This race made the crew sweat just thinking about the town. Last year the temperature was about 100°F and at least 95% humidity. This year it was less humid, but hot. With ideas of snowmobiling in our heads to keep us cool, we prepared for practice.

APR Superleague recognized our team for competing in 10 consecutive events in Aurora, Indiana. They also recognized my parents Al and Carol Sherriff who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on race day sunday.

Spectators were afforded opportunities to roam the pit area, a parking lot in this State Park. There were many autograph seekers and plenty of opportunities to talk with the very interested spectators.

With school back in session, Kevin was lost to the team for the season. With the usual complement of Kai and Rainer, we were fortunate to add two great veteran boaters. Pete Matthews, a long-time crew member of Scycraft Racing, and team driver Rob Scythes -a repeat Canadian F1 champion and raceboat builder, would be a great addition to the team.

The organization they showed in preparing the boat was good to experience. Pete offered his vehicle for making a few trips to the local food establishments for filling up most of the team.

The temperature was hot. Black asphalt absorbs heat. Trees were not visible in the pit area without binoculars.

Ample time allowed for a lengthy test session, and the qualifying format would utilise two groups in F3. Placing third in one heat and seventh in the other, made me fourth in my group. We were relegated to the last chance qualifier again. I think I started and finished second. It wasn’t too eventful.

I missed pre-qualifying by one position, so I was slotted 2nd on the dock for the last chance qualifier. I lost a bit of ground to polesitter Howie Nichols throughout the race, but pulled away from David Choate. Finishing second saw me start 10th and on the second flag for the final. There was a big field in this race with 17 boats lined up for the final. I started between Nichols and Choate with whom I’ve become very familiar with on the course as we are running fairly evenly on the course. Both drivers seem to be as sensible as any who board these craft, so I am not concerned about my long run to the first pin. I am starting on the second flag with Howie leading the “slow guys” off. Rounding corner one I was about 9th, outdragging Dean Bowes down the back straight as he was forced wide with Carol Reno because of their dock position. Bowes would pass Reno and after a few laps of trying to challenge her, I settled in to a fairly static position behind her. This continued through to the red flag.

Mark Proffitt and Choate collided as Proffitt was lapping. Each driver was evidently not in the wrong-according to themselves. The incident occurred half a lap behind me, so I did not see it. Fortunately neither were injured, but both boats sustained serious damage. Choate just competed in his 30th consecutive Superleague race. It would be a challenge to ready the boat for Chattahoochee.

Meanwhile, Rainer was interested and learning as Scythes talked me through the course. Some driving tips were learned here from one of the best. Live on-radio coaching was amazing. Turns that I felt were good he didn’t like, and my best turn felt like the worst-at least at first. But with that information in hand, I will carry that with me. See, in boat racing, there aren’t schools that one can attend as there are for auto racing, so it’s a little harder to learn. This tunnel boat stuff sure is different than the v-bottom.

At the restart I was 7th behind Reno, ahead of Bowes. Both out-accelerated me to the commitment pin. Then, I got pinched a bit, and couldn’t see. I slowed to ensure I wouldn’t run into the back of them as the spray was intense, and when I couldn’t tell if it was from their boats or them crashing together, I lifted. Dropping back 50 metres (150’ for the Americans), I settled into 8th. I couldn’t catch Bowes who pulled away from Reno, but I did maintain the same distance to her right to the finish.

Bowes has been in the Superleague series since 1998 and his experience was leading him to consistent finishes.

The finish would help me in the points, but with an impressively strong finish from Nichols with new-found speed, he would draw ahead in the overall standings.

It would be nearly a month before we would meet again in Chattahoochee, Florida.