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via The Express
By JIM RUNKLE - jrunkle@lockhaven.com
POSTED: May 20, 2010
LOCK HAVEN - The Lock Haven Area Jaycees, already busy with a full slate of activities this summer, have decided nothing could be more pleasant or rewarding than to scoop up a new chunk of responsibilities on behalf of the community.
The Jaycees, who don't appear to be losing either their enthusiasm or energy for ambitious projects, offered more details of their upcoming and first-ever American Power Boat Association Northeast Divisional Championship June 12 and 13, at Wednesday evening's general membership meeting of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.
The APBA event in Lock Haven will mean that a second outboard boat race is coming to Lock Haven to augment the Labor Day Regatta, and there are plans to make the new race an annual event.
And that means it will be the local Jaycees' busiest season - ever.
Local officials hope it will grow into something to rival the Labor Day weekend races, which have expanded over the years to become the second biggest boat race in the United States, rivaled only by the national tourney.
Jaycees vice president Scott Johnson and president Butch Russell offered some highlights of the history of boat racing in the city, while updating the gathering on plans for the new race.
According to Johnson, the opportunity arose out of new and more restrictive racing regulations in New Jersey.
The event had been hosted by the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association annually, in Lambertville, N.J., and that event included a "J" class for junior racers, a class that exists in Lock Haven. However, the state of New Jersey recently imposed new restrictions on younger boat riders, making the class obsolete in the Lambertville event.
When the New Jersey race started experiencing low turnout and financial losses, racers and their representatives immediately looked to Lock Haven, Johnson said.
The new rules require all boaters be at least 16 years of age to operate a boat, along with the completion of a boating safety course.
Johnson said the DVORA hopes to bring between 150 to 175 boats to the initial June event, with plans for it to grow in future years.
Winners in the new race will qualify for a spot in the Summer Nationals to be held in Oroville, Calif., Aug. 9 through 14. The race will include the same type of boats as the Labor Day events, stocks and modifieds in the same six categories, and will operate in the same manner as Labor Day except for the exclusion of racing on Sunday.
Water Street will be closed from Jay Street to Henderson Street from Friday, June 11 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, June 13, at 10 p.m.
Opening ceremonies will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. and the races will continue until 6 or 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The event will also include some traditional Labor Day fare including hot sausage, pizza, meatball sandwiches and the like, and other nonprofit agencies will be serving up the festival foods.
There will also be an arts and crafts display and flea market vendors lining Water Street.
The band Facedown will provide entertainment from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
As to why Lock Haven was chosen, Johnson noted the boaters have frequently commented on the quality of racing on the Susquehanna River at Lock Haven, and the spacious J. Doyle Corman Amphitheatre, which provides a huge venue for spectators, something often lacking in other locations.
By JIM RUNKLE - jrunkle@lockhaven.com
POSTED: May 20, 2010
LOCK HAVEN - The Lock Haven Area Jaycees, already busy with a full slate of activities this summer, have decided nothing could be more pleasant or rewarding than to scoop up a new chunk of responsibilities on behalf of the community.
The Jaycees, who don't appear to be losing either their enthusiasm or energy for ambitious projects, offered more details of their upcoming and first-ever American Power Boat Association Northeast Divisional Championship June 12 and 13, at Wednesday evening's general membership meeting of the Clinton County Economic Partnership.
The APBA event in Lock Haven will mean that a second outboard boat race is coming to Lock Haven to augment the Labor Day Regatta, and there are plans to make the new race an annual event.
And that means it will be the local Jaycees' busiest season - ever.
Local officials hope it will grow into something to rival the Labor Day weekend races, which have expanded over the years to become the second biggest boat race in the United States, rivaled only by the national tourney.
Jaycees vice president Scott Johnson and president Butch Russell offered some highlights of the history of boat racing in the city, while updating the gathering on plans for the new race.
According to Johnson, the opportunity arose out of new and more restrictive racing regulations in New Jersey.
The event had been hosted by the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association annually, in Lambertville, N.J., and that event included a "J" class for junior racers, a class that exists in Lock Haven. However, the state of New Jersey recently imposed new restrictions on younger boat riders, making the class obsolete in the Lambertville event.
When the New Jersey race started experiencing low turnout and financial losses, racers and their representatives immediately looked to Lock Haven, Johnson said.
The new rules require all boaters be at least 16 years of age to operate a boat, along with the completion of a boating safety course.
Johnson said the DVORA hopes to bring between 150 to 175 boats to the initial June event, with plans for it to grow in future years.
Winners in the new race will qualify for a spot in the Summer Nationals to be held in Oroville, Calif., Aug. 9 through 14. The race will include the same type of boats as the Labor Day events, stocks and modifieds in the same six categories, and will operate in the same manner as Labor Day except for the exclusion of racing on Sunday.
Water Street will be closed from Jay Street to Henderson Street from Friday, June 11 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, June 13, at 10 p.m.
Opening ceremonies will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. and the races will continue until 6 or 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The event will also include some traditional Labor Day fare including hot sausage, pizza, meatball sandwiches and the like, and other nonprofit agencies will be serving up the festival foods.
There will also be an arts and crafts display and flea market vendors lining Water Street.
The band Facedown will provide entertainment from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
As to why Lock Haven was chosen, Johnson noted the boaters have frequently commented on the quality of racing on the Susquehanna River at Lock Haven, and the spacious J. Doyle Corman Amphitheatre, which provides a huge venue for spectators, something often lacking in other locations.
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