MDR Team drivers Joel Diamond and co-driver Brent Vermeersch took their Yamaha Apex snowmobile to a strong fourth in the annual Drummond Island 300 oval race at Drummond Island, Mich. on Sunday, Feb. 18. Aside from Apex-mounted Darrell Howard from Eichenberg Racing, Diamond and Vermeersch were the only drivers in the field on a four-stroke machine, an advantage Diamond says is critical in a long race. “Not only is the Apex very fast on the straightaway, but the engine is bulletproof,” he explained after the event. “That means you can focus on getting the handling setup the way you want.”
Just as Diamond predicted, the track, held on a frozen lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, deteriorated during the race – with the corner entries, exits and even the straights becoming bumpy. The two-time event champion put a long-travel setup on the Apex in anticipation of the rough conditions. “Setup is critical,” Diamond added. “We picked up the ride height and gave it more travel to handle the bumps as the race wore on.”
After hustling to repair a hole in a heat exchanger caused by a rubbing hose clamp, Diamond just entered the track as the field was making its parade lap. Starting with only a half-tank of fuel to save weight, Diamond drove the first 60 laps on the half-mile oval and then handed the sled over to Vermeersch during a caution period.
The strategy paid off as the MDR teammates moved from their seventh-place qualifying position to sixth by the end of the first hour. By the halfway point Diamond and Vermeersch had taken over the fourth place, which they defended and held all the way to the finish. “A driver can last no more than 100 laps and stay sharp.” Diamond said. “After I handed the sled over, Brent went 40 laps and then I went another 100. Then Brent drove another 50 laps and I took the final 50 to the finish.”
Eichenberg Racing’s Darrel Howard rode the whole 300 laps on his own and moved up through the pack to finish 6th on his Yamaha Apex.
| Drummond Island 300 |
| 1 |
Troy Dewald/Jeff Luenberger |
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| 2 |
John Bosek |
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| 3 |
D. Nelson/A Mayer |
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| 4 |
Joel Diamond/Brent Vermeersch - YAM |
Apex |
| 5 |
Darrel Howard - YAM |
Apex |
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In the Saturday support races, Diamond also took third in Pro Open and second in both Pro Stock 600 and the Pro-Am Enduro aboard another Apex.
| Pro Open |
| 1 |
Jeff Longton |
|
| 2 |
Troy Dewald |
|
| 3 |
Joel Diamond - YAM |
Apex |
|
| Pro Stock 600 |
| 1 |
Troy Dewald |
|
| 2 |
Joel Diamond - YAM |
|
| 3 |
Mitch Diamond |
|
|
| Pro-Am Enduro |
| 1 |
Troy Dewald |
|
| 2 |
Joel Diamond - YAM |
Apex |
| 3 |
John Bosek |
|
|
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