DJSA Awards Night - Comments, Pics, Results

Tioari1 · 01-17-2010, 02:22 PM

Wow - did that really happen?
If thats any indication of how this season is going to go I'm pretty much in shock!
To everyone who attended please accept my sincere thanks. And to the top 16 who made it to the challenge race... well that was just pretty incredible all by itself.

Lots more to come but I just wanted to get this thread started.
Special congrats to the top 3 cart racers of the night who RIPPED IT...

1) Memo Gidley
2) Ryan O'Sullivan
3) Fast Eddy Lacayo

Amazing night - more to come soon.
Thanks to all who made it happen - thanks to all who were there.
You are all definately the greatest group of people I've ever met.

Jim Lambert

Johnfrmcal · 01-17-2010, 06:31 PM

I'll probably get my *ss kicked, but here goes....

PANTS ON THE GROUND, PANTS ON THE GROUND, LOOKIN' LIKE A FOOL WITH YO PANTS ON THE GROUND.....

I PASSED HIM TWICE!

Tioari1 · 01-18-2010, 05:42 AM

Don't know where to start but - lets start with this...
"Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, you're lookin like a fool with your pants on the ground..."
and with that having been said -

Congrats to the DJSA 2009 Junior racer of the year - Derrick Kemnitz Jr of Team Ski Clinic. I hate to admit it, but the "king kid" of talking smack proved a few things to us this last season. He can talk smack with the best of them, he's got his father's genes when it comes to making a freestyle ski fly through the air, and when it comes to rippin it on a race course? The kid definately has some impressive skill. We talked last night about the young racers in our group today who will be the great racers of tomorrow...

Jesse Hardin
Paul Richard
Joe Filipe
Chris Cottle
Ben Schembri
and Tony Nunes to name a few...
Lil D not only took top honors in open freestyle, but he ventured into closed course racing and did very well. Lil D, congrats on 1st overall in open freestyle, and being named the 2009 Junior Racer of the Year. I hope you are as proud of the titles you earned, as I was to award them to you.

And speaking of awards - sincere thanks and appreciation to those special people and sponsors who believe in what you do and want to see you rewarded for your efforts.
M&M Marine, TBM, The Ski Clinic, East Bay Motorsports, Synergyn Oil of Hawaii,
Hydro Turf, DM Designs, Muscle Milk, Jet Ski Doctor, and Go Kart Racer.

Because of the challenge of trying to get 92 people through the qualifying process for the "challenge race", some of you may have missed the presentation of the divisional top ten trophies and awards for both the standup and sitdown divisions.
Wonder no more - this is how it all broke down.

Standups -
10th) o/a - Greg Lacayo - 750 class - 1040 pts - $100 visa card Synergyn Oil
9th) Doug Wolff - X2 - 1055 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
9th) Bob Vassallo - FAST Stand - 1055 pts - 2 race entries Jet Ski Doctor
8th) Jerry Powers - 650 stand - 1115 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
7th) Edward Lacayo - 750 stand - 1140 pts - $100 mat kit Hydro Turf
6th) Derrick Kemnitz Sr - 750 stand - 1165 pts - $100 gift card East Bay MS
5th) Tom Yamamoto - X2 - 1235 pts - 1235 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
4th) Joe Gardemeyer - 650 stand - 1280 pts - $150 gift cert Ski Clinic
3rd) John Dewar - X2 - 1390 pts - $200 gift cert M&M Marine
2nd) Pete Zernik - FAST Stand - 1535 pts - $250 gift cert TBM racing

Sitdowns -
10th o/a - Phil Lago - Sprint Sit - 740 pts - $100 mat kit Hydro Turf
9th - Tom Yamamoto - Sport Sit - 825 pts - $100 gift card East Bay MS
8th - Rick Ignacio - Sprint Sit - 890 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
7th - Denny Janeway - SCXP Supersit - 945 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
6th - Chris Cottle - Sprint Sit - 965 pts - $100 gift cert M&M Marine
5th - Dave Cottle Jr - SCXP Supersit - 1150 pts - $100 visa card Synergyn Oil
4th - Johnny Dahlberg - SCXP Supersit - 1160 pts - $200 gift cert M&M Marine
3rd - Scott Harrington - Sprint Sit - 1345 pts - $150 Ski Clinic
2nd - Norm Yee - Sport Sit - 1470 pts - $250 gift cert TBM Racing

and what didn't get announced.... originally djsa series racers were running for a grand prize of 2 weekend houseboat trips on Lake Shasta but after seeing how cool the awards were for the enduro champions - the 2 course racing champions opted for a couple very cool pit vehicles to cruise the pits in at race venues...

The 2009 DJSA overall Standup high points champion, Mr Dereck Mendoza, 650 open standup class, with 1555 well earned series points, will be cruising the pits in a very cool "kawasaki green" Roketa Mini Sand Rail Cart presented by DJSA - distributed by DWP of Oakley CA. Congrats Dereck on an awesome season.

The 2009 DJSA overall Sitdown high points champion, Mr Derek "the surgeon" 900 open sitdown class, with 1520 well earned series points, will be cruising the pits in style with a very cool Roketa Quad (powder coated yellow to match his ski) presented by DJSA - distributed by DWP of Oakley CA. Congrats Derek on an awesome season. The Surgeon can now carry the title of "DJSA 2-time High Points Sitdown Champion" because not only did he own the 08 season, but he did it again in 09.
(Derek couldn't join us at the awards dinner because he is at home anxiously awaiting the arrival of a brand new future sport class racer who is due in a few days - but Dad was on hand to accept all his awards and trophies.) Best of luck to Derek and Gail with the birth of their first child. Our thoughts are with you.

Other award recipients -
Jessie Hardin and Daniel Hildago - rookies of the year for the 650 class.
Matt Rennie - Class rider of the year for the 650's
Arnold Angeles - X2 rookie of the year
General John Dewar - class rider of the year for the x2's
Vanessa Booker - rookie and class rider of the year for the Women's Novice Ski
The entire top 5 of the rippin 750 stand class were named 750 class riders of the year -
Derrick Kemnitz, Eddie Lacayo, Greg Lacayo, Ryan O'Sullivan, and Matt Saale
Paul Richard - rookie of the year for the Superstand 800 class
Memo Gidley was proudly named Class rider of the year for the Superstands
Ben Schembri - rookie of the year for the FAST Stand class
Pete Zernik - class rider of the year for the FAST Stands
Tom Yamamoto - rookie of the year for the Sport Sit 900 class
Norm Yee - class rider of the year for the Sport Sits.
Phil Lago - rookie of the year for the Sprint Sit 1300s
Scott Harrington - class rider of the year for the Sprint Sits.
Bill "Mark Martin" Wilson - honorary class rider of the year for the Sprint class
Kelly Gallant - rookie of the year for the SCXP Supersits
John Dalhberg - Class rider of the year for the SCXP Supersits

DJSA Superior Safety and Sportsmanship awards -
Doug Wolff - X2
Mike Hackler - FAST Stand
John Bonkowski - Safety Ski #1

Sponsor of the year awards -
The Ski Clinic
Go Kart Racer

And the 2 favorite trophies I dig presenting - the DJSA Top Outlaw Awards for all the excitement, intensity, and heart stopping moments they bring to the series... It was my honor to present these trophies to... the true outlaw racers who live up to the name - and then some.

The always amazing Ian Roberts of the FAST STAND class -
and normally this would go to one racer but it takes 2 to dance, and dance they did all season long. In fact, one race they got busted for dirty dancing but theres no doubt these 2 are 110 natural born racers and I am proud to call them DJSA Outlaws...
Dave Cottle Jr and Denny Janeway of the SCXP Supersits.

Ian, Dave, and Denny. I take my hat off to the 3 of you, and I thank you for all the excitement you gave us this year.

More to come soon but to all of you who made the trip to Burlingame last night - please accept my sincere appreciation and thanks for making it a very special night. I still don't know how many of us were there... all I know is we had 150 seats set up and Dave brought in 25 more and people were still standing in the back of the room. You are all jet ski racers, but at the same time, you have all come together as a very special family and you make me very proud to know all of you. All I can think of is 5 words...
The Pleasure Is All Mine.

More to follow

Jim Lambert

Tioari1 · 01-18-2010, 11:06 AM

There is a very special safety ski team in Norcal consisting of some very special people, and because of the highly visible orange and white safety skis they ride they are known simply as "Team Orange" - but Team Orange is anything but simple. Watching them work a race course is just as amazing as watching the racing itself, and they are the main reason our races have been as incident free as they are.

I wanted the team to have a little something to wear in the pits that would easily identify them as being Team Orange team members, so it only seemed appropriate to award the current team with some pretty cool looking Nascar Home Depot team race jackets.
It was my sincere pleasure awarding these jackets to -

Safety Ski #1 - team leader John Bonkowski
Safety Ski #2 - assistant team leader Robby Hall
Safety Ski #4 - Raul Guttierez
Safety Ski #4 - Stan Schrock
Safety Ski #5 - Josh Beltran
Safety/photo boat - Dave Cottle Sr

Because the race team goes even further than the safety skis, I figured we'd make the entire race team easily visible in the pits on those cold chilly mornings so - when you see orange and white - you know you're at the right place! It was also my pleasure awarding team jackets to our amazing scoring staff -

Doreen Knollenberg
Stephanie Beltram
Nicole Lambert
Mandie Guttierez
Debi Nunes

and to -

Mark Nunes - Shore spotter
Catriona Cottle - public relations
The voice of PWC Racing as we know it today - the one and only Kurt Knollenberg
and to the person who always makes the team colors orange and white even brighter -
DJSA photographer of the year - the amazing Traci Cottle.

These people make up a unique team and there is not enough thanks in the world to express how much they mean to us, but now when you see orange and white in the mornings on race days - you can go up to them and thank them personally...

Well into the night while everyone was ripping it on the Kart track, I was paid the highest of compliments by the wife of one of our racers.
(I know its a shock - but it left me speechless and I didn't know what to say...)
"The only reason why I let my husband race is because of how you run your races, and I thank you because it means so much to him to be back in racing and I know he's safe with you there"...

Wow. Had to bite my lip on that one and I will never forget those words.
Although they were said to me - they really belong to the guys in the orange and white jackets and as I said at the awards ceremony -
It is what they do, it is who they are, and we are proud to call them TEAM ORANGE!

(and if anyone needs to know why scorekeep Nicole got a black and white Jack Daniels nascar team jacket instead of flying the orange and white - hit me up and I'll explain it to you!!!)

Special team - Special racers - Special Night... and I am happy to report - all you guys and girls made bartender DeAnna exhausted by the end of the night!!!

More to follow -

Schrocketman · 01-18-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tioari1

These people make up a unique team and there is not enough thanks in the world to express how much they mean to us, -

Does Lambert not get this after, what, 5 years? It is not us who help, but, you My Brother who deserve all the credit/attaboys/thank you's that come from this. There is only one guy who could have done this, and I thank you, Jim Lambert, for doing what it is you do!!!

Traci Cottle · 01-18-2010, 04:22 PM

Thank you everyone for a great evening and a great 2009 race season. I am sure 2010 will be even better!! Here is the link to the pictures that I took, and I have to say I am really sorry for the pictures that I took on the track, they are awful, but there are a few that work. Next time I will remember my tripod and they will look much better. Also my main goal for this next season is to get more pictures of the families and friends of all the racers.

Well, anyway, Thank you to everyone for a great season!!

Awards 2009:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2751162...7623111871961/

Tioari1 · 01-18-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schrocketman

Does Lambert not get this after, what, 5 years? It is not us who help, but, you My Brother who deserve all the credit/attaboys/thank you's that come from this. There is only one guy who could have done this, and I thank you, Jim Lambert, for doing what it is you do!!!

************************************************** ******************
Famous words spoken by Lil D Derrick Kemnitz Jr
"I still don't get it..."
__________________
Derrick Kemnitz Jr
2009 DJSA Am. Freestyle Champion
2009 IJSBA Am. Freestyle 9th of 18
2009 APBA Am. Freestyle National Runner-up
2008 IJSBA Am. Freestyle 9th of 10
2007 IJSBA Am. Freestyle 11th
2007 Western States Cup Am. Freestyle 5th of 11
The Ski Clinic
TBM Racing
D&H Enterprises
X-Scream
Hydro-Turf
Quakysnese
Pro Watercraft
RRP
Optima Racing

************************************************** ********************************
Shrocketdude -

Yes, its true - after 5 years I have to borrow the words above spoken by our 2009 junior racer of the year... I don't get it!!!

But what I do get - is that every racer in every class at every race makes me more proud than words could ever express and the real thanks go to 145 course racers, 26 enduro racers, and 11 freestylist who are the best damn outlaw watercraft racers northern california has ever seen. The real thanks goes to them and the staff who pulls it off at every race! I'm just damn happy to be there to see it all happen.

The only bad thing that has come out of djsa - is that I can't get this damn song out of my head!!! "Pants on the ground - pants on the ground".... well, you guys know how the rest of it goes. Thanks for the kind words - they mean more than you know.

