Crazy Chicken in the News
01-29-2007, 11:42 AM
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Crazy Chicken in the News
Waynesville’s Crazy Chickens are the reigning champs of the ocean
by Josh Boatwright, [email protected]
published January 29, 2007 12:15 am
WAYNESVILLE — Powerboat racers from as far away as China and Australia come to Key West, Fla., each November hoping to leave as a world champion. But the victor the past two years is a lifelong resident of Waynesville.
AdvertisementTru Rest mattress store owner Dee Early grew up skiing at his uncle’s lake house on Fontana. Now he speeds past throngs of people on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at 75 mph, a NASCAR driver on the water.
His Crazy Chicken team has been featured in multiple offshore racing magazines, and his races have been televised nationwide. He has mingled with movie stars. In four years racing boats, the mountain resident has taken home as many national and world titles.
“When I tell people I’m from the mountains of North Carolina they say, ‘How did you get involved in offshore?” Early said.
Early said he always had a love for the water, but his introduction to racing happened unexpectedly a few years ago at Georgia’s Lake Lanier when his boat had a glitch.
He got water in his fuel line and a fellow boater offered to help him fix it. The man turned out to be a throttle man for a professional offshore racing team called Sunsations. He would later invite Early to test drive his boat and join him at races.
When the wife of the boat’s driver decided she didn’t want him racing anymore, Early took over the wheel in 2002.
He won his first two races, placing first in the national competition that year then finishing second at the world championship.
Crazy Chicken
Many of Early’s big victories came after 2005 when he formed the Crazy Chicken team.
Crazy Chicken placed second in the 2005 national competition, then first in the world contest for P5 class powerboats, that is, boats that run up to 75 miles per hour. In 2006, the team took the national and world titles.
Early named the team after a friend and crewman whom he said is notorious for joking around and acting “like a chicken with his head cut off.” Now Early and crew sport chicken hats at races, and their boat and trailer all feature the mascot dressed in a cape and cap. The name has been a hit, drawing lots of fan comments and twice as much attention on television as they got under previous identities, he said.
The fame is something Early never expected.
“When you go to the grocery store … and someone says they’ve seen you on TV, that’s pretty wild,” he said.
During a race in Miami, Early met actors Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx while shooting scenes featuring powerboats for the 2005 film “Miami Vice.” At this year’s Super Bowl, he will escort NFL players in his boat before enjoying complimentary tickets to the game (he’s never been).
As powerboat racing has grown in popularity, Early has gained sponsorship from companies like Panasonic and Sunoco. Fox Sports Channel, Outdoor Live and the Speed Channel will televise many of Early’s races in the coming season, he said.
A likable guy
Early attributes his success as a rookie driver to a team of veterans, praising people like his current throttle man Al Culbertson for helping him excel to world champion status.
Culbertson, a Maryland resident and hall of fame racer, joined Crazy Chicken last year after striking up a friendship with Early. He said his teammate is easy to work with, always willing to listen to direction and react to changing situations during a race.
He said a driver from the mountains is an oddity in the world of offshore racing.
More than anything else, Culbertson said Early is a likable guy.
“He’s just a good old boy who’s into boat racing — that’s kind of rare,” he said.
In spite of the long drives to the coast almost every month for races and long hours at his day job to make up for lost time, Early doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon. He said he is enjoying the best of both worlds living in Waynesville and racing on the coast.
“Mountains during the week and oceans on the weekend — its kind of spoiling me,” he said.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pb...D=200770128019
by Josh Boatwright, [email protected]
published January 29, 2007 12:15 am
WAYNESVILLE — Powerboat racers from as far away as China and Australia come to Key West, Fla., each November hoping to leave as a world champion. But the victor the past two years is a lifelong resident of Waynesville.
AdvertisementTru Rest mattress store owner Dee Early grew up skiing at his uncle’s lake house on Fontana. Now he speeds past throngs of people on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at 75 mph, a NASCAR driver on the water.
His Crazy Chicken team has been featured in multiple offshore racing magazines, and his races have been televised nationwide. He has mingled with movie stars. In four years racing boats, the mountain resident has taken home as many national and world titles.
“When I tell people I’m from the mountains of North Carolina they say, ‘How did you get involved in offshore?” Early said.
Early said he always had a love for the water, but his introduction to racing happened unexpectedly a few years ago at Georgia’s Lake Lanier when his boat had a glitch.
He got water in his fuel line and a fellow boater offered to help him fix it. The man turned out to be a throttle man for a professional offshore racing team called Sunsations. He would later invite Early to test drive his boat and join him at races.
When the wife of the boat’s driver decided she didn’t want him racing anymore, Early took over the wheel in 2002.
He won his first two races, placing first in the national competition that year then finishing second at the world championship.
Crazy Chicken
Many of Early’s big victories came after 2005 when he formed the Crazy Chicken team.
Crazy Chicken placed second in the 2005 national competition, then first in the world contest for P5 class powerboats, that is, boats that run up to 75 miles per hour. In 2006, the team took the national and world titles.
Early named the team after a friend and crewman whom he said is notorious for joking around and acting “like a chicken with his head cut off.” Now Early and crew sport chicken hats at races, and their boat and trailer all feature the mascot dressed in a cape and cap. The name has been a hit, drawing lots of fan comments and twice as much attention on television as they got under previous identities, he said.
The fame is something Early never expected.
“When you go to the grocery store … and someone says they’ve seen you on TV, that’s pretty wild,” he said.
During a race in Miami, Early met actors Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx while shooting scenes featuring powerboats for the 2005 film “Miami Vice.” At this year’s Super Bowl, he will escort NFL players in his boat before enjoying complimentary tickets to the game (he’s never been).
As powerboat racing has grown in popularity, Early has gained sponsorship from companies like Panasonic and Sunoco. Fox Sports Channel, Outdoor Live and the Speed Channel will televise many of Early’s races in the coming season, he said.
A likable guy
Early attributes his success as a rookie driver to a team of veterans, praising people like his current throttle man Al Culbertson for helping him excel to world champion status.
Culbertson, a Maryland resident and hall of fame racer, joined Crazy Chicken last year after striking up a friendship with Early. He said his teammate is easy to work with, always willing to listen to direction and react to changing situations during a race.
He said a driver from the mountains is an oddity in the world of offshore racing.
More than anything else, Culbertson said Early is a likable guy.
“He’s just a good old boy who’s into boat racing — that’s kind of rare,” he said.
In spite of the long drives to the coast almost every month for races and long hours at his day job to make up for lost time, Early doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon. He said he is enjoying the best of both worlds living in Waynesville and racing on the coast.
“Mountains during the week and oceans on the weekend — its kind of spoiling me,” he said.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pb...D=200770128019
01-29-2007, 07:19 PM
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Re: Crazy Chicken in the News
75 mph?!? Now I know how he does it! The rest of us in P5 are only limited to 72 mph! 
In all seriousness, Dee and his crew have come a long way in a short time. They're great racers, great competitors and great friends.
Sean
In all seriousness, Dee and his crew have come a long way in a short time. They're great racers, great competitors and great friends.
Sean
01-29-2007, 07:25 PM
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Re: Crazy Chicken in the News
That Chicken guy delivered me a new mattress and box spring Friday night! Those of you that didn't know it Dee owns a mattress mfg business. He's built me custom memory foam mattress's for every bed I own , even my houseboat! Dee has done well in that Joker hull! Good job and the new bed is awesome!
