The
Diablo Jet Ski Action outlaw jetski races are headed back to Copperopolis, and
DJSA is proud to announce its 2 day 2013 season opener is being held at Salt
Springs Valley Reservoir Campground on Rock Creek Rd April 6th and
7th. Round 1 of the series will be held Saturday, followed by Round 2 on
Sunday. 11 different classes of Standup and Sitdown skis will be racing on the
¾ mile motocross style course set right in front of the main beach. All levels
of riding ability will be competing on a 36 buoy course which includes tight
left and right turns, straight-a-ways, and the always exciting side by side
split which merges together just before the start-finish line.
Novice
to Expert level racers from throughout northern and central California will be
pegging the throttles for a head start in the points chase and a few bragging
rights to go with it. The 850 Expert Standup class is expected to draw the
fastest standup racers on the west coast, like Sacramento’s
Peter Zernik, Ian Roberts of Reno, Jeff Troegner
of Watsonville, Chris Wattier of Sacramento, and Jeff Loder of Roseville. Muscle Milk Extreme car racer Memo
Gidley is expected to be on the startline, as well as wonder kid Brock Austin
from Bountiful Utah
who scored a world championship title at last year’s IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu.
Local
racer Nick Tate of Valley Springs will be on a mission to repeat last years
high points class title in the 800 novice standup class, and Jesse Harden also of
Valley Springs will be bringing his race game to the table in the 750 and under
standup class. Last year’s high points divisional series champions Doug Wolff
of Modesto, and Norm Yee of Sacramento, will both be on quests to take the
overall titles for a 3rd year in a row, but they will have a whole
lot of racers who will be hard at work to make sure that doesn’t happen.
The
vintage X-2 Army is expected to draw over 20 skis to the startline, and 19 of
them will be chasing down series champion Doug Wolff, like youngster Jesse
Wilson of Granite Bay, John Dewar of Concord,
Johnny Dela Rosa of Concord, and Tom Yamamoto of
Livermore.
Jim
Lambert, the founder and race director of DJSA says he enjoys watching every
class racing on the water, but one of his personal favorites is the “Legends
35” standup class. These are the guys who were world and national champions
back in the mid 90’s when Jet Ski Racing popularity was at an all time high,
and the speed and skill they still have today is amazing to watch. Some of
these guys have been racing for over 30 years, and the passion they continue to
hold for the sport is impressive. Some of those “Legends” and past world
champions expected to be on hand are Dan Knowlden of Tracy, Ray Frendian of
Santa Clara, Micahel Lojewski of Davis, Sam “Slammer” Peterson of Livermore,
Derek Mendoza of Visalia, and Michael Prodanovich of Marysville.
This
year DJSA is merging the 800cc runabouts with the Sport Sit GP 1200 Blasters
and HX’s, and this unbelievably lightening fast class will see experts like
Denny Janeway of Redding, Michael McFarlane of Elk Grove, Ben Booker of Loomis,
Jack Arluck of San Jose, and Tom Yamamoto of Livermore, all hunting down 2 time
divisional champion Norm Yee, the “Master Blaster” of Sacramento. The
supercharged and extra powered expert runabout skis are the fastest skis in
production today, and this class will be highlighting the program with expert
racers Mike Habel of Discovery Bay, Mike Mendez of Oakley, Doug Wolff of Modesto, and a few more
from the central state areas.
DJSA
does not have membership or association fees, and racing is open to anyone who
is 18 years of age who holds current medical coverage. Any make of ski is
welcome as long as it is seaworthy and safe to operate. Although the action is
thrilling and non stop, Lambert says DJSA runs some strict mandatory safety
rules to keep everyone safe on the race course. The racing is “non contact” and
all racers must abide by a 1-ski length safe zone in effect at all times. Some
say “rubbing is racing” and Lambert thinks that’s fine if you’re racing a
vehicle with brakes and a roll cage, but when it comes to racing jetskis on the
water Lambert says rubbing is dangerous.
“I
run some tight rules, but considering these guys are racing high speed watercraft
with no brakes and only minimal protective gear to wear, our primary goal is
that everyone goes home safe after a great day of racing”. To Lambert and his race
staff, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
In
a push to get more vintage standup skis out to the race courses, DJSA is
running a season long special where Kawasaki
550js, 440js, or 300js skis can race all day for $5.50, $4.00, and $3.00 a day.
When asked how DJSA can afford to allow racers to race for only five bucks a
day Lambert just smiles and says, “sometimes we make up our own rules - that’s
why they call us “outlaws”.
On
Saturday practice starts at 8am followed by racing at 1030.
Sunday
morning, junior racers will be running practice and individual time trials at
800 followed by regular racing at noon. Anyone with questions can email Lambert
at djsaracing@yahoo.com
DJSA
started running races at Salt Springs Valley Reservoir in 2007, where the lake quickly
became well deserving of the name “PWC Paradise”. The camping and overall
facilities are more than welcoming to visitors of the lake, and the scenery and
beauty of the area is spectacular. Lambert invites residents of the area to
come out and meet the racers, get a few pictures and autographs with their
favorites, and maybe get an interest in becoming a pwc racer themselves. Perspective
racers can view the DJSA website for complete requirements and race information
at www.diablojsa.com
Admission
is free for spectators, but day use fees for all vehicles is $10 each.
For
camping and facility use, call Salt Springs Valley Reservoir at (209)
785-4871