Don't let it fade away

[1100r]

Was re reading seacows post on tight courses close to shore. I enjoyed racing at Lodi Lake and if you ever raced there you know how small a course that was with crowds around most of the entire course except the west side and cement walls around the Lake. I remember one year Teri Johnson was the referee or the assit dont remember now but she was going to have the 1100r run an elimination heat instead of letting all 12 of us run as this was a very small course and most of us understood. But knowing that the spectators at most races love the 1100r we wanted to give them a show. So Rich Fuschlin talked to Teri and later the drivers along with Teri held a seperate meeting and we all were able to run all 12. Rich knew that all of us had run together at so many races and we all agreed to do that put on a show and the last 2 laps go for it. Needless to say it was a blast but the waves coming off the cement walls never allowed us to open them all the way up probably a good thing.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

That's the kind of stuff we never forget Todd. And it's what boat racers do. Never raced at Lodi, but heard lots about it. The respect of top racers like Rich go a long way toward making things happen. He is a true boat racer and wanting the event to go on for the sport and spectators is what boat racing is all about. Thanks for sharing that story.

[seacow]

Lodi was an ultimate boat race showcase. So were the 1100s and even more so on a short course. And those throngs of spectators from the central valley before Lodi became a higher end wine suburb of Sacramento loved every minute of the show. Ive participated in so many races on the west coast and in Canada and spectated at many more, including Unlimiteds, nationals and even great races down under. For me, nothing matched the thrill of watching and hearing and feeling the power of the 1100s at Lodi..nothing, ever - not even good sex! During the final years of Lodi I flew from Virginia to N. CA just to spectate at Lodi. I would gladly trade 2 seasons of actually racing for one more weekend of just eating the pancake breakfast, listening to the live Dixieland band, watching the 4th fireworks over the lake, spectating at Lodi and seeing the 1100s or FRRs running there again. It was the essence and epitome of racing and the inner experience of small town USA and July 4th. Union 76 once realized this and had a promotional brochure for their products featuring boat racing with photos of the FRRs at Lodi. Someone should have made a professional movie about those times.

[Ron Hill]

Greg Foster's family owns a crane business and they install many bridges in th middle of the night with their cranes. I asked Greg if his Freeway Lights would light a lake so we could race at night? He said, "Sure".

I've always thought night racing would be so great for boat racing!

Two reasons:

1. People who like boats, play with their boats during the day.
2. Some places, like Lodi Lake, get hotter than hell during the summer days.

In my next life, I plan to promote Night Racing at Lodi Lake on July 4th, with racing and fire works.

Lodi Lake was the greatest race in California. Spectators (By the thousands) would hang their legs over the side the sea wall, and when you came around you could spray them. Fun, fun course. Usually, the 4th wasn't a weekend, so we'd drive up and sleep in the park....that crunching sound under your sleeping bag was snails.

Seacow, you have a thread called "Lost Water" California has much LOST WATER........