Thursday, Aug. 03, 2006

Driver musical chairs: Bernard to U-5, Troxell to U-99 (maybe)

By Jody Moore, hydro.commentator

The aftermath of U-5 driver Mike Weber's retirement after last week's Atomic Cup took until today to hit, but the effect will shake up not only the Formula Boats team, but also two others.

Weber, who drove the U-5 Formulaboats.com for the first four races of 2006, announced his retirement after Sunday's final heat. He has been serving as the team manager for both the U-5 and owner Ted Porter's other team, the U-7 Formulaboats.com II, and will focus on that role.

Weber and team announced today that U-99 Lakeridge Paving driver Jeff Bernard will take over the U-5 for the remainder of the 2006.

In Bernard's place, U-13 Acura of Bellevue driver Terry Troxell will be doing the driving duties. Backup driver J Michael Kelly will drive the U-13 again next weekend.

"It's a two-race deal," said Weber. "Jeff will drive Seattle and San Diego, and at the end of the year we will reassess the direction of the team and find out what we want to do for next year. I fully expect that at the end of the year there won't be any changes in either of our drivers."

In addition to Bernard, Weber expects that his radio man will be joining the team as well. That person is none other than Mark Weber, Bernard's uncle and Mike Weber's brother. Both are experienced unlimited drivers.

"I think Uncle Mark will be on the radio again this weekend," Mike Weber said. "It's a good thing because we think alike and it makes it easier. I am going to be focused on helping Mike on the radio because we've still got a championship to win, and we'll have a driver on both radios."

Despite the strong family ties in the effort now, Mike Weber said the decision to hire Bernard was tough and thought out.

"The family tie was more of a negative for Jeff than a positive. I knew that's what everybody would presume," Mike Weber said. "I looked at who was available and who was qualified. I was a little bit reluctant because Jeff is family. But as I went up and down the list, Jeff was the best driver we could get."

The ABRA announced at the same time that Bernard's stepfather Terry Troxell would be driving the U-99, but Weber couldn't confirm it. U-99 owner Fred Leland refused to comment on the driver change. Troxell is the driver of the U-13 Acura of Bellevue but hasn't driven the boat yet this year after suffering a mild stroke over the winter.

Having known both Webers as long as I have and knowing the quality of competitor both brothers are, I was a little bit surprised by the announcement last week that Mike was retiring. So since I had him on the phone and Seafair qualifying is looming on the horizon Friday, I just had to ask if he had any second thoughts about turning over the wheel.

"I gues it depends on how you look at it," he said after a contemplative pause. "Is it going to kill me when boats go out and there is racing going on? Yeah, I imagine there will be something wishing I was still doing it. (Retirement) was something that I didn't just come out of the blue with. I'd been thinking about it for a while. It was just time.

"It's hard to explain," he continued. "I know I don't do a very good job of explaining it either. But when it's time, nobody will ever have to tell you. You'll get that feeling. You won't have that fire and that drive that you did. Ted Porter and Formula Boats have a lot invested in this venture. It deserves somebody in there who is going to race the boat like their pants are on fire, and I wasn't doing that."

Qualifying for the Seafair Chevrolet Cup begins on Lake Washington on Friday, with racing on Saturday and Sunday. The Unlimiteds will be joined by the Unlimited Lights and the American Challenge Cup Series.

The unlimited hydroplane season concludes next month in San Diego.

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