Originally Posted by
Bill Van Steenwyk
As most of you who know me are aware, one of the three folks most responsible for my success in boat racing (two National Championships, most all the competition records in the class at one time, the Kilo record, and a Hall of Championship induction in 1986) was Harry Pasturczak who built the engines used in those competitions. The ZAK Award that is presented every year by Mike Krier and I, and the other contributors, is given in his name.
Another person is my wife Eileen, and anybody who has a wife that supports their racing, no matter the type, knows how important that relationship is.
The third person most responsible, and just as important as the other two, was Ken Krier. He built all the boats, both Hydros from 1980, and the Runabout I ran in 86, that were instrumental/used in the Championships and records that made the HOC induction possible. Later in 2003, the Hydro that won the 125CC National and World Championship with Tim Brinkman driving, and his HOC induction, also came from his boat shop.
I knew Ken from the late 60's, and everything written about him, both here and on Hydroracer, is a true indication of his worth as both a boat builder/racer for our sport, and as the epitome of a kind and decent human being that I NEVER heard a bad word said about, nor ever heard anything similar come out of his mouth about anyone else.
If anyone could have one wish, it should be to be remembered as Ken will be, not only as someone who contributed greatly to our sport through his boat designing and building efforts, but most of all as one the most decent and good of human beings.
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