Current Year Drag Boat Racing updates:

Updated Friday, June 27, 2008

2007 Updates Page

2006 Updates Page


July 23rd, 2008

A very bad weekend in Augusta After three days of intense racing, Ashly was in the Semi Finals IN TWO RACES This entails 12 passes, in full gear, at a temperature of 102 degrees. With no indication, the motor just exploded Thanks to Ashly's training, common sense, and our safety equipment, She and the boat are just fine. When Ashly knew something was very wrong, she pulled the emergercy shut down, that turns off the fuel (about a gallon per second) and the ignition. This was not the fire and light show, that you see so many times, when things go wrong. Ashly and the boat are both cleaned up and looking fine. (10 QT of hot oil, and Methane alchohol) We were # 1 in the nation, and maybe made enough points to hold that for now. We have three weeks to be ready for our next race in Litchfield Ill. WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP Click here to see a picture of what was left of the motor. Click here to see a picture of Terrie driving the 70 foot long rig. Terrie does so many things in the back groud, that no one knows about. I can not describe the pride that I have in our team.
Little John


Monday, June 29th, 2008

Ashley Ruf driving Kwitchabitchin finished in 3rd place at Kentucky Lake. The team is on the way back and has some repairs to do to the engine along with cleaning up after the flood waters recede from their homes. Congrats to Ashley on her good showing at Kentucky.

Saturday June 28th about 10 PM

Got some good news to report for the Little Johns Motorsports Drag Boat Race Team! While they are flooded out here at home they went to the Kentucky Drag Boat Association races on Kentucky Lake and Ashley and Kwitchabitchin are competing in two classes. Right now they are number one qualifier in the 9 second bracket and number two qualifier in the 8 second bracket!

Creve Coeur Boat Drags 2008 pictures and video are up, click here
Ashley and Kwitchabitchin took 1st Place in their class for the weekend!


June 27th, 2008 update from RiverBills.com

Hi Bill,

  I try to check in as best that I can, but its not easy.
We were so very happy with all the people that came to see us at Creve Coeur Races.  We did promise to put on a good show, Hopefully it was, at least, what they would expect from our team.

I would like to share a few things behind the scenes, that a lot of people don't know, and thank some others.  Most know that Keith, Myself, and our families, are flooded out ,and living in our motor homes for a while. Most did not know that we moved in at Creve Couer early on Thurs, and did not move out until late Mon. because we really had nowhere to go with all of our equipment.

A special thanks goes out to

Dutch ,for the use of this lap top, and Internet access
St. Charles Boat And Motor, for the storage of the boat.
Lewis Boats, for a place to park our homes, at this time. WITH ELECTRIC
Our River Friends, who helped with our move out of our home and shop.
They also watch and handle problems, when I cant be there.


 If it is not obvious yet, IT WILL BE SOON, I CAN NOT DRIVE IN TO MY HOUSE AND SHOP.

We are ready, and leaving on Fri. for another weekend of racing in Kentucky.
We will be racing in a faster class there (Ashly LOVES that)
Wish us luck, and I will get back when I can.

Little John


June 15th, 2008

Sorry we have not checked in for a while, but things have been crazy.
For the people that follow our team, our entire team is flooded out.
With the help of very dear friends, too many to name, we have moved out of our house today.
I would like to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to these folks, with out them we would lose everything.
Our shop is secure for at least another week, and it should all be over. (WE HOPE)

In regard to our racing
We took 2nd place two weeks ago in Poplar Bluff.
We took 3rd place a week ago in Kentucky.
The boat is in GREAT shape, and ready to go.
This next weekend (June 21st & 22nd), we will be at Creve Coeur Park.
With the flood, our money is tighter than ever.
With the flood, there is not much to do anyway.
WHY NOT COME AND CHEER US ON
If all of our friends come out, and buy one T shirt, it will make our expenses.
We PROMISE to put on a good show.
We take our racing very seriously, and a weekend away from the flood would do us all good.

Thank You
Little John


Febuary 18th, 2008

Click here to read Patrick Pedersen's bio.  Patrick drives the boat "Sweet Emotion"


February 17th, 2008

Click here for some pics of "Sweet Emotion" the 2007 Division 3 Champion


February 13, 2008

Ashly keeping in shape for the upcoming season!

Little Johns Motorsports 2008 Season

Hi All

We are very happy in the results of our 2007 season.
We started making our plans for 2008 about six months ago, witch started with the St. Louis Boat Show.

At the show, we were able to visit, and get input from a lot of our friends, and followers.
For those of you that did not get our schedule for the 2008 season, here it is.
 

