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~ Next Up ~
DJSA 2013 Outlaw Point Series - race # 3
Sunday
/ May 19th, 2013
Camp Far West Lake - north shore
Saturday
– registration and all day formal practice for all classes
Saturday afternoon – Junior Time Trials and Match Racing
Saturday night – free admission to Zernik campfire antics
Sunday – series race #3
Physical Address
8176 Camp Far West Rd
Wheatland, Calif,
95692
(530) 633-0803
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Please join us at the official djsa forum site
It's free, easy, and painless,
and a great way to keep in touch
with all your favorite DJSA Outlaw Racers!
All our race re-caps and results are posted there...
~ kind of like this one ~
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Thank you to all who showed up to run supervised practice at Tracy!!!
Can't tell you how
good it was seeing all of you. It made me smile to
see some people we've missed like Cannonball Matt Ford, Team Harden,
Chad Campbell, and "no fear" Mendoza, and it was encouraging to see
a handfull of new faces gearing up to run their
first outlaw season with us.
Saw some things that made me laugh myself into a frenzy, and I saw some things that made
me smile with a whole lot of pride - like ALL of you proving that a race organization CAN safely make a major change to a
"red-right" buoy system without any problems whatsoever. Or like all of you immrdiately adapting to the new red flag procedure
for racers. Everytime we threw the unexpected red flag as a test, I kept looking from one end of the course to the other waiting
to see who I was going to have to re-instruct... but there ended up being no need for that.
In fact, as far as unexpected incidents go it apparently got a little downright boring for
a few so they took matters into their own hands to liven things up a bit, and they did it in true outlaw style. We talked
about maybe having a crossover race at Tracy in the future, because the 20 acre park is so perfect for moutain bike races
or bass tournaments. Seems a few people wanted to make the water to land transition a little sooner than expected just to
try it out.
New Team Orange Safety Ski rider Jimmy Fuller got a rude awakening to the fact our old and weathered 97
Yanaha Wave Runners don't quite turn the same as his previous tricked out Kawi Ultra race boat. Somewhere during a left turn
switchback, Jimmy either got bored, or he just wanted to check out the Tuscan BBQ facility on the far side of the property
which you can only access...(by land). In either case it was refreshing to see Jimmy launch the safety ski up onto the shore
"to make sure nothing was clogging up the intake grate"...
Karty was baby sitting a beautiful red Polaris for an out
of state team we all know and love, and somewhere along the line.... well lets just say when I saw Doug standing in 1 foot
of water next to the inside berm, he said it was because he thought he had seen two 3 legged red tailed frogs mating and he
wanted to capture the act with his Go Pro???
Derek Mendoza was having a few probs with an uncoopertive ski so a few
people let him run some laps on just about everything lined up on the beach so he could get some buoy time in. When he was
on Kranich's big motored X-2 I remember smiling and thinking "that dude can ride anything - and ride it fast!" Derek took
things to a new level by showing me that back in the day racers would mix racing and freestyle together in race heats for
the enjoyment of the spectators - and race directors...
NEVER have I seen an X-2 racer in a straightaway pull off a wave
to the crowd, leading into a shoulder roll, leading into a hand stand, and then into an over the hood dismount the way the
No Fear guy did... It was spectacular, and I remember saying to everyone around me - DID YOU LOOK AT THAT??!!
Not to
be outdone by anyone - the General of the X-2 Army John Dewar decided to spin a few laps in the SCXP class to break in that
beautiful Black and Green Kawi Ultra he recently added to his fleet, running against Mendez, Silvera, and Jesse James Wilson.
Just about the time I was thinking how awesome Mendez was looking on the water, I saw a Black and Green blur leaving the water
and traveling up the berm just about where Jimmy Fuller had made his earlier exit. I thought at first John just wanted to
get some Traci Cottle promo shots with the ski out of the water next to the lake, but Dewar said later he thought he had seen
some prime firewood along the far shore and he was going to bring some back to take up to Camp Far West with the ski - because
it would have been too heavy to carry by hand...
I was going to give the Junior A and B time trial kids a few shots
at running 1 lappers, but Stan the Man said "I got this" ... and it was very cool for me to see Sammy T, Youssef, and Granite
Bay's junior X2 army representative Stirling, get a little longer uninterrupted course time than usual. My favorite junior
B #14 pilot was there, and the daughter of the Milkman Miss Rachel Gidley and Miss Cienna "Psyche" Ward went out and made
us proud running the entire same course as the adults and guess what - NONE of those kids had any probs with "Red-Right" either!!!
It
ended up being a very fun and safe day of easing back into the race scene, and although the turnout was light - and we hit
a few snags - the results were the same as always... simply amazing. My thanks to all of you who made the trip, and to a few
others as well.
Team Orange got a pretty good training session in during the morning, and then they were flawless (as
usual) the rest of the day. Our sincere thanks to -
Stan "schrockstar" Schrock
Robbie Hall
BJ Lovan
Alec Chattaway
Robert
Stellhorn,
and new team members in training Jimmy Fuller and Cheryl Biggs.
New scorekeepers Stephanie Fuller and
Nicole Girling were "thrown to the wolves" without a whole lot of training, and even though they didn't have to score races
they quickly found out just how hectic registration can be even on a practice day, and I am happy to report these girls "ROCKED
IT"!!! I am so excited to have them supplement the team, but now I have to figure out how we handle having 2 Nicoles and 2
Stephanies on the same team!!! Thanks for the great job ladies - you both were awesome to work with.
Outlaw Cafe Master
Chefs Jill Drexel and Hope Schrock were both on hand to make sure the staff and racers had some incredible eats, and lets
just say those were the most incredible MEGA sized cheezit coated chicken tenders, fries, and ribs I can ever remember having.
Ok, ok, ok, its hard to beat the General's ribs, but these were right
up there on the rib scale!
It was great to
have equipment director Rick Robson back in the saddle again, and as always - the day ran without a hitch with him running
the gound crew effort. Stan, I didn't get a chance to thank them, but you have to tell Youssef and his friends how much I
appreciated their hard work!!! The help from the big kids was appreciated as well, and Dewar, Cowboy, Stormin Norman, Team
Templeton, Psyche, and ALL who pulled bricks and buoys up to the race trailer - I THANK YOU!!!
The Mav guy was there
briefly to make sure all the sound equipment hooked up correctly and then he had to rush all the way back home for Jenn's
birthday... but Rick - THANK YOU for coming all the way down just to make sure we were ok and WE ALL wish Jenn a most Happy
29th birthday!!
How can you have an event without the magic of Traci Cottle being there? You can't - And she was!!
Traci - thank you for coming all the way down for a non race event and doing what you do best. You already know how we feel
about your racer pics, but I gotta say... that shot of Team Orange training with the simulated injury gave me an incredible
feeling of pride - in fact it still does right now as I look up at it at its new home on my office wall...
Site hosts
John and Karen Eagal have got to be 2 of the coolest people I've ever met, and they really have been impressed with the outlaw
nation. Thanks to both of them for the hospitality they show us and for making us feel so welcome. It was getting a little
chilly friday night when John pulled up in his truck and said "no campfire?" Karty replied "Jim said no campfires". John either
replied "what does he know" or "that was before we knew how responsible you guys were" and he then proceeded to dump a truckload
of wood on the grass and said with a smile "enjoy" - and we did!
Lastly, I sincerely thank all of you who contributed
an overwhelming $1000 of your hard earned money to help replace my 1988 worn out motorhome with the blown up motor. Right
when I was going to pay almost $10,000 to have just the motor replaced in the old rig - an unexpected opportunity presented
itself and I was very fortunate in being able to unveil to you the "new to me" but slightly used djsa class-c rolling command
post. They say things happen for a reason and this is livingproof.
Friday I made 2 trips with the dually for the safety
skis and the race trailer expecting to sleep in the back of the truck with another sore back. Sunday I end up coming home
towing the safety skis behind an awesome class c motorhome in excellent condition and with a strong motor and plenty of power
to serve us for many years to come. While driving home thinking about my good fortune, I could not stop thinking about all
of you who ALWAYS help me out when the going gets tough... and a few times when I looked in the rear view mirror I could swear
I could see my Dad's smiling face with a big thubs up from Bob... Well all you special people of the Outlaw Nation -that thumbs
up of thanks from Bob up in heaven was for all you guys. Its going to be an awesome season and I am indebted to you for your
support - and your friendship...
Lets race...
jim
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| My sincere thanks to all of you who contributed to help me with this |
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Welcome to Diablo Jet Ski Action...
Home of the best outlaw pwc racing in Northern California!
DJSA started 7 years, 83 race days, and about 8800 laps ago, in the quest to bring
a regular circut of pwc racing to the Bay Area waters of California. At the time there was only a handful of 3 or 4 races
a year taking place and those were large scale events which attracted hot talent from across the United States, but for
the amateur or beginning racer - these big events could be somewhat intimidating. I never wanted to promote
races - I wanted to race, but I was hoping to be able to participate in a full schedule of yearly races where you could
have fun racing all year long, and then celebrate at a end of the year awards ceremony with all my friends - kind
of like back in my motocross days...
I knocked on quite a few doors trying to generate interest from current promoters
to start a local point racing series, but I quickly learned if you want to get something done sometimes its better if
you do it yourself. When I first started putting ideas together for DJSA, I wanted to see races run
the way I would like to see them run if I were racing... Keep them SAFE, keep them FUN, and keep them AFFORDABLE
- and that concept which started 6 years ago is still alive and strong going into our 7th season.
Because we sanction our own races - we are considered something I have become very proud
of - an Outlaw Race Organization. Our points apply only to our own series, and do not apply to IJSBA or APBA pwc race
events, but the 150 racers of season 6 brought the most exciting pwc racing we've ever seen to norcal and they all
taught me one very important thing ~ It's very cool to be an Outlaw!
Keeping it SAFE ~
In real life, I am a marine patrol officer working the waterways of my county with some great
guys. One of the things I will never get accustomed to is seeing the horrific level of devastation a pwc collision can produce,
and its all because of one thing - pwcs and jetskis have no brakes...
Watch the start of any motorcross race and its probably one of the coolest rushes to see
on this planet. 25 bikes ripping handlebar to handlebar into one corner all at the same time. Nascar open wheel
dirt cars - 24 Sprint cars in rows of 2 ripping past the green flag into turn-1, now thats hot! Go Karts, Snowmobiles,
Mountain Bikes, doesn't matter what you race, but most of this racing takes place on a ground surface and all these
race vehicles have BRAKES...
But put any of these races onto a surface of ice and that first turn result is going to
definately be exciting - but far from safe. There are no brakes on a pwc, there is no down shifting on a pwc, and
when you let off on the throttle of a pwc, there is no steerage! Making matters worse, about the only protection a pwc
racer wears is a helmet. Cool if you get hit in the head - not cool if you get hit anywhere else on your body...
There are a lot of people out there who will say "Rubbing is Racing"... normally we would
agree, but with pwc racing we have to say "Rubbing is Dangerous" (unless you're racing a nascar sprint cup car.) To keep
things a little safer on the water our racing is "non-contact". You can rip it anywhere you want on the course, you can
pass anywhere you want on the course, you just won't use another racer in your class as a berm!
We mandate all our racers to maintain a one ski length safe zone at all times. We mandate
if a racer goes down they raise 1 hand, stay in place, and yield to any racers approaching within 100 ft. We
encourage all racers to check on downed riders if the safety team isn't already there and we reward good sportsmanship
the same as we do the winners.
There is no racing or passing in a corner where there is a downed rider or safety ski
rider engaged in a racer assist. The 5 member safety ski team "TEAM ORANGE" ride brightly painted
Orange and White Yamahas and wear bright orange safety vest so there is no confusion as to who the safety guys are... The
few rules we have we enforce with zero tolerance and it is refreshing to see the staff and racers alike - all working towards
one goal... racing hard but racing safe!
