After just a two week layover from Berwick, Pennsylvania, the next stop on the Mike Cook Northeast Challenge Series was in Region 1 at the famed West Thompson Lake race site in Thompson, Connecticut hosted by the Connecticut Outboard Association. Returning to the series were Mike Akerstrom and Ottawa Canada’s Michael Rorke. Both drivers were looking to redeem themselves from a disastrous series opener at Standish, Maine. Noticeably absent from the event was Connecticut’s own Wild Bill Forster.

Heat one of Saturday’s race saw Steve Noury nail one of his patented starts and he took the first turn, first with Akerstrom on his outside hip. Akerstrom, in the famed red, white and blue 6-A boat, finally took the lead on the white flag lap and set sail to the finish line recording his first heat win of the series with Noury second and Rorke third. Heat two saw Akerstrom work the inside line at the start to perfection and he won the drag race to the first turn leaving Noury and Rorke in his wake to battle for the second place position. Rorke tried all of his tricks but could not advance past the 31-A’s rooster tail and settled for third with Tim and Thom Noury rounding out the top five.

With the wind blowing and the rough water getting rougher, the race committee relocated Sunday’s race course up into the cove and flag starts were used. This took away any advantage Steve Noury may have had on clock starts and “Iron Mike” Akerstrom just powered away from the field with two more heat wins. Steve Noury again finished second with Tim Noury moving up to third for his fourth podium finish of the series. In addition to his overall wins, Akerstrom picked up four bonus points by winning all of the heats and is right back in the points chase.

The next stop for the series will be Lock Haven, PA on August 30 and 31st. With the scoring format only counting your best eight races out of the twelve that are scheduled, the quest for the Championship is wide open. Stay tuned for next month’s update in the SSOA Newsletter and Web Site.

Series Finishes:
Standish, ME #1: 1-Howie Nichols, 2-Bill Forster, 3-Eric Armstrong, 4-Thom Noury, 5-Steve Noury
Standish, ME #2: 1-Bill Forster, 2-Steve Noury, 3-Tim Noury, 4-Eric Armstrong, 5-Thom Noury
Berwick, PA #1: 1-Bill Forster, 2-Steve Noury, 3-Tim Noury, 4-Johnny Wlodarski, 5-Bill Walker
Berwick, PA #2: 1-Steve Noury, 2-Bill Forster, 3-Tim Noury, 4-Johnny Wlodarski
Thompson, CT #1: 1-Mike Akerstrom, 2-Steve Noury, 3-Michael Rorke, 4-Tim Noury, 5-Thom Noury
Thompson, CT #2: 1-Mike Akerstrom, 2-Steve Noury, 3-Tim Noury, 4-Thom Noury
Lock Haven, PA – August 30-31
Redwood, NY – September 13-14
Kingston, NH – September 20 (2 races on Saturday)

Point Standings (7/14/14)
Driver, Hometown                              Total Points
Steve Noury, Hampstead, NH                 74
Bill Forster, Wallingford, CT                     57
Tim Noury, Bow, NH                                 56
Mike Akerstrom, Westford, MA                40
Thom Noury, Lewiston, ME                     34
Eric Armstrong, Ottawa, Ontario             19
Johnny Wlodarski, Newton, NJ              18
Howie Nichols, Coco, Florida                 17
Michael Rorke, Ottawa, Ontario             15
Bill Walker, St Augustine, FL                    8