ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER:

15th Annual Augusta Southern Nationals

words and photos by Ian Tocher

BOAT RACE WASHED OUT
There's no such thing as an oildown and, unless it floats, there's never debris on the track, but even drag boat racers have to call it a day when the skies open up. That's what happened July 23, at the 15th annual Augusta Southern Nationals on the Savannah River. Shortly after the four-boat Top Fuel Hydro field made its semi-final passes about 5 p.m., the rains came, lasted more than two hours, and forced officials to call the race with darkness approaching.

John Haas (above photo) was crowned T/F champion thanks to his 5.516-second pass at 222.967 mph during the semis in his Roger Way Racing entry.

"It left a little soft with the propeller spinning real fast, but it grabbed hold about half track and really started barking," Haas recalled. "The boys gave me a real weapon that time."

Four-year class veteran John Andreae finished runner-up to Haas after his engine blew the manifold burst panel out almost immediately upon launching. It was an especially disappointing outing for the Californian since the rain spoiled plans to put in a fresh motor "with lots more horsepower" for the final round.

HEAVY HITTERS MISSING
Move over CART vs. IRL. Many of the drag boat world's biggest draws opted out of the Augusta race, at least partially due to an ongoing rift between the National Drag Boat Association, which sanctions the Southern Nats, and the upstart International Hot Boat Association. Despite a record 126 entries for all classes this year, only five boats showed up in Augusta to contest the Top Fuel race, down from the still-modest seven entries of 1999.

Current IHBA Top Fuel points leader Greg Tedesco, last year's IHBA champ and 1999 Augusta runner-up Shannon Stewart, and veteran Ron Braaksma passed on the event. Only Andreae (currently second in IHBA points), and ninth-place rookie Price represented the IHBA's top-ten on the Savannah River.

"It'd be a lot better event if there were more boats here; it'd be way, way better for the spectators," Andreae admitted. "It's really unfortunate that [the sanctioning bodies] can't get it together and make it happen."

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