Keeping it FUN ~
11 classes. Everything from the 650 and under standups, to the rolling thunder of the Super Charged
Xtra Powered SCXP Expert Supersits. X-2's, Superjets, Freestyle, Novice Ski, Blasters, you name it we run it. At
DJSA you are evaluated and placed into classes moreso on ability than the ski you're on. For simplicity, our classes are designated
by engine size and all classes are considered "open". You can make any modifications you want to your ski as long as it remains
within the engine size limit for the class, and as long as you can ride it!
7 classes of Skis and 4 classes of Sitdowns most always run morning practice
by class, followed by 3 heats of racing for an overall score at the end of the day. Points are awarded for every class
you ride, and the top 3 of each class are awarded photo plaques or trophies to take home. Points are tracked
during the season in 2 areas - by class, and divisionally. At the end of the year awards dinner,
the top 5 racers from each class are recognized and honored with overall trophies, as well as the top 10 divisional point
leaders from the Stands and the Sits receiving a little extra bling from contributing sponsors.
The top reigning standup and sitdown point leaders for past seasons have won cash, vacations,
mexico cruises - and quad or mini sand rail kart pit vehicles. I don't know what we'll be running for this year because
its getting more and more difficult trying to outdo the previous year, but if we award enough of these pit vehicles -
we can have quad and kart races at "Jet Effect"!
"Jet Effect" is our rider appreciation race of the year that incorporates a saturday 100 mile
enduro for the enduro guys, and short track racing, match slalom drags, and austrailan pursuits for the closed course guys.
A rider appreciation BBQ is served, followed by R/C car racing under the lights at the water's edge and then Sunday brings
some of the most intense course racing of the season to the lake. Great racers with their crews and family, a great race
staff, some pretty good tri-tip and chicken, and some off the hook R/C car dirt track racing make Jet Effect a very cool "double
points" weekend not to be missed...
Keeping it AFFORDABLE ~
When something becomes too expensive, the fun gets taken out of it, and then you don't want to
do it anymore. How did we come up with $60 entrys for 3 heats of racing? Easy - its what I would want to pay if I were racing
myself. No membership fees, no association fees, just be 18 years of age, have current medical insurance, have a seaworthy
ski, sign our waiver, and Take It Out And Race It!
You ride an X2 or a 650? $50 for 3 heats of racing.
All other classes are $60 if you pre-reg, $80 on race day if you don't.
Riding additional classes? $20 each class with a limit of 3 in a day.
A class incentive of $25 for old school 550's is currently in effect.
$25 for the freestyle guys.
How about an occasional free entry for anyone sweeping 3 heats in a day.
$125 for 100 miles of enduro racing.
I know how much it takes for you to get to the race track on race days. I'll always keep things
as cheap as possible for you, just as long as you guys continue to race as safe as possible for me, and together we'll look
forward to seeing what season 8 brings us!
KEEPING IT AWESOME ~
Somehow DJSA has been blessed with having the BEST race staff you could ever ask for running
the show and providing you with some awesome outlaw racing....
The TEAM ORANGE safety ski team ~
Stan "Schrocketman" Schrock
Robbie Hall
Raul Gutierrez
B.J Lovan
Alec Chattaway
Robert Stellhorn
Phil Lago
Matt Ford - enduro team
David Tew - enduro team
Richard Ignacio - enduro team
DJSA Equipment and Set Up Manager
Rick "Waterfly" Robson
Ground Crew
Doug KARTY Wolff
General John Dewar
Johnny Cowboy DelaRosa
Norm Yee
The Team Orange scoring staff ~
Doreen Knollenberg
Stephanie Beltram
Nicole Lambert
Mandie Gutierrez
Maria Wood
Mariah Zernik
DJSA photographer Traci Cottle
DJSA Live Stream Webcasting - Rick and Jenn Ignacio
DJSA staff writers Catriona Cottle and Doug Wolff
The DJSA "Master Chefs" of the Outlaw Cafe... Miss Jill Drexel and Hope Schrock.
And the voices calling the shots that make you think you're at a Daytona Sprint Cup Race -
the talented Jason Ward, Mike Yellich, Brian Buell, and the legendary Kurt
Knollenberg!!!
Incredible racers - incredible staff - and its all safe, fun, and affordable.
You ready to be an outlaw yet? Heres 5 words for you...
See you at the races!
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