Welcome to Diablo Jet Ski Action…
Home of the best outlaw pwc racing in Northern California!
DJSA started 5 years, 61 race days, and about 6400 laps ago, in the quest to bring a regular circut of pwc racing to the Bay Area waters of California. At the time there was only a handful of 3 or 4 races a year taking place and those were large scale events which attracted hot talent from across the United States, but for the amateur or beginning racer – these big events could be described as – intimidating. I never wanted to promote races – I wanted to race, but I was hoping to be able to participate in a full schedule of yearly races where you could have fun racing all year long, and then celebrate at a end of the year awards ceremony with all my friends – kind of like back in my motocross days…
I knocked on quite a few doors trying to generate interest from current promoters to start a local point racing series, but I quickly learned if you want to get something done, sometimes you have to get it done yourself. When I first started putting ideas together for DJSA, I wanted to see races run the way I would like to see them run if I were racing… Keep them SAFE, keep them FUN, and keep them AFFORDABLE - and that concept which started 4 years ago is still alive and strong going into our 5th season.
Because we sanction our own races – we are considered something I have become very proud of – an Outlaw Race Organization. Our points apply only to our own series, and do not apply to IJSBA or APBA pwc race events, but the 146 racers of season 4 brought the most exciting pwc racing we’ve ever seen to norcal and they all taught me one very important thing ~ It’s very cool to be an Outlaw!
Keeping it SAFE ~
In real life, I am a marine patrol officer working the waterways of my county with some great guys. One of the things I will never get accustomed to is seeing the horrific level of devastation a pwc collision can produce, and its all because of one thing – pwcs and jetskis have no brakes…
Watch the start of any motorcross race and its probably one of the coolest rushes to see on this planet. 25 bikes ripping handlebar to handlebar into one corner all at the same time. Nascar open wheel dirt cars - 24 Sprint cars in rows of 2 ripping past the green flag into turn-1, now thats hot! Go Karts, Snowmobiles, Mountain Bikes, doesn’t matter what you race, but most of this racing takes place on a ground surface and all these race vehicles have BRAKES…
But put any of these races onto a surface of ice and that first turn result is going to definately be exciting – but far from safe. There are no brakes on a pwc, there is no down shifting on a pwc, and when you let off on the throttle of a pwc, there is no steerage! Making matters worse, about the only protection a pwc racer wears is a helmet. Cool if you get hit in the head – not cool if you get hit anywhere else on your body…
There are a lot of people out there who will say “Rubbing is Racing”… normally we would agree, but with pwc racing we have to say “Rubbing is Dangerous” (unless you’re racing a nascar sprint cup car.) To keep things a little safer on the water our racing is “non-contact”. You can rip it anywhere you want on the course, you can pass anywhere you want on the course, you just won’t use another racer in your class as a berm!
We mandate all our racers to maintain a one ski length safe zone at all times. We mandate if a racer goes down they raise 1 hand, stay in place, and yield to any racers approaching within 100 ft. We encourage all racers to check on downed riders if the safety team isn’t already there and we reward good sportsmanship the same as we do the winners.
There is no racing or passing in a corner where there is a downed rider or safety ski rider engaged in a racer assist. The 5 member safety ski team “TEAM ORANGE” ride brightly painted Orange and White Yamahas and wear bright orange safety vest so there is no confusion as to who the safety guys are… The few rules we have we enforce with zero tolerance and it is refreshing to see the staff and racers alike – all working towards one goal… racing hard but racing safe!
Keeping it FUN ~
10 classes. Everything from the 650 and under standups, to the rolling thunder of the Super Charged Xtra Powered SCXP Pro/Am Supersits. X-2′s, Superjets, Freestyle, Novice Women Ski, Blasters, you name it we run it. At DJSA you are evaluated and placed into classes moreso on ability than the ski you’re on. For simplicity, our classes are designated by engine size and all classes are considered “open”. You can make any modifications you want to your ski as long as it remains within the engine size limit for the class, and as long as you can ride it!
6 classes of Skis and 4 classes of Sitdowns most always run morning practice by class, followed by 3 heats of racing for an overall score at the end of the day. Points are awarded for every class you ride, and the top 3 of each class are awarded photo plaques or trophies to take home. Points are tracked during the season in 2 areas - by class, and divisionally. At the end of the year awards
dinner, the top 5 racers from each class are recognized and honored with overall trophies, as well as the top 10 divisional point leaders from the Stands and the Sits receiving a little extra bling from contributing sponsors.
The top reigning standup and sitdown point leaders for past seasons have won cash, vacations, mexico cruises – and quad or mini sand rail kart pit vehicles. I don’t know what we’ll be running for this year because its getting more and more difficult trying to outdo the previous year, but if we award enough of these pit vehicles – we can have quad and kart races at “Jet Effect”!
“Jet Effect” is our rider appreciation race of the year that incorporates a saturday 100 mile enduro for the enduro guys, and short track racing, match slalom drags, and austrailan pursuits for the closed course guys. A rider appreciation BBQ is served, followed by R/C car racing under the lights at the water’s edge and then Sunday brings some of the most intense course racing of the season to the lake. Great racers with their crews and family, a great race staff, some pretty good tri-tip and chicken, and some off the hook R/C car dirt track racing make Jet Effect a very cool “double points” weekend not to be missed…
Keeping it AFFORDABLE ~
When something becomes too expensive, the fun gets taken out of it, and then you don’t want to do it anymore. How did we come up with $50 entrys for 3 heats of racing? Easy – its what I would want to pay if I were racing myself. No membership fees, no association fees, just be 18 years of age, have current medical insurance, have a seaworthy ski, sign our waiver, and Take It Out And Race It!
You ride an X2 or a 650? $40 for 3 heats of racing.
All other classes are $50 if you pre-reg, $60 on race day if you don’t.
Riding additional classes? $20 each class with a limit of 3 in a day.
A class incentive of $25 for novice women ski…$25 for the freestyle guys…
How about an occasional free entry for anyone sweeping 3 heats in a day.
$100 for 100 mile enduro races.
I know how much it takes for you to get to the race track on race days. I’ll always keep things as cheap as possible for you, just as long as you guys continue to race as safe as possible for me, and together we’ll look forward to seeing what season 5 brings us!
KEEPING IT AWESOME ~
Somehow DJSA has been blessed with having the BEST race staff you could ever ask for running the show and providing you with some awesome outlaw racing….
The TEAM ORANGE safety ski team ~
Robbie Hall
Stan “Schrocketman” Schrock
Raul Gutierrez
B.J Lovan
John Bonkowski
Phil Lago – enduro team
Alec Chattaway – enduro team
Matt Ford – enduro team
David Tew – enduro team
Richard Ignacio – enduro team
The Team Orange scoring staff ~
Doreen Knollenberg
Stephanie Beltram
Nicole Lambert
Mandie Gutierrez
Debi Nunes
DJSA photographer Traci Cottle
DJSA staff writer Catriona Cottle and -
the talented voice of legendary race announcer – KURT KNOLLENBERG
Incredible racers – incredible staff – and its all safe, fun, and affordable.
You ready to be an outlaw yet? Heres 5 words for you…
See you at the races!
