Sunday, Jul. 29, 2007

Brown, Red Dot here to watch, learn

By Jody Moore, hydro.commentator

Nate Brown's new team and new boat rolled into the Neil F. Lampson pits Saturday morning looking like one of those kids' toys you see advertised on TV - Some Assembly Required.

The U-17 Miss Red Dot wasn't quite ready for the Columbia Cup, even after weeks of around the clock work sessions to finish all of the little details that go into running an unlimited. But Brown and team decided to attend anyhow, just to get a little experience in the pits.

"We already had the hotels paid for and I wanted to get the guys some experience, to watch boat racing, and to be able to watch some really good crews in operation," Brown said. "Fortunately, we're right next to the E-Lam crew and they're one of the best crews on the circuit. So it's a good training ground.

And learn they have. While they put the skid fin on, fitted up a motor, and worked on getting all of the smaller details tied up, they've been paying attention to the activity in the camp next door.

"These guys have been observing that it looks like they're hardly moving, but they're getting a lot done," Brown said. "So it's good observation. We're here to learn, and part of the learning process is to watch people work and watch the boat racing."

There was a chance that the boat could be done, and but for a few parts, it might have. But Brown said he and the team are taking a slower approach and doing things right rather than cutting corners.

"We've got a ways to go to put this thing together. We thrashed for a couple of weeks, and we came close to getting to run," Brown said. "If it wasn't for a couple of brackets that I didn't have time to manufacture, we'd be running here."

From its greatly enlarged air scoop to the in set rear wings mounts, the new U-17 looks like a little bit of a departure from the standard boat. Brown said that the boat is something of a test bed, and that's one of the luxuries of owning your own boat.

"It's a different looking boat," Brown said coyly. "Some things I did purely for looks, and some things I did on purpose to see if it works or not. We can try something a little different. We have sponsors to try and impress, but mainly we're here to have fun."

Brown assured me that the U-17 would be ready for Seafair next weekend.

"We'll get it running in Seattle, that's for sure," he said. "We're progressing just like we were at our shop."

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer