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Post by racincowboy on Sept 10, 2009 9:34:29 GMT -8
This is a first for the Sprint boats being a two day race. Usually it is only a one day race to give the teams travel time to get home back to Idaho and British Columbia and of course where ever else they hail from. Anyway I will be going to the sprint boats Saturday 9/12 for sure and possibly also the 13th. Bring your own lawn chairs and ez-up shades there are no bleachers at this venue. I plan on leaving my house in Clackamas @ 6:00 so I can get a good spot to plant my ez-up shade. Gates open @ 8am Ticket prices are as follows: Adults 15.00 per day or $25 for a two day pass Kids 6-17 $10 per day or $15 for a two day pass *17 and under must be accompanied by an adult 5 and under are free For more info and rules go to www.ussbaracing.com and link to the Oregon Jet sprint site. I am considering going to Florence after the races saturday evening to pick-up my 5th wheel and then returning to the track for sunday's race if I can find someplace to camp or if they will let me stay at the track. Any Idea's of accomodations in the area or a place to park for the night? For those of you that cant go and would like to watch the race live they will be broadcasting the event live over the net. On the left side of the ussbaracing.com homepage it will have a "click here to watch live button" Any questions ect post them or Pm me and I will get back to you asap. Lance
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Post by Jon on Sept 10, 2009 14:31:52 GMT -8
I might make it. Depends on how the jeep hunt goes. This has always sounded like a blast to me, so hopefully I can get down this weekend.
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 10, 2009 14:36:21 GMT -8
Just let me know and I will have a spot of shade reserved for you. Margaret isn't going to this event with me. She is leaving for Vegas early sunday morning.
So my plans have gotten a bit more complicated. I will still be going to the boat races Saturday and then its off to Newport after the races. Then down to Florence to pick up my 5th wheel and then back to Albany to spend the night so I can go to the races sunday as well.
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Post by Jon on Sept 10, 2009 16:24:54 GMT -8
Wow Lance, sounds like one of my trips. Your getting some good windshield time this weekend
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Post by Jon on Sept 10, 2009 16:38:22 GMT -8
In case you can't picture a bunch of jet boats racing in a field ;D Here's what it looks like. (Kinda like controlled chaos if you ask me) Some Youtubes of last year I believe...
And a promotional video
I dont know where this was, but thought it was cool. Some incar, errr uhmmmm I mean onboard footage.
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Post by hootie on Sept 10, 2009 19:23:53 GMT -8
I have been to the sprint boat races 3 times.. It is Awsome. My first thought is that a truck would be able to negotiate turns faster than a boat.... but after seeing the sprint boats I now know that the boats are WAY faster than any wheeled vehicle could be on this tight of a course.
This is flat out fun to watch. If you are just thinking about going to the races,,, say Yes. You will be happy you did.
and regarding the vids,,, that onboard camera angle was great. I have never been in one of these boats.. I have always wandered how the co-pilot could keep track of the course.. and I still wander that. amazing.
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 11, 2009 5:10:14 GMT -8
Thanks for posting the vids Jon. That will give people a glipse at what its like. It is definately something not to be missed being there live.
Yes you are correct about the windshield time but its not that bad its only a lil over an hour to Newport then about an hour and a quarter to Florence then another 2 hours back to Albany. The best part is if I get too tired I just pull over and sleep in the trailer for a while then hit the road again.
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 11, 2009 17:22:55 GMT -8
If anyone is planning on going please post up so I know who to be looking for. We will have our ez-up there for shade from the hot sun.
Margaret is going to join me on Saturday after all she is driving herself down there and will return saturday evening so she can catch her flight in the morning.
I will be at the races sunday as well my 40 ft 5th wheel toyhauler will be in the lot. So with that said I have plenty of generator gas and the a/c will be on in the trailer if its too hot on sunday.
Sunday is the national finals so the teams should be more on "kill" then normal everyone like to win the nationals.
