Widely considered to be the greatest class in all of racing, this week we will be diving into the 2020 CSH power rankings. Because there were potential conflict of interest issues and potential bias, I called in a favor with one of Throttled's biggest supporters John Peeters to give us his take. John was the originator of class power rankings, having region 10 rankings as far back as 2015. When first starting the Throttled rankings, John was nice enough to give us his blessing and support to steal his idea and has been a contributor ever since.
Fan Rankings:
Once again we set new record highs for voters on this particular rankings. A big thank you to our anonymous Throttled analytical department for preparing the data.
John Peeters Rankings:
Sooooooooo, first things first. My beautiful wife has been asking for a love letter for quite some time, and in all actuality, she deserves it. (I needed to write it before I wrote the Power Rankings) Be inspired and write your girl (or guy) a special note.
A little back-story: about five, six years ago, I started a Region 10 CSH Power Rankings – search for it on Hydroracer.net - I bet some of the results are still up there. It was when I still had some extra time on my hands. With my blessing, the Throttled Team brought in a full Power Rankings for all the stock classes to you b-e-a-tiful reader. I loved the idea to keep the rankings going. They honored my by asking to guest ranker on CSH, quite possibly the premier stock outboard class. Thanks guys, I really appreciate the nod and keep of the good work.
Apologies to other racers, my head has been in the sand for the last couple of years, so a few of the younger, newer lads are underrepresented. However, as an added attraction to our list, I’ve added pop songs that best set the moods when reading the each Ranking.
Theme Song: Godfather Waltz
10. …and I’m gonna do it (written in third person.) #10 Who is John Peeters. Why? Good looks, humility, superior intellect and damn sexy is everything John isn’t. But we know he’s fast in anything that requires almost no turning, so there’s that. Let’s just say. If nationals were held on a 2.5 mile course with 10-pin turns, he’d be guaranteed to get a 1st and a DQ. I’m on good authority that a new CSH was ordered in 2014 and a down payment was placed, but the builder hasn’t come through time and time again, forcing John to build weirder and weirder boats. Maybe one day, he’ll figure out how to turn and be a true threat on a traditional mid-west race course. Don’t be a rule breaker, be a rule maker.
Theme Song: M.I.A - Bad Girls
9. Kyle Bahl – Results. In a national setting, KB brings home podiums. He’s not the fastest, but could be one of the scrappiest drivers out there, knowing what his equipment can do and getting the most out of it. Points – he grabs them in consistent bunches and is often top 3-4-5 in points at the end of the year. Throttled Awards – He’s earned the Bad-Boy award. This takes natural skill, dedication and a willingness to admire art made with fists. Jkjkjkjk.
Theme Song: Rammstein – Du hast
9 Dark Horse – Logan Sweeny. Really, Are you going to underestimate this kid? Look at the team behind him; look as his consistency; look at the …. Actually, I’m not sure what else, but I do know, give this kid a few more laps and he’ll be passing the field on the outside. I’ve been a fan of his dad ever since he wanted to bonk me on the top of my head, pile driving me into the sand. We named him CornFed on the West Coast as his shoulders are as wide as two football fields, Logan, not far behind, from this point forward shall be nick-named ForceFed as he’ll show and tell you when you need a rooster: not before or after-then. Think of this as a Chuck Norris joke. But reality. Chuck Norris has a pair of Logan Sweeny pajamas
.
Theme Song: Fergie - London Bridge
8. Colin Smith – I have this ball vs brains ratio Theory. It’s a sliding scale, which gets adjusted ever moment in a child’s/boy’s/man’s life – it’s a conversation of bravery and stupidity and the risk of failure and reward all rolled into one. Boating is one of the few motor sports where the wisdom of age can shine through as well as the reaction and idgaf of a young lad can shine as well. I had one of my hardest scraps of my racing career with Colin and we both ended up on the shit end of the stick, but I was impressed with the pure ability to race hard, put his head down and pull off some stunning laps to gain position. Quick lesson learned – if you use an insert into an 18mm head to make it useful for 14mm plugs, your temp gauge will be off. Tom and Colin came as asked if I was running at 1200 degrees on the top cylinder, and we looked oddly at each other and figured out the aluminum vs. steel issue. I look forward to Colin’s balls dropping and his brain taking over in the years to come, it will be fun to watch.
Theme Song: Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball
8. Dark Horse – Daniel Korpe. Yea, you heard me right. You usually hear of his little (not at all) brother Ryan Gowin (quite possibly the most consistent starter I’ve ever seen), but after relocating to Virginia via Florida has put a damper on available races to attend. There’s special drivers that make the rig they drive better, Daniel is one of those special talents. 2020 he’s looking to attend quite a few more races and show what could be.
