Returning to this site was comforting. This is where I made my APR debut one year ago. I feel like a veteran. We actually know where the race site is, and we stayed in the same hotel. This is practically my home race, as it’s only a 9 hour drive from home.

Friday evening at the edge of the Ohio River, a memorial was held honouring long time APR announcer Ken Winkle. The service was conducted by Laurie Vidal of MRO(Motor Racing Outreach).

This is a picturesque area. The race is held on the Ohio River, but our pit area is on city streets. It is a quiet town. The shopkeepers are really friendly and we retreat to their air conditioning to enjoy the cool air. Remember, we’re from Canada, eh?

Saturday dawned with testing. I got the boat airborne once, which was surprising as I had that boat stuck to the water. The rollover from Peoria was affecting me mentally, like it or not. In the two heats I was slow. The boat still looked glued to the water. So, I stunk.

Sunday brought hot and humid conditions. I must have done ok in the third heat and I know some got penalized for jumping the start, because I qualified 11th. Many spectators stop to talk asking questions about the boat and motor. It’s fun to talk with them. One man and his grandson stopped by and I thought he was Jeff Boomhauer from the television show King of the Hill. I think he said he waters the hanging plants in the town. He’s lived there all his life.

In the Final, I had an interesting race with Dean Bowes who be penalized a lap for collecting a buoy. I was close but just couldn’t get by on the short straightaway. There was a restart because Bowes and Blair Kants got together and Kants’ boat began to sink. That was on lap 10. On the restart, I got passed by Sam Miller and then battled with Howie Nichols for many laps. I just couldn’t get past him either. He drove well enough to hold the position. Miller spun, and I gained a position.

With a few laps remaining, Carole Reno was in sight. Nichols got by her late in the race. I don’t know if she had boat trouble or what, but it was fun to at least be near her.

Again, I finished 8th. It’s about time to move forward.