Tioari1 · 01-18-2010, 05:27 PM

Traci,

I just watched this slideshow 3 times, and there must be something wrong with my computer - because every picture I see is incredible!
(and the 2 or 3 streaked shots will make killer screen savers!)
Thank you for capturing every moment of the most special night djsa has ever had!
I'm sure every racer in this group will have these framed and on their walls of fame to always look back on with pride - at the accomplishments they have achieved... Thank you so much for all you do for us.

Jim

ps - Kurt Knollenberg... you will pay for holding up that Jeff Gordon poster behind me. My Dad (an avid Jeff Gordon fan) was giving a thumbs up and I thought it was for something I was saying. Now it all makes sense.... but you will pay my friend. Paybacks a ......

karty · 01-18-2010, 08:48 PM

Great pics TRACI!
Cant wait to see some of the on track footage from some of the racers!

Tioari1 · 01-19-2010, 05:46 AM

Because we were runing on a tight schedule for the Kart racing - I ran short on bringing a few things up...
One of those being - Your DJSA photographer spent countless hours putting together personalized CD's
with select photos of just about every racer who hit the startlines this season.
And guess who forgot to make that announcement and let you check the box for your cd???

Traci - and everyone else present, my sincere apology for the brain fade but - if your name is on this list and
you weren't one of the fortunate few who did get their cd's saturday night, hit me up with an email listing your
current mailing address and they will go out as soon as I get your info.

Dereck Mendoza
Carlos Thomas
Rick Ignacio
Tom Pagen
Phil Lago
Norm Yee
Rhino O'Sully
Scott Harrington
Ryan Haag
Robby Myer
Memo Gidley
Michelle Blanche
Matt Cannonball Ford
Mike Hackler
Doug Wolff
Kristin Philp
Chad Campbell
Cammo Joe
Taylor VanFossen
Jeremy Dixon
JJ Hickey
General John Dewar
John Grinager
Karina Anderson
Ian Roberts
Eddie Lacayo
Cheng Leu
Eric Hewitt
Joe Cattoor
Jason Ward
Greg Lacayo
Katie Hackler
Jerry Powers
and Big G - Lasiter
Hit me up and I'll send them out pronto!!!

Traci - these personlized cd's are awesome and I thank you a million times over for doing that for all our racers.
Dereck Mendoza - every photo I see with the guys holding up those trick number plates - dude I'm speechless.. what an awesome touch.
Rick Ignacio and Catriona Cottle - the 2009 poster turned out PERFECT and its already on my living room wall. Thanks for the special touch.
John Dewar and his new "adult son" uh.... thomas?. (dude he doesn't look 14) thank you for the Tony Stewart street sign. It rocks!
Memo Gidley - once again I am speechless. Thank you for everything. (And when you start racing Nascar, theres going to be a huge aution of Tony Stewart collectables)
Mendoza again - that number board everyone signed means more to me than you'll ever know and thanks to all who wrote me a note.
Doreen - that "hot model" photo of the worlds "first pwc" was the first thing to go up on the wall...thanks for the thoughtfulness - and all that you do.
Kurt Knollenberg - when I saw that pic of you holding up the jeff gordon poster behind me - nevermind but I will get even - but the announcing during the Kart race made me feel like I was at a nascar track. As always You are like a God to me (except when you are holding up a Jeff Gordon poster)
And to my Mom and Dad - thanks for being there to share the night.
The last time I saw my Dad race a Kart, the throttle stuck in a hairpin turn at the Stoneman track in Pittsburg and he flipped 3 times (right in front of my mom!) It was cool to see him back in the seat 40 years later and to all who didn't put him in the wall - my mom says thanks.

For 4 years my dad has always questioned why I put as much effort into djsa as I do - he never really understood "why" but saturday night,
after seeing and feeling all that "luv" in the room, he came up to me and told me how amazed and proud he is of what djsa has become.
That was pretty cool coming from the man who passed his passion for racing onto me and in turn - well just look at what all you guys and girls have done... I hope all you Outlaws are as proud of yourselves as I am. Doesn't matter if you took a trophy home or not..."you don't have to win to be a winner" and saturday night, I think I was looking at about 200 winners all in one room.

As always, the pleasure is all mine.
You are an amazing group of people and you should all be proud of yourselves.
I think we have some cool stuff coming up for you in 2010.
Stay tuned, and thanks to each and everyone of you for all the good times.

jim