Biloxi
04-14-2004, 09:01 AM
#12
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This is not intended to be inflammatory. I repeat......this is not intended to be inflammatory.
Who are the safety crew members for OSS? Their website is down as of 10:00am this morning so I couldn't check to see if they are listed there.
Who are the safety crew members for OSS? Their website is down as of 10:00am this morning so I couldn't check to see if they are listed there.
04-14-2004, 09:12 AM
#13
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This from a recent article in the Biloxi newspaper.
Posted on Sun, Apr. 04, 2004
Powerboats roar back into Sound
Races offer fans up-close look
By AL JONES
THE SUN HERALD
BILOXI - The thrill of high-speed racing on the Mississippi Sound is back after a five-year layoff.
Since the American Power Boat Association's Offshore World Championships headed to St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1999, big-time racing has been missing from the waters off South Mississippi.
But times have changed as the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association steps to the plate with its first visit to Biloxi on April 22-25 for Smokin' The Sound.
"Since 1988, when we lost the APBA, we (a group of investors) have been interested in bringing a race back to Biloxi," race official Rusty David said. "We talked with Super Boats International and with APBA as early as 2001, but we could not come together.
"So in November, Offshore Super Series, a group of 35 to 38 boats owners of the four fastest classes in the world, chose to start their own association. They were not happy with APBA or Super Boats."
After the group was formed, local investors went to Key West and spoke to the association about a Biloxi race. But there was one small condition with the plans: the actual course had to be moved closer to the fans.
"The race had to be held between Deer Island in Biloxi and the beach," David said. "That way, we could get the casino and tourism support. The five casinos - the Isle, Casino Magic, Grand, the Beau and the Palace - stepped up along with the Mississippi Tourism, Harrison County Tourism and the City Of Biloxi and our other sponsors."
When the APBA raced in South Mississippi in 1997 and 1998, the race course was located from the Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi to the Gulfport-Biloxi line. That race saw 10 divisions from from factory to open-class racing down the front beach with speeds reaching more than 140 mph.
The first race also saw a blanket of fog invade the area, which made viewing the race tough.
The race has now been moved inside Deer Island in Biloxi, putting viewers as close as 100 feet from parts of the race track. In all, 30 boats will test skills in five categories: OSS Cat, OSS Vee, Reindl Bat Boats, OSS Cat Lite and OSS Cat Vee Lite.
The OSS Cat boats can reach speeds of 135 mph down the stretch while the other classes will exceed 100 mph.
The course itself is totally different from the APBA course. Instead of racing in the open Sound, racers will showcase talents in the protected waters between Casino Row and Deer Island. Regardless if the wind is stiff from the south or north, the race track will be protected from rough waves.
The track itself, which is a 6.8-mile course, extends from the east side of the Isle of Capri Casino to the west side of the Beau Rivage. That means the straight ways will be roughly three miles each, not counting turns.
The smaller class boats will race 70 miles while the larger vessels will race 90 miles. The larger boats, some valued at $1 million, will race 10 at a time.
To ensure safety of the drivers, race officials had to move a sunken shrimp boat from the channel as well as other objects.
A key ingredient in bringing the APBA to Biloxi was the depth of the Mississippi Sound in case of an accident. If a 46-foot boat flipped over, safety personnel needed 8 feet of water to pull drivers from the boat.
The water on the inside of Deer Island ranges between 4 and 8 feet with the heart of the channel recording 6 feet.
"We have 6 feet of water," said David. "That is what they require. However, for those two days, we will have a 2-foot tide, which means we are looking at an average of 7 feet of water.
"We've been out there with the race referee, the race coordinator and boat owners with a stick. We used a stick to find out how deep it was, not a depth recorder. We know what we have."
To help with safety of personal boats leaving docks behind Casino Row, the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and the Biloxi Yacht Club, the channel will be closed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the weekend schedule of events.
David, who received the final permit from the Coast Guard this past week, said the event will cost $225,000. Therefore, tickets will range from $10 to $15 for a wristband plus other packages.
"We need to sell T-shirts and wristbands so it will be successful and we can do it again next year," he said. "It will be a great event. We call it NASCAR on the water, upfront and personal. You can't beat it."
The Biloxi race will be the first of a seven-race series that will conclude in November. That means all boats should be in top running shape for the Biloxi race.
Posted on Sun, Apr. 04, 2004
Powerboats roar back into Sound
Races offer fans up-close look
By AL JONES
THE SUN HERALD
BILOXI - The thrill of high-speed racing on the Mississippi Sound is back after a five-year layoff.
Since the American Power Boat Association's Offshore World Championships headed to St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1999, big-time racing has been missing from the waters off South Mississippi.
But times have changed as the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association steps to the plate with its first visit to Biloxi on April 22-25 for Smokin' The Sound.
"Since 1988, when we lost the APBA, we (a group of investors) have been interested in bringing a race back to Biloxi," race official Rusty David said. "We talked with Super Boats International and with APBA as early as 2001, but we could not come together.
"So in November, Offshore Super Series, a group of 35 to 38 boats owners of the four fastest classes in the world, chose to start their own association. They were not happy with APBA or Super Boats."
After the group was formed, local investors went to Key West and spoke to the association about a Biloxi race. But there was one small condition with the plans: the actual course had to be moved closer to the fans.
"The race had to be held between Deer Island in Biloxi and the beach," David said. "That way, we could get the casino and tourism support. The five casinos - the Isle, Casino Magic, Grand, the Beau and the Palace - stepped up along with the Mississippi Tourism, Harrison County Tourism and the City Of Biloxi and our other sponsors."
When the APBA raced in South Mississippi in 1997 and 1998, the race course was located from the Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi to the Gulfport-Biloxi line. That race saw 10 divisions from from factory to open-class racing down the front beach with speeds reaching more than 140 mph.
The first race also saw a blanket of fog invade the area, which made viewing the race tough.
The race has now been moved inside Deer Island in Biloxi, putting viewers as close as 100 feet from parts of the race track. In all, 30 boats will test skills in five categories: OSS Cat, OSS Vee, Reindl Bat Boats, OSS Cat Lite and OSS Cat Vee Lite.
The OSS Cat boats can reach speeds of 135 mph down the stretch while the other classes will exceed 100 mph.
The course itself is totally different from the APBA course. Instead of racing in the open Sound, racers will showcase talents in the protected waters between Casino Row and Deer Island. Regardless if the wind is stiff from the south or north, the race track will be protected from rough waves.
The track itself, which is a 6.8-mile course, extends from the east side of the Isle of Capri Casino to the west side of the Beau Rivage. That means the straight ways will be roughly three miles each, not counting turns.
The smaller class boats will race 70 miles while the larger vessels will race 90 miles. The larger boats, some valued at $1 million, will race 10 at a time.
To ensure safety of the drivers, race officials had to move a sunken shrimp boat from the channel as well as other objects.
A key ingredient in bringing the APBA to Biloxi was the depth of the Mississippi Sound in case of an accident. If a 46-foot boat flipped over, safety personnel needed 8 feet of water to pull drivers from the boat.
The water on the inside of Deer Island ranges between 4 and 8 feet with the heart of the channel recording 6 feet.
"We have 6 feet of water," said David. "That is what they require. However, for those two days, we will have a 2-foot tide, which means we are looking at an average of 7 feet of water.
"We've been out there with the race referee, the race coordinator and boat owners with a stick. We used a stick to find out how deep it was, not a depth recorder. We know what we have."
To help with safety of personal boats leaving docks behind Casino Row, the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor and the Biloxi Yacht Club, the channel will be closed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the weekend schedule of events.
David, who received the final permit from the Coast Guard this past week, said the event will cost $225,000. Therefore, tickets will range from $10 to $15 for a wristband plus other packages.
"We need to sell T-shirts and wristbands so it will be successful and we can do it again next year," he said. "It will be a great event. We call it NASCAR on the water, upfront and personal. You can't beat it."
The Biloxi race will be the first of a seven-race series that will conclude in November. That means all boats should be in top running shape for the Biloxi race.
04-14-2004, 10:19 AM
#14
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Well at least they are knowledgable about the shallow water. 6 feet should be just enough to keep the canopy of a rolled over supercat off the bottom.
04-14-2004, 10:29 AM
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Originally posted by Ron P
Well at least they are knowledgable about the shallow water. 6 feet should be just enough to keep the canopy of a rolled over supercat off the bottom.
Well at least they are knowledgable about the shallow water. 6 feet should be just enough to keep the canopy of a rolled over supercat off the bottom.
Since you stated above that the depth should be a minimum of 15 feet, I'll put you on the spot.
Would you race a canopied boat on that course?
04-14-2004, 11:04 AM
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Probably so. When a cat flips, like WHM did in KW, it lays flat on top of the water for quite a few minutes before sinking.
I will also add that I was the one that killed the OPA race in the bay. It was only 3 to 4 feet deep and I didn't feel that we could get someone out of a canopy in that depth.
The article stating they checked the depth with a stick indicates they are concerned about the water too.
Like I said, 6 feet would be an absolute minimum, unless everyone had tunnel escape hatches like Reliable and the new WHM.
Lets hope for an uneventful race.
I will also add that I was the one that killed the OPA race in the bay. It was only 3 to 4 feet deep and I didn't feel that we could get someone out of a canopy in that depth.
The article stating they checked the depth with a stick indicates they are concerned about the water too.
Like I said, 6 feet would be an absolute minimum, unless everyone had tunnel escape hatches like Reliable and the new WHM.
Lets hope for an uneventful race.
04-14-2004, 11:59 AM
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It is good to hear that the Biloxi race is drawing so much attention that the owner of a world famous 18 foot Donzi voices his concerns about the water depths.
Folks, that race course has been checked out by the same people you supposedly are concerned about.
This picture shows David, Teague, Welling, Whittier, Richardson, and Hedrick checking out the race course. Mike Tomlinson and Ray Standley also have gone over this race course with a fine tooth comb (and the stick mentioned in the article.)
Folks, that race course has been checked out by the same people you supposedly are concerned about.
This picture shows David, Teague, Welling, Whittier, Richardson, and Hedrick checking out the race course. Mike Tomlinson and Ray Standley also have gone over this race course with a fine tooth comb (and the stick mentioned in the article.)
Last edited by Peconic; 04-14-2004 at 12:06 PM.
