First You Survive — Then You Can Win the Bay City River Roar

 Bay City, Mich. (June 27) –While other boats were being devoured by rough water and high revs, three drivers seemed to float above the chop and thrive on the conditions presented by the 23^rd Dow Bay City River Roar on the Saginaw River on Sunday.

Chris Fairchild of Paw Paw, Ill., won his first Bay City Formula One race on his favorite course after starting sixth. He passed some boats on speed, others as the pounding river helped to induce mechanical problems.

Shaun Torrente of Homestead, Fla., started on the pole in the second race of the 2010 Formula One PROP Tour and grabbed the early lead with Tim Seebold of Osage Beach, Mo., in hot pursuit. Seebold’s engine began to sour on lap three. Torrente would eventually surrender the lead to Fairchild by nearly rolling over in turn three. Greg Foster of Orange, Calif., started fifth and worked his way into fourth place twice. He gave up the position once after spinning out in a corner, then lost the position for good when a trim adjusting rod broke on his boat.

At the end of 50 rough laps, Fairchild’s Mercury-powered boat had a comfortable lead over Torrente. Terry Rinker of Tampa, Fla., finished third. Tim Seebold’s engine threw a connecting rod as he completed 47 laps, but that total was enough to secure fourth place.

The Johnson-powered boats of Foster and Michael Schubert came home eighth and seventh.

Sunday’s schedule was delayed nearly two hours by a series of thunderstorms that brought high winds and downpours to Bay City. The Formula One final began in a steady rain. Just as the awards ceremony ended under the cover of a park pavilion, sunshine broke out and a rainbow appeared in the eastern sky.

Formula Two

Jimmie Merleau of Fennville, Mich., survived a first-lap collision to lead all 30 laps of the Formula Two final in his Mercury Optimax-powered boat. A traffic jam at the first buoy knocked a hole in the top of Merleau’s right sponson, but the race ran without a stoppage and he was able to keep his hull on plane all the way to the checkered flag.

Dan Orchard of Stratford, Ontario, started second in the final, but his early collision damage allowed him to complete only seven laps before his left sponson shredded on the front straight and he barely turned into the launch ramp before his boat sank.

Kris Shepard of Antioch, Ill., was second with a Mercury SST-120 engine and Donny Lick of Hastings, Minn., was third. Merleau’s boat began taking on water as he headed to the ramp, so he took his victory lap as a passenger on Shepard’s craft.

Formula Lights

Bud Nollman of Osage Beach, Mo., started second in the Formula Lights final but shot into a race-long lead right off the dock to win his 30-lap final and his first River Roar after years of challenging the Saginaw River. Daniel Guimond of Kankakee, Ill., was next across the finish line, but was dropped to sixth in the finishing order after incurring a one-lap penalty for missing a turn buoy early in the race.

That penalty left Butch Ott of Ontario in second place and Jose Mendana Jr. of Miami, Fla., in third.

Inflatables

Michael and Linda Venier of Lasalle, Mich., were the winners in the Outlaw class of two-man inflatable boats. The X class winners were Jeff Korpal of Bay City and Josh Jaynes of Kawkawin, Mich.

Formula One Final

Pos.   Driver, Home, Laps
1. Chris Fairchild, Paw Paw, Ill.                   50
2. Shaun Torrente, Homestead, Fla.         50
3. Terry Rinker, Tampa, Fla.                        50
4. Tim Seebold, Osage Beach, Mo.             46
5. Jeff Shepherd, Woodlawn, Tenn.           46
6. Lynn Simburger, Elsah, Ill.                      45
7. Michael Schubert, Richmond, Tex.      44
8. Greg Foster, Orange, Calif.                       44
9. Mark Johnson, Jaffey, N.H.                     40
10. Jose Mendana Jr., Miami, Fla.             26
11. Kris Shepard, Antioch, Ill.                     22
12. Mike Klepadlo, Gaylord, Mich.             9 

Starting Order for Sunday’s 50-lap Final:
Torrente, Mendana, Seebold, Rinker, Foster, Fairchild, Simburger, Shepherd, Shepard, Johnson, Schubert, Klepadlo

Don’t worry about the kids – they’ll have a blast at the Kroger Kidz Zone.  Lots of fun for all ages . . . and the price is right!

The East Side of the river is completely re-done and looks fantastic! You’ll want to get your VIP tickets for this years races.

For $25 per person you get east side seating (bring your own chair) and a meal ticket. This great way to enjoy the races just got better!

You can now buy your tickets for the 2010 Dow River Roar Online! You don’t even have to have a PayPal account . . . simply pay by credit card.

Full Access Weekend Pass:

Includes:

• 1 Preferred Seating pass for the Tesla & Great White Concert
• 1 VIP Saturday pass
• 1 VIP Sunday pass
• Grilled food on site by Meat’s N Moore (Saturday and Sunday)
• Access to West Side viewing and pit areas

Order your 2010 Full Access Weekend Pass today!

