By DAVID SHAW
The Kent Narrows Racing Association hosted the 22nd Annual Thunder on The Narrows on June 9 and 10 at the Kent Island Yacht Club. As always, when KNRA hosts an event, the hospitality is spectacular, starting with a welcoming party Friday night at the famous Red Eyes Dock Bar. Saturday night the party moved to the “Best Crab Fest in the U.S.,” featuring the music of John Hurley, after the races, and a racer’s breakfast buffet at the Kent Island Yacht Club on Sunday morning. All of this is in addition to efforts of every club member to do whatever it took to make the entire weekend enjoyable from the moment you arrive, until you head back home.
Local residents start to show up on Thursday to secure a good spot for their tent. The first boats of a large spectator fleet also arrived on Thursday so they could be certain to anchor in their favorite spot.
When you add some terrific racing to the hospitality, you know why Kent Island is the place to be on race weekend. This year, the KNRA raised their game even higher, as they hosted a championship event for the first time in club history. The North American Championships for Jersey Speed Skiff was contested on Saturday.
Coming from Florida to Michigan and every place in between, 16 teams came prepared to take home the title. Three qualifying heats determined the seven fastest boats for the final. Before the start Js-65 “KISS” limped back to the pits with a broken water line, so six boats hit the start and the mad dash to turn one was on. Halfway down the back stretch, Tom Pakradooni’s JS-7, “Rolling Thunder,” with Pak driving and Billy Sewell riding, grabbed the lead, followed closely by Trevor Kirsh’s JS-100, “Summer Storm” (Jimmie Stewart /Peg Ewancio) a close second. The rest of the pack was in hot pursuit, hoping for the leaders to make a mistake. Announcer Mitch Brown kept the crowd informed on the action, including the difference in handling characteristics between two-blade and four-blade props, as well as different shaft angles effect on the setup of the boats. When the heat ended, it was JS-7, Pakradooni, first, JS-1, Kirsh, second and the team of Leonard Outlaw and L.E. Outlaw working their way up to third. In addition to the North American Championship title, Pakradooni also received the Paul Sohn Memorial Award winning the Saturday race.
On hand were six Pro Stocks to vie for the James Curtis Memorial Award, which was also contested on Saturday. Dale Hernandez made the long drive from Minnesota worthwhile when he when he put his PS-516 “Cherokee Thunder’s Revival” firmly into the lead from start to finish, to win the award named for his friend. When the awards were given on Saturday night, Dale declared, “I love this place. This is my new Valleyfield.” Defending National Champion, Tom Richmond, ran a strong second in his PS-9 “Swipes Richmond Racing”, and Derek Anderson, driving Gilbert Rousse PS-103,” Illusion” took third place honors.
There were 12 drivers for the J-Stocks, including a large number of first time racers. All of them did an outstanding job, and came in with smiles on their faces. The final order of finish, on Saturday, was Austin Price, first in his 36E, Jeremy Brockson second in his 370E and Baily outlaw Third in his 810Z.
Saturday also featured three five-liters, with Bobby Kennedy finishing first in Budget Buster Racing’s “Big Bird by Pennzoil”, followed by Scott Liddycoat in Ralph Cattaneo’s E-50 “Pintail Mistress.” Carl Rodman’s E-67 had a mechanical failure and did not finish.
Also in attendance were four 2.5 mods, however, Chuck Miller couldn’t get the A-54,”Whoopee” to whoop, so only three hit the water. Greg Isaac’s A-47 “Blitzkreig,” with Bobby Kennedy aiming, was up against the rev limiter the entire time, but had a good lead even before Carter Parrish’s A-73 “CP Racing” with Scott Liddycoat in the seat and Clarence Pfaff’s A-19 ‘A-Team,” with Kenny Walton in the seat, gave up the chase.
The 2.5 stocks had six teams in attendance, all good boats so it would come down to driver skill, strategy and luck. Charlie Williams’ new S-216, “Sea Land Specialties” had trouble with overheating and returned to the pits. In the first heat, Brandon Kennedy jumped out to the lead in his S-25 “Shameless Say What” and could not be caught. Mike Grendell’s CS-79 claimed second with Doug Rapp driving, and after a rare blown start, Bobby Kennedy was closing ground on the leaders, and finished 3rd in Sam Horner’s S-88, “Playin Again”
For the first time the 1.5 liters had new company, Tim Lee converted his S-81 to T-81, and Tom Ebeling purchased the T-444 from Blair Davis, and renumbered it T-22. In total five 1.5 liters attended the race. The qualifier saw Brandon Kennedy first in Wayne Hagatha’s T-1 “Trophy Hunter,” followed by Matt Henning in John Shaw’s T-125, “My Shameless Mistake”, and Richard Shaw third in Tim Lee’s T-81 “Ridiculous Expectations.” The final had Brandon first (T-1), followed by Jim Benson’s T-518 “Son uva Bad Boy” and Matt Henning third.
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Added to the show were six 1 Litre’s. Chris Hall worked all week to get the Y-97 “Bluewater Special” back together after last weekend’s flip at Elizabeth City, Paul Price, a long time racer who is new to the Inboard Category, brought his Y-36 and Jim Davis brought his Y-444. Also in attendance was Valerie Wilson’s Y-54 “Pink Panther,” Bob Wilson’s Y-80 “Outlaw” and Bobby Weaver’s Y-563 “Lobster Boat”. In the final it was Weaver’s “Lobster Boat” with Chuck Miller piloting, finishing first. Hall’s “Bluewater Special” in second and Valerie Wilson’s “Pink Panther” with D.J. Wilson driving in third. Y-80, Y-36, and Y-444 were still dialing in their two cycle engines.
Sunday brought more clear skies, gentle breezes and slightly warmer temperatures. The famous Kent Island ‘resident roller” had said hello a few times, but basically behaved itself all day Saturday, and took it easy on us on Sunday also.
The J-Stocks started the day Sunday; once again Austin Price (36E) showed that he was the best in the field, followed by Jeremy Brockson (370E), and Ryan Murphy (113E). Wesley Brockson, Ciara McClure, Mason McClure, and Kevin Murphy also made their driving debuets this weekend and all did a good job.
The 1.5 Litre’s had an unexpected result as Richard Shaw, in Time Lee’s “Ridiculous Expectations” grabbed an early lead and steadily pulled away from the field. Brandon Kennedy in the T-1 finished second, and Matt Henning took third in the T-125.
The 1 Litres had Bob Wilson’s Y-80 with Keith McMullen driving swap heat wins with Chris Halls Bluewater Special, Y-80 took the final, and Paul Price got his Y-36 “Schroeder” running much better to take a pair of thirds.
National Mod and 2.5 Litre Mod were combined for Sunday’s race. On the course Chuck Miller in Lemual Thompson’s NM-200, “Lauterbach Special” was followed by Greg Isaac’s A-47 and Amy Brockson in Bill McCowans “Sonic Speed.”
The 2.5 Litre Stocks, were very competitive with the four finishers swapping positions each heat. Sam Horner’s S-88 finished with a 1st and a 3rd, Al Thompson’s S-92 “Tenacity” finished with a 3rd & a 4th, Mike Grendell’s CS-79, “Bad Influence,” with Scott Liddycoat driving had a 4th and a 1st, and Brandon Kennedy in his S-25 had a pair of 2nd’s.
The skiffs put on their usual fantastic show, in the final, once again it was Pakradooni’s JS 7 taking the crown, followed by Trevor Kirsh’s JS-1 and Tom Peterson’s JS-77 with Tom driving and Brittany Sohn riding. It was also good to see Jay Hardy, JS-22 “Insufficient Funds”, and Keith Gunther, JS-23, make their driving/owner debuts. Phillip Marney continues to impress in Ken Gallup’s JS-47 “Disorderly Conduct.” Amy Brockson debuted her JS-47 “Skiff~N~Pretty.” And it always a pleasure to welcome Dennis Macy with his JS-45 “The Menace.”
In the Pro Stock’s, was all Dale Hernandez as he won each heat by about 20 seconds. Tom Richmond finished second and Derek Anderson finished third. Although Mel Trevochka, PS-96”had mechanical troubles during the first heat, and was unable to repair the engine for the rest of the weekend, it was greatly appreciated that he made the trip from Canada to support the event.
At the end of the day, after the vintage drivers put on their incredible show, the race teams packed up to head home, and KNRA club members started taking things down. Race Chairman Chris Oliver, Jr. was already trying to see what he could do to make the “23rd Annual Thunder on the Narrows” even better. Dennis Macy comment, “I love this place, it is my favorite race” made all the work to put the event on worth it. Like all events, the club members can not put the event on without the help and support of many local businesses and services. Thank you to all.