Serious News
07-15-2016, 12:14 AM
The Outboard Drag Boat Association will be holding its 2016 Grand Nationals at Tim’s Ford Lake Saturday and Sunday in the first event for the association held in Winchester since 1993.
The event, at Tims Ford Bass Club, 1503 Phillip Fulmer Parkway, will feature over 40 different racers across seven boat classes competing in a double-elimination, head-to-head format over the two days. Boats compete in either a quarter-mile or 800-foot race, depending on their division.
Tims Ford Bass Club President Jerry Freeman made it a priority to bring the event to Winchester and has spent most of the year making that priority a reality.
“We haven’t had one for a long time because it was hard for us to get a permit from the city, it was hard for us to get a permit from the TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) which we have both now,” Freeman said. “It’s hard to organize these events.”
Freeman has been involved in boat racing in various cities since 1989 and will be officiating the races over the weekend.
Freeman’s main focus in bringing the boat races to Nashville is to give back to the community.
“The biggest reason we’re doing it is to give back and pay back the people of Franklin County and Winchester,” Freeman said. “People will come down who have never had an opportunity to see a boat race before.”
The event will also help to support the sponsors of the annual Bass Classic fishing tournament held at Tim’s Ford, Freeman said.
Jake Davis will be serving as the announcer for the event. He has been doing announcing for events like this since the late 1980s.
Davis describes the races as intense and competitive.
“They’re rather exciting,” he said. “This is an all-out, boat-on-boat straightaway to see who can get it going faster.”
Quarter-mile racers will reach speeds of up to 125 mph and 800-foot racers will reach speeds of up to 130 mph
Teams and fans will be coming from all over the country for the event and there will even be several teams from outside the country.
“We’ve got people coming in from Canada, Louisiana and Florida,” Davis said. “That’s how serious this is.”
Davis and Freeman are expecting thousands of people in attendance for the races, both locals and visiting fans.
Gates will open to the public at 9 a.m. both days. Admission is $10 per person and kids 14 and under get in free.
The first races will start Saturday at noon.
http://www.heraldchronicle.com/23004/
The event, at Tims Ford Bass Club, 1503 Phillip Fulmer Parkway, will feature over 40 different racers across seven boat classes competing in a double-elimination, head-to-head format over the two days. Boats compete in either a quarter-mile or 800-foot race, depending on their division.
Tims Ford Bass Club President Jerry Freeman made it a priority to bring the event to Winchester and has spent most of the year making that priority a reality.
“We haven’t had one for a long time because it was hard for us to get a permit from the city, it was hard for us to get a permit from the TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) which we have both now,” Freeman said. “It’s hard to organize these events.”
Freeman has been involved in boat racing in various cities since 1989 and will be officiating the races over the weekend.
Freeman’s main focus in bringing the boat races to Nashville is to give back to the community.
“The biggest reason we’re doing it is to give back and pay back the people of Franklin County and Winchester,” Freeman said. “People will come down who have never had an opportunity to see a boat race before.”
The event will also help to support the sponsors of the annual Bass Classic fishing tournament held at Tim’s Ford, Freeman said.
Jake Davis will be serving as the announcer for the event. He has been doing announcing for events like this since the late 1980s.
Davis describes the races as intense and competitive.
“They’re rather exciting,” he said. “This is an all-out, boat-on-boat straightaway to see who can get it going faster.”
Quarter-mile racers will reach speeds of up to 125 mph and 800-foot racers will reach speeds of up to 130 mph
Teams and fans will be coming from all over the country for the event and there will even be several teams from outside the country.
“We’ve got people coming in from Canada, Louisiana and Florida,” Davis said. “That’s how serious this is.”
Davis and Freeman are expecting thousands of people in attendance for the races, both locals and visiting fans.
Gates will open to the public at 9 a.m. both days. Admission is $10 per person and kids 14 and under get in free.
The first races will start Saturday at noon.
http://www.heraldchronicle.com/23004/