Thunder on the Shrewsbury 2006

Hosted by Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club

Tom Wenner & Steve Drucker playing at Thunder on Shrewsbury

We made it home and now start to collect our thoughts for the story. We have over 300 pictures ourselves and welcome your photos and stories. We ask that you send the photos on either a disc or link where we can copy then.

If you have a story to tell, please feel free to e-mail it and we will include it in this story. We couldn't cover everything.

Jack Lowe's photos

Photos by Claire

Claire's on course photo shoot

--------------------------------------------------

Thunder on the Shrewsbury

By Marty Ferry

Our journey started Thursday evening at 7 PM when Claire and I joined Phil and Jean Jordan here in Florida and headed north. The drive up was uneventful and at 9:30 AM we were in Long Branch, N.J. The girls slept and Phil and I took turns driving. Phil noticed he was getting 17.1 mpg for his 6 hours and I was down to 16.4 for mine! I explained there was no traffic tie ups to slow me down...

We drove to the Club (Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club) to see what was going on. This was the beginning of a weekend to remember. I ran into some of my old club friends (I was a member) and we began recalling great old times. Sheldon Boker is one of the fixtures with the club and always there to pitch right in. We laughed about when we were young members in the club, how the senior members always appeared to be doing nothing! Now Sheldon is a senior member and the younger members have his number. It was a great laugh, but none the less everyone was working.

I know, most of the workers at the club don't own skiffs and hats off to the entire club for making sure this was a successful event for their skiff members. The club made sure Keith Brummer, Tom Van Dyke, Trevor Kirsch, Tom Wenner, and Jim Hassfeld our hosts, were free to entertain us, their skiff guests. I can't name all the members who spent days cooking, setting up docks, moving boats, shopping, etc but I hope they realize how grateful we are. I believe there were upwards of 500 people/spectators who showed up for this minimally advertised event. There were 44 boats, I believe 41 were skiffs, Claire took a picture of each and once sorted out, I'll have a better idea.

Friday Night we were off to Sally "T's" for dinner and a continuation of our social gathering from earlier in the day. Once there I was given another shock. People I've known all my life were the present owners. More hugs and mind joggling went on thru the evening. The rest of the early arrivers were there for dinner swapping stories and strategies for the following day. I met Keith's and  Tom Van Dike's better half along with Trevor's wife again. Too much fun for one day. Time to get back to the hotel for that long over due head rest to the pillow.

Saturday morning 5:30 and the shake went to Claire to get ready. The shake went again at 6:00 then again at 6:30. Finally things were starting to happen. We wanted to get to the club because we had to be in the water so we could make the Red Bank Run. Yeah, it's raining, but it's warm. Well we didn't get motivated till 11AM when Jim and the other boats left. That gave us time to meet some of the legends of skiffers who were there. Claire was in full glory clicking away with the camera and asking everyone questions.

We admired the Seaman Skiff the club built and I think they putting something together to raffle it off. Not knowing what something like that would be worth I suggested they put it on e-bay and give the country the opportunity to bid! It was truly fine craftsmanship and Bill Rudolph and Stan Nadler's presence was all over it!

More local skiffs were arriving, I waited to meet some of the owners I've only talked to on the phone. This event was getting better as the day went on. Had the chance to make some adjustments for some of the guys and give a little class along with Mark Van Winkle on transmissions. This is what it's all about, having fun with your boat and helping each other out. Steve Druker and his brother can attest to that. Charlie Boland and Mike Conte kept the skiff "Suds" foaming. I overheard then saying to each other, "You take them, No, you go this time" what a situation to be in. Additionally Keith was burning quite a bit of fuel along with Tom Wenner.

I don't know all the skiffers and sure would like some help covering who some of the other players were. I finally met Bob Perry, Herbie Moore and Mr. Pink Elephant, Bob Gradowski. Claire did take pictures of all the skiffs in the yard, and went out with Bruce Lowe and took some action shots of the boats going around the buoys. Everyone seemed to have all the fun they wanted and again the Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht club outdid themselves. My thanks to all that made this event happen, and we'll be back next year.

I could go on forever elaborating on the details, but to keep it short it was a wonderful event in many ways...

Till the next event...

Marty