He was transported to Highlands Regional Medical Center where he died about an hour after arriving. Drag Boat and Water Speed Record Racer Memorial This website provides information about racers who died while racing on lakes, marinas, and other locations in pursuit of world water speed records and while racing in drag boat competitions. It can reach speeds up to 262 MPH in just 3.5 seconds. Please include a picture of yourself that I can include in the profile. He was taken from the water and transported to St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The SDBA Fastest Show on Water rolled into Paris, TX. It may provide a minor income for someone who loves this sport, but it is never going to be the money maker that other motorsports are. SDBA has been holding drag boat races since 1974 with Nothing but Class! In August 1999, Kyle Walker of Conroe, by then a well-known drag boat champion with more than a dozen world records behind him, was making a high-speed run on a lake near Tulsa, Okla . 's://ssl':'://www')+'.google-analytics.com'+'/siteopt.js?v=1&utmxkey='+k+'&utmx='+(x?x:'')+'&utmxx='+(xx?xx:'')+'&utmxtime='+new Date().valueOf()+(h? I have quite a few pictures that I have no boat names for, and I am working on a way to choose by boat number as well. "It's kind . 1980, SS# issued in Calif.), Buried: Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, California, Location: Lake Ming, Bakersfield, California, Boat: "Extremely Dangerous" blown fuel flatbottom. He was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, where he lay in a coma before passing away eight days after the accident. He lost his helmet and sustained severe head and neck injuries. Biographical: He was at the end of his run when his engine seized, causing it to skip to the left and flip over. Please review the rule book and necessary requirements so you can experience drag boat racing on the liquid quarter mile. When they take off, they create a wall of water down the race line!Original Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3D1OBSExasSUBSCRIBE for awesome videos every day! 133 followers. Top Fuel dragsters can cost over . If you are interested please contact Gary Hendrix to sign up. At the age of 16, Jack built his first 14-foot wooden boat from the instructions in a magazine. Just click . HOME. The "Problem Child" boat, owned by "Fast" Eddie Knox, is the reigning Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series Top Fuel world champion and holds the 15 quickest 1,000-foot elapsed times in history, including the current 3.396, 258.26 mph national records. He was transported to Kern Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Biographical: He was from Escondido, California. More . inch Donovan-powered drag boat and was traveling at 133 mph when he crashed. Next, complete checkout for full access to Motorious. The boat began to wobble on its sponsons. He was traveling 135 MPH when he was thrown from the boat. FUEL RESTRICTED COURSE RECORDS. from the starting line to those intervals. In fact, the Problem Child team has an association with the Kalitta Motorsports NHRA team, which certainly pays dividends with the close crossover in parts and technology. And each of the Big Three's drag racing packages are refined: 409-powered Chevy Impala Z11s, lightweight 427-cube Ford Galaxies and 413-cube Plymouth Belvederes become the scourges of the strip. The SDBA is the Fastest Show on Water!! Ebert family doubles the fun while Robbins sets Top Fuel Hydro record at Diamond Drag Boat Nationals . H1 Unlimiteds join many boat-racing classes for the weekend. By Greg Jones Jan 31, 2023 . Race teams arrive Friday to set up their pit and prepare the boat for test and tune Saturday morning, followed by qualifying beginning at 11 am. It is the most comprehensive site of its kind on the Web and a companion to my other websites, Land Speed Racer Memorial and Drag Racer Deaths. Dragboats, raceboats, and flat bottom boats, and boat parts for sale! During his back up run later that afternoon, the wind had kicked up. Chevy Bowtie. While at Lake Havasu, these dragsters take their boats and race on the water! There will not be capsule dunks at the race track, and the only training will be at these classes. The rest of the world was pretty much ignored, but they were out there racing boats, especially in Europe and the UK. He was transported to DePaul Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Cart 0. Luckily Cole was uninjured! Drag boat racing is returning to Lake Bryan . Flat bottom and Jet drag boats can reach speeds of 50 MPH. Biographical: During qualifying his boat flipped after crossing the finish line. 1964: In August, Don Garlits may or may not be the first man to hit 200mph in a race car. Driving sports cars responsibly really shouldnt be that hard. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010. His father was Walt Arfons and his uncle was Art Arfons, both land speed record holders from the 1960s. "Bradenton man killed as boat flips," Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 10, 1989, "Officials are checking out Arfons death," Ocala Star-Banner, July 11, 1989, "Racer Arfons died when boat became airborne," Gainesville Sun, July 23, 1989, "Boat racers run at record ends in death at 370 MPH," Orlando Sentinel, July 10, 1989, Norman Hechtkoff, e-mail communication to site administrator, August 8, 2010, Florida Death Index (Jon Craig Arfons, born Sep. 26, 1949, died July 9, 1989, in Highlands Co., age 39), http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfGral/RecordsVelocidad.htm (accessed 8/8/10), Buried: cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea, Location: Berenda Reservoir, Chowchilla, California. Biographical: He overshot the finish line at a speed estimated at over 200 MPH and crashed into the artificial lake's steep dirt bank. He was thrown clear of the boat and his chute opened but he hit the water hard. At Launch, drivers of a Top Fuel dragster can be subjected to nearly 5 Gs of gravity. Record Date Location Driver Owner Boat (Hull) Engine Speed; APBA: 1/4 mile - Straightaway: Apr 2, 2022: Oroville, CA: Jonathan Nilsen: Steve Greaves . As with land-based drag racing, competitors race their vehicles for the lowest elapsed time (low ET) over a straight race course of a defined length. MULTIMEDIA. Usually, when were talking about boats in drag racing, you might be thinking about a Charger or Challenger. He was kept on a respirator, but never regained consciousness before dying two days after the accident. We'll send you the most interesting Dragzine articles, news, car features, and videos every week. 2nd Annual Hot Boat Reunion Boat March 22, 2011 0. Boat Drag Race - BREAKS Speed Record - Awesomeness This Is Happening 2.16M subscribers Subscribe 3.4M views 8 years ago While at Lake Havasu, these dragsters take their boats and race on. 9, 2011, James Rogers, e-mail communication from site administrator, Apr. The SDBA is the Fastest Show on Water!! Ladies and gentlemen, That was a very intense and awesome piece of nautical engineering history and will likely go down in the books as was one of the most impressive feats accomplished by a racing boat. Over 80 drivers who died while racing for these attainments have been identified and researched. He was transported to High Point Memorial Hospital. In tests the previous spring, Taylor had been clocked at 440 MPH in tests on Walker Lake and thought the boat would be capable of 500 MPH. There are three different options in the boat drag course length: 1/8 mile (650 feet,) 1/4 mile (1,320 feet,) and 3/16 of a mile plus 10 extra feet (1000 feet). Your billing info has been updated. He was from Long Beach, California, and was survived by his wife, Dee. "Boat death," Melbourne Age, Sep. 27, 1988, Gary L. James, e-mail communication to site administrator, Feb. 9, 2011, Gary James, e-mail communication to site administrator, Sep. 3, 2011, Buried: Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, Location: Tenmile Lake, Lakeside, Oregon, Event: First Annual Tenmile Lake Regatta. record with a 5.16-second run, which was lower than the land drag racing record of 5.39 seconds. The time slips are in this app, along with audio from the race weekend! However, there is another type of drag racing which is even crazier, and it uses quite a lot of the same tactics to achieve high speeds. Some of my earliest memories were in the pits at the drag boat races. Share on Facebook 2019 Schedules Posted He was traveling about 370 MPH and let the afterburner run a few seconds longer than he initially had planned. You've successfully signed in. In addition to the professional show, which consists of Top Fuel Hydro, Top Alcohol Hydro, Top Alcohol Flat and Pro Modified, we highlight four Sportsman classes ranging from 8.00 to 11.00 second and three Bracket (dial-in) classes in the quarter mile. Biographical: He was traveling about 120 MPH during time trials when his boat suddenly dipped to the right. There will be a $250 donation asked from every driver to help cover all costs, which includes the use of the indoor pool and equipment for the course. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. In drag boat racing, a similar rope is used when starting the race. U-1 MISS HOMESTREET, Jimmy Shane (155.010 m.p.h.) Huge engines (up to 300 HP) power Drag boats to speeds of 150 MPH or more. After Bud Meyer and Harlan split partnership, he formed a partnership with Pete Altman & Wayne Rexwinkle. However, unlike Chet in The Great Outdoors, racers will want to make sure they let go of the rope in order to win! For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There are numerous categories of professional and sportsmen classes based on various engine configuration, fuel type, hull design and propulsion types. He was a Frenchman. 2023 Marble Falls Lakefest . He was a founding member of the Victorian Drag Boat Club. Biographical: He died of neck and chest injuries several hours after his boat flipped over at more than 180 MPH. In some cases, we know their names, but we need at least a year to add them. . 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 On water, folks. Witnesses thought he should have shut it off earlier in the run when it started showing early signs of getting into trouble. After tight battles including one deadlock Lucas Oil, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series To Be Discontinued, Liquid Voodoo shatters Top Fuel Hydro speed record at Lucas, Championship chases up for grabs as Lucas Oil Drag Boat, Bill Smith Promoted to Series Director of both the Lucas, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series title chases resume next, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series Spotlight: Iconic owner Nancy, Diamond Drag Boat Nationals Just One Month Away, With Lucas, By land or water, speed is the name of the. (408)266-3324 1/4 Mile Outboard Boat Drag Records by Year. Click Here! He had a 23-man crew and it was the sentiment of all of them that Taylor should not have made his run because the surface water conditions were poor. Biographical: He was injured in a crash and died in an Illinois hospital. We also invite those who knew these racers to share their memories in the Forum. His boat flipped over at the finish line. There is only one word for it insanity! 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