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VIDEO: 30th Annual Augusta Southern Nationals wraps up Sunday
- By Tyler Speer
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- 18 Jul, 2016
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- It’s Augusta’s less-known tradition unlike any other– Augusta Southern Nationals drag boat race. To drivers, it’s one of the crown jewels of their sport.
“You could probably compare it close to the Masters because it’s one of the races that’s been around for so long,” said driver Tyler Speer.
Most competitors come from the West Coast, and about a third of spectators come from out of town to watch boats go more than 250 mph.
“When you [are] here, I mean you can feel it,” said spectator Jerome Berry. “You can smell the fumes from the boat, you know..it’s just all the way live.”
The “world’s richest drag boat race” offers more than $140,000 in prize money. It’s also a financial boost for the Garden City. The influx of people is expected to add about $5 million to the economy. This year hasn’t had a huge turnout for competitors, though.
“There’s probably 75 to 90 boats here,” Speer said. “They typically have 100 to 120.”
The crowd wasn’t diminished Sunday. Officials estimate that 25,000 people come every year.
Jerome Berry has been coming for about a decade.
“It’s a mixture of spectators,” he said. “We have a bunch of people to the left of us, and they’re all from out of town.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the race has become a family affair spanning generations– especially for the Speer family.
“My dad was in this in the ’80s,” 25-year-old Tyler Speer said. “He actually won the first race that was here–that was 30 years ago. So it’s pretty cool.”
Now, father and son are both competing, but not in the same division.
Despite weather setbacks earlier this weekend, families say the 30th Augusta Southern Nationals, delivered the exciting experience, as participants or spectators, that brings them back year after year.
The proceeds from this weekend benefit the Georgia Special Olympics.
Article Source: WJBF Channel 6 by Anne Maxwell
“You could probably compare it close to the Masters because it’s one of the races that’s been around for so long,” said driver Tyler Speer.
Most competitors come from the West Coast, and about a third of spectators come from out of town to watch boats go more than 250 mph.
“When you [are] here, I mean you can feel it,” said spectator Jerome Berry. “You can smell the fumes from the boat, you know..it’s just all the way live.”
The “world’s richest drag boat race” offers more than $140,000 in prize money. It’s also a financial boost for the Garden City. The influx of people is expected to add about $5 million to the economy. This year hasn’t had a huge turnout for competitors, though.
“There’s probably 75 to 90 boats here,” Speer said. “They typically have 100 to 120.”
The crowd wasn’t diminished Sunday. Officials estimate that 25,000 people come every year.
Jerome Berry has been coming for about a decade.
“It’s a mixture of spectators,” he said. “We have a bunch of people to the left of us, and they’re all from out of town.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the race has become a family affair spanning generations– especially for the Speer family.
“My dad was in this in the ’80s,” 25-year-old Tyler Speer said. “He actually won the first race that was here–that was 30 years ago. So it’s pretty cool.”
Now, father and son are both competing, but not in the same division.
Despite weather setbacks earlier this weekend, families say the 30th Augusta Southern Nationals, delivered the exciting experience, as participants or spectators, that brings them back year after year.
The proceeds from this weekend benefit the Georgia Special Olympics.
Article Source: WJBF Channel 6 by Anne Maxwell