Saturday VIP Pass

Includes:

• 1 VIP Saturday East Side Seating
• Grilled food on site by Meat’s N Moore

Order your Saturday VIP Pass today!

Sunday VIP Pass

Includes:

• 1 VIP Sunday East Side Seating
• Grilled food on site by Meat’s N Moore

Order your Sunday VIP Pass today!

Tom Wiescinski at  [skipannwiescinski@gmail.com] for your Vendor forms.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to working with you again this year.

TESLA is a multi-platinum-selling rock band from Northern California known for their melodic songs and down to earth appeal. Thanks to their die-hard, loyal fan base and their younger generation offspring, TESLA continues to tour to sold-out crowds around the world.

One day $15 ticket sales will be Saturday April 17th, 2010 at 10am!
One Day tickets are available at:
Bay City – Graff Chevrolet / Prime Bros Furniture / Baycom
Saginaw – Baycom
Standish – Saganing Eagles Landing Casino

After April 17th tickets will be available to order online (bottom of this page).

VIP Tickets = $40
General Admission = $25

Also performing on Friday night is none other than Great White!

Great White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”. The band reached their peak popularity with the album …Twice Shy in 1989.

Look for the Bay City Fireworks trailer under the helicopter!

NOTE:  As of Thursday, June 17 any online tickets that were ordered online will be available for pick-up at the will call.  Tickets will be available starting at noon on Friday, June 25 (the day of the show).  Tickets will no longer be sent by mail!

Gold Belvedere Platform: $2,850.00
Exclusive waterfront viewing for 20 of your guest on Saturday and 20 on Sunday
Grilled food on site catered by Meats N Mooore
Beverages and soft drinks provided by Fabiano Brothers and Pepsi
Access to West Side area viewing and pit areas

Silver VIP Gathering Tents: $1,750
Tent, table and chairs provided for 20 people on Saturday and 20 on Sunday
Grilled food on site catered by Meats N Mooore, 1 meal ticket provided per person
Six Beverages provided by Fabiano Brothers and soft drinks provided by Pepsi

Silver Express: $900.00
You and your friends will enjoy viewing on the east-side
Your package includes 20 Saturday and 20 Sunday passes
One meal ticket per person for on-site food catered by Meats N Mooore
Pepsi fountain pop included. All other beverages available for sale
Bring your comfortable lounge chair for waterfront viewing

Race Day pass $25.00
Your day pass will include access to view world class powerboat racing, 1 meal ticket and Pepsi fountain pop, other beverages available for sale. Please bring your lounge chair for waterfront seating.

Saturday VIP

1 Saturday VIP $25.00 2 Saturday VIP’s $50.00 3 Saturday VIP’s $75.00 4 Saturday VIP’s $100.00

Saturday VIP

1 Sunday VIP $25.00 2 Sunday VIP’s $50.00 3 Sunday VIP’s $75.00 4 Sunday VIP’s $100.00

50% to secure your space due by April 15, 2010
Balance paid in full due on or before June 1, 2010

Download the 2010 VIP Tent Sponsorship Form – click here!

The Bay City River Roar, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization and supports mid-Michigan charitable organizations. Your donation to Bay City River Roar, Inc. is tax deductible as allowed by law.

License to Solicit CSCT10320

Only in Bay City where your name or business can be located on both sides of a professional powerboat in a race circuit along the Saginaw River. Today is your market for spills and thrills!

Formula 1 – $750.00 receive 2 west-side Pit Pass
Formula 2 (SST-120) – $600.00 receive 2 west-side Pit Pass
Formula Lights (SST-45) – $500.00 receive 2 west-side Pit Pass

As a boat sponsor, you will have your name professionally displayed on both sides of the cowling on a boat in either or all 3 classes. With free entry on the west-side, you will be given access to the Pit Area to see first hand and behind the scene action. The commotion and excitement as boats are weighed in and out of the water, crew members fumbling to make last minute tweaks you will have access to all the race excitement and view from behind the starting dock areas. Also, on Saturday, June 26, the sponsor driver reception will be in Vets Park, what an opportunity to spend the entire day in the Pits and meet the drivers after racing.

Download the 2010 Boat Sponsor Form – Click Here!

Don’t Miss Your Boat!

That’s right! Dow Chemical will cover the regular admission cost for anyone who donates a canned or nonperishable food item for admission to the West Side race viewing in Veterans Memorial Park.

Want VIP tickets to the East Side of the river? VIP includes food ticket!

Saturday VIP

1 Saturday VIP $25.00 2 Saturday VIP’s $50.00 3 Saturday VIP’s $75.00 4 Saturday VIP’s $100.00

Saturday VIP

1 Sunday VIP $25.00 2 Sunday VIP’s $50.00 3 Sunday VIP’s $75.00 4 Sunday VIP’s $100.00