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 18, 2009 19:58:17 GMT -8
Well sorry this report is late but work has finally gotten busy again its about time. So here we go the weekend report. Saturday was quite warm at 94 degrees. Turned out to be quite a day for beaching boats on the islands, Flipping over and sinking, a couple boats on fire, and one that spun out in a corner and partially sunk. Two blown motors one chucked a rod out through the oil pan. Sunday started out quite cool. Sweatshirt weather all day until the end of the races about 330pm then it finally warmed up. Good thing the racing action was great being the national finals and all. All boats were on kill more so then ever. The fastest time of the day was laid down by a 17 year old driver in his second season as a driver and his mom as the navigator. Well enough of the words lets get to the action time for pics and video's. The two links further down the page will highlight a couple of wrecks on the weekend. www.ustream.tv/recorded/2156835/highlight/17871Http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2150739/highlight/17742Head to www.ustream.tv to watch the races live and recorded from the whole season. Now onto some pics that I took. Sorry for the catch fence in most of the pics not enough of a berm to get over the top of it without a man lift and mine was in the shop. This is the classic way not to park your kids very fast boat. After this little tumble the steering was a bit out of wack but they returned later in the day for the 17 year old to finish 2nd place in the nationals even after his dad blew up the motor in his boat and wrecked the kids boat on sunday. All I can say is everyone missed a great time and rest assured there will be more trips next season. So dont miss out next time. Last but not least here is a tidbit of our friends from down-under where the sport began. This is fun to watch not so much fun to take a ride like these. For the guy that lost his waverunner and got his truck t-boned how is he going to explain that to his insurance agent? That is all folks Lance
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 18, 2009 21:18:17 GMT -8
TTT
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Post by fivendime on Sept 19, 2009 9:00:01 GMT -8
Looks like a BLAST! I will make it to one of these some day too. Theres just to much to do. Looks like they have a prety scientific way to move the beached boats around.......lots of happy people. Whats with the targets on the back of those shirts!!! ???
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Post by Jon on Sept 19, 2009 9:31:22 GMT -8
That first video with the rolling boat coming straight at the fence is insane! "Get away from the fence" Yeah they aint kidding. That would freak me out to roll and be under water even for a second. Sitting there turning blue waiting for the guys to flop me back over.... I assume they don't have any air or scuba gear so you just gotta sit there and hold your breath.... I'm a bit to claustrophobic for that....
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 19, 2009 11:01:25 GMT -8
Whats with the targets on the back of those shirts!!! ?? The targets on the "Island Hoppers" backs are to give the drivers something to aim at should one or more island hopper not be paying attention so while you volunteer to be an island hopper you could also be chased by a boat at very high speed should you be inattentive.
Jon,
Rest assured there is no scuba gear or anything else as a breathing device in these boats if you are upside down in the water. The island hoppers will get to you as fast as possible but it is your responsibility to get out on your own if you can and are unhurt. The last race in St. John Washington a couple weeks ago one boat flipped and it took an extended amount of time for the island hoppers to get there as it was in the far corner of the track. The navigator got out on his own the driver released his harnesses and ended up getting his helmeted head stuck between the head restraints on the seat and the roll bar. So by then the hoppers were there to flip the boat back over and extricate the driver who was a bit scared but ok.
I hope to have one of these one day so all I have to ask is who can I count on to be my navigator?
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Post by fivendime on Sept 20, 2009 8:25:53 GMT -8
I'd do it! I wonder how you learn to navigate it? Do you drive around slowly or study a map?
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Post by racincowboy on Sept 20, 2009 8:54:58 GMT -8
Fivendime,
They give you a map friday night of the "rotation" or track they are going to run for the given race day. Every track runs different rotations each time the boats are there. The navigator must memorize up to 30 different turns to complete the rotation. You only have 3 qualifying rounds to "get it right" then out of those that did get it right based off their qualifying times the fastest 8 in each class come back to run off against each other. They still have to run the course correct and as fast as they can then the top 4 move on then the top two ect ect till you are down to one winner.
Hopefully that sheds some light on it. Oh ya and you have to navigate at anywhere from 60 to 100mph depending on what track you are at. Also turning 6-7 g's in the corners. Last but not least not afraid of getting "wet".
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