As odd as it may sound, beautiful weather doesn't necessarily equal ideal power-boat racing conditions.
The Carolina-Virginia Racing Association hosted 2008 Wilson Outboard Regatta, which served as the American Power Boat Association Outboard Division Southeast Divisional championships this weekend at Buckhorn Lake. But windy conditions postponed Saturday's action and forced double duty Sunday.
"It's just too choppy and dangerous today," veteran racer John Runne said Saturday afternoon. "We're going to try and get some heats in this afternoon if it calms down."
The winds never calmed enough however, pushing all the races back to Sunday.
Racers ranging in age from 9 to 70 competed at Buckhorn for the third straight year overall and the second time as host of the Southeast Divisionals, with a boost from Wilson County Tourism Development Authority.
Drivers raced hydroplane and runabout models in Stock Outboard, Modified Outboard and Junior Class divisions with classes separated by horsepower and weight. Some of the boats can exceed speeds of 80 mph.
Winners are normally determined by the best combined times of two heats over a mile-long, three-lap course. However, after losing Saturday to the wind, race officials cut Sunday's competition to just one heat.
"It was kind of a winner-take-all," Runne said.
The event drew racers from up and down the East Coast vying for points that would help them climb in the national APBA standings.
Sunday's big winner was Abby Pond of Midlothian, Va. The 24-year-old emerged victorious in the A-Stock Hydro division's 11-boat field, giving her an automatic bid for the national competition in Whitney Point, N.Y., in August.
Pond has placed in nationals before, but Sunday marked her first divisional win. It was a special victory for the Pond family as Abby's brother Travis was also a Southeast Divisional winner in the spring of 2006 at Buckhorn. Travis Pond died in an automobile accident in the fall of the same year.
"He was a great racer," Abby Pond said of her brother. "But it's great (to win). There's a lot of people that are fast and it could have gone a lot of different ways. It takes a little bit of luck too."
Racers of all ages and experience levels were competing. Eleven-year-old Becky Nichols placed third in the ASX J-Class Hydro. Nichols, a fourth generation driver, already has two years of experience under her belt and is the national points leader in the J-Class Hydro division.
Nichols, of Port St. John, Fla., still prefers the runabout competition despite her success with hydroplane boats.
"I like the runabout because it challenges you and bounces you around," she said.
For others, points and standings were of no concern.
Tom Burwinkle from Kingston, Tenn., made the eight-hour drive to Buckhorn to finish dead last in both the Modified and Super Stock Hydro divisions he entered.
"Nobody challenged me for last," Burwinkle said with a laugh. "I've still got a lot to learn but I'm just out here to have fun and for the thrill of squeezing the throttle."
Annette and Rodney Glover of Rock Ridge brought their daughter Haley and her friends to the race. The Glovers are NASCAR fans and said that power-boat racing was an exciting alternative that a lot of race fans would enjoy.
"It's cool and just a really, really nice event that's good, clean fun for the whole family," Annette Glover said. "They need to put the lake to good use with more things like this."
bhowell@wilsontimes.com | 265-7879