Rat Tales from the Water- SVL,Class 4 in Biloxi

[Ratickle]

There are always stories at every event which don't make the front page news. I'll share a few I found interesting or inspiring.

One of these;

Jim Simmons took his double high trailer to Biloxi after putting his new Octane boat together in the last week. He hoped he got it right, but it hadn't even seen the water after a complete tear down and the last minute rebuild.


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011005.jpg

[Ratickle]

They finished it there, put it in the water for the first race on Saturday, and had numerous Gremlins. Some of the things I heard, drive trim backwards, tabs up was down, down was up, etc.

They took it out, worked on it, and at the end of the day, after the closed course was open, went out to try again. Still had other issues, so parked it for the weekend.

[Ratickle]

On Sunday, at the first race, Pirate broke a hose. So, after they sat out the remainder of the first race, Simmons gave them a hose off of his boat. They got it on, and went out and ran the entire second race that day....


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C319-1.jpg

[Ratickle]

So, since Jim did not get to race his new Octane boat, and because of the help he always gives the other racers, Randy and Colby decided to give him an opportunity to drive something other than his Cadillac of Class 4 boats......


Randy would enter the Typhoon SVL in Class 4 for the second race on Sunday, Colby would drive Jim's Class 4 boat, and Jim would drive Typhoon......:sifone:


How cool is that......

[Ratickle]

So, that's what happened, as soon as the second SVL race Sunday finished, Jim and Colby swapped places, and Typhoon went right back on the course to race against Jim's own Class 4 boat......


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C436-1.jpg


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C448-1.jpg

[Ratickle]

I think it was right about here where Randy said something like, Hey Jim, they don't turn like that.....":eek:


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C406-1.jpg

[Ratickle]

Chatting with all later, Jim said it was certainly something he was looking forward to getting used to.

Colby wondered how Jim stayed awake cruising around in his Caddy Class 4 boat....


I think his exact words later were something like, I'll get a boat like that when I get old like you......:smash::smash::smash:

[Ratickle]

Here are a couple pics from Jim winning the Randy Linback sportsmanship award. The help he gives others is what allows the others to vote him as the recipient.

Remember, the other racers vote as to who deserves this award, and Jim certainly holds the standard high...



http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C471-1.jpg


http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C473-1.jpg

Here is Jim with a couple of previous winners....

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww310/ptrose/Biloxi%202011/Biloxi2011C474-1.jpg

[Ratickle]

Good times, I'll try to get a few more Rat Tales up.....

[Bobcat]

Great story Paul !

[scottc]

Great to hear the good stories coming out of Biloxi! Thanks Rad!!!!! Hope you can make the next race and when you get there look up Team Purrrfect and I'll get out the good ol mason jar!

[jcolby]

Dang rat.....you wouldn't throw me under the bus would ya? Lol. You know I luv ya Mr. Simmons!!

[Ratickle]

Dang rat.....you wouldn't throw me under the bus would ya? Lol. You know I luv ya Mr. Simmons!!

I didn't say who you said that to........:sifone::sifone::sifone: