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By Paul Durham
Assistant Sports Editor
Wilsondaily.com
David Riser was a little wetter than he hoped he would be after his heat in the Wilson Outboard Regatta power boat race at Buckhorn Lake on Saturday.
Riser and his craft spilled during the third turn on the one-mile course during the second heat of the C Stock Hydro Class.
"These things, sometimes, when they go in a corner like that they catch a wave and it's tough to stay even," the 48-year-old employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta said. "Usually your body weight goes to the outside which makes the boat spin around and turn over."
Riser was one of 25 racers who converged on Buckhorn for the American Power Boat Association-sanctioned event. Unlike a year ago, when more than 150 entries were on hand for the Southeast Divisionals Championships, the turnout was smaller.
Only six classes — all hydroplanes and no runabouts — raced on Saturday and Sunday with about 45 entries in all in the event that was hosted by the Carolina-Virginia Racing Association.
"Things went very smoothly," Regatta co-director Dennis Burke of Beaufort said after Saturday's races. "We were very relaxed because we weren't pressed for time."
That slower pace allowed Riser to take his time getting his boat ready for another run.
"(You) pull the spark plug, get the water out of the cylinders, drain the gas tank, get all the water out of the gas, then just dry things off," he said, explaining the procedure. "Once I get the tank drained, I'll start it back up."
Riser missed the end of one of the best heats of the day.
Eric Peterson of Ridge, N.Y., was able to hold off New Bern's John Runne, the 2006 national points champion in C Stock Hydro.
"It was a great race," said a grinning Runne.
Runne, who builds boats under the Runne Craft banner, served as Burke's co-director.
Peterson, who was at Buckhorn last spring, said he liked the facility.
"There's a lot of beach for the pit area," said the 28-year-old, who prevailed against 10 other boats in Saturday's C Stock Hydro Class.
Fourteen-year-old James Luce of Long Island, N.Y. was happy to beat Bowie, Md.'s Valerie D'Agostino, the defending A Stock Hydro national champion in that class and the A X Stock Hydro divison.
"I think I beat her once before," said Luce, the 2006 J Stock Hydro national champ.
D'Agostino, a freshman at University of North Carolina - Wilmington, returned to Buckhorn with her dad, Matt, who easily won his 20 Super Stock Hydro Class.
"We did a little more work over the winter, put in a couple of propellers and, as of now, we're going to be tough to beat," said the elder D'Agostino, the holder of 10 national championships.
The other winners Saturday were Dick Willard in C Modified Hydro and Steve Dunn in Formula E Hydro.
The Regatta drew a modest turnout of interested spectators from the area, including nearby resident Jeff Lucas, who brought along a younger friend, Spencer Lyndon, age 12.
"I'm just trying to support Buckhorn and bring my buddy here out to see the boats," Lucas said. "He's never been before.
"I like it. We've just gotten here but so far, so good. We're looking forward to the faster boats."
Lucas said he was a racing fan but that usually took him to asphalt tracks and not lakes.
"I go to Southern National (Raceway Park) right much and used to go to NASCAR pretty often," he said. "We just wanted to come out and see what it's all about."
Lyndon, who plays Midget League football, assured he would return to Buckhorn next year after getting his first taste of power boat racing.
Burke said the event would return in 2008 as another Divisionals race, assuring a bigger crowd of racers.
"The only thing we'll try to do is get more boats in there," he said.
paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808
Assistant Sports Editor
Wilsondaily.com
David Riser was a little wetter than he hoped he would be after his heat in the Wilson Outboard Regatta power boat race at Buckhorn Lake on Saturday.
Riser and his craft spilled during the third turn on the one-mile course during the second heat of the C Stock Hydro Class.
"These things, sometimes, when they go in a corner like that they catch a wave and it's tough to stay even," the 48-year-old employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta said. "Usually your body weight goes to the outside which makes the boat spin around and turn over."
Riser was one of 25 racers who converged on Buckhorn for the American Power Boat Association-sanctioned event. Unlike a year ago, when more than 150 entries were on hand for the Southeast Divisionals Championships, the turnout was smaller.
Only six classes — all hydroplanes and no runabouts — raced on Saturday and Sunday with about 45 entries in all in the event that was hosted by the Carolina-Virginia Racing Association.
"Things went very smoothly," Regatta co-director Dennis Burke of Beaufort said after Saturday's races. "We were very relaxed because we weren't pressed for time."
That slower pace allowed Riser to take his time getting his boat ready for another run.
"(You) pull the spark plug, get the water out of the cylinders, drain the gas tank, get all the water out of the gas, then just dry things off," he said, explaining the procedure. "Once I get the tank drained, I'll start it back up."
Riser missed the end of one of the best heats of the day.
Eric Peterson of Ridge, N.Y., was able to hold off New Bern's John Runne, the 2006 national points champion in C Stock Hydro.
"It was a great race," said a grinning Runne.
Runne, who builds boats under the Runne Craft banner, served as Burke's co-director.
Peterson, who was at Buckhorn last spring, said he liked the facility.
"There's a lot of beach for the pit area," said the 28-year-old, who prevailed against 10 other boats in Saturday's C Stock Hydro Class.
Fourteen-year-old James Luce of Long Island, N.Y. was happy to beat Bowie, Md.'s Valerie D'Agostino, the defending A Stock Hydro national champion in that class and the A X Stock Hydro divison.
"I think I beat her once before," said Luce, the 2006 J Stock Hydro national champ.
D'Agostino, a freshman at University of North Carolina - Wilmington, returned to Buckhorn with her dad, Matt, who easily won his 20 Super Stock Hydro Class.
"We did a little more work over the winter, put in a couple of propellers and, as of now, we're going to be tough to beat," said the elder D'Agostino, the holder of 10 national championships.
The other winners Saturday were Dick Willard in C Modified Hydro and Steve Dunn in Formula E Hydro.
The Regatta drew a modest turnout of interested spectators from the area, including nearby resident Jeff Lucas, who brought along a younger friend, Spencer Lyndon, age 12.
"I'm just trying to support Buckhorn and bring my buddy here out to see the boats," Lucas said. "He's never been before.
"I like it. We've just gotten here but so far, so good. We're looking forward to the faster boats."
Lucas said he was a racing fan but that usually took him to asphalt tracks and not lakes.
"I go to Southern National (Raceway Park) right much and used to go to NASCAR pretty often," he said. "We just wanted to come out and see what it's all about."
Lyndon, who plays Midget League football, assured he would return to Buckhorn next year after getting his first taste of power boat racing.
Burke said the event would return in 2008 as another Divisionals race, assuring a bigger crowd of racers.
"The only thing we'll try to do is get more boats in there," he said.
paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808
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