HydroDrag Fall National set for November

Fastest PWC racing in the world returning to Florida

The third and final event of the 2009 RIVA Racing HydroDrag Series is scheduled for Nov. 7-8, 2009 at the C-54 canal near Palm Bay, Fla.

WaterTop Unlimited expects racers from all over the Western Hemisphere to converge at the “Bonneville Salt Flats” of waterways for what has become the world’s showcase for the fastest personal watercraft in the world.

The Fall HydroDrag event, presented by Sea-Doo, looks to provide a full weekend fun with drag race and Speed Alley events plus the addition of the Space Coast Freestyle show with some of the best professional PWC freestyle riders in the country riding for fans and a $1,000 cash purse.

“We are excited about some of the changes we are implementing in the RIVA Racing HydroDrag Fall National as we want to make this more of a full weekend of fun for all the locals and people travelling from afar,” says WaterTop GM and event promoter Tim McKercher. “The HydroDrags is a true spectacle with record speeds of 100 mph being reached and moving the event base to Palm Bay, Fla. next to I-95 makes everything easier for the racers and should allow the local community to get more involved in the fun and excitement.”

The HydroDrag Fall National will feature the “Launch Pad” starting system; a stationary, floating double drop bunk system that produces an explosion of water upon every start.  Also expected at the Fall National is a return of the battle for title of the fastest PWC in the world. Julio Rivera of Puerto Rico was the first person to break the 100 mph mark in the Spring National at the same location and many will be gunning for him. Others will be chasing Dan Okeffe of Missouri, the defending HydroDrag Spring and Summer Nationals Champion in the HydroUnlimited class and the $1,000 cash purse for that class. Okeefe aboard his Turbo powered Sea-Doo RXP is rumored to produce close to 400 hp.

WaterTop will also institute the Grudge Match Call Out Drags for the first time where individuals can challenge their friend or foe in a best of three races for bragging rights. The Grudge Match Call-Out Drags will follow racing on Saturday afternoon as well as the new HYDRO-BOXSTOCK class a new class where anybody can compete and NO modifications of any kind are permitted. This class is intended to open HydroDrag competition to every day enthusiasts with minimal costs and effort.

The C-54 canal is a perfect venue for this PWC event with a long straight waterway roughly 80 yards wide and protected from the wind with high embankments on both sides that offers stadium style viewing for fans. Admission is free to the Riva Racing HydroDrag Fall Nationals and there is plenty of parking at the C-54 facility, thanks to the St. Johns Water Management District.         

“The RIVA Racing HydroDrags is becoming a world class PWC event and attracting media attention from around the world for the record speeds,” noted McKercher. “We will take the next step in growing the event by getting the local community more involved and entertained.” 

Related Reading
Hightower, Okeefe dominate HydroDrags