The U13 Dick Scott Automotive group presents Miss Detroit Yacht Club unlimited hydroplane made its way to the Detroit River early Saturday morning. Dave Bartushs green and yellow hydroplane made its way to the water early in the first testing and qualifying session. Driver J Michael Kelly, from Puyallup, Washington took the boat out for a slow first run, as the crew was looking to make sure everything that was repaired was going to perform to expectations. After a slight adjustment the boat returned to the water a second time. “Our main focus was to get the boat on the water. We would have made it out on the water last night, but the motor was not up to par.” Stated crew Chief Curt Taverner. After his morning ride the young man stated, “the boat ride was GREAT! This boat handles so much better than when we were in Evansville, IN. We are going to make a motor change and go back out this morning.
Hats off to the Curt and the crew for the Herculean effort they put forth after the rear of the boat was damaged in Evansville’s final heat when the propeller let go. “This team really works well together, “ stated Dave Bartush, owner of the U13.
With rain moving in, the morning heats had to be readjusted. The U13’s heat was left the same however they hopped heat 1B back to 11:10am EDT. And yet another rain delay caused the heat to be run at 12:55pm and what a heat it was. JMK was ready to show the guys on the beach he was ready to be a formidable spoiler in their quest for the Gold. Kelly in one of the strongest boats as he says the team has given him. At the start Kelly took the Mighty 13 through a pre race shakedown with a hot lap before the start. “ I was not sure I could cut the course so I just let her fly.” And what a start he had. In fourth lane Kelly screamed down to a Bill Muncey like start charging hard. Through the first turn,. Jean Theoret and Steve David, and Kelly all three hit the turn at the same time. With all three teams wanting points each had to do as best as he could. In the finish of the heat it was Jean Theoret and Steve David one two, with J Michael Kelly pushing them as hard as he could to take third.
Rain once again plagued Saturday’s racing program for the American Power Boat Association’s Gold Cup on the Detroit River. The U13 Dick Scott presents Miss DYC was set and all systems were go as J Michael once again drew a fast heat. In this heat Mike had to race against buddies Jeff Bernard in the U5 formulaboats.com, winner of his first heat, and David Bryant driving for Kim Gregory’s U10, and Dr Ken Muscatel driving the boat he owns the U25 Miss Jarvis. “ I just want to go out and run a clean heat, no problems just gain points for the final tomorrow,” was the comment JMK made before the heat was ran.
Heat 2B was the best heat of the day for the U13 racing team as JMK and his old buddy Jeff Bernard hooked up for one barn burner of a race. The start the heat was delayed 10 minutes as the course had to be reset and the Oberto was towed back in from an earlier heat. Pulling away from the dock, the Mighty 13 engine caught a little waster and gave Mike fits but finally lit as he pulled in front of the Grandstand here in Detroit.
Flying into the start, Kelly took lane two and the U7 formulaboats.com took lane one. With the seven on his inside, Kelly had Bernard where he wanted as they dueled deck to deck for four laps. Holding his own against the fast running seven Kelly took second place honors for Gold Cup heat 2B. “It was fun running against my old buddy Jeff” stated an elated J Michael at the finish of the heat.
After the heat a normally quite Curt Tavener was all smiles, “After the last two weeks we needed that one.”