Blarney Island Racing Information

[Sam Baker]

Went for a boat ride last night and stopped into Port o' Blarney and talked to John Haley. Here's what's going on for this year's race season:

1. First race is next Thursday (May 31) and weigh in is going to be the following SATURDAY (June 2) from 10am-2pm at the Port. Reminder - show up with your gas tanks empty.

2. Rule changes. Not much. 280s will weigh the same as 260s now instead of weighing 50 lbs. less. Individual bolt-on parts will each get an add-on weight instead of the way it was in the past with bolt-on "packages" having to add 50 pounds, etc. The rules will be posted on the blarneyisland.com website soon. However, what was legal last year is legal this year so no changes are necessary it sounded like.

3. He's got new insurance which will actually provide $3,000 in medical insurance for the driver (with a $500 deductible). That's a great benefit....just in case something happens.

4. There will be no boats on the outside of the course this year and the course will be moved out slightly to provide more room for all the boats that will be between the island and the race course. Length of the course will remain the same.

I think that was about it. Looking forward to another fun season of hanging out at the island.

[WARLOCK]

Not that it really matters for me personally...but where are all those boats going to park? Its already hard enough to watch. Probably trying to get more boats on the Island (revenue). I'm glad I have my spot, those things are going to be gold next year. But I'm sure we'll pay for it. Thanks Sam, Later, Dave

[Sam Baker]

He said they're moving the course further out....I don't know how much further out. Maybe they'll start auctioning off pier spaces on the spot! :D

[klem]

Any rumors on who is bringing new boats this year and what classes they are racing? Are V8's allowed to run in unlimited outboard class again? Any information would be appreciated. Tom

[Ron V]

Well, #4 sucks for the spectators. The side of the course near the island is enough of a zoo already. I rarely anchor on that side. Even if there is more room, if they double the number of boats on that side of the course you mark my words there is going to be trouble. Too many first time boat owner hotheads come out from south Halsted Street and try to force their 30'+ boats through the crowd. Then they anchor in a muck bottom with a 7 lb. chene anchor and 5' of chain because it's what the guy at West Marine told them they needed. It's a real pain in the ass for those of us in smaller boats and being able to anchor on the north side of the course helped ease that pain at least a little bit.

Then again if they'd add a fishing motor class and allow a ski vest and no helmet, I'd tie up in the pits. :D

[Sam Baker]

Tie up there anyway and pay the $20 - it's probably a better deal!

Tom, I'm going to run my little fishing motor in Lake Racer, but I don't think I'll stand much of a chance. Just nice to get out there and make it run as fast as I can. I might catch somebody sleeping at the line or I can hope for strong winds and see if I can out drive them. :D

Where were you at Poplar Bluff? Are you going to bring the STV down to Creve Coeur? We had a BLAST in River Racer - hopefully you'll make it to the rest of the races.

[H.WOOD187]

I'm thinking the crash last season is probably the reason they aren't going to let the boats park trackside with the xtra $$$ as a perk to boot. Don't hold me to this, but as I understand it, Blarneys and Dawn split the cost for the damage on the spectator boat. Isn't the insurance supposed to cover that?

HOLLYWOOD

[Sam Baker]

It's possible they split the cost of the deductible. I know on a lot of these policies, they have pretty high deductibles - $5000 to $10,000 dollars, so if the boat's worth $7500, the insurance may not even pay for it. The liability policies are really there for the tragic events (deaths, etc.) where there might be Million dollar lawsuits, etc. So, they definitely would have had to pay a deductible. Also, like a car policy, sometimes it's better to just pay for the damage than to file a claim because you could be dropped or have your rates jacked up more than the damage costs.

[Ron V]

I only made it there a couple times last season and never knew there was any kind of mishap. What happened?

[Sam Baker]

Dawn Singleton drove her ProMod hydro into the outside grouping of boats.