Tragic Loss At Merced

[FuelBoat2003]

http://www.***boat.com/image_center/...0/246hippy.jpg
JOHN HIPWELL PASSED AWAY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A BAD CRASH IN THE MADNESS TFH.
MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO JOANN AND THEIR FAMILY AT THIS TIME OF LOSS.
JOHN WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH.

[Squirtin Thunder]

Jim

[Kindsvater Flat]

To sad Prayers for the family......

[Wildboats]

I'm sorry to hear and my prayers to the family.

[lucky]

my thoughts and prayers-

[dmontzsta]

whoa, that sucks. I had the chance to go visit Ron and I think that is the guy I saw working around the boat in his backyard, very very sad.

[GofastRacer]

A tragety indeed, thoughts and prayers go out to all involved!..

[1Bahnerjet]

I was Standing down by the Holding rope, Lake was like Glass, Straight Run from my vantage point, then that Left Sponson sticking Up through the Spray...
My Thoughts and Prayers to the Family & the Pit Crew.
(Merced Sun-Star)
Jerry Kutz, a racer who went on to win Sunday's featured event, and his crew closed the ceremony by dedicating their trophy to Hipwell. When Kutz ended his victory speech, they turned around, each member wearing Hipwell's Team Madness T-shirt.
They lowered their heads, raised their hands to the sky and said goodbye to their friend.
(posted at DragBoat Alley by TFH Beaver Patrol)
one last post
i wish we had one last post
to tell the one called john he gave it the most
-
i wish we had one last post
to tell him we all raised our glass's to a toast
-
i wish we could look in the outside lane
to see john hammer down on that throttle again
-
i wish we could look in the outside lane
to see john there on his phone to take away this pain
-
we say goodbye to a man who was always on it
the guy who introduced us to hip-bonics
-
we shed our tears due to sadness
missing a guy who drove a boat called madness
-
i wish i had one last post
to let the man know who he was .....meant the most
-
goodbye john
marc

[Roland the Fisherman]

Very very sad. God Bless the family and everyone involved.

[Moneypitt]

Sad day for boat racing. Another of our ranks has been called to the "Boat Races in the Sky". My heart felt sorrow, and condoleses to the family and friends. Just how many boat racers do they need in heaven? May he now find blue skies and glass for evermore.............MP