Curley Memorial Canoe Race
JULY 13 & 14, 2024
Please Support Your Race Sponsors!!
Race History
Formed in 1994, the event was originally known as the Harry Curley Memorial Canoe Race, in honor of “Mr. AuSable Canoe Race”, Harry Curley. The event was renamed in 2003 to the Curley Memorial Canoe Race after the sudden passing of Kevin Curley, a popular Oscoda canoe paddler and avid race organizer. In the years since, the race has come to honor other members of the Curley family involved with canoe racing, as well as all of the individuals who have contributed to the sport of Michigan canoe racing, whether through race organizing, volunteering, or participating. The Curley Awards Picnic, held annually after the C-2 race, gathers donations for the MCRA’s Canoer’s Memorial Monument fund.
- Harry Curley (1910-1986) – Harry became dedicated to the Marathon after the death of his son Gerald. He helped with the organization of the Marathon for several decades, and helped shape the Marathon into the event it is today. The Michigan state legislature passed a resolution naming him “Mr. AuSable Canoe Race” in 1973.
- Gerald Curley (1935-1953) – Finished the Marathon 8th in 1952. Tragically drowned in Lake Huron in 1953 while training for the Marathon. One of the inspirations for the Canoer’s Memorial Monument.
- Delbert Curley (1933-2011) – Finished the Marathon 5th in 1952 and 4th in 1953.
- Roger Curley (1938-2007) – Attempted the Marathon in 1955 but did not finish.
- Kevin Curley (1958-2003) – Kevin had an endless passion and vigor for canoe racing. In 1994, he helped found the Harry Curley Memorial Canoe Race. Kevin inspired and motivated rookie and veteran paddlers alike. He organized youth paddling clinics to get the “young guns” into racing. Kevin was known for yelling “touché!” to the competitors he passed during races, and infamous for the upside-down #32 on his canoe, claiming his canoe number looked upright to him whenever he tipped-over. Kevin’s tireless efforts remain an inspiration for all, and to this day, many paddlers pay tribute to him by featuring a “Curley #32” on their canoes. Finished the Marathon five times (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000).
- Sylvia Curley-Harmon (1945-2020) – Daughter of Harry Curley, Sylvia was a long-time race volunteer and Marathon committee member. She was also heavily involved with the Canoer’s Memorial Monument.
30th Annual C-2 Race – July 13, 2024
Entry Information
$30.00 entry fee per team if Pre-Registered. To pre-register, download the Pre-Registration form here
$40.00 entry fee per team day of event, if not Pre-Registered
Fill out the form and mail to:
Curley Memorial Canoe Race, P.O. Box 652, Oscoda, MI. 48750
Make checks payable to Justin Griffith.
Pre-Registration forms must be received by July 8th. 2024.
Pre-Race
Check-In Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. for both Expert-1 and Expert-2 classes at Cooke Dam. If Pre-Registered, you must check-in at the registration table and sign a waiver.
The Pre-Race Briefing is MANDATORY for all racers. The time of the pre-race briefing will be posted at check-in.
Parking
PLEASE NOTE!! Due to construction taking place at Cooke Dam, there will be no parking allowed in the loop next to the dam (the area passed the stone wall by the boat launch). We must also keep the parking areas for the boat launch open. Paddlers and spectators will be able to park alongside Cooke Dam Rd and walk across the dam to the portage area via a designated path. Please plan your arrival accordingly as parking along Cooke Dam Rd will likely be congested.
C-2 Race & Course
Race starts at 9:00 a.m. at the embankment wall of Cooke Dam.
Canoers paddle upstream to round a buoy, and then come back to portage over the dam and continue downstream.
Canoers portage a second time at Foote Dam and then proceed to the Finish Line just upstream of the Mill Street Bridge near the AuSable Inn.
The Expert-2 class will start first, with the Expert-1 class starting when the last Expert-2 team has portaged Cooke Dam.
Winning time is approx. 2.5 hours.
Post-Race Awards Picnic
Following the C-2 race, there is a MCRA Awards Picnic (approximately 1:00 p.m.), at the American Legion Pavilion, 349 S. State St., Oscoda.
A donation jar will be setup, and donation proceeds go to benefit the MCRA Canoers Memorial on River Rd. Eating begins around 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. with awards following.
Racers who fail to receive their prize at the Awards Picnic, will have their prize donated to the MCRA Canoer’s Memorial.
A minimum of the Top 32 Expert-1 teams, and the Top 5 Expert-2 teams will earn prizes.
C-1 Race – July 14, 2024
C-1 Race Entry Information
$15 entry per paddler
Pre-Race
Check-In Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. at the AuSable Children’s Park (at the corner of Harbor St. and O’Toole St.)
The time of the pre-race briefing will be posted at check-in.
