12 - 14 Nov 2010 HUNTSVILLE, AL Record Trial
Well we had PERFECT weather and the water was nearly a mirror image, ok that was all day Sat. but Sunday was a bit different. Saturday started the day off with some electric class records by Chris Krawczyk who came all the way from Canada to compete, he set two new records in electric classes! Q Mono 1/3 mile oval 28.307 seconds (old record 31.612 Sec) and N Mono 1/3 mile oval 31.735 seconds (old record 33.884 sec). Some of Chris's hardware was very impressive German made top of the line stuff! David Hall not wanting to be only a nitro head took aim at the N Electric Oval Hydro record and set a new record with a 26.901 sec, 44.608 MPH average. If it is nitro or electric David is FAST!
Sat. had some big twins show up and rip in some fast speeds, in mid 80's but this is not a record run mind you but rather some testing runs. One thing we should have taken advantage of the nice weather more but at the time we all were enjoying the great weather and fast boats to even notice the weather forecast for Sunday!
Sunday morning greeted us with rain, wind, and a bit cool. Well with the use of the Weather Channel we figured the rain would push past about 10AM and we SHOULD have some nice weather to finish out the weekend. Well Mr. Weather was full of it!!! The rain did stop, the winds dropped and the sun never came out nor did the temp. come up like they said it would. We did have some run time between the winds and the lake was very calm for some time but then the wind would pick up and make it much to rough for the little A hydro. If you wanted a record today you would have to keep a eye out for the conditions and then jump in and grab the run time mother nature gave us. David was fighting with the small motor, it would not run up and was having troubles just completing a run most of the morning. Work continued debugging the troubles with several pipes, plugs, props, and needle settings with limited success. Then when David was about to call it quits I suggested some other fuel. We drained the old fuel out and filled her up with some new stuff and gave her one more chance to answer the bell. The little motor screamed to life, much better then the attempts made all morning so far. I launched the little rigger and off she went like she had new life once again! Was this some cruel ploy by the boat to raise our hopes only to smash them down later? Perhaps the little boat knew its very life depended on going fast or going in the dumpster! A few more tweaks on the boat and she was ripping up the lake like we have seen in the past. Could the record be set with a boat that was acting up, weather that went form good to forget about it in a few minutes and this after working on it all weekend long? Well one more small tweak and the little rigger went in the water, near perfect water at that time, David put the little boat WAY out away from the timing lights and opened the throttle to let her eat! (Ok a small .12 motor does not eat, it nibbles!) The NR motor was revved so high only dogs could hear it! But the first pass was over 80 MPH, now came the hard part get turned around, lined up and back that backup pass! David's knee's knocked almost as fast as the NR as he ripped past the front straight and triggered the timing lights. A hush fell over the crowd (10 is a crowd right?) as the numbers for that run were called out, a NEW record was set!!!!! 80.529 MPH for the small A hydro!!!! David was almost not able to walk down from the drivers stand! Many hours of work went in to this record attempt, and I for one can say it was a hard fought battle to win. Congraulations David on a job well done! Just think about it some of the twins that ran only made it into the 80's and this little boat (only weighs in about the same as a twin's cowl!) was faster!!! David's top speed was 81.374 MPH.
Photos/Video
David Hall with his record setting JAE Super Lite .12 boat, please note the water surface!
YouTube link to some 80+ MPH passes.