DATES

LOCATION

May 17th & 18th

Poplar Bluff, MO

June 7th & 8th

Kentucky Lake, KY (Pisgah Bay in the Land Between the Lakes)

June 21st & 22nd

St. Louis, MO (Creve Coeur Lake)

June 28th & 29th

Kentucky Lake, KY

July  12th. & 13th

Oklahoma City, OK

July 19th. & 20th

Augusta, GA

July  26th & 27th

Kentucky Lake, KY

August  16th & 17th

Livermore, KY

August 23rd & 24th

Litchfield, IL

September 6th & 7th

New Athens, IL

November 20th thru 23rd

World Finals in Phoenix Arizona


This years schedule is at least, if not more, aggressive than last year.
Two boats will be a hand full, but we have two champion boats on one team.

This brings me to the real point of this note.
If anyone out there knows of a possibility of corporate sponsorship, we have packets available.
We have a very good set of numbers, insurance documentation, and any information needed, to make some one proud.

But, with the economy today, we know large contributions, and advertising will be tough.
My conversations at the boat show brought a new idea to mind.
Our team does not need a large deal of money.
Our entry fees and fuel costs are our major expenses.

If you, your family, your small business, your church group, what ever, want to be a part of the fun, noise, and excitement of a normal weekend (to us) we can make that happen.

Thanks to our website, Riverbills.com, and the following of fans nation wide, we know people at every place we go.

Our Plan is this.
For the price of $400.00, when our team comes to your town, your group will be a week end sponsor of our team.
Your name will be announced each time the boat makes a pass. (at least 4 times a day)
You will be welcome to the pit area
We will have a place for your name, or banners, in the pit.
We will arrange for pictures for your home, or office.

Our pit is one of the most active on the circuit, A LOT OF FUN AND EXCITEMENT

If this is something that might work for your group, Please contact me at
LITTLEJOHNSINC@aol.com

The Family And Team Of Little Johns Motorsports

 


February 8th, 2008

Hi All
Our team traveled to Evansville Indiana last weekend to receive our award for 2007.
Ashly Ruf (our pilot) and Jordan Tiemann (our crew chief)

took HIGH POINTS CHAMPION in the Kentucky Drag Boat Association.
This weekend (Feb 9th and 10th) we will be at the St. Louis Boat & Sportshow in booth 910 (which is in the Dome) representing The St. Louis Drag Boat Association.
Please stop by and say Hi.
Little John
 


January 27th, 2008

New addition to the Little Johns Motorsports Team!

THE NAME IS SWEET EMOTION

click on picture for full size photo

Hi All
 
The Family And Team Of Little Johns Motorsports proudly announces the addition of a second boat.
Pat Pederson, his wife Jeannie, family of Kevin, and Billy have joined our team for the 2008 season.
They reside in Mauk Ga.
The boat is High Points Champion in IHBA Div 3 River Racer
World Finals Runner Up
The boat is a 1984 Texas tunnel, with BIG Ford power, and deadly on its numbers.

 

People may wonder why we are doing this?
Several reasons are
  1. Travel time with all equipment is expensive  (equipment will probably be kept here)
  2. They have family and team spirit the same as ours.
  3. We now have two champion boats on one team
  4. With Ashly running in two classes with KWITCHABITCHIN, we can dominate THREE classes
On our daily routine, our team is spending this weekend, (very boring) cleaning and painting in
our trailer. Our equipment takes care of us, we need to take care of it.
 
We are also getting ready to go to Evansville Ind. next weekend. (like little kids on Christmas Eve)
We will be receiving our award for HIGH POINTS CHAMPION IN KDBA
 
I will try to get pictures and get back at that time
 
 Thanks
 Little John

January 20th, 2008

Hi All

Our team had a great time at the 2007 SLDBA Awards Banquet.
This is the association that we took third place for the year.
Ashly Ruf was also given an award that we did not expect.
INSPIRING YOUNG RACER FOR 2007

(Click here to view the full size picture)

BUT, A closer look at the picture will show another winner in our family and team.
Jordan Tiemann, our CREW CHIEF, is holding a trophy for a Pinewood Derby entry.

(Click here to view Jordan's Racer!)

He ??? built a pinewood boat just like our real boat.
Jordan's trophy is for 3rd. place, Bears Den #10 Pack 964 Orchard Farm.

Even though we have one more banquet, for KDBA to attend, we are making plans for the 2008
season.
This includes ADDING A SECOND BOAT, More info to follow.

The Family And Team Of Little Johns Motorsports