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Airboat Racing

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V

vannklan

Well-known member
Hey everyone -- I hope this post finds everyone well and happy.

I would like to know from everyone as well as different club members if anyone would be interested in hosting airboat races. I know there has been a lot of unfortunant circumstances over the past few years that has led most clubs to shy away from holding races. I have been in touch back and forth with the American Power Boat Association and they are very interested in sanctioning airboat races which could mean absolving legal rights to the clubs that host the races and to track owners or counties where the races are held. If this happens it would open up a whole new world for the racers and the fans. This would allow for bigger sponsors to participate and bigger purses for the racers. However, before I go any further I would like to know the interest level out there.

On another note, many of you knew the race boat the General Lee, which was owned by my husband, Allen, was stolen from his shop last Memorial Day Weekend was found. The motor and prop had been cut out of the cage and the hull, rigging and anything else that was on there was burned to the ground. We have located and have gotten back the trailer however the motor is still missing. We have a pretty good idea that this motor may be on someone's ride boat who may be unsuspecting that the motor was stolen. The motor was an 0540 Lycoming with continental injection (for anyone who may have some info) -- we are still hoping to get this back. Just FYI for everyone.

Back to airboat racing if anyone is interested or has any ideas please get back with me. Thankyou, Diane Vann.
 
Hi, our airboat club is talking about hosting races here in Melbourne sometime in September. We are still in the process of talking about it and getting all the details worked out but keep posted because we will bring you the updates.
 
What are you .... Psychic? :p 2 days ago, I happened to see a photo of Allen in the General Lee, the the talk of the Hazzard boys yesterday made me think of it again. I almost posted to ask if the boat had ever been found. I'm so sorry for your loss. :( Dirty rotten scumbags are out there for sure.

As for the races, BRING 'EM ON!!!!

You can count on me & Laura to be there as spectators for sure, so long as admission prices are not $50 per ticket or something. But we'll show and watch the show while we enjoy some hotdogs & sodas from the concession stand.

We're not racers, but DEFINITELY RACE FANS!

100_2554.JPG

I love the look of this boat! I hope you make a General Lee II

matt.
 
You got my attention! I really miss the racing.

Get something planned & we'll help spread the word.

Rick
 
Things are looking good for an airboat race at Sarno in Melbourne. We are presently working on permitting and other issues. This race has always had a great turn out and the best race for spectators. As soon as it's a definite I will post the info on Southern. If we pull this off it will be in September and before archery season starts.
 
I would love to see airboat races again !! I know what it feels like to spend alot of time designing and building something and have someone steal it!! I took that picture just loved the boat and the enthusiasm the driver had!
 
Croc1":10n2i4y9 said:
I took that picture just loved the boat and the enthusiasm the driver had!
Click to expand...

Yep Croc - photo from your gallery. I also really like the enthusiasm there... A two fisted "Oh YEAH!"

Great shot.

:!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

matt.
 
The drivers name is Jerry and he's a competitor that's for sure. He is fun to talk to I had him drive my boat and he knows how a hull should work.
 
I posted a similar reply to another thread about racing.

I'm not trying to cause problems, but would like to know if the races you are talking about are "sanctioned" races....the kind that require a permit...

If so, what length of time, prior to a race, do participants "practice"? Do they practice on a course -- like NASCAR drivers do?

Are races held on a "Course"?

There is langauge in the airboat bill about racing events and tehre is pushback about language that says if a person is "preparing for a racing event" they don't have to have mufflers....that's way tooooooo open-ended so I'm looking for a time frame to put in the bill
thanks
bondo
 
Thank you everyone for your responses. The races would be sanctioned if the American Power Boat Association takes it on. Yes, a permit will be needed, but I feel that this will be easier to obtain since the major drawbacks are the legal issues with airboat racing. If the races are sanctioned this will alleviate the legal issues. As for the amount of time that is allowed to test and tune that will be up to the sanctioning committee. I am going to push for the day before a race and the morning of the race (which is how it has been at some of the previous races). The races will be drag style with a distance of 400 feet. We are hoping that if the sanctioning body approves this it will make way for more sponsors and bigger sponsors (normally brought in by the sanctioning committee). As for mufflers, most of the race boats are built just for racing and are not registered with the State of Florida as a ride boat. Some are and if they are just riding for fun then they would have to follow the muffler law. However, at a race, mufflers would not be required. But just because it is airboats we are talking about and it seems everyone is out to get us I will do some checking into this.

I will keep everyone informed about the sanctioning committee and how it is going. I think that this is a positive step, not just for racing but for airboaters in general.

Thanks again, Diane.
 
I was shocked to see how the anti's jumped on that wording and called it a loop hole. That's pathetic especially since we don't even have 5 races a year anymore. In my opinion I don't know why but they always have the races on Saturday's which makes it hard if your prepping a boat for the races. However I don't see any reason for the exemption not to only cover the day before and of the race. Please explain to these idiots that boats will only be permitted to run open exhaust at the races and the people who run these race boats don't drive them around joy riding. There is a test and tune session before each race on race day. Then again maybe we should let them worry about an issue that isn't an issue and let them chase their tails. In all of my years of airboating I have only seen 1 and at the most 2 race boats on the river. Heck all of the boats that run ride boat and Hunt boat class you never see on the river.
 
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