| Nick Doesn't Mind Getting wet Back to news Back to the homepage Drambuie On Ice remains coolest Super Cat By Donald Heath, Savannah Morning News Two days ago, the drivers of powerboat Drambuie On Ice decided against defending their world speed record in the sixth-tenths of a mile Kilo Run. Super Cat Division rival boat Tommy Bahama competed in the spectacle off the Savannah River and set a new mark. But Sunday, Drambuie's Hugh Fuller and John Tomlinson weren't conceding anything when faced with their latest challenge in the Savannah Offshore Grand Prix off Tybee Island's north beach. "I think it was the toughest race we've ever had," said Fuller, after defeating Tommy Bahama and a fleet of three other boats for Drambuie's third win in four outings during the American Power Boat Association racing season. In-Mocean Again (Super Cat Light Inboard), Critical Lift (Super Cat Outboard Triple), Nick Carter Racing Team (Super Vee), Vertical Extreme (Super Vee Light Single), Pier 57/Stainless Marina (Super Vee Light Twin) and Team Donzi (Factory 2) also pulled out victories in their respective divisions. Overall, 34 boats competed in two separate races Sunday, completing the inaugural event in Savannah. The best race of the two-day event may have been the last. The Super Cats are considered by many as powerboating's premier division. The boats cost nearly $500,000, and can produce speeds of nearly 140 mph. Tomlinson said Thursday Drambuie wouldn't compete in the Kilo Run because of the curvature of the river. Drambuie set a world record in 2001 when it ran 139.8 mph at Osage Beach. But specification changes in the division made the mark obsolete. Tommy Bahama jumped at the opportunity to claim the record with a speed of 132.2 mph. Fuller said Tommy Bahama may have been the faster boat Sunday. Fuller, however, grabbed an early lead and positioned the boat to slow the opposition. Throughout much of the action, both Drambuie and Tommy Bahama bounced up and down waves like riders on a rollercoaster. Nearly two-thirds of the way through the 18-lap race on the five-mile course, driver Paul Nemschoff of Tommy Bahama lost control and the boat spun out. "It just got away from me," Nemschoff said. "There was no peach in Georgia today." Earlier in the race, a choppy sea of 3-4 foot waves took its toll in the Super Cat Light Inboard competition. The boat American Racing/Rexhall Motorhomes flipped over right in front of turn No. 6 at the beach, prompting emergency action from divers off a helicopter. The divers quickly got to the boat, freeing driver Brian Schiekle and throttleman Rick Hartman from the upside-down boat. Neither Schiekle nor Hartman were hurt. Some involved with the racing Sunday didn't mind getting wet. Singer Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys sat on the shore, dipping his toes in the ocean while watching his boat Nick Carter Racing Team take the checkered flag for its third win of the season. "I have a hard time watching them race because I don't want to jinx them," Carter said. "To see (the boat) come in (first) is awesome." In-Mocean Again was awesome again as well, winning its third-straight race on the Super Cat Light Inboard circuit. And when the day had ended, throttleman Joey Gratton knew he had spent a day battling the elements. "Right now, I feel like I just got run over by a truck," he said. Sports reporter Donald Heath can be reached at 652-0353 or [email protected]. SUNDAY'S RESULTS Super Cat 1. Drambuie On Ice 2. Tommy Bahama 3. DeSantis Chevrolet/IGA Hometown Wheels 4. WHM Motorsports 5. Baker Engineering/Pro Cam Super Cat Light Inboard 1. In-Mocean Again 2. Liquid Metal 3. Dirty Duck 4. How Sweet It Is 5. American Racing Super Cat Light Outboard Triple 1. Critical Lift 2. Flowmaster 3. Money Shot 4. Snakeman Racing Super Vee 1. Nick Carter Racing Team 2. Phoenix Waste 3. Media Master Super Vee Light Single 1. Vortec/Extreme 2. High Noon Racing 3. Poker Run.com 5. Solarized Super Vee Light Twin 1. Pier 57/Stainless Marina 2. UTZ Quality Foods/Castway 3. Rodriguez Group 4. Lucas Oil GM Scarab/International Offshore Factory 2 1. Team Donzi 2. Herbott Racing For A Cure 3. R&S Offshore Racing 4. Snap-On-Talking Tools 5. Sonic Racing 6. Total Marine Racing 7. Speedwater 8. Harwich Concrete Block/Pier 57 |