Thousands of fans lined the banks of the Marion County Park to enjoy the annual Outboard Drag Boat Association World Championships on Oct. 10, 11, 12.
“The turnout was good considering the economy right now. We had roughly 70 boats participate, which is down from last year’s record of 100 boats,” Jasper Jaycees President Wayne Quarles said. “But that’s still double the number of any other outboard motor event.”
One of the most talked about events of the day was an unfortunate boat crash occurring around 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
According to Quarles, the driver had just come through the finish line and as he let off the throttle his front right nose caught a wave. Usually when this happens, the driver lays back on the throttle sending the boat into a washout or 360, said Quarles. However this time, the boat didn’t washout but drove straight into the rocks along the bank.
“The driver was fine, just a little stove up. The ODBA has a great