HydroDrag Fall Nationals Wraps 2009 Series

Duke Zorn claims Unlimited win at Fall National

Blustery weather was on tap for this past weekend’s RIVA Racing HydroDrag Fall Nationals, but competitors quickly showed the real storm was on the waters of Florida’s C-54 Canal. Despite winds up to 25 mph and white caps on the normally glass-calm canal waters, racers still put on a show of speed for spectators, relying on not only speed but skill to take the overall titles in the final HydroDrag event of the year.

Duke Zorn captured the weekend’s premier classes, battling through double-elimination heats before edging out Stan Hightower for the HydroUnlimited class title, and posting the fastest top speed of 88.1mph in the Speed Alley top speed competition. Though the speed runs were conducted with the wind, chop on the course negated any advantages, and kept speeds well below the 100mph mark touched this spring by Puerto Rico’s Julio Rivera. Nevertheless, Zorn’s conversion Yamaha/Sea-Doo craft proved the fastest of the weekend.

While Zorn captured the biggest crowns, Stan Hightower would earn the designation of most-decorated racer on the weekend, taking second in HydroUnlimited to Zorn, capturing the win in HydroLimited, and taking the runner-up spot again in HydroStock aboard a Sea-Doo RXP-X. The latter win went to Troy Snyder, also aboard an RXP-X. Eric Lagopoulos would capture the HydroVintage crown atop a Sea-Doo SPX.

Duke Zorn battles Jonathon Nieves in HydroDrags Unlimited.

Overall series titles were claimed by Dan O’Keefe in HydroUnlimited, Hightower in both HydroLimited and HydroStock, and Lagopoulos in HydroVintage.

Two riders go head-to-head in the C-54 Canal.

A new addition to the final series weekend was the Fishbowl Freestyle Nationals, staged under the lights at Interchange Square in Palm Bay, FL. Local rider Jeremy Parr took the popular win, while former IJSBA champ Lloyd Burlew came out of retirement to capture second. Orlando’s Johnny Leftly captured third.

RIVA Racing HydroDrag Fall National Results

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