Theme Song: Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
7. Scott Clark – I’m not going to lie here: I had to get clarification which Clark I knew in my mind is stupid fast. I was right, this Scott Clark is fast. I feel he’s a man after my own heat and may have had something with setting up that 2-mile course in NY. As you know, he has one hell of a chance to start last (that may or may not be a comment on his starting abilities or lack thereof) and pass everyone by the last turn. The last time I was in inspection with him, he bitched he stuck his engine and still finishes 2nd in the National heat while starting nothing close to on time. Mmmhmmm, perhaps we shall call you Chicken Little? Chicken Stupid Fast, I like a little more.
Theme Song: Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
6. Dean Sutherland – Dr Dean. Yep
Theme Song: Junior Boys – In the Morning
5. Sean Byrne – see #1, but remember, Sean is the motor-man, the setup man and the muscle. With those talents and a positive attitude and willingness to help anyone, you cheer him on to do well. Even if he is allocated second tier equipment within the team, with his relentless development put him darn close to the top of the pecking order.
Theme Song: Avicii - SOS
4. Dana Holt – Dr Dana. Yep x2. I want to bring your attention to an epidemic. #6 Dr Dean and Dr Dana have a very serious condition known as Short Afterplane Syndrome, SAS for short. It is a serious condition, and should not be made fun of. Reach out our boating friends and help them realize, Short Afterplane Sydrome can be cured. Sure, we’ve all wished for an extra 2” at the end of a heat. Sure, we’ve all dreamt of an extra 4”, but reality is, what happens in personal testing and what happen on the race course, is two different things. SAS is preventable and curable condition. Even if you don’t have this Syndrome, see it, understand it, and support our Brothers in Boating. We want the best for them. Our hearts go out to their significant others and pray that SAS can be healed and overcome. Let us cheer them on for success - next time you see them, encourage them; yell out “two more inches!!!”. Reassure them, they are the only ones, but they can be the one to overcome it.
Theme Song: The Killers – The Man
3 Joe Pater – Really? Only #3? Yep. This man is the epidemy of speed in CSH for the last decade. Remember Pater Fuel? He was/is so fast, competitors has to make up a reason to his success. Gramps has his priorities shifted for the best reasons, but are you really going to ever underestimate him pulling out a rig at a nationals? I’ll always be a fan, as every question I asked he answered, I just needed to know the right questions to ask.
Theme Song: Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
2 Mikey Pavlick – young padawon, you still have some much to learn, but you’re doing one hell of a job thus far. Talk about sexy, humble and intelligent, I don’t know how he keeps the ladies away to go and test as much as he does. (editor’s note: John (me) was contractually required to mention Mikey as “sexy”; I’m not the editor, I’m just the writer. Any complains, take it up with Johnny, Mikey will just delete the emails/texts and ignore your phone calls). If Mikey is Luke, Joe would be Yoda, and Mike would have to be Han. Or Vader. Or Obi Wan. Damn, I think I lost the analogy here. I recall Mikey’s First-first on the infamous Lake of Lawrence. Any time a youngling gets a first-first we cheer and remember our own, and then throw them in the water without the insurance company knowing. Along with Johnny, Mikey the Padawan, has lit the flame, and is carrying it with pride. I’m a fan. I want him to win, but I still want to beat him
Theme Song: Britney Spears - Toxic
1 Mike Kelly – If you ask Lee Sutter how great he is, odds are, he will already be telling you. A man of so many words, that say virtually nothing, has a stool to stand on. After Lee convincing the Commission to adjust the rules with his rig in mind, suggesting rules to stymie competitor innovations, Kyle Lewis’ retirement from Boating, Mike has stepped into one of the best supported, rigs in the nation (think Miss Bud In Bernie’s hay-day {Carl, that was a nod to to}). Mike has the ability to make a fifth-place boat run second and third-place boat in first. What do you think he’s going to do with a first place rig? First. And First, and First again. And then he’s going to start on the outside in eight and drive through the field and take first again. Racing against the fastest, makes you faster. It’s hard work, and you smile when you gain an mph and smile even more when you finally beat them in a heat. I salute the hard work they put in. On a private note, Jodi wanted me to mention that in her first and only race in ASH against Mike, she beat him. Nevermind he had a DNF from motor issues, Jodi legit beat him around the course for a 1stoverall – this isn’t said to demote Mike, but to promote Jodi. This Story gets told every Seafair as we watch Mike cruise past in a Big Boat, which puts a smile on all our faces.
Welp, this wraps up my CSH 202020202020 Early Season Power Rankings. It has been an honor and a pleasure! Guedo.
Comments