#SAYiWONT Action Series: RACE-N-RiDE 2013
Robby Maschhaupt put together another amazing event! When the Pro Wakeboard Tour decided to hold their first ever tour stop in Mooresville, NC, Robby put the “wheels” in motion! Robby works for Earnhardt Ganassi’s #1 team in NASCAR for driver Jamie McMurray and is an avid wakeboarder. He gathered some of the best wakeboarders in the world together to take on some of NASCAR’s finest in a friendly competition.
Day 1: The competition started at Earnhardt Ganassi with the Pit Crew Challenge. The #1 car pit crew showed the wakeboarders how a pit stop was done in around 11 seconds. The wakeboarders were split into 3 teams and were timed to see who was fastest in 3 rounds of competition. Cobe Mikacich’s team was the winning team with a 4 tire change in around 23 seconds.
The competition then moved to Victory Lane Karting Center in Charlotte for the racing portion of the SAYiWON’T “RACE”-N-Ride. Wakeboarders and NASCAR drivers/crew members were mixed in a friendly competition on the track. After a few preliminary races to decide placement, drivers were split up in 3 groups for an official no holds barred race for bragging rights. This time the NASCAR drivers showed that they can drive anything with 4 wheels, even if it isn’t all left turns. Thanks to Fred Ogrim at Victory Lane for the great hospitality and amazing time on the track.
Day 2: The “RiDE” portion of the event kicked off at 8am on Lake Norman. NASCAR guys showed what they do in their down time by boarding and wakesurfing with some instruction from some of the wakeboarders. Josh Palma, Andrew Adkison, Jimmy Lariche, Cobe Mikacich, Austin Hair, and local riders Will Speed & Stephen Pierce showed them how it’s done off the asphalt and on the water. There was some great riding and the NASCAR guys showed that they too are multi talented athletes.
After riding for a few hours, we were off to another race track. Mooresville MMX Karting Center was the next remedy for our adrenaline needs. Jason Bowles and TJ Bell invited us to be their guest and showed us around this outdoor track at speeds of 60+ mph. The NASCAR guys again showed the wakeboarders how it was done on the race track.
The next couple of days we watched as the Pro Wakeboarders put on an amazing show at the first ever Lake Norman Pro Wakeboard Tour Stop. The shores were lined with wakeboard and NASCAR fans alike. Boats filled “Sisters Cove” on the lake to make a circa 1999 BoardStock type atmosphere. Andrew Adkison took his racing skills to the water for his first podium finish of the year, while Harley Clifford showed why he is the Jimmy Johnson of the Wakeboard World by taking home the win.
Saturday night the party went on at the Rusty Rudder on the lake. Robby put together a live auction to help raise money for PurpleStride® and Pancreatic Cancer awareness. Dano The Mano showed that he has mad microphone skills auctioning off items to raise over $2,000 for the cause! SAYiWON’T® made purple ribbon “beat cancer” challenge tees that were given to anyone donating $20 at the door. Thanks to Eric Paul for hosting a great event for a great cause.
Thanks to Robby and everyone involved for putting together an awesome event. Hope that we can do it again next year!
SAYiWON’T RACE-N-RiDE …AND i WiLL!
Photos: PixelCrisp.com
For more pics of the event, visit www.facebook.com/sayiwont
