Thumbs Up For Launch
	Photo By RAP :: Race Action Photography

After several months away from racing for many of the teams, the adrenaline is high heading into San Diego for the Thunder Boat Regatta.
One of the teams is the Toxic Rocket # 420 TFH. At the Red Bluff event earlier this year the boat hit some buoys and then on Sunday got hit with some pieces of the Problem Child as it exploded apart at over 200 mph and twirled to within inches of colliding with the Rocket. Glen was taken out when it shattered his windshield and damaged some frame parts. Now months later the hotrod is ready to run again.
During the time away, the team was able to find a bent frame rail with the laser test and also find that the left front sponson was lower than the right, both of these two problems were keeping the boat from running straight down the track and making it impossible to second guess or control it’s course of action down the liquid quarter mile. At the last two events where the boat was present, it was evident, as the boat kept heading for another lane. The team also was able to review some video in ultra slow motion and noticed that after the 1/8th mile mark, the boat would start bucking up and down which caused it to hop and skip around as the props and rudder were coming completely out of the water.
In San Diego the boat will be showing up with a straightened frame and the addition of a new wing attached to the transom. The pitch on the wing is being set to try and keep the rear of the boat down and the props in the water from the 1/8th mile mark to the finish line. Glen is fired up and ready to run a 470 mph on Mission Bay this weekend.

The Problem Child Team is returning back to racing after the total destruction of the new #1 boat in Red Bluff. This time there will be a new driver, Scott Thompson piloting the boat. There was a chance that Dale Ishimaru was going to show up for a couple hours on Friday to give some tips to Scott, but in a conversation with Dale, he said it decided that they would talk it over on the phone this past week instead, Dale will not be in attendance at San Diego after all.

Also not in attendance this time will be Daryl Ehrlich, after retiring from his driving duties to take on a new higher paying career job with a new company, The Hot Licks Bullet boat will be at the event, with Jarrett Silvey now driving the TFH 724.

The Ugly Customer comp flat boat owned by Lew Larson will be in attendance, with a new motor and different driver at this event, Cole Thurston. The boat will be sporting his 500 number and will be ready to do battle in the PCE class. Speaking with Cole he is excited to be driving, after being away from racing, and working non stop on their new TAF, since the Lakefest event in April.

Rumor had it that the TAH 150 Bad Habit boat was going to be driven in San Diego by Owner, Eddie Pacilio, but Kebin Kinsley was able to adjust his schedule between the Funny Car and Dragboat events to bail Eddie out, and be in attendance to drive at the San Diego race, in return Eddie will be helping him out on the following weekend at the NHRA event. Kebin who is a multi-time Drag Boat World Champion also races his own Alcohol Funny Car, he has qualified to participate in the NHRA World Finals this year.

Come enjoy the Action on beautiful Mission Bay in San Diego, Ca. Sept. 14th -16th.