C-1 Race & Course
Race starts at 10:00 a.m. at the AuSable Children’s Park. Paddlers will race two (2) laps from Children’s Park to round a buoy just downstream of the railroad trestle bridge, and back. This allows for better spectating of the paddlers in town.
Winning time is about 1 hour.
Post-Race
Awards immediately following the conclusion of the C-1 race at the AuSable Children’s Park.
A minimum of the Top 20 C-1 racers will earn prizes.
The Curley Memorial Canoe Race is a Michigan Canoe Racing Association sanctioned event, not a ARICM, Inc. event
Race Contact
Justin Griffith
riverjustin@gmail.com
“The racers finishing in last place paddled just as hard and just as far as the winners” – Harry Curley
C-2 & C-1 Curley Champions
# | Year | C-2 Time | C-2 Winners | C-1 Time | C-1 Winner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1994 | 2:24:56 | Jeff Kolka & Bill Torongo | 0:51:29 | Calvin Hassel |
2 | 1995 | 2:28:49 | Bruce Barton & Jeff Kolka | 1:09:52 | Tim Triebold |
3 | 1996 | 2:22:21 | Bruce Barton & Tim Triebold | 1:10:30 | Bruce Barton |
4 | 1997 | 2:30:14 | Andrew Triebold & Tim Triebold | 1:17:56 | Bruce Barton |
5 | 1998 | 2:29:56 | John Sullivan & Bill Torongo | 1:20:16 | Bruce Barton |
6 | 1999 | 2:19:15 | Jeff Kolka & Tim Triebold | 1:12:08 | Jeff Kolka |
7 | 2000 | 2:32:17 | Bruce Barton & Jeff Kolka | 1:06:16 | Jeff Kolka |
8 | 2001 | 2:29:13 | Jeff Kolka & Tim Triebold | 1:03:27 | Jeff Kolka |
9 | 2002 | 2:39:24 | Jeff Kolka & Tim Triebold | 1:03:41 | Tim Triebold |
10 | 2003 | 2:23:26 | Mo Harwood, Jr. & Matthew Rimer | 1:11:51 | Jeff Kassuba |
11 | 2004 | 2:31:38 | Mo Harwood, Jr. & Matthew Rimer | 1:04:16 | Matt Streib |
12 | 2005 | 2:30:28 | Andrew Triebold & Matthew Rimer | n/a | Andrew Triebold |
13 | 2006 | 2:20:06 | Andrew Triebold & Matthew Rimer | 1:12:55 | Andrew Triebold |
14 | 2007 | 2:27:54 | Andrew Triebold & Matthew Rimer | 1:27:31 | Andrew Triebold |
15 | 2008 | 2:28:31 | Andrew Triebold & Tom Trudgeon | 1:04:21 | Bill Torongo |
16 | 2009 | 2:28:20 | Andrew Triebold & Ryan Halstead | 1:04:41 | Andrew Triebold |
17 | 2010 | 2:27:22 | Steve Corlew & Bill Torongo | 1:03:20 | Andrew Triebold |
18 | 2011 | 2:31:53 | Andrew Triebold & Cameron McClain | 1:06:51 | Andrew Triebold |
19 | 2012 | 2:33:00 | Andrew Triebold & Matthew Rimer | 1:06:04 | Nick Walton |
20 | 2013 | 2:30:47 | Josh Sheldon & Matt Streib | 1:04:59 | Matt Streib |
21 | 2014 | 2:29:15 | Andrew Triebold & Nick Walton | 1:04:15 | Andrew Triebold |
22 | 2015 | 2:27:20 | Mathieu Pellerin & Ryan Halstead | 1:04:12 | Mike Davis |
23 | 2016 | 2:26:04 | Andrew Triebold & Ryan Halstead | 1:02:49 | Andrew Triebold |
24 | 2017 | 2:27:02 | Mike Davis & Weston Willoughby | 1:04:25 | Mike Davis |
25 | 2018 | 2:28:45 | Mike Davis & Weston Willoughby | 1:04:57 | Mike Davis |
26 | 2019 | 2:28:12 | Andrew Triebold & Ben Schlimmer | 1:03:51 | Mike Davis |
-- | 2020 | -:--:-- | No Race | -:--:-- | No Race |
27 | 2021 | 2:26:27 | Wes Dean & Weston Willoughby | 1:05:51 | Danny Medina |
28 | 2022 | 2:34:49 | Wes Dean & Ryan Halstead | 1:05:38 | Mike Davis |
29 | 2023 | 2:30:20 | Wes Dean & Logan Mynar | 1:03:09 | Mike Davis |
30 | 2024 | 2:30:10 | Wes Dean & Ryan Halstead | 1:04:58 | Daniel Medina |