that. We were still committed to going and Bill was very gracious and offered us some help with a pickup boat and etc. Since there will be stock nationals there in 2010, Bill and I were talking about getting the media down there and other leaders from Oroville down to the test site to show them what we were working on and getting some boat racing publicity to the public. Didn't matter that it was a different category. I think boat racing publicity always helps, no matter the category. The final outcome was though, that Sean and Lorraine McKean were anxious to begin their honeymoon and take off for Italy. Without the driver, there was no point in any of us going, so bottom line is no McKean or Vapor Trail Racing will be there.
wayne, don't you still have your helmet and jacket :D its only a test run :eek:
what i missed following this thread is, did they cancel the kilos? i was kind of getting an itch to come watch you guys run.
when you said fla next are you talking about a kilo or the title series race? thanks bill
Yeah Bill, cancellation was the problem. We were going to find a place just to run and test the HOT FOOT. Right now it looks like Jim is going to set up a test session in a few weeks at Corsicana, then go to the title series race in Florida. It's only about a 5 or 6 hour drive to Corsicana for me if I can get away, but Joe is in Colorado. I might be able to make Florida, but depends on what's going on and how the Corsicana testing goes. Joe is working with AJ Foyt testing some of his valves and if that goes well at the end of this month in Homestead, Florida Joe may be able to take some of the Vapor Trail Racing people to Foyt's facility in Waller, Texas after Corsicana. Keep your fingers crossed.
BTW, I left my helmet and life jacket in Berlin. I don't think they can find them.;):D
Wayne, I will have two Euro style boats at Inverness with 250cc VRP's on them that you need to take for a test ride for old time sake.......:D
If the testing at Corsicana goes well, there is a great likelihood I will go there, but with offers like that from you two guys....I don't know. If Joe Rome is not there to keep me in control I might be tempted.;):D Might be best to stay away. But then Paul Simison is close by and Paul Christner isn't too far either. A great chance to see some old East Coast friends.:cool:
Jim and Sean McKean along with the Vapor Trail Racing group will gather on the banks of Lake Corsicana on March 15 & 16 to test the world's first oil cooled/ temperature controlled outboard hydroplane. If all goes well, it will be interesting to watch under racing conditions a couple of weeks later at Inverness.
Dang, call that bad boy a machine gun!