LAKEPORT, California -- Round two of the "Goofy Boat Races" at the Lakeport Speedway entertained a full house with 15 teams towing boats in the wrong direction around a wet race track which resulted in a complete "eve of destruction." And when it was all over, the race fans chose Nick Rhodes and his crew of four from Clearlake as the $250 winners with David Furia of Kelseyville a $150 second and Lucerne’s Bob Strauss in third for $100.
The boat races followed the regular auto racing program Saturday night, and unlike the race cars that drive around the oval in a counter-clockwise direction, the boat races turned around for a continuous right-hand turn. The race track was wetted down with soapy water and soaker hoses on both straight-a-ways, and along with the big infield tower sprinkler, it kept the track wet and slimy.
The crowd was shocked when Aaron Hicks drove his number 9 modified out on the track with boat in tow, but this was only a joke to scare his sponsor, Corky Pricer. After several hot laps, Hicks drove back into the pits and gave the "9 to 5" boat to his son, Colby, who was driving his number 5 L.A. Cruiser.
When the green flag dropped, cars and boats went everywhere as the purpose of the event was to dislodge the other guys boat and do as much damage as possible. Paul Lauenroth and Jimmy Sorrels were the first to spin in front of the crowd as their competitors were hunting for prey. Codi Barba was next to spin her after being hit hard by George Riehl. Robert Byer’s boat came off and sat at mid track as Rhodes lost control and drove his rig into the turn four wall. As Rhodes was a sitting duck, Riehl came along and slung his boat 90 degrees into Rhodes.
Rhodes finally broke loose, and by this time several boats were scattered all around the oval. Rhodes t-boned two deserted boats at once and ended up inside one boat with another attached to his rear. Rhodes drove slowly into the infield.
Riehl was not done with Rhodes, though, and drove into the infield, rammed both of Rhodes boats, setting him free to continue the race with his hood in the air.
Mike Smithhart lost his boat, but when Jimmy Sorrels had his boat knocked off, Smithhart picked it up with the front of his cruiser and continued on pushing his way around the track. Strauss lost his boat in three stages with the final blow coming from Buddy Silva. The Ronnie/Derrick Crayford team spun in turn one and sat in the middle of the track with cars going around both high and low with each pass.
David Furia was the quickest of the teams and hit every boat on the track, but the winning move came when Rhodes slammed hard through a boat and his car caught on fire. He and crew sailed out of the car as the charging pack was headed their way. The event was red-checkered at this point with 24 laps completed. Six cars had boats, or pieces of boats, still attached and it was the fan’s applause that gave Rhodes the win and the $250.
Furia beat Strauss in applause for second. Finishing fourth through sixth with boat in tow were Codi Barba, Smithhart and Paul Lauenroth. Seventh through 15 went to Reihl, Jon Waner, Rick Bryant, Sylva, Byers, Kyle Medina, Sorrels, Crayford and Hicks.
The final boat race of 2005 will be held on September 17 as a part of the Marlene Baker Memorial, Bomber Bash #10.
Main Event "A"_ Nick Rhodes, David Furia, Bob Strauss, Codi Barba, Mike Smithhart, Paul Lauenroth, George Riehl, Jon Waner, Rick Bryant, Buddy Silva, Robert Byers, Kyle Medina, Jimmy Sorrels, Ronnie Crayford, Colby Hicks.
