Big Thanks Amigos for BTTW-2004!!!!! (long)

[Mach2]

WOW!!!!! What a fantastic Balz to the Wall event for Ahlzheimers! The weather was perfect, had a great turn out, and raised a ton of cash! Made a lot of new friends as well.

Rick and TJ from Merc: Thanks for opening your doors for the tours and all the donations!

Fred Keikhaefer: Not your normal corporate exec. This guy is really into high performance boating and one of the most down to earth guys you will ever meet.

Laker: Hope you have a speedy recovery buddy! Looking forward to running with you next year! (remember to bring lifelines and helmets!)

Mrs. Laker: Stacie-great job on the logo! Good luck with the new baby!

Chris: Great to see another Concord at the event! Will send pictures.

Matt: Great job with the maps bud, especially when OnStar failed us!

Michelle: Thanks for all your work on the event (I finally did get my jacket back)!

Anthony and Rosalyn: It was great to meet both of you! I never felt more comfortable as a passanger in my own boat than when Anthony was driving her for all it was worth! I learned a lot too! Safe trip home.

Tammi and Becky: What support from the Ahlzheimers Association! These gals stuck with us through all the events and even drove a boat (Tammi we need to get you and your hubby set up in a rig for next year)!

Greg and Sandy: It was a priveledge to finally meet the guy responsible for this board and bringing us all together. Greg and Sandy drove 17 hours straight to attend the event and they are the nicest people you will ever meet.

Mrs. Balz: Mikes Mom is a pillar of stregnth. Not only did she attend every event, but she also went through the whole Poker run in the boat and participated in the auctions. It was a pleasure to speak with her at the stops along the way.

Mr Gimlet: Thanks for all the effort you put into this event. We got to try and get together more than once a year.

Thumper: You are truly grace under pressure. The poker run was a big hit. How in the heck you timed it so both groups would meet on the river at exactly the same time I will never know.

And last but not least....
Balzy and Janet: What can I say? All the time and planning you put into this event has really paid off. This was the best BTTW yet, in terms of size, money raised, and the variety of different boats attending. Getting the Police to assist in the poker run worked great. You truely are special people.:cool:

Submitted By,
Captian Tow Boat
The Unofficial Tow Boat of BTTW 2004

[nelsoncat]

Jim,
For being Captain Towboat and Mr. Niceguy. I totally agree and thanks for the tow thurs!!!!!!!!

Craig

[PaulR]

...I had a great time Thursday. Sorry I didn't make it for the rest, but spent all day and night Friday finishing my boat. I hope the items I gave ya helped you reach your goals!

I kinda wanted one of those swords

Paul

[halveb]

As long as we are hurling thanks around I would like to thank Tippy's friend (I think his name was Steve...ooopphs I guess it was Chris) and Aircraftman for helping with putting on my lower unit at the Merc Hi Perf tour.

Hazmatt for helping trying to get my shifter hooked up and Aircrafman for coming up with the missing part. Anyone else who was helping as usual my floating non boat was not ready (my life definetely gets in the way of boating).

RP and Thumper for some last minute wiring to get the fuel pump going right before the poker run.

Last but not least Nelsoncat for dragging me through the poker run when my boat wouldn't stay running after the first stop then taking me back to it (in time for it to magically start and run).

Actually I am just too cheap to buy gas and sabotage my boat so I never have to fill the tank more than once per season. So far I have only burned about 1/4 tank...looking good. :D

[Alz 4 U]

Hey Capain Tow Boat,

Thank you for our first official boat ride of "Balz to the Wall". It was so nice to meet you all finally, except one note for next year... I think everyone should use their names from the website so I know who I am talking to. It was very nice to finally put some faces with names.

Don't worry about next year, I think I have Jeremy pretty much sold on a boat. Can't say that it will be a verado though, sorry Matt and Michele. We may have to work our way up to that!

Talk to you all later!

T

[Balzy]

These are the people that deserve it.

On behalf of BTTW, Mike Balz would like to thank the following businesses for their kind donations:

Badger Liquor, Balz to the Wall Racing, Bank Mutual, Baymont Inn and Suites, Bella’s Custom Design, Brefeld's Pine Grove Resort, British Petroleum, Brucato Machine and Tool Inc., Car Quest, Castle Swords LLC, City Limits, Country Horizons, CRES Realty, Dr B. L. Karls, Fisherman’s Cove, Fort Fremont, Gohr Performance, Gran Prix International, Gravel Pit Sports Bar and Grill, Header In, LLC, House of Colors, Jay Smith Racing Engines, JW Stringer's, K&M Piggly Wiggly Supermarket, Lake Effects, Larry’s Distributing, Lulloff Hardware Inc., Manitowoc County Tavern League, Mannenbach Mechanical, MC's Pub and Grill, Mercury Racing, Millhome Supper Club, Mr. Marine, Net Insurance, Nigrelli Systems Inc., Nigrelli's Pizza, Outboard Drag Boat Association, Qit Qui Oc Golf Club, Rockville Tavern, Ron Hill Propellers, Sargento Foods Inc., Schoenborn's Jewelry, Scream and Fly Magazine, Slipknot, Tradewinds Marine Center, Trails End Sportsman Bar, Triad Powerboats, Village of Fremont, Waupaca County Sheriff Dept. Water Patrol, Weber Oil, Wisconsin Tavern League.

