ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

The Kentucky Drag Boat Association held their annual awards banquet on February 2^nd, 2008 at Casino Aztar in Evansville, IN.

The day started with a meeting of all of the board of directors working out the schedule for the 2008 season. They went over a few other points of interest before the regular meeting got under way. There were several racers that had traveled from the surrounding states to make this meeting, along with a list of questions that they wanted answered. Everyone was given a chance to ask Roger Austin, the president of KDBA, or any of the board of directors questions that they had about the club and about the races for this year. It was a very productive meeting and everyone was going to try and get more of their buddies to co me and race with us.

There were about 60 people that stayed for the great dinner that Casino Aztar had prepared for us. We got underway with Racers for Christ, Vince Ottway, giving the blessing. After everyone got plenty to eat Roger was ready to start presenting the awards.

There were so many people that helped make the races a success last year. We appreciate everyone that raced with us and that helped put on the races. There were two men from KDBA that traveled far and wide to promote the club. If you went to any of the races than you probably met the guys! They were shaking hands and kissing babies. Barry Salsman and Steve Wagner talked to any one and everyone that they could get to stand still. They even followed some of the guys to the ramp when they were putting their boats in the water. Barry would be wait ing for them to get out of the water after they ran. Steve Wagner would talk to everyone he could on his way to the water and as soon as he ran his race he’d start all over again. We wanted to thank them for their efforts.

The next couple that was thanked for all that they do for KDBA was Ken and Margie Johnson, better known as Graybeard Photography. The Johnson’s came to every race and worked very hard taking pictures of the boats as every angle possible. After Ken took the pictures Margie would print them out for the racers. Graybeard even took pictures of Charles Duncan’s boat, The Danger Zone, with a very pretty lady in a string bikini on the front of it. Thanks to Penny Hardison for being the model on the boat. We just want to let everyone know that Graybeard Photography is a big part of KDBA and we do appreciate them coming to Kentucky. The pictures on our web site are some of their work. Check them out and pick out your favorite pictures.

Bob Hardison, Tom Harrod, and George Onneybecker are long time members of KDBA. They all work very hard through the year trying to get everything ready for the races. George works on getting sponsors and donations for the races. He met with the radio station Froggy 103.7 last spring and got them as one of our sponsors. He worked very hard talking to all of the businesses that are around the lake. We wanted to thank him and his wife, Chris for all of their hard work. Just in case you don’t really know who George is, he’s the guy that has the lonely job on the starting boat!

Tom Harrod is always willing to lend a helping hand even if he is unable to attend the race. He let Roger use his brand new truck at one race. That might not sound like such a big thing to some people but to us at KDBA it was a big deal. Tom was on vacation at Gatlinburg! He even went as far as sending us a john boat to use with a driver. Thanks Tom!! You’re the best.

Bob Hardison didn’t race this past year so Roger thought he would have plenty of time on his hands to be his understudy. Well, Roger had Bob doing everything from being ramp supervisor to driving one of the rescue boats. If anything went wrong with any of the rescue boats Bob would have to work on them too! Bob is another person that does a lot of the behind the scenes sort of stuff. During the winter months when everyone else is sitting around talking about racing, Bob is working on the rescue boats or making something new to put on the boats to make putting that track up easier. We want to thank Bob and his wife, Penn y, for all of their hard work and long hours that they put into the club.

The KDBA divers are a big part of the club and without them it would be impossible to race. All the racers are very glad that those guys take the time and effort to come to Kentucky to help keep them safe. Thanks to Pat Hill, Bobby Stevens, and Joe Neville, our great divers, for keeping our racers feeling safe while racing.

The girls that have to work on the hill with the computers are a big asset to the club, not only do they try and keep Roger on good behavior, they help make sure all the timing equipment are working correctly. Mary Jane Beach has been at this job for a long time and is very good at it. Mary Magner has also been working at it a long time. She took a little time off this past season to be with her daughter and grandson, Landon, but I hope she is back and ready for the new season.

KDBA has a great president, Roger Austin. We appreciate everything that he does for the club as president and we can’t forget the first lady, Janet Austin, she helps keep Roger in line! We love you both and you make everyone feel like family.

The Super Charger Award is an award that Roger gives out every year. There are different reasons that people are awarded this very high award. This year there were three people that Roger felt deserved this award. They worked very hard for the club for many years doing what ever was asked of them. The first Super Charger Award went to Ray Neudecker. He has worked with a lot of the outboard racers and brings a lot to the club. He is always out working hard trying to get new racers to come race at KDBA. He is always there ready to lend a hand, a tool, or maybe just a little knowledge.

The second award went to Donna Salsman. I can’t say much about myself. I enjoy helping out and doing anything that I can. I am very honored to have received this award. Being apart of KDBA is like having an extended family. When we go to the first race of the season it is like going to a big family reunion. We want everyone that races with us to feel at home and like family.

The third Super Charger Award went to Bill Jones. He started out as just one of Bob Hardison’s friend. Bob had asked him to come to the lake and help out a time or two. He thought it would be fun to be able to spend the weekend on the lake, do a little work and get rested up after a long week at his regular job. Little did he know at the time when he agreed to help Bob that he would be there at every race doing what ever they told him to do! Bill worked very hard at every race and we appreciate everything he did. I sure hope we didn’t scare him off! Great job Bill!

If you haven’t been at the races when the track is being put up or taken down. I encourage everyone to help at least once. It is very hard work but the guys always try and make it fun. The workers had a really tough time at the last race at Pisgah Bay when they were trying to put the track up. There was some kind of grass or weed of some kind in the water, every time Bobby Stevens would dive to set the poles he would come back up looking like some sea monster. It was so funny! That is what KDBA is all about. We like getting the work done and having a good time doing it.

The final part of the Awards Banquet was for the high point champions.

The Stock Eliminator class winner was Brad Murphy. The runner up was Brian Jackson.

Modified Eliminator winner was Barry Salsman. Runner up was Shane Phillips.

Top Eliminator class winner came to Kentucky and won everyone’s heart. Ashly Ruf, our 16 year old, was a tough competitor for those 9 second guys.

The runner up in the Top Eliminator was Jeff Young.

The Pro Eliminator class winner was Ed Anderson. The runner up was Butch Beach.

The new race season is as follows:

Green River at Livermore, KY August 9^th & August 10^th, 2008

Thanks to everyone that helped support us through all our races last year and look forward to seeing you again this year. Come on to Kentucky and race with us, you may never know, maybe next year you will be receiving an award!

I hope that I haven’t forgotten anyone, if I have I apologize, it was not intentional.