WRC Guys & Gals,
To put a cap on the last meet of the year, if you missed it, we are sad that you weren’t able to attend ! The Atwood Lake meet has been hosted by Mike Seachrist, who has given his best for the past 18 years ! With that said, Mike informed me that this will be his last year doing the Atwood Lake meet ! As sad as that is, we gave Mike and Judy a round of applause for their dedication to our club and being a main supporter of our WRC !
For Peg and Me, we slept in and missed getting off at our usual time to arrive at the meet ! While I was checking the boat (at about 8:15) to make sure I hadn’t forgot anything I got a phone call from my good friend Bill Jatzek asking where everyone was ? He said there was no one and wonder if he was in the wrong location ? I assured him if he was where I told him to go in my email then he was in the right place ! I told Bill I gotta go as I’m already late !
After stopping for our usual cup of coffee at the Speedway we were on our way. As we were working our way thru the back roads on Rt.212 we got another call from Maryann, Domenic’s young lady. She warned us that the bathrooms at the launch area were closed and if we needed to use the facilities we’d better stop before we got there and said here’s Dom to tell you were the closest bathrooms were, which was just before the dam ! Thanks to Maryann and Dom for giving us a heads up !
Arrived at the meet slightly late but in time to see most of the guys gathered around Scott Wimbush’s trailer full of goodies, motors parts and various other marine parafunalia ! Like kids in a candy store, motors and parts were in the hands of the needy. As we parked the truck and unloaded some of our bring alongs a couple of the guys asked why were so late, the answer is, we slept in ! Nice to be missed by so many !
Time to launch the boat, always near by to help was Johns Hagerman handling the lines and tying it up till I could get the truck parked. I brought my 16 ScottAtwater to run and test a prop I’d borrowed from John, I had also brought the original prop to make a comparison. Several of the guys were out running around so I was off to join the gang. Peg caught up with Maryann and Leslie to talk girl talk ! Leslie, Bob Joynt’s friend came along to go for a ride in the Patina Special with his 10 Evinrude
John H. asked me if I had a can of starter fluid to help Bill Reed get his Merc 200 going, unfortunately I didn’t bring any with me ! I saw Bob Korosa running out in the lake and headed out to see how the Old Scott A. would run against Bob’s 18 Johnson, he pulled away from me by a couple mph ! Bill Jatzek and his son and grandson brought Bill’s Lyman with a slightly over the limit 1956 Johnson 30, but that boat motor combination is a perfect match !
Domenic and Paul wood came cruising back just as I was heading out, Dom with his new rigid hard bottom with an Evinrude 25, and Paul with his FeatherCraft penguin and a ten Johnson. That Penguin really moves with that ten Johnson. Over at the dock Randy Wilson was feverishly trying to start his Johnson Speedster, which according to Jay Miller is the easiest stating engine you will every see ! Not too sure you could convince Randy after spinning it at least 50 times ! But he did finally get it going and I have to say for that old an engine it runs great !
Back up on land some of the guys were still milling around Scott’s trailer trying to find that one thing they needed to finish a project, I ran into Vince Donohoe and chatted a bit. Doug Bics also caught up with me to tell me his 5 1/2 Johnson we worked on at my garage ran great ! Always good to hear some of our work is rewarding. I caught up with Scott to settle up with him on some of the finest cheese the company he works produces. Scott had just returned from a grueling drive across the country to pick up a car he bought, and was rightfully sore from sitting in his truck for a almost a week, but he was still good enough to bring me the cheese ! Thanks you Scott !
Having run my Scott Atwater and recorded a speed of 20mph I decided to try the other prop I’d brought, it’s aways challenge changing a prop at the dock when the water is about 12ft deep, but I got the three blade prop off and went up the the truck to get the 2 blade I’d brought. Just as I was about to head beck down to the dock Peg came over to tell me lunch was ready, As usual Mike and Judy laid out a fine spread of hotdogs, pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad and macaroni. No one goes away when Mike puts on a meal ! Our treasurer Mr. Bob Joynt put out the news that he had finally made arrangements for our club to attend and display at the Cleveland Boat show ! And is asking for members willing to bring a couple motors to display, So if you are willing to help with our display please let Bob know so he can tell the show manager how many will come and how big a booth we will need !
After lunch it was back out in the boats for a last couple runs. Bill Reed had his Merc 200 running like it was on fire ! Dom, Paul and I headed up the lake to see the colors of Fall ! Actually I was surprised that they weren’t more colorful ! We headed back to the dock and saw many of the guys were pulling out so I guess it was about time to pull the boats ! With the help of Maryann I got the boat loaded and up on dry land. Even tho we had a couple sprinkles during the day it didn’t dampen the spirt of the WRC members. With another year of meets done I suspect many of you will be preparing for next year so till then, remember ~~~ Keep the Blue Smoke Flowing !
Gary & Peggy