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View Full Version : Showdown in San Angelo drag boat races - June 26, 27, 28, 2015



Serious News
06-23-2015, 12:08 AM
SAN ANGELO, Texas - More than 100 boats will speed across Lake Nasworthy this weekend when San Angelo hosts the ninth annual Showdown in San Angelo drag boat races.

Beginning Thursday about 11,000 spectators from across the country will come to the lake to see the races, said Pamela Miller, of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. http://www.sanangelo.org/showdown/

Spectators can look at boats and meet drivers during the "Show and Shine" on Thursday, see drivers test their boats on Friday, and cap off the event by watching races on Saturday and Sunday.

The races are "going to be a battle," said Ken Dollar, director of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. "Just to experience one top fuel (boat) going from start to finish in 3½ seconds is pretty intense. You can feel it as much as you can hear it."

The Showdown in San Angelo is one of the nine national events in the series, which runs from April to November and culminates when the overall top-scoring boat wins the High Points Championship.

In total, about 110 boats across 13 classes, from top fuel hydro to personal water craft, will zoom down the 1,000-foot track this weekend, said Jenni Campbell, director of sales and serving with the chamber.

Winning is often a matter of hundredths of seconds. Times are measured by a computerized system, then posted on a billboard seconds after the boats pass the finish line. Drivers sometimes carry radios in their boats so their teams can report their scores immediately, said Dave Mulvey, who has volunteered at the races since he relocated to San Angelo from the Dallas area.

Mulvey has worked in the water, helping unload and reload boats, and saw the expressions on the drivers' faces as they returned from the race.

Already an auto racing enthusiast, Mulvey enjoyed volunteering at the drag boat races so much he set out to look for a boat of his own.

But "since I haven't bought a race boat yet, I'll keep volunteering," Mulvey said. "It's a chance to be part of the action."

Most volunteers help because they want to get closer to the "fun, crazy, wild loudness" of the races, said Lana Arrott, who works at the San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau and is organizing volunteers for the races.

About 350 people have signed up to volunteer so far, Arrott said, and she is still looking for more. Volunteers work in three- to four-hour shifts, recycling, selling T-shirts and even driving tractors. When not working, volunteers can attend that day's events for free.

Beyond making for an exciting weekend, the races boost San Angelo's economy. More than half of the 11,000 spectators will be visitors to San Angelo, said Miller. Those visitors are expected to bring in close to $4 million in revenue for hotels, restaurants and gas stations, Miller said.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/local-news/boat-races_81008411

Serious News
06-27-2015, 11:42 PM
Showdown lures thousands to Lake Nasworthy
By: Michelle Gaitan

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Enduring 90-degree temperatures under colorful tents, spectators crowded along the banks of Lake Nasworthy as drag boat racers sped across the water.

Racers competed in the second round of Saturday’s ninth annual Showdown in San Angelo, aiming to qualify for a top spot before Sunday’s elimination races. (See Sunday's pairings here.)

With speeds surpassing 100 mph, spectators kept a close eye as boats whizzed past, trailing a white wall of water high in the air.

Luis Robles and his five boys, ages 3 to 12, sat along a boat ramp about midway from the starting line to watch the races.

“Oh, we’re enjoying it,” said Robles, whose family spent time out on a boat Friday. Saturday, however, was all about the races.

“We’ll spend time this weekend out here watching the boast races,” he said.

Phil Neighbors, president of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, said 116 racers signed up for this year’s competition, as well as 12 junior racers ranging from 10 to 16 years old, he said.

“The 116 is a very good number, but it’s not a record,” he said. “The highest number was just over 122.”

The showdown is one of nine national events in the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series, which runs from April to November and culminates when the overall top-scoring boat wins the High Points Championship.

Racers were forced to wait a spell Saturday as wind speeds picked up just before 2 p.m. Spectators were not fazed by the temporary delay, simply removing tent covers to keep them from tipping over and preparing umbrellas in case of rainfall. They got drizzle instead.

Neighbors said the best estimate for the number of attendees in previous years was 11,000 for the three days.

“It’s being looking very good so far; there was a good turnout on Friday,” he said. “We’re expecting about 10,000 this year.”

In solidarity with the San Angelo Police Department and the community, donations were being collected for the family of Sgt. Korby Kennedy, who was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday.

The money will be added to a general fund that the San Angelo Coalition of Police has started, and at a later time the coalition will ask the public for assistance making contributions, Neighbors said.

“Fans and the racing community’s hearts have been touched so much they wanted to reach out and do as much as they can this weekend,” he said.

Donations raised equaled about $6,500 by 2 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re not putting strings on this,” race announcer Roger Monroe said. “We don’t care how the money will be spent as long as it goes to the family (of Sgt. Kennedy).”

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/local-news/boat-races_06030357

Serious News
06-29-2015, 01:14 AM
http://youtu.be/UPy5IxMRN2E

Serious News
07-23-2015, 04:32 PM
2015 Drag Boat Races Set Record Attendance

The Showdown in San Angelo Drag Boat Races have come and gone, but the Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce some record breaking news.

"We're excited to report that we did set a record in attendance this year for the Showdown in San Angelo Drag Boat Races," says Phil Neighbors.

Two years ago the city set a record of a little more than 11 thousand attendees and now the record stands at over 12 thousand. Phil Neighbors, president of San Angelo's Chamber of Commerce says a few factors played into this year's attendance increase.

"This year we had a little bit cooler weather, so that brings out some local folks. We also increased our advertising in certain areas, including Abilene and the Big Country. We do a number of billboards and ads throughout West Texas," says Neighbors.

The record breaking number includes paid attendance, event staff, racers and crews, sponsors, and volunteers.

"The folks that we have now are coming back year after year and bringing their friends and bringing their coworkers, which is helping us with our volunteer base," says Neighbors.

Out of the nine years of operation, the drag boat races also set a record number for out of town attendance.

"We hope to continue to grow the event as well as we can, but word of mouth is our best promoter for the race fans and the racers who come and make the event possible," says Neighbors.

The Chamber has already started planning for next year's races.

"We hope to have a new ramp for the races by next year and there will be a lot of other changes that'll be looked at but always looking for process improvement and always thankful for the great number of sponsors and volunteers who help make this event possible," says Neighbors

http://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/story/d/story/2015-drag-boat-races-set-record-attendance/15402/ZNgtuOA6wUKsxtk1kq6Z_g

Serious News
07-23-2015, 04:33 PM
http://youtu.be/jCWSUUIRZYQ

Serious News
07-24-2015, 12:07 PM
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