Fourth Annual APBA National
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA - November 08, 2007: The Fourth Annual “World’s Longest Continuous PWC Race” was announced today by the event co-promoters Jim Russell, DSM Events owner and Executive Producer, Mike Follmer. The 2008 – Mark Hahn Memorial, 300 Mile Team Endurance Race is all set to launch on February 23, 2008 from Crazy Beach at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu, Arizona. The event will once again be sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA), and it is expected that over 100 two rider teams will enter to try and break the APBA Endurance Record of 5 Hours 23 Minutes to cover the 300 miles set at last year’s event by John Belton and Tracy Mallan aboard a Kawasaki Ultra 250. Mark Hahn Memorial 300, 4th Annual
Awards Dinner - Please see “Awards Dinner Announcement” dated November 10 for information. The dinner will be in the Relics & Rods Hall at the Lake Havasu Aquatic Center. Each arm banded, paid rider of record will receive one complimentary pass to the dinner. Other tickets for the dinner must be purchased for $25 per person in advance, or may be purchased at the DSM semi during check-in and registration times listed below, or at the door prior to the ceremony. Only such ticketed people will be allowed into the hall. These payments must be made by cash or check only, no credit cards. Boat Race Numbers - It is the responsibility of the racer to have a visible, legible number on the race boat (per description on PWCFUN.com). We have listed the numbers of entrants’ boats as they exist now, it is the riders’ responsibility to change, or modify numbers so that there are no duplicate numbers. Merely differences in color or class is not sufficient, there may be no duplication of numbers. If you have no number currently, then select any unused number and notify us in advance, and place that on your boat. If your number is duplicated by another racer then set about to correct that. You may be able to just add a digit, like a 1 or a 2 in front or behind your number, or an X. Whatever you do, it must be reported to registration, and approved at check-in. The first boat to actually register with a race number will be considered to hold that number for the event, and any subsequent registration with a duplication of that number will be required to change or modify theirs to the satisfaction of the officials. Boats & Equipment - All boats entered in the event must be currently registered watercraft (with which ever State is appropriate), and must carry ALL required USCG equipment at ALL times, and must be complete at the end of the race. All riders must wear approved safety equipment at all times while operating the boats. Any violaters will be penalized, or may be disqualified. No one without an event arm band may operate a boat on, or near the race beach during the entire race day. Civilian Traffic - Please remember at all times that we will be operating on the Lake along with normal boating traffic. Any dangerous passing, discourteous or unsafe operations will result in penalties. This is not a closed course event, we must respect all normal civilian boaters, and display courtesy at all times. Our turn, official, and chase boats will be observing for your safety as well as to preserve the ongoing ability to stage events like this. It is with thanks to the US Coast Guard that we are able to produce this event, and their rules must be observed. Credit card payments - All entries already received and paid by credit card will be charged as of February 1, and thereafter as they are received. Any not already paid must send or arrange payment no later than February 10. Payments or entries received after that date will be assessed a $25 late fee. No payments will be accepted or processed at the race site. Your credit card will show a charge to “Comp-Comm” for “communications services”. First Lap - On the first lap only upon leaving the beach after the LeMans start you will head directly for the northeast corner of the course, turn #2. On the first lap only you will bypass the turn one boat and go directly to the top of the course. On all other laps you are required to go around all turn boats. Fuel - All fuel must be stored in the Hot Pits, along the back fence nearest the road. You may not use electric transfer pumps in the hot pits. No fuel is permitted to be within ten feet of the water. This includes fuel in the back of your truck, Rhino, quad or trailer while you are launching or retrieving. All fueling must be done only in the hot pits during the race. No fuel is available for purchase on site, however there is race fuel, Avgas and conventional fuels available at gas stations within a mile of the race site. You are responsible for removing and disposing of any drums, waste, refuse, batteries or other waste that you may generate during the race. Hot Pits/ Race Re-Fueling - All fueling operations must be performed in the fueling area, this is a banner-fenced area west of the “boat house” on the main beach , and is at the east end of the pits, by the announcing trailer. You must have an absorbent fuel spill “diaper”, and absolutely no fuel may be spilled. You will be penalized for any fuel spills, so take your time fueling, and use the absorbent towel for added safety. This is an issue of serious environmental concern, so be careful. This area is considered the Hot-Pits, and no smoking will be allowed in the area, and only arm-banded people will be allowed in. Any crew member that will be in this area, or in the water (holding your boat) must be arm-banded. They can do this by going to registration before the race and signing the waiver. Remember, the boats must be fully removed from the water, at least ten feet prior to any fueling operations. Do not have your fuel cans on your quad or trailer when you back into the water to remove your boat. This is a Federal requirement and will be enforced by us and the US Coast Guard. Any violations will result in penalties and/or disqualification. No one under ten years of age is allowed into hot pits. All equipment must be cleared to allow room for the Le Mans start. Parade Lap - After the rider’s meeting a lap of the course is scheduled for 9:00 am. This is optional. Any boat/rider wishing to go will follow the course marshal boat (flagged) around the course at about 25 mph. You must stay behind this boat, and again, remember, you must merge and operate at all times with civilian traffic on the lake. You have no right of way privilege, and the course is not closed. At the conclusion of this lap if you wish to re-fuel your boat go to the hot-pit area and do so. Remember, every part of the boat must be at least ten feet from the edge of the water. All race fueling rules will be in effect; no spillage will be allowed, and only arm-banded crew members may be inside the fenced area. At the conclusion of the re-fueling prepare to stage for the start. Parking/Pit & Equipment note - You may not bring any vehicles larger than a pick up and a flat