After 30 years, 4 Staudachers, 4 Henderson’s, and 1 Auld GP hull “The Crush” name is retiring.
For giving me these past 30 years I want to thank all my great drivers for the many great seven liter and Grand Prix wins, titles, and world records we’ve all been through; Marty Niles, Mike Endres, Tom Baker, Bert Henderson, Mike Monahan, Jeff Richards, and Patrick Haworth. The red/orange “CRUSH” was always in the thick of things and thanks to all these great drivers that made it happen. Speaking of Patrick, word out of Valleyfield is Patrick might be coming back to our GP class. What a great addition to our group of GP boats. Our prayers go out to the Haworth family for Patrick’s dad, Warren, who’s undergoing chemo therapy.
Word out of Florida has Chuck “Rookie” Woodruff looking for a driver for his new GP rig. Mike Weber is only going to drive it at the Stuart Regatta to help set it up and to get all the bugs out of it after setting up these past four months. I hear Scott Liddycoat’s name mentioned along with Mike “Mr. Dependable” Monahan. Scott just returned home in November from winning the final Unlimited race in Qatar and would bring lots of experience to our GP field of drivers. Of course we all know what Mike can do and we were all disappointed when he almost won his first GP race in Saint Felicien this year and had to finish second to Pierre Maheu. After talking to most of our owners and drivers these past couple of months everyone and I mean everyone, is really fired up for the 2012 season to get started. As usual ACHA has put together a great event schedule and our leaders tell me if the Stuart Regatta goes off as planned it’s very possible that we will be racing an ACHA GP even there in 2013. I’m sure no one would mind going to Florida in the springtime next year. Also this year, Milt Wiggins tells me he will be at the Stuart Sailfish Regatta in April but not with his new boat but his older one. Good to see Milt back racing. Milts boats have always been very competitive. Well just wanted to bring all our fans up on what’s going on with our GP bunch. Got to go and get on the phone to Bert and get his butt working on our new project!
See everyone the 21st at our ACHA convention.
Huey.
(Editor: Bert Henderson is building a new boat and the team will be back in 2012 with a new name.)
A whole lot of things raise flags to me in this article.
What will the new 777 be named (I’ve got a good idea from a Valleyfield source)
Who will drive the 45 (Would Pierre race for someone else if the ride was offered? or does retired mean retired?)
Will Wiggins actually show up to all or at least most ACHA events? (it is Wiggins, after all)
If Henderson is building a new boat to drive in 2012, will the old hull be found a new home to increase the field by +1 again?
Hey Aaron, I’ll try and answer these questions as best I can. I’d guess the new Henderson might be called “The Steeler.” It has not been announced who will take over the GP-46 ADF Diesel hull. Pierre did seem to leave open the possibility of returning if he could find a good sponsor. I don’t really know anything about Wiggins, just what Huey has written. The boat that was “The Crush” GP-777 driven by Bert Henderson last season is now GP-101 to be driven by Ghislain Marcoux.
Hi Aaron,
From what i heard the crush 777 will be named the Steeler with maybe the GP-77
the old Crush was given to Daniel Mercier and Ghislain Marcoux and will be named ABS GP-101. Daniel use to own the Pavage chenail GP-101 and Ghislain was a top contestant in Hydro350 last years
http://grandprixhydroplane.com/2011/10/ghislain-marcoux-and-daniel-mercier-to-team-up-in-a-grand-prix-team/