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ONE OF THE MOST DISAPPOINTING RACE MEETS IN YEARS
17th August 2009. By Glen Laundy.
It was an emotional day at the North Arm on BAD Boat Sunday. Being one of the most anticipated events since the 2007 World Cup, the outcome of this meeting has left every person that entered the gate disappointed.
The spectacle of an 'All American' race team challenging the best Australia has to offer was certain to be an event in it's own right and if it all played out in front of the Fox Sports camera crews as planned then the BAD Boat SHOWDOWN would have paid dividends to the sport and the Adelaide Speedboat Club.
You can't help the weather, and sometimes you can't help bad luck. Two out of two attempts to run the Jeff Thompson Memorial has failed, but that's not to say it failed because of a lack of support.
The efforts of stakeholders in the Showdown has been incredible. Both organisers and race teams alike have put all they could into creating an event that was intended to raise the profile of blown alcohol displacement racing.
The support both locally and interstate for this event is certainly one of the biggest positives to come from the event. The crowd at Saturday's practice included over 500 race fans from all over the country, not to mention renowned race drivers who weren't competing such as Frank Lenzi, Paul Madill, Tony Walsh, Craig Bailey and Chris Palmer.
To say the wider boat racing community was right behind this one could be called an understatement. Everyone wanted to see this one succeed.
A special mention must be made to the one person who made it all happen - Mark Palazzo.
Spare a thought for Mark who had literally worked tirelessly day and night towards this event and put every ounce of his faith behind investing in the sport.
Having the event slip away because of factors that are uncontrollable effects us all in the same way but Mark would be feeling pretty down at the moment.
There are still positives Mark and others can take from this event, not only the support from the boat racing fraternity but also the response from the general public who came to enjoy the BAD brand of racing.
Positives from the competition itself are no engine hurts bar Liberty. All B.A.D boats were running strong and fast to say the least. Each boat seems to be improving at each showing, both local and interstate. Race teams are a credit to the sport and a credit to themselves.
Let's hope Tony Scarlata and Dave Rankin can come to challenge the likes of John Cross and Trevor Stanley at the next Showdown.
Thanks to all the sponsors, competitors, organisers, officials and spectators who showed their support and may the next event at the North Arm be blessed with better conditions.
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