Boat Races

Distinct “Thunder on the Chain” Classes:

Lake Racer Outboard
Pro Modified Outboard
Lake Racer Inboard
Single Carbureted
Multiple Carbureted
Open Class
Blown Alcohol Class

General Boat Race Guidelines

Download the Race Points and 2011 Current Standings

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“Thunder On The Chain” (Thursday Boat Races)

2011 RULES AND REGULATIONS
“Thunder on the Chain” is Blarney Islands very own drag boat racing. Beginning in 1978 with just a few patrons who were looking to test out their souped up motors, the boat races have grown into a weekly event during the summer attracting over 5000 people weekly and featuring professional race boats & drivers from all around the Midwest. Starting the Thursday after Memorial Day and running for 16 consecutive weeks. This is THE PLACE where professional and weekend race enthusiast can come to compete outside of the National racing circuit. This is grass roots racing at it’s finest! Blarney Island is the only place in the world you can see 16 straight weeks of live drag boat racing.

POINTS

100 Registration

50 Per Run

50 per Win of Class

50 Per By-Run

Due to lack of daylight at the end of the season, only the top four boats in point standings will be allowed to race beginning August 25th.

HIGH POINTS: High Point Champions receive plaques and money. 1srt Runner-up receives plaque.

All racers in good standing will be invited to the Racer Party at the end of the season. Although the season runs from June 2nd to September 15th, the prize money will be awarded weekly. The Points start June 2nd (show up and run only) and end September 20th, 2012

THE DISCISION OF THE STARTER WILL BE FINAL!!!

RACERS RECEIVING MONEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A W-9 TAX FORM.

Any Rules & Regulations may change due to unforeseen circumstances. When and if they do, they will be posted at the registration booth, at the Island or will be announced at the drivers meeting. If we have your email address we will email them to you.

RACER SCHEDULE 2012 SEASON:

Thurs MAY 24th BOAT RACERS KICK-OFF PARTY AT BLARNEY ISLAND

Thurs MAY 31st: 1st Boat Race (Each Thursday for 16 consecutive weeks)

JUNE 7th, JUNE 14th, JUNE 21st, JUNE 28th

JULY 5th, JULY 12th, JULY 19th, JULY 26th

AUGUST 2nd, AUGUST 9th, AUGUST 16th, AUGUST 23rd, AUGUST 30th

SEPT 6th, SEPTEMBER 13th

TBA – END OF SEASON PARTY AT BLARNEY ISLAND

ENTRY REGISTRATION

$20.00 PER NIGHT, PER CLASS REGISTRATION FEE IS DUE BY 6:20 PM. – DRIVERS MEETING AT 6:30 PM

FILL OUT DRIVERS CARDS –A MUST—the announcer uses this card to announce for you.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND CLASS RULES

These rules have been complied with the express purpose of making the standards that must be met to conduct a race event. These rules have been developed based upon experience and technology realized from conduct of many drag-boat racing events. These rules are in no way to be construed as a guarantee against injury or death of spectators or participants. No warranty, expressed or implied of safety shall result

from the publication of compliance with the rules. These rules are subject to change.

REGISTRATION AND RELEASES

Owners, Driver(s) and Crew of all boats who compete in a race event shall execute registration and release forms and must wear wristband issued by Blarney staff. NO ONE ALLOWED IN PIT AREAS WITHOUT RELEASE AND WRISTBAND. NO EXCEPTIONS.

The minimum age of a Driver shall be (21) years.

The completion and execution of registration and release forms will be accomplished prior to the boat being allowed to race.

All Drivers and tow vehicle drivers MUST attend the mandatory meeting prior to the race.

ALL DRIVERS AND BOAT OWNERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF THEIR OWN CREW. INTOXICANTS OR DEPRESSANTS OF ANY NATURE USED BY THE DRIVERS AND THE CREW MECHANICS BEFORE OR DURING THE RACES IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. USE OF THESE SUBSTANCES WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION.

All drivers and crews must follow all race rules.

All boats needing fuel during eliminations must give notice BEFORE his/her elimination run. If no notice is given, this boat will NOT be entitled to refueling. All refueling notices will be given to the DESIGNATED PERSON at the “Announcers’ Tower” or to Rob Hardman. All fueling must be done at a designated fueling area.

CANCELING

In the event a race(s) get cancelled after registration, all entry money will be returned.

DRIVERS SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Life Jackets for Classes; Lake Racer Inboard, Lake racer Outboard, Pro Gas:

All Drivers in these classes shall wear a APBA approved Life jacket. It also must be fully

Functional.

Classes; Single Carb, Multi Carb, Open and Unlimited:

All drivers in these classes must wear a certified Life Line Jacket vest. This certification will be checked.

HELMETS

No Open face helmets

There must be a face shield

All Helmets must be 2002 or newer and Snell approved.

DRIVING SUITS

Classes; Lake Racer Outboard, and Pro Gas Classes:

Must wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants, shoes and socks must be worn. NO SANDALS, NO SHORTS.

You will not participate in any race if you do not have the proper racing attire. You also must wear Ballistic Shorts.

Classes; Lake Racer Inboard, Single Carb, Multi Carb, OPEN and Unlimited:

These classes must wear a Fire Retardant body suit, 1 or 2 piece-with Ballistic shorts. Shoes and socks must be worn, and NO SANDALS.

NECK RESTRAINTS

All drivers must have helmet restraints fully attached. Safety equipment must be displayed at the time of inspection. All safety equipment MUST BE WORN any time a boat is in motion by its own power, including a kill switch attached to the driver. This rule also applies to the practice runs before the races start. Any violation of the rules will lead to DISQUALIFICATION for the individual for those evening’s races.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR All CLASSES

Prior to being allowed to register, all boats applying to participate must pass an approved safety inspection to determine that the following conditions and equipment exist. All safety equipment must be operational and engaged when boat is launched. All determinations about whether equipment, including drivers’ equipment, compliance with these safety rules shall be the sole determination of the supervisors.

KILL SWITCH

All boats will have a device that will immediately and automatically shut o_ the engine in the event that the driver is thrown from the driver’s seat. Please