Father, Son Excel at Power Boat Nationals

Nik and Mark Miskerik of the Hartland area took home several awards — including two firsts — during the recent American Power Boat Association National Championships in the Upper Peninsula.

Mark won a national championship trophy — his 12th — in the 350 cc Modified Hydroplane and finished first in a "classic" Mercury Mark 20H outboard race. Both were driving for Canadians John and Ross Webster, another father-son duo.

"John Webster was a many time Canadian National Champion in this ('classic') class it was my honor to drive for him," said Mark in an email to Hartland Patch. "I was given a great rig to drive and brought them another first place trophy to take back to Canada with them. It brought a tear to Ross' eye to see his dad so happy and capped off a great week for me as well."

Mark also was fourth in 20SSH and fifth in C Stock Hydroplane.

Nik, 10, captured a fourth in Junior Runabout and fifth in Junior Hydro during his first national event where he was one of only three drivers out of 24 with top 5 finishes on two podiums.

"Nik had a great first nationals and did better than our expectations," Mark said.

The races were held from Aug. 1-5 on Sunday Lake in Wakefield, a small community that's near the westernmost point in the Upper Peninsula off U.S. 2.