Iwould also like to thank everyone that attended, and extend a special thanks to the following individuals for their extraordinary donations and help:

Barbara Balz (My mother), Eric Balz (My brother), Anthony Santocono, Bob Halverson, Bruce Vruwink, Carol A. Yttri, Charles Griemsman , Chris Lake, Stacie Lake, Nicholas Lake, Clyde Van Vuren, Craig Nelson, Dennis Ramaker, Gene Woelfel, Greg Terzian, John Dorn, John Vollstedt, Ken Warby, Kent McDonough, Kirk Buchholtz, Sara Buchholtz, K-Man, Kurt Andrews, Michael Palmer, Mike Hurst, Paul Reed, Richard Meyer, Steve and Jan Looman, Steve Anderson, Susan Cavanaugh, Thaw Ripper, Tim McCollough, Warren Peters, Sherlock, Nelsoncat, Jim Walker, Rick Mackie, Mark Marisee, Fred Kiekhaefer, and last but not least, TJ Quasius. I know I probably missed some, sorry, you all know who you are.

Without all you guys and gals, none of this would be possible. :D :D :D

[Mach2]

Tami - There are plenty of people on this board that will help you find the right boat for your family when you are ready. All you have to do is ask any of us!;)

Balzy - You are too modest. Yes there are a lot of businesses and individuals who contributed to BTTW this year, but with you three Amigos, none of this would ever happen. You guys totally rock!:) :cool:

[2springers26]

tami.... i think we have a concord W/ a 175 merc comming in on trade @ the end of summer..... there were 2 During the BTTW run this year mach 2's & chris andrews's... Not the fastest But they do ride awesome with 70's in speed..... Kurt

[thumper]

As a sidenote Tami,
If you can get past the way Kurt looks:eek: :eek: :D :D he's a pretty decent guy to deal with too and I'm sure he'll get you a decent deal on a rig for your family.:p :p

[thumper]

Following is my own personal thanks list -

Jim Walker, for being on the spot for any towing that needed doing while I was running the group 2. This gets you an honorary induction into the North American on Plane Towing Assosciation even without an on plane tow!!

Matt Wilson, for bringing up the rear of a long string of boats. With you back there bud, I wasn't concerned about leaving anyone behind at all.

HalfB, for not sinking your boat when it wouldn't run :)

Greg Terzian, for not shooting one of the other Amigos :eek: :D (Inside Joke)

Lenny, for the great cooking lesson and the conversation, see YOU at Lenfest sir!!


Fred K., Thankyou so much for allowing us to be a part of what you guys do there, even though I run an OMC Fred has never failed to get a good jab in when he could :)

Ok, fingers cramping and I'm sure my list is incomplete but not by choice. It's you people that attend and contribute, not the Amigos, that make this possible, we just give you a place and time to make it happen.



A heartfelt thanks to all that attended BTTW 2004 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[2springers26]

thumper.... as far as the looks dept... thou shall NOT cast stones!!!!!!!!!!!!! kurt ,,,,,t man we had a blast On friday.... & yes we also need To be included on the on plane towing assn.... we did drag one of the tunnels out of the weeds by red banks after taco's throttle stuck & soaked the tunnels unsealed ECM...... It did refire after a 1/2 Mile tow.....

[lhovan49]

Hey Thumper, you still breathin, thought I might have done ya in with breakfast;) well at least you didn't end up back on the couch:D Anyway it was great Bud, and being with the privileged few for the final count in the GARAGEMAHAUL was a very large treat for Penny and I (not a dry eye in the house) see ya soon.
PS. Will be cookin up something special for LenFest :D Penny says ya better bring a LARGE bottle of ROLAIDS:rolleyes:

[halveb]

Hee hee hee...after I found Thumper was unavailable for towing I figured I better go fetch my boat and actually burn some gas. I guess getting away with one tank per year isn't too bad. Why burn expensive gas when you have willing tow boat (especially the boats of the North American On Plane Towing Association). ;)

Time to start burning more gas. Trying to figure out how to do the Hydrostream Rally on the Mississippi. Anyone know of information let me know I am interested.

[HAZMATT]

Im not good with all this typing stuff but Michelle and I would like to thank everyone for everything.Cant wait till next year.Maybe I can even get Greg to change my screen name now to HAZMATT.:D :D :D

[balzy2]

My 7 year old (Travis) thinks Uncle Mike's boat is the fastest and coolest boat (sorry Steve) and thinks we should get one. He still wants the Crownie around for family fun but a "fast boat" would be really cool in his mind. Ok....I like the idea too. Is this the start of "the hot boat disease?" Tami seems to have caught it. What's the cure?

Later,

Eric (Mike's brother)

P.S. Mike - Sarah doesn't need to know what Trav and I are plotting - shhhhhhh

[Scream And Fly]

Matt, how's that for quick? :)

By the way, I'm going with Chinese and I'm sticking to my story! (inside joke).

Greg:D :D

[KaptainKirk]

you asked everyones opinion on that!!
Gengis Kahn.........................................

[Scream And Fly]

Kirk, you may be right... She thinks so too.

I like Chinese food though, so I'll stick with what I know.:D

Greg

[Balzy]

I just gave Anthony the Mini-Max that was in my basement. (The first one I ever built 28 years ago) We could build another one for Trav ya know. I still have the original plans. Find a 20 HP Merc for it, we make a few bottom mods and he will have himself a 40 to 50 MPH toy !!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: It would be a great Father/Son/Uncle project.

Are you bring'in the kids up to Crosby on Sunday to watch their uncle put Sleeve on the trailer again? :p :D :eek: ;)

[AnthonySS]

MIKE ...the max works great...I just got out the caulking gun and sealed a few spots and NO leaks...waht a great Job you did on her.

We put a 7.5 merc and a fuell tank on the deck and and Ezra tillered his dad around. He is not strong enuff to start it. It went great cept the old gas in the tank was casing some misfiring.

Ezra is really into this so THANKS cause you should see the way he is looking after it already.

I'll try to scan pics when we get them developed

[HAZMATT]

Im thinkin Japanese.:cool: :rolleyes: :cool: