Bill Rathke
	Photo By RAP :: Race Action Photography

RAP: So Bill how do you feel going into the Nationals knowing you have already won the championship before even putting the boat back in the water?

Bill: It feels good, It feels really good.

RAP: How do you feel about this season?

Bill: I'm having a lot of fun this season, it has a lot to do with leading the 7 second class most of the year in the NJBA.
Also leading in points currently in the 8 second class (PE) of the IHBA, championship is still to be determined.

RAP caught up with Bills brother Bud to get some of the behind the scenes story.

RAP: So now we are talking with Bud about the 5150 boat Still Crazy. Why don't you give us a summary of how the season has gone.

Bud: First race in March did not go well, we went out in the first round.
At the April race we won, and the May race we won. At the June race we placed runner-up. In September there was a schedule problem of races on the same weekend for both associations so we ended up in San Diego for the IHBA race.
At this October Nationals race we qualified as number 1 which gave us 30 points and secured the championship for us before even getting the boat wet again. So the rest of the weekend was dedicated to winning the event, getting the prize money, more points and the event win.

RAP: That's right you always want to take home from every event, the prize money, trophy and maximum amount of points.

Bud: That's right and we won the 7 second class at the NJBA now and next month we go to the IHBA World Finals where we are currently leading the 8 second class right now. How nice it would be to win both championships this year.

At the NJBA, Allen Zeller has been our toughest competitor this year. Each event varies anywhere from 7 to 2 competitors in the 7 second class that the NJBA puts on, and some of the guys don't always show up to every race. Alan sold his boat last month we heard and Joe Blattler blew his up at the last race and did'nt put it back together for the Nationals.
Matter of fact when we were in San Diego I spoke to Brian Busby and he said that Alan never showed up and Joe Blew up, so given the circumstances, it ended up that we were able to come to the Nationals knowing we still had a chance to win the championship.
We placed runner-up at the IHBA San Diego event which helped us keep our 8 second class lead.
The IHBA rules are that the 8 second class is the fastest you can run in an open boat, any faster than that must be in a capsuled boat.

RAP Do you have any plans for Bill to switch over to a capsuled boat in the future?

Bud: No, Bill likes the open boat, and to feel the wind in his face.

Congatulations to the 5150 Still Crazy Team for winning the 2006 Championship.