News!

UP NEXT: 2007 SEASON!

Winter Work
S49: reduce weight by 300 lbs; based on performance, we are having props reworked and carburetor changed; work on engine timeing to come off turns harder; adjust power band to come in sooner.
 

2006 SEASON      

Oct. 7-8

PA little emotional due to recent loss of friend Paul Sohn over the Labor Day weekend in Port Deposit, MD.  In honor of Paul, a sticker was placed on our boats to remember him.

PWeather this weekend was cold; there was a threat of rain all weekend, but we did race.

• 2.5 LTR. stock
  Had an "OK" start during the Saturday qualifier. Was 3 sec. off and finished 5th. This was a smaller course and I was studying ways to improve the boat during the off-season so we can be a front runner next season.
  During the final, the engine bogged down due to the prop. being too big. I was 4 sec. off for the start and finished in 3rd place.
  1st qualifier: fifth place
  Final: third place

• 1.5 LTR. modified
  NDuring the Saturday qualifier, the wind squall created very rough water. I couldn't run more than half throttle. During the 3rd lap, turn 1, the steering shaft came apart from the capsule and landed in my lap. I pulled back up and had control of the boat. I moved to the outside and saw flares and red light from the safety boats. At the same time, Adam Wilson had blown over going into turn 3. With all that, I still finished 3rd place.
  Qualifier: third place

Aug. 18 - 20/Hampton Cup Regatta, Ft. Monroe/Hampton, VA

PHot weather, but no nearly as hot as Cambridge, MD in July! We had a great outlook going into Hampton race ~ our hometown! The water was perfect all weekend. Several friends and family members stopped by to watch, visit, or just give support. There was lots of excitement before the race as local TV and newspaper reporters interviewed DJ about the combination of military service in Iraq and love of boat racing back home. WAVY TV 10, our local NBC affiliate, and the Daily Press ran stories about DJ and Wilson Racing. Even the Armed Forces network did a piece that was aired overseas! With all the excitement, DJ found time to escort General Wallace around the Ft. Monroe race site.

• 2.5 LTR. stock
  Ran qualifier ~ 1st qualifier was a good start. Adjusted the jetting up to 73 and found 73 to be too high (engine bogged down in mid-turns). The boat ran well during the 2nd qualifier on Saturday. Great start ~ running up front with leaders. I got a clear idea of why this boat wasn't running well with seasoned vets: we were very fast, but the others beat us coming off mid-turns to front straightaway. Then our speed at mid-straightaway was equal to top boat until turns. Good diagnosing run.
  Sunday's final saw a "messed up" start. The engine was bogged down and driver did not anticipate. I had the outside lane, was late getting up to the 1 minute gun and needed to be earlier. Still had a decent run. Fuel pump wire broke off when I hit a wave. The boat went way up into the air and landed hard.
  2nd qualifier: fifth place

• 1.5 LTR. modified
  This boat can make a flying start and get the outside lane. I made a "crowd run" (real fast right in front of the crowd, turn hard, spray, wave to the crowd). Good runs all weekend.
  During the final race I was side-by-side with Adam Wilson. I barely beat him by a boat length! Very enjoyable racing; lots of fun!
  all races: finished third place

JULY 28 - 30/Cambridge, MD

PHot! Hot! Hot! Despite the 100+ heat index each day (and a scary, fast rainstorm that came through Saturday afternoon!), we had a great weekend of racing for the North American Championships.

We ran one qualifier on July 28th for both boats. Had rough water all weekend. Friday & Saturday were qualifiers for the championship race on Sunday.

• 2.5 LTR. stock
  Raced one time on Friday and one time on Saturday for qualifiers for Sunday finals. Great starts both days. Ran final Saturday for championship. Great starts in both heat races
  1st qualifier: fifth place
  2nd qualifier: fourth place
  N Second heat race ~ got the inside lane. We were run into by 2nd lane boat; not enough damage to keep us from running. Ran the final Saturday. We had the second lane and a great starting position. 3rd place boat took 2nd  place lane away, rode up his rooster tail. I had to back out of the throttle to keep from running him over. That boat received 2 penalties!
  
  We finished (salvaged) a 4th place finish Sunday & ran Cambridge Classic Sunday morning. The final Sunday afternoon was cancelled  due to high winds. The qualifier ended up being the final. We finished a respectable 5th.
  
  Stumbled upon more power by changing out the new spark plugs and performing a fuel mixture test. Moved up jetting: 69 - 72. Great learning weekend; confident going into Hampton ...
   

• 1 LTR. modified
  Made the finals for both heat races. We ran the final and had perfect starts. I jumped the gun on the final and had a 3rd place finish. Y54 ran the Cambridge Classic Sunday and finished 3rd.
     

JULY 7 - 9/Valleyfield, Canada
PWe loved Canada except for those high winds. The crowds exceeded 100,000 fans!

• 2.5 LTR. stock
  Qualifiers were run due to large number of boats (18) in 2.5 LTR.. stock class; 10 fastest boats qualified for final.
  1st qualifier
      time = 6:47; did not qualify; but, had 2 more chances
      conditions = high winds, choppy water w/rollers; good start; while running on the back straight had to back off to keep
          from blowing over; hit rollers in turn 3 and spun out!    
  2nd qualifier
      time = 6:15; no qual.
      conditions = same rough water; running in top 5, but cut off between 2 boats; had to let off & lost all momentum;
          leaders were at 4:36.
  3rd qualifier
      time = 5:02; QUALIFIED
      conditions = same; good start with a decent run; made final as a trailer boat
  Final: after waiting hours for high winds to die down, team engineer Durward Wilson, Sr. makes decision not to run 2.5 stock boat in this kind of water/wind; too much risk of damaging boat
   

• 1 LTR. modified
  1st qualifier
      time = 5:06; 2nd place
      conditions = very rough; boat ran very well; due to very rough conditions had to let off long before turns;  very good race!
  Final
      time = 5:06; 2nd place
      conditions = rough water/wind; boat ran very well; led 4 laps; lost lead on last lap to Mike Monahan in 2 cycle; had great
      side-by-side battle; Canadian fans on their feet!
   

JULY 1 - 2/Ogdensburg, NY
P Due to high winds and rough water, we were unable to race at all this weekend.

JUNE 10 - 11/Elizabeth City, NC
PThis was a new race for us and we had a blast!

• 2.5 LTR. stock
  Plagued with engine problems; running too rich; careful studying of cam timing and jets ~ problem solved
  Next morning: great racing weather: water was flat with only a 10mph wind down back straight; good start in 4th on the outside; engine ran very well
  
  Final: 3rd place (best the boat's ever run!) With cam & jet problems fixed, we were able to fine tune & focus on speed.
   

• 1.5 LTR.. modified
  conditions = winds were again a factor; water rough with rollers on Sunday;  only able to run half throttle
  
  Final: 2nd place

MAY 20 - 21/LAKE HAPATCONG, NJ
PDue to rough weather, we were only able to race on Saturday.

• 1.5 LTR. modified
  4th place
  conditions = windy/rough water

APRIL 22 - 23/PORTSMOUTH, VA
PDuring the winter, many changes were made to the 2.5 S class boat: weight/balance alterations, new exhaust manifold,
&  engine tuning.

• 1.5 LTR. modified
  3rd place
  conditions: great racing weather on Sat. made for very consistent racing; high winds on Sun. caused me to hit a 1.5 ft. wave   & barrel roll in turn 3; part of cowling damaged

• 2.5 LTR. stock
   plagued with engine problems; running too rich; tried to lean out. Problem better, but not solved ~ we need more testing and time!

Boat Specs.

	1 LTR. MODIFIED	2.5 LTR. STOCK
Name	"Pink Panther"	"Alpha Dog"
Length	14.5 feet	15.5 feet
Width	7.5 feet	8 feet
Engine	Ford 2000	Ford 2300
Speed	90 - 105 mph	90 - 115 mph
Course Layout	Circle Track

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