trailer into the main park at Crazy Horse. No exceptions, do not ask. You may park your equipment in the overflow parking lot where we have parked for the past three years and shuttle down to the beach. This includes motorhomes, and any other vehicles. Payment - All pre-registered entries must be paid in full by February 10. Any payments received after February 10 will be charged a $25 late fee. Any new entries filed after February 10 will be charged a $50 late fee. Penalties - Penalties for violations of safety or environmental rules or practices will begin with a two lap penalty. Penalties for course violations will begin with a one lap penalty. Practice - NO practice on the course is permitted other than the parade lap. Race Course - The tentative race course map is attached. This is subject to change. A signed, flagged turn boat will be located at each turn. You must go around the outside of the turn boat. Any passing of the turn boats dangerously close (determination of officials) will be penalized. Remember, to pass the turn, and scoring boats on the shore side, and remember, if the scorers cannot read your number you may not be scored for that lap. This is your responsibility, not the scorers. Race Boat Repairs - May not be made in the hot pits. You will use the hot pits for fueling and rider change only. If repairs are needed you must remove your boat from the hot pits and take it to your own pit on the beach. It must be at least ten feet from the water line before you apply a tool or wrench to it. Race site - Crazy Horse Campground, on “the Island”, Lake Havasu City. Enter the main entrance to Crazy Horse, then stop at the guard shack and pay the day use fee ($10/car load) to the guard. This $10 fee applies to all vehicles, including your pit/tow car/truck. Then you will proceed the main beach at Crazy Horse, the same site as the World Finals. Please remember, we are the guests of the RV folks in the park and conduct yourselves accordingly. Race Duration - The event will be declared over when the first boat completes its’ 30th lap. That will be the winner of that class, and the remaining field will be ranked as they complete the lap that they are on at that time, first by quantity of laps completed, then finishing order to determine the various class winners and positions. Race results will be posted at the banquet room at the London Bridge Resort. Race Pits - You may set up a pit on the main beach at Crazy Horse on Saturday, Race Day, NO EARLIER THAN 7 AM. And no boats may be started, or launched prior to 7:30 am race day. The Pits will start to the west (towards California) from the Hot Pits which are immediately to the west of the “boathouse”, the only building on the beach. The pits spaces will be assigned and numbered corresponding to your DSM entry number. Each team may occupy an area of the beach/water no wider than 10'. Your canopy, trailer and truck must be in a line, not side by side, and may not be on the pavement. The pavement along the beach is available for a single lane of parallel parking ON THE BEACH SIDE OF THE ROAD ONLY. You may not park on the inland side of the pavement at all. No one under the age of 16 may operate any motor vehicle (pit bike, Rhino, quad, etc.) on the race beach, roads or site at any time. Registration & Check-In - The DSM registration trailer will be located in the upper parking lot at Crazy Horse from noon until 7 pm on Friday, and again from 6 am until 7 am Saturday. You must check in, sign the waivers in person, and be arm-banded prior to setting up your pits. No arm-bands will be issued unless your entry is paid in full. All entries must be paid in full by February 10, neither payments nor entries will be accepted at the race site. You may not set up or stake out your pit until Saturday after 7 am. No entries or payments will be accepted on race day.
Scoring - We are proud to be implementing a new scoring system for this event. It is still based upon your number being read by the scorers (Jackie Burton, Neal Marshall, Mike Marsh & Shawna Thornton) as you pass the scoring boat, but your passing will be entered into a computer system on the scoring boat by Monica Jackson as you pass, and then Melody Nolan, our chief scorer will simultaneously access this data on her computer in our semi-trailer on the beach via our dedicated wireless network. This will enable the regular updating of positions and information validation during the event. This system should greatly facilitate the compilation, processing and checking of input data. Scoring Boat - This will be located off of the main beach, just east of the entrance to the hot pits at/near the no wake buoy line and you will approach through a chicane of buoys. The purpose of this chicane is to cause you to pass the scorers at a speed such that your numbers can be read by them. Starting Procedure - The starting line up will be in order of when the entry was received by DSM, starting from the east side of the beach and running to the west. The first entry processed will have the “pole” position, second entry to the west, etc. A member of each boat’s team (must be arm-banded, as must the rider) will hold the boat, engine off, and the riders will line up abreast, about fifty feet behind the boats, showing their safety lanyards. At the starter’s gun and flag the riders will run to their boats, start them and launch onto the race course being careful to avoid race traffic and observing all civilian traffic. You must maintain your lane until you pass the buoys marking the entrance/exit to the hot pits at the perimeter/no wake line. You must hold your lane on all entrances to and exits from the hot pits. Remember,
you do not have the right of way, you are running on a non-closed course and the safety of everyone is of paramount concern.
Host Hotel Information The 2008 Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 APBA National Team Endurance Race management announced today that they have once again secured the London Bridge Resort and Convention Center as the host hotel for the racers and awards banquet. |
The race is returning to Crazy Beach at Crazy Horse Campground that has undergone even more reconstruction at the hands of Jim Russell over the last several months. “This is now a “World Class” site for this very important event”, said Jim Russell, “and the 10 mile course we have approval from the Coast Guard for will pit all the teams against the wind, rough water and long runs that this event has become synonymous with.” In addition to all the weather and water conditions all the teams have to contend with, they will also be required to make fuel stops without spilling fuel and make rider changes several times during the race, while modifying their race strategies as the race progresses. There will be six different classes competing on the race course simultaneously, with all the racers competing for the overall title. At the conclusion of the race, each class winning team will be crowned the APBA National Endurance Champion for their respective class.
Jim Russell -
