"Miss American Maid"
Sponsored by
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"Miss American Maid"Sponsored by |
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Mark Evans, the older of the two "Evans Brothers", was first introduced into the world of racing in 1965, at the age of 8 in rural Eastern Washington riding snowmobiles, then four years later on an oval ice track. The story begins at a yacht club on Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington. It is 1970, and Norm Evans, an unlimited hydroplane driver, was participating in a home town pleasure boat race with his oldest son Mark. After the first heat, Norm decided it was time for Mark, then 13, to drive solo. Much to everyone's surprise, except maybe his dad, Mark won the race. Mark's first unlimited hydroplane ride came in 1979. Norm paid Bill Wurster $3,000 for a boat, motor and trailer and thus the U-10 Evergreen Roofing was ready for the Columbia Cup in Tri Cities, Washington. The boat was affectionately known as the "Green Bomb", not only for it's color, but also for the fact that the engine kept blowing up and the boat was never able to qualify for the race. Evergreen roofing attempted to qualify again in 1980 with the same results as the year before. Mark was preparing for the 1981 race season when tragedy struck the Evans family. Norm Evans passed away. For the next five years, Mark hung up the driving gloves and crewed for younger brother Mitch's race teams and helped them look for sponsors. By 1985 Mark was ready to pursue his racing career again. He moved to Seattle and worked for teams that were in need of an extra hand, including helping to build the radically designed four point hydroplane that first brought the Ellstrom family into the sport. Opportunities to race were few and far between. Mark drove Chuck Hickling's Tempus at the 1988 Seattle and Tri-Cities races. Mark also drove Brian Keough's dual automotive hydroplane at the same races in 1989. By 1990, Mark was becoming discouraged with the speed that his racing career was progressing. While helping to build the infamous two-seat hydroplane owned by Bob Fendler, he got the call he was waiting for. Ron Jones Jr. had leased a boat from Steve Woomer and he wanted Mark to drive his U-50 American Spirit. "We went to the Indiana Governor's Cup in Madison and won our first race." Said Evans. "Not bad for a couple of goofballs. Woomer said he forgot to tell us not to win" Mark was finally getting to do what he called some "serious racing" and continued with the American Spirit team until the end of the 1992 season. The 1993 Season was the beginning of his racing relationship with Fred Leland and the U-99 hulls. In 1994, the Exide Corporation decided to get back into hydroplane racing with Mark piloting the U-9. The Exide venture didn't make it to the end of the season, so in 1995 it was back to Fred Leland's U-99 team. Mark's biggest break cam in 1995. Miss Budweiser driver Chip Hanauer was injured during the Detroit race and owner Bernie Little was temporarily in need of a driver. Mark still only had the one win under his belt, but his racing talent was well known. He was hired to drive the Miss Budweiser at the Evansville and Madison races. The Ohio river was not kind to Mark and the Miss Budweiser literally fell apart before Mark could get across the finish line in either final heat. Mark finished the 1995 season at the helm of Fred Leland's U-99 Miss KISW, better known as the "Rock Boat". Hanauer was back in the Budweiser for the remainder of 1995 but after an accident at the second race of the 1996 season in Detroit, he decided it was time to retire (temporarily). Mark again took over duties for the Budweiser for the remainder of the season and won the San Diego and Hawaii events. In 1997, it was back to Fred Leland's team, but this time not in the U-99. Mark was to drive the defending national champion Pico American Dream for 1997 and 1998 where he recorded career wins number 4 through 9. It looked like one of the sport's premiere and most charismatic drivers would be watching from the beach in 1999, but wanting to try something different with their team, the Ellstrom family hired Mark to drive the Miss E-lam Plus for the West coast half of the season. In 2000, Evans won the Ellstrom family the Columbia Cup in the Tri Cities. It was the Ellstrom's first win in the team's history. In 2001, Mark decided to try on a different hat and was the dockside commentator for ESPN, covering the unlimited Hydro-Prop tour. "It was tough being on the other side of the microphone", Mark said, "but then again, it was fun knowing what I know about the sport and using it to the best advantage." Evans, now 45, resides in Chelan Washington. Mark not only races hydroplanes, but just about anything he can get his hands on including stock cars and snowmobiles. If not racing something, Mark can be found at his shop, Custom Fiberglass. |
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Copyright © 2002 U4 Racing
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