By Michael Mackey
Excellent water conditions and hot weather were on tap for the 2012 Rochelle Regatta, hosted by Marine Racing Club of Illinois. Boats from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan all took to Lake Sule for a fantastic, full weekend of testing and racing, including a driving school for two new prospective racers.
With the help of many MRC and Badger State Outboard Association (BSOA) members, everything was in place to provide three hours of open testing late Friday afternoon.
Among the “new” and “firsts” at Rochelle; Gene Schertz ran his new ASR rig (71-V) and was looking great. Karsten Pavlick stepped up from JH and JR and got behind the wheel of an AXH (425-V) and AXR (V) for the first time. Wisconsin rookie driver Brandon Ortlieb (521-W) continues to improve in BSR and is running up front and mixing it up with the veterans. Another cheese head rookie, John Hoffman (15-W) continues to show his prowess in his OMC-powered Hansen Hull in ASH and 200MH. Mikey Pavlick made his triumphant return to racing driving 325-V in JH. Holden Mackey unveiled his newly-designed Lola Hydro in ASH (34-V) and looked very racy. Mackinnon “Mac” Pfalzer (999-V) and his Dad, Kenn are new to racing and MRC just this year, and have attended every race in the area. Mac is running JH, JR, AXH, and AXR; getting a lot of boat time; and is working hard at honing his driving skills. The Pfalzers are really enthusiastic about racing, are always there to lend a hand, and are a true asset to MRC. Driving for Team Warnock is rookie Mina Kopplin, tearing up the course and getting things done in 200MH in the 64-W boat.
The Driving School introduced two new young men to the wonderful world of Stock Outboard racing. Ryan Shipton and Jesse O’Shea took turns driving Paul Pittman’s rig (3-H) in 20SSH and CSH respectively. Both Shipton and O’Shea learned a lot in the driving school, and demonstrated their knowledge and driving prowess with the seasoned racers.
2012 marked the fourth consecutive year of great weather and racing conditions in Rochelle, save for a brief squall that passed through and interrupted the beginning of Sunday’s program. Racing action was delayed for about an hour as groups hunkered down in makeshift bunkers, ate chips, junk food, and sodas, while they laughed and had a good time as they rode out the storm.
MRC would like to offer a special Thank You to Monica Allen, John Korbus, George Young, and the rest of the Race Committee for their hard work making this race successful.
Thanks also to Tad Olson and “Chicago” Paul Nielander for donating trophies for drivers in the Junior Category. As announced at the Driver’s Meeting, this was “Chicago’s” last race as a driver, and he is moving on to Tennessee to see what he can see down there. Guess he will now be affectionately known as “Nashville” Nielander? Thanks, Paul for seven years of hard work and dedication to Stock Outboard racing.
Results
JH – Satruday
1 - 31W - Michelle Snyder
2 - 10V - Cole Olson
3 - X - Jared Pavlick
JH – Sunday
1 - 31W - Michelle Snyder
2 - 325V - Jared Pavlick
3 - X - Mikey Pavlick
JR – Saturday
1 - 10V - Cole Olson
2 - 11W - Mikey Pavlick
3 - V - Karsten Pavlick
AXH – Saturday
1 - 31W - Michelle Snyder
2 - 6H - Erin Pittmann
3 - 425V - Karsten Pavlick
AXH – Sunday
1 - 46V - Michael Shepard
2 - 86M - Laura Wheeler
3 - 6H - Erin Pittmann
4 - 999V - Mac Pfalzer
5 - 31W - Michelle Snyder
6 - 425V - Karsten Pavlick
AXR – Saturday
1 - 8S - Laura Wheeler
2 - V - Karsten Pavlick
3 - 999V - Mac Pfalzer
AXR – Sunday
1 - 8S - Laura Wheeler
2 - 999V - Mac Pfalzer
3 - V - Karsten Pavlick
ASH – Satruday
1 - 46V - Michael Shepard
2 - 64W - Rachel Warnock
3 - 1C - Bruce Hansen
4 - 15W - John Hoffmann
5 - 34V - Holden Mackey
ASH – Sunday
1 - 46V - Michael Shepard
2 - 15W - John Hoffmann
3 - 6H - Erin Pittmann
4 - 34V - Holden Mackey
ASR – Saturday
1 - 62W - Jace Scheffler
2 - 1V - Bill Pavlick
3 - 61W - Jeff Scheffler
4 - 1C - Bruce Hansen
5 - 71V - Gene Schertz
ASR – Sunday
1 - 61W - Jeff Scheffler
2 - 1V - Bill Pavlick
3 - 62W - Jace Scheffler
4 - 71V - Gene Schertz
BSR – Satruday
1 - 92W - Cooper Jess
2 - 521W - Brandon Prtlieb
3 - 18W - Jon Evans
4 - 24W - Dave Hemp
BSR – Sunday
1 - 92W - Cooper Jess
2 - 24W - Dave Hemp
3 - 18W - Jon Evans
4 - 521W - Brandon Ortlieb
20SSH – Saturday
1 - 25V - Mike Pavlick
2 - 225V - Donny Allen
3 - 7W - Kurt Nydahl
4 - 68V - Carter Olson
5 - 62V - Jim Fairchild
20SSH – Sunday
1 - 225V - Donny Allen
2 - 7W - Kurt Nydahl
3 - 662V - Dakota Fairchild
4 - 62V - Jim Fairchild
5 - 3H - Ryan Shipton
CSH – Saturday
1 - W71 - Amy Nydahl
2 - 75V - John Korbus
3 - 21V - Michael Mackey
4 - 11W - Donny Allen
CSH – Sunday
1 - 11W - Donny Allen
2 - W71 - Amy Nydahl
3 - V - Tad Olson
4 - 75V - John Korbus
5 - 21V - Michael Mackey
6 - 3H - Jesse O’Shea
DSH – Saturday
1 - 39W - Brent Walbrun
2 - 36W - Larry Terzinski
3 - 69W - Kip Trumpulis
4 - 18W - Ralph Immell
DSH – Sunday
1 - 36W - Larry Terzinski
2 - 39W - Brent Walbrun
3 - 18W - Ralph Immell
4 - 69W - Kip Trumpulis
200 MH – Saturday
1 - 1C - Bruce Hansen
2 - 44W - Andy Hansen
3 - 2W - Jace Scheffler
4 - 64W - Mina Kopplin
5 - 15W - John Hoffmann
6 - 29W - Roger Przybyla
200 MH – Sunday
1 - 44W - Andy Hansen
2 - 1C - Bruce Hansen
3 - 15W - John Hoffmann
4 - 29W - Roger Przybyla
5 - 2W - Jace Scheffler
6 - 64W - Mina Kopplin
200MR – Saturday
1 - 8W - Andy Hansen
2 - 1V - Bruce Hansen
3 - 62W - Jace Scheffler
4 - 61W - Jeff Scheffler
200 MR – Sunday
1 - 61 W - Jeff Scheffler
2 - 8W - Andy Hansen
3 - 1V - Bruce Hansen
4 - 62W - Jace Scheffler
750 MH – Saturday
1 - 36W - Larry Terzinski
2 - 16M - Mark Wheeler
3 - 18W - Ralph Immell
4 - 23W - Rod Terzinski
750 MH – Sunday
1 - 36W - Larry Terzinski
2 - 16M - Mark Wheeler
3 - 18W - Ralph Immell
4 - 23W - Rod Terzinski
OSY 400 – Saturday
1 - 52V - Paul Nielander
2 - 25V - Donny Allen
3 - 68V - Carter Olson