This was in "Soundings today". It serves to remind us that all sorts of bad things can happen in an instant. These are two man water jet driven sprint boats on "Field of drams" Ore.
http://www.soundingsonline.com/dispatch ... the-stands
This is a description of the boats: "Using NASCAR style American V-8 power plants, the participants race 13 foot aluminum hulled boats around a small 20-30 turn, water filled 12-18 foot wide track at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. Turning literally on a dime, the driver and navigator can experience anywhere from 3-7 g's per turn. The boats run anything from regular gasoline to methanol racing fuel. The horsepower ranges in these boats from 300 – 1000HP and more."
There is also a reminder that bad things can happen on the water. Twice I have seen pleasure boats along a lake suddenly veer off course and into campsites--one case no one was hurt, another case there was a fatality and injuries. I have also see racing boats in closed courses--like a marine stadium loose control and fly into the crowd--and a number of other times recreational boats loose control and hit breakwaters etc....
One of the most thrilling rides for me was in a modified Formula One racer with Bill Seebold at over 130 mph--but that was on a closed course with a safety capsule in the boat, and rescue divers on the course. I cannot imagine forces in these 13 footers with only a roll cage.
http://www.soundingsonline.com/dispatch ... the-stands
This is a description of the boats: "Using NASCAR style American V-8 power plants, the participants race 13 foot aluminum hulled boats around a small 20-30 turn, water filled 12-18 foot wide track at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. Turning literally on a dime, the driver and navigator can experience anywhere from 3-7 g's per turn. The boats run anything from regular gasoline to methanol racing fuel. The horsepower ranges in these boats from 300 – 1000HP and more."
There is also a reminder that bad things can happen on the water. Twice I have seen pleasure boats along a lake suddenly veer off course and into campsites--one case no one was hurt, another case there was a fatality and injuries. I have also see racing boats in closed courses--like a marine stadium loose control and fly into the crowd--and a number of other times recreational boats loose control and hit breakwaters etc....
One of the most thrilling rides for me was in a modified Formula One racer with Bill Seebold at over 130 mph--but that was on a closed course with a safety capsule in the boat, and rescue divers on the course. I cannot imagine forces in these 13 footers with only a roll cage.