THE 1998 SALMON FROM THE LEFT SEAT OF "VAL-OSITY"

The water level was very scary: last year we were running in 25000 to 30000 cubic ft per sec;
this year it was down to 8500 cfs. There are some ROCKS in that river!!!!

In Ladder Creek there was really only one path through the rocks that
required running about a boat width off the boulders along the shore
while dodging the boulders just under the surface, then lining up to jump
through a space between 2 boulders that wasn't quite a boat width and
remembering to make a hard left turn just as you hopefully cleared the passage.
If you did it just right, the navigator's sponson just grazed the smaller of the 2 boulders.
I got off to the wrong side in Fiddle Creek which resulted in a wet, rough ride through
the boilers but the trip down and the last leg up went beautifully. I probably suffered
as little damage as anyone. The river took it's toll: Jeff Edwardson (B Class) sank his
boat in Time Zone.
Bruce Mills (A Class) proved that rocks are tougher than aluminum and caved in the front
side of Rabbit but no holes. It brought a tear to my eye - ole sentimental me! On the down
leg he lost a gasket and filled his engine up with water so only finished one leg. Jake Wyatt
(A Class) was too hot coming out of Black Hawk rapids and smashed into compression waves.
He suffered a split hull. Dean Miles (A Class) also split his hull in Time Zone. Bob Durkin (A
Class) bounced on rock and broke his pump. Donny Smith (Unlimited) and Chuck Thompson
(A Class) lost their distributors and ignition on leg 3.
By Val Ramsdell Driver of #111 THANKS VAL!
And this coverage graciously provided by Sam Whitten, Salmon Race Director.
The 14th Annual Salmon River Jet Boat Race was held April 18 and 19 , 1998 on the famous
" River of No Return" in Riggins , Idaho. The Idaho Cup and first place overall winner was
A-Class Team Danger Zone driven by Jeff Laird in boat # 211 from Gold Beach, Oregon , with
a total time of 1 hour 12 min. 28 sec for the 99 mile extreme course. With two former world
champions in hot pursuit, Jeff set a new record on the down river leg 23min.13 sec. for 33 miles.
Three-time world champion Mark Cromie and team Kwik Kiwi of Whangarie, New Zealand, placed
first in the unlimited class and second overall with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 27 seconds in
boat # 354. Mark has raced worldwide for the past 22 years, including sixteen world championships.
Donny Smith in boat #357 of White City, Oregon took second in the unlimited class.
Veteran Salmon River racer Dwain Longfellow of Lewiston , Idaho, Placed second in the A-Class and
third overall in Boat #244. Spencer King, the 1994 world champion, from Hay River, NWT , Canada,
Finished third in the A-Class and fourth overall in boat # 388.
Val Ramsdell And navigator husband ,Del Ransdell of Medford, Oregon, repeated there first place
victory in the B-Class as in 1997. Val is the only woman jet boat driver to race and win on the wild
Salmon River.
Jet boat builder and owner of Outlaw Marine Alex Miller and team Outlaw Placed first in the C-Class
in boat # 72. Alex has raced on the salmon River many times, including the first race in 1984.
Thirteen powerful jet boats , some with 1200 horsepower, started the event with only six crossing the
finish line. the mechanical gremlins played havoc with Donny Smith #357 and Chuck Thompson #280.
The infamous " time Zone Rapid" claimed another victim in 1998, boat #251 driven by Jeff Edwardsen
of Lewiston, Idaho, when it sank after being swamped by a huge wave. Both Jeff and his navigator
escaped with minor injuries.
The 14th annual Salmon River Jet Boat race is the first leg of the APBA- sanctioned U. S. championship
Jet Boat Race Marathon. The three races completing the circuit are Grants Pass, Oregon, May 23 and 24,
Klamath , California , on June 6 and 7 and the final leg on the Rogue River at Gold Beach, Oregon, on June
12 and14 .
U. S. Standings after Salmon River Race ;
Unlimited class ; Mark Cromie # 354 800 points , Donny Smith # 357 600 Points
A-Class ; Jeff Laird # 211 800 points , Dwain Longfellow #244 525 points , Chuck Thompson # 280 469 points ,
Spencer King # 288 394 points , Bob Durkin # 301 254 points, Bruce Mills #222 190 points , Dean Miles # 212
142 points, Jake Waytt #327 106 points
B-Class Val Ramsdell # 111 800 points Jeff Edwardsen # 251 600 points
C-Class Alex Miller # 72 800 points.
Congratulations to all racers!
The Salmon River will host the first race of the U.S. Championships on the third weekend in April 1999