No helmets, no pickles, "long tails"

[ram95]

Want to see some strange racing? Get on to you tube and type in

Power Boat Hydroplane Racing Longtails in Thailand

Then scroll it over to the 5 minute 13 second portion and take a look at the engine this guy has.. looks like it came out of a Toyata truck or something. These things get over 100 mph.

No helmet, no kevlars, no goggles, no life jacket... holy crap!! Looks like it's just two boats(?) at a time straightaway in front of the crowd on hot days - it's always hot in Thailand.

Alex

[Blackhawkguy]

yup

And their having a frigging ball, not liability problems, no law suites, just plain you screw up and get hurt your problem. I was in Bulgaria and they were having a road race-just shut down one side of the highway, use the on off ramps no fencing, no waivers to sign to be in the pits, crazy stuff.

Step back in time about 50 years to do that here.

Kerry

[BillCNC]

I've seen surfboards that big.

[indyracer87]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDSKj...eature=related

That does not look like much fun. It's amazing the drivers don't get catapulted backward out of their boats.

[ram95]

No fun - we can fix that

That does not look like much fun. It's amazing the drivers don't get catapulted backward out of their boats.

Yeah... I agree... those guys look miserable. They are probably being forced to do that by their government. I'm going to send them some pages I've ripped out of my old 2010 APBA rule book..... you know... General Safety Rules!!

That ought to help them. Especially the part about NO DOT helmets so they don't make that mistake. And, pickles too.

Maybe they'll start to really have some fun then.

[joejohn44]

Alex, You're a HOOT!!

[Merc1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiuTF...ture=endscreen

These things are insane!

[runabout333]

Pretty cool,, But I like the South American Runabout Races better.
Can someone please post some of that????

[jeff55v]

Pretty cool,, But I like the South American Runabout Races better.
Can someone please post some of that????

A race clip by my friend Nelson Yela, in Ecuador South America:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULmd-jCLIv8&sns=em

In Ecuador, they require a helmet and life jacket, no specs on the color or quality of either. No Kevlar, and no eye protection. Because of a recent accident in which a man lost an arm, they will begin this year to require landyard kill switches.

[runabout333]

Thanks!!!! Jeff!!!!! That American!!! Just further south...

[nelson yela]

Hi Jeff. hydroracer friends the following video, rubabuot's career is pure adrenaline in Ecuador.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrlgo...hs1eA&index=19