One word summed up why many visitors Saturday and Sunday at Wildwood Park found the high-speed shootout boating event exciting.
"Speed," said Ken Eubanks, of Greenville, S.C.
An estimated 1,200 spectators came to the Appling park to watch a variety of dragboat racing events that took place throughout the weekend. This is the first time the East Coast Drag Boat Association has made a stop in Columbia County.
Eubanks planned to attend both days of the event with his wife, Carol Eubanks, and friends Gail and Wayne Tarrant, of Lexington, S.C. The trip gave the couples a chance to socialize and visit with friends they don't normally see.
"This is a great place," said Gail Tarrant, adding that they've traveled to Florida, Alabama and Tennessee for boating events. "This is probably the best place we've ever been."
Wildwood Park program coordinator Jeb Bell said that windy and cloudy weather was a factor Saturday morning, but said the event went smoothly.
"It's something that we'll look forward to doing again in the future if everything goes well," he said.
Despite choppy waters, about 25 drivers made their way into Strom Thurmond Lake to test their boats' speeds during the high-speed shootout event that lasted about four hours.
The fastest boat of the day topped out at about 125 mph. Windy conditions kept many from running at faster speeds.
Rod Altman, vice president of ECDBA, has been dragboat racing for about 12 years and said he has competed in about 80 races throughout the Southeast. His Allison XR-2001 boat has been clocked at 120 mph, he said.
The Conway, S.C., resident said that though he's nervous before racing, he begins to settle down once inside his boat.
"It's like sitting at home after that," he said. "Once I get in, it kind of calms me down a little bit."
Altman said he has won three consecutive races in the pro-gas class, one of seven classes that boats were placed in at the event.
"Anything can go," he said about Sunday's race. "I'm (going to) try to make it four in a row."
The boating event gave Don and Linda Turlington, of Jackson, S.C., a chance to do something for a change.
"It's something totally different than sitting at home," Don Turlington said.
The pair said they usually come to Strom Thurmond Lake at least twice a month and were planning to watch the Sunday races from their own boat.
Linda Turlington said the low cost, a $5 parking fee, is reason enough to check out what the event has to offer.
"There is no reason people shouldn't come to see what it is just once," she said. "It's a family-friendly event."
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