October 25, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Grants Pass, Or) -- The Cal-Ore River Racers Association (CORRA) held its first off-season meeting Saturday, October 21st in Grants Pass, Oregon and presented the newly named ‘Don Burnison High Point Championship’ awards, and elected new Officers.
54-year old Roger Sanderson of Hoopa, California accepted the Championship trophy as the veteran racer won 4 of the 7 races during the 2017 summer season.
It’s Sanderson’s 5th U.S. Championship piloting the #B200 Circle-K, Oregon-California Supply boat. He has over 45 career victories to his credit and won his first race in 1984.
Cameron Kirkland and Jesse Reinhart, both of Grants Pass, accepted the 2nd Place, and 3rd Place season Championship trophies.
The 32-year old Kirkland earned his first two career victories this summer in the Mike Friesen built Sunworks sponsored #68 hydroplane grabbing back-to-back wins at Klamath, California, and Gold Beach, Oregon.
Reinhart, meantime, who won two races in 2016 and finished runner-up in the season Championship, made his way on the podium with three 2nd Place finishes this year running the #17 Applegate Well Drilling boat.
Sanderson, Kirkland, Reinhart, and veteran Jeff Lewis are the only racers to find the winner’s circle over 21 races in the last 3 years.
‘Rookie of the Year’ honors went to (#05) Robert Buckman, and ‘Hard Luck Driver’ is Karl Norton (#77). Both young racers are from Hoopa, California.
The ‘Cal-Ore/Don Burnison High Point Championship’ payout is funded by Nowlin Financial of Tennessee.
Tim Nowlin (#97) is a former club Champion and Boatnik winner who dominated the sport in 1987. His company has contributed $3,000 the last two seasons toward the Championship series.
In addition to the awards portion of the annual meeting, the Cal-Ore attending Members also elected new Officers to lead the Executive Board through the 2019 season.
Veteran racer Jude (Norvin) Hostler of Hoopa was selected as the new President succeeding Matt Richardson. Jim Eldred of Grants Pass was voted the Vice-President.
Jay Reese is the new Secretary. Carmie Hostler assumes the Treasurer position, and Cameron Kirkland is the Driver’s Rep.
CORRA’s next meeting is set for December 16th in Eureka, California. For results, schedule, history, bios, and pictures, visit ‘caloreriveracers.com’
