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PALMER NEBRASKA RACES

B

BRIDGE INSPECTOR

Member
Plans are underway for the forth annual "THUNDER ON THE LOUP" airboat race. This year's eventwill be held on August 4th and 5th, and is again sponsored by Tom Dinsdale Chevrolet Cadillac GMC of Grand Island, Nebraska. Activities are being planned for Friday and Saturday evenings, in Worms (do the crawl) and Palmer. Campers are welcome from Friday on. Dinsdale said. "We expect more food vendors and lots more boats. We want a festive atmosphere and for everyone to have a great time on the Loup." Location is the same (5miles north and 5miles east of Palmer,NE>For more information contact:Tom Dinsdale@308-382-4662 or Darrell Starks@402-779-0111 or 402-677-5638. Just thought that if some of you boys from down south were thinking of a roadtrip, this might be a good stop for you.
 
Can you get me rules and what is the track length! It's sad nobody in Florida will put on a race and I gotta drive to Nebraska to race my airboat! I may just drive to that!
 
Usually the race is 3/4 to a mile in length. Running start, to the start/finish bouys, up-river around a bouy, back down-river, to another bouy(or island) turn back upstream and stand on it back to the start/finish line. I think they pay $300 to win. $200 to place and $100 to show. I do not know for sure. For the best answers please don't hesitate to call Tom or Darrell. They are the organizers, and are VERY friendly, and helpfull. They not only want to put on good races, they want to put on a good show. This thing gets favorable media coverage. Local TV, Radio, and newspapers are all on hand. Not sure, but i think, there may be a steak feed and street dance, in the town of Palmer, on saturday night. Don't hold me to that, as I am just now getting the details myself. Hope anybody who wants to race, can have plenty of time to plan.The more the merrier I always say!
 
Anything over 500ft I will end up on my roof! Wow ain't seen an airboat race like that in decades! They race airboats that far?
 
A mile!! that seems like a long way. they could save a lot of time by just asking the people what there top speed is and hand out trophy's according to that. I don't know how long they are down here but 100-200 yards seems more ideal.
 
Finally, a race that a real river boat could compete in. It sounds like to me you need to have a boat that will handle. This sounds NO different than an airboat rodeo that we have had in FLA. I bet a step hull WONT be so popular at this race. I would love to go, let me get my 5 gallon bucket of wheel bearings and a gallon of grease. I noticed when I went on the SW GA ride pulling your airboat seats off made a big difference on a long haul like that, might have to consider doing the same. I wonder if those guys out that way run corn on the cob for fuel (ethanol). I didnt even know people had airboats in Nebraska, maybe 1 or 2 but not enough to have a race. Wonder what river there racing on.
 
CRACKERSTYLE, The platte river in nebraska looks like some awesome riding and the folks there seem real friendly. They used to feature articles on the platte back in the old usairboat mag in the late 80's early 90's. Airboat world also covered some of their events.There are a few members on here with pics and videos.

Dave
 
I competed in an airboat race up here today in the Escambia river. I placed second........... I was also the only airboat racing. :lol:
 
There are at least 600 airboats in Nebraska. Ask Faron. He was up here 2yrs. ago and won his class, at the last airboat rodeo we had. I talked to Darrell, earlier. He said the circuit race would be saturday and drag racing on sunday. Just hearsay, so far. Hope to get official agenda this week and get it posted.
 
Sounds like they are racing on the Loup river which is north of the Platte. I just have a ride boat but I might head over for this one. I'm a few hours closer than you all.

I hate corn on the cob gas. That is some nasty stuff. The farmers love it because the corn prices are going out of sight. What we end up with is high meat prices and high prices for other food and bad gas. They are building a new ethanol plant in Des Moines and could not decide between coal or propane. I suggested they use ethanol but they can't because it costs too much. It has no shelf life and cannot be put in a pipeline. Just more federal dollars down a rat hole. We need nuclear.
 
Yessir we do .... nuclear at the light switch, and hydrogen in the car, truck, boat, and airplane.

We could tell the Arabs to eat that stuff.
 
That does sound like fun.I'll bet you catch some pretty good waves on the back stretch :shock: Got to stay in it.it is a shame to have to drive that far to race?It would be cool if some fl or ga folks would step up to the plate with a sweet venue . Every time i go to a big mud bog i think how cool would it be if airboaters had something like this! They found a way to insure it and have gotten plenty of my money.Hey cracker i think your boat would do good at that event. had fun with you in ga.
 
I didnt make it up but My Dad went with some friends and they hada great time. Lots of airboats having fun!!! My Dad won an event or two that day!
 
I just looked at a map to see were in tarnation is Nebraska ( aint been out of FLA much) MAN ITS FAAAAAAR. I wonder how many hours, I mean how many days Nebraska is from Central FLA. It might be quicker to fly out there, built a new boat, race it , sell it and fly back.
Hey Dan the Airboatman, you and your buddies had all those HOT ROD boats in GA, this race sounds rite down your alley.
Is this race located on the Kansas side or Iowa side. Hope not South Dakota. Is it near Columbus. We might need a semi truck to haul a handful of boats up there for us.

We could put a race on in FLA but the problem is getting Insurance. I called for months and could never get REAL FULL COVERAGE for the racers and spectaters. One compny was considering but wanted thousands of dollers for one day.
 
Sounds like a blast. I missed it last year but I really want to make this time.
Is there a public boat ramp with enough room for parking? How far can you boat on the Loup it seems to be short and narrow?
 
I'm use to running pro mod where every race is far! Thats why I got so mad at airboat racers whinning about driving to North Florida! Heck if it's with in 25 hours it's close! I just want to race and it seams like all the airboar racers have quit and are going to truck pulls or buggies!
 
I'd love to race you. but i just found out what cast 400 crank can take this weekend. blew the hole side of our 509 block out :( saved some stuff. School is expensive. will be back on track here in a little bit. there are some people getting out of it but i now plenty of people who still love it and will run in a second!just need a safe legal place. don't get me wrong i love a run what you brung race but you get out there standing on it hitting the waves of spectators and it can get hairy. their is an old yellow boat and a couple of others up here that might be able to keep up.
 
Here is some information for the folks in FLorida. From My driveway to Panther is 23 hours.

All 4 lanes easy driving.

Loup river fantastic river plenty of water and nice sand bars for socializing

Nice people in that part of the country will help you with whatever you need

If any of you want to go on the Platte River I can find plenty of places to park a camper and your Airboat so you don't have to leave it in town.

If your planning on comming this far let us make it easy for you all.

This goes for anybody coming from any state. Here in Nebraska Airboating is a Passion we only have a few months of nice weather to take advantage of.

This is my cell if you all have any questions about airboating on the Platte River

Tim Bryson 402-968-8534
 
Tim, I would love to make that trip some day. Three or four of us might just surprise you one of these days.

You still owe me some fishin for old 'whiskers'. :)
 
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