Published: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Racer takes to the water naturally
John Peeters wins national hydroplane championships
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John Peters smiles after winning a national competition in Illinois.
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Peeters family PhotoS
John Peeters pilots his D-stock hydro at speeds around 85 mph.
STANWOOD — It’s only in the winter, when most people don’t want to play on Lake Goodwin, that John Peeters can freely run his 12-foot-long, open-cockpit hydroplane.
In the summer, he’s limited to driving on certain lakes where hydro boat races are planned.
Good thing Peeters, 27, likes to compete. In fact, he’s so good at racing he recently brought home two national titles: one in D-stock hydro, the largest and fastest of the American Power Boat Association’s stock category; and the second in outboard stock hydro 400, an international racing class.
To pick up these trophies, Peeters traveled this summer to races in Grass Lake, Mich.; and Depue, Ill.
Peeters helps run the family business, Penway Printing and Design in Arlington. He grew up racing boats on Silver Lake in Everett.
A graduate of Western Washington University with degrees in economics, accounting, marketing, business administration and photography, he’s an expert in Web design. He’d rather be racing.
Imagine this, he says:
“The throttle in your left hand, the steering wheel in your right, you’re kneeling going 85 mph, skimming across the water, inches away from 11 other boats and all the while being sprayed by prop wash with a g-force of 3 placed on your body in the corner.”
The powerboat association’s national stock races in Michigan involved 500 boats in several speed and size categories.
“In order to reach the finals, you have to qualify through elimination heats,” he said. “In the D class, most individuals weigh in at over 200 pounds. This is definitely a ‘big-boy’ class.”
At 5-foot-7 and weighing about 135 pounds, Peeters said his competitors looked down at him.
“That’s OK, because the first-place podium gave me at least an extra 18 inches,” he said.
After receiving his trophy, Peeters, his parents, his coach and his crew jumped in their truck and headed to Illinois so Peeters could defend his national championship in the outboard stock hydroplane 400 competition.
“We arrived just in time to race,” he said. “I have a great crew. With this win, we qualified for the world championships in Sweden in September of 2010. It was quite the good time.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
In the summer, he’s limited to driving on certain lakes where hydro boat races are planned.
Good thing Peeters, 27, likes to compete. In fact, he’s so good at racing he recently brought home two national titles: one in D-stock hydro, the largest and fastest of the American Power Boat Association’s stock category; and the second in outboard stock hydro 400, an international racing class.
To pick up these trophies, Peeters traveled this summer to races in Grass Lake, Mich.; and Depue, Ill.
Peeters helps run the family business, Penway Printing and Design in Arlington. He grew up racing boats on Silver Lake in Everett.
A graduate of Western Washington University with degrees in economics, accounting, marketing, business administration and photography, he’s an expert in Web design. He’d rather be racing.
Imagine this, he says:
“The throttle in your left hand, the steering wheel in your right, you’re kneeling going 85 mph, skimming across the water, inches away from 11 other boats and all the while being sprayed by prop wash with a g-force of 3 placed on your body in the corner.”
The powerboat association’s national stock races in Michigan involved 500 boats in several speed and size categories.
“In order to reach the finals, you have to qualify through elimination heats,” he said. “In the D class, most individuals weigh in at over 200 pounds. This is definitely a ‘big-boy’ class.”
At 5-foot-7 and weighing about 135 pounds, Peeters said his competitors looked down at him.
“That’s OK, because the first-place podium gave me at least an extra 18 inches,” he said.
After receiving his trophy, Peeters, his parents, his coach and his crew jumped in their truck and headed to Illinois so Peeters could defend his national championship in the outboard stock hydroplane 400 competition.
“We arrived just in time to race,” he said. “I have a great crew. With this win, we qualified for the world championships in Sweden in September of 2010. It was quite the good time.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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