By Rick Stoff
RICHMOND, TEXAS (January 15) – The Niagara River could provide one of the fastest courses ever visited by tunnel boats, according to the organizers of the new Niagara River Roar that joins the ChampBoat Series circuit in 2003.
The race will be held August 2-3 on the Niagara River, just outside Niagara Falls, New York, and about 20 miles from Buffalo. The Roar will feature the Champ and SST-120 classes of ChampBoat.
“The river is very wide here. The bottom is very smooth and goes out gradually without any drop-offs,” said Jerry O’Neill, chairman of the race. “There have been boat races here for many years, and the racers tell us this is the fastest course they race on.”
O’Neill is president of the Rotary Club of the Tonawandas, one of the six Rotary Clubs of Western New York that have joined to promote the race. Proceeds of the race are earmarked for charities supported by the clubs. The Rotarians are being assisted by Bill Hesson, crew chief for ChampBoat driver Wyatt Nelson. Nelson, of Cazenovia, N.Y., is one of the top champ drivers in the U.S.
“People have been asking for many years when the Champ boats would come to Niagara Falls. I’ve been to one race and seen the excitement that this kind of racing generates,” O’Neill said. “We have only a few big summer events, so this race is certainly something this area needs. The city fathers have been great in working with us.”
Gratwick-Riverside Park in North Tonawanda has been reserved for the weekend. The park borders the river for about one mile and provides plenty of room for the additional activities that the Rotary Clubs would like to schedule around the race.
“We are patterning our race after those in other cities, such as St. Louis, that have a lot of other things going on all weekend. We will have a kids’ play area and two stages with bands playing. We also hope to do a competition for home-made rafts and things like jet ski demonstrations, sky divers and kite flying,” O’Neill said.
“We’re looking forward to visiting Niagara Falls and adding an East Coast venue to our circuit,” said Greg Jacobsen of Kirkland, Wash., an executive of the ChampBoat Series. “A number of other race promoters have generously shared ideas and support with the Niagara River Roar organizers, so we expect this to be an exciting and successful event.”
The Buffalo metropolitan area has a population of about 1.2 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it conserably larger than several other areas that host successful and established Champ-boat races.
“ChampBoat was organized last year to bring new events into our sport and increase the exposure and viability of Champ-class racing. Our 2003 schedule now lists four new races that have joined our sport as a result,” Jacobsen said.
The Advocate’s False River Powerboat Championships in New Roads, La., served as the first ChampBoat Series race last year and returns this June. In addition to Niagara Falls, new races will be held this season in Tampico, Mexico, and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Mercury Racing returns as presenting sponsor of ChampBoat in 2003. Other sponsors returning to the series are Telmex, Polaris Personal Watercraft, Sunoco Racing Fuels, XG-Ad, Craftsmen Industries and Racing Communications. Sea-Way Marine and Hydro-Tec are joining the series in 2003 as new sponsors of the SST-120 class.
The Champ boat represents the top level of outboard powerboat racing in the world. The 17-foot-long boats are powered by electronically fuel injected, 375-horsepower V-6 engines. A Champ boat can accelerate from zero to 100 miles per hour in three seconds and reach top speeds over 130 miles per hour. Due to their tunnel-hull shape, the boats can produce three to four G’s (forces of gravity) in the corners, enabling them to turn more quickly than any other racing machine.
SST-120 boats are similar in size and design. They are powered by stock 120-cubic-inch carbureted engines and reach top speeds of about 110 miles per hour.
Additional information can be found at the series web site: www.champboatracing.com.
ChampBoat Series 2003
May 16-18 Tampico, Mexico Champ & SST-120
June 7-8 New Roads, Louisiana Champ & SST-120
July 18-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Champ
August 2-3 Niagara Falls, New York Champ & SST-120
August 15-17 St. Louis, Missouri Champ & SST-120
August 23-24 Windsor, Colorado Champ & SST-120
September 6-7 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Champ & SST-120
RICHMOND, TEXAS (January 15) – The Niagara River could provide one of the fastest courses ever visited by tunnel boats, according to the organizers of the new Niagara River Roar that joins the ChampBoat Series circuit in 2003.
The race will be held August 2-3 on the Niagara River, just outside Niagara Falls, New York, and about 20 miles from Buffalo. The Roar will feature the Champ and SST-120 classes of ChampBoat.
“The river is very wide here. The bottom is very smooth and goes out gradually without any drop-offs,” said Jerry O’Neill, chairman of the race. “There have been boat races here for many years, and the racers tell us this is the fastest course they race on.”
O’Neill is president of the Rotary Club of the Tonawandas, one of the six Rotary Clubs of Western New York that have joined to promote the race. Proceeds of the race are earmarked for charities supported by the clubs. The Rotarians are being assisted by Bill Hesson, crew chief for ChampBoat driver Wyatt Nelson. Nelson, of Cazenovia, N.Y., is one of the top champ drivers in the U.S.
“People have been asking for many years when the Champ boats would come to Niagara Falls. I’ve been to one race and seen the excitement that this kind of racing generates,” O’Neill said. “We have only a few big summer events, so this race is certainly something this area needs. The city fathers have been great in working with us.”
Gratwick-Riverside Park in North Tonawanda has been reserved for the weekend. The park borders the river for about one mile and provides plenty of room for the additional activities that the Rotary Clubs would like to schedule around the race.
“We are patterning our race after those in other cities, such as St. Louis, that have a lot of other things going on all weekend. We will have a kids’ play area and two stages with bands playing. We also hope to do a competition for home-made rafts and things like jet ski demonstrations, sky divers and kite flying,” O’Neill said.
“We’re looking forward to visiting Niagara Falls and adding an East Coast venue to our circuit,” said Greg Jacobsen of Kirkland, Wash., an executive of the ChampBoat Series. “A number of other race promoters have generously shared ideas and support with the Niagara River Roar organizers, so we expect this to be an exciting and successful event.”
The Buffalo metropolitan area has a population of about 1.2 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it conserably larger than several other areas that host successful and established Champ-boat races.
“ChampBoat was organized last year to bring new events into our sport and increase the exposure and viability of Champ-class racing. Our 2003 schedule now lists four new races that have joined our sport as a result,” Jacobsen said.
The Advocate’s False River Powerboat Championships in New Roads, La., served as the first ChampBoat Series race last year and returns this June. In addition to Niagara Falls, new races will be held this season in Tampico, Mexico, and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Mercury Racing returns as presenting sponsor of ChampBoat in 2003. Other sponsors returning to the series are Telmex, Polaris Personal Watercraft, Sunoco Racing Fuels, XG-Ad, Craftsmen Industries and Racing Communications. Sea-Way Marine and Hydro-Tec are joining the series in 2003 as new sponsors of the SST-120 class.
The Champ boat represents the top level of outboard powerboat racing in the world. The 17-foot-long boats are powered by electronically fuel injected, 375-horsepower V-6 engines. A Champ boat can accelerate from zero to 100 miles per hour in three seconds and reach top speeds over 130 miles per hour. Due to their tunnel-hull shape, the boats can produce three to four G’s (forces of gravity) in the corners, enabling them to turn more quickly than any other racing machine.
SST-120 boats are similar in size and design. They are powered by stock 120-cubic-inch carbureted engines and reach top speeds of about 110 miles per hour.
Additional information can be found at the series web site: www.champboatracing.com.
ChampBoat Series 2003
May 16-18 Tampico, Mexico Champ & SST-120
June 7-8 New Roads, Louisiana Champ & SST-120
July 18-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Champ
August 2-3 Niagara Falls, New York Champ & SST-120
August 15-17 St. Louis, Missouri Champ & SST-120
August 23-24 Windsor, Colorado Champ & SST-120
September 6-7 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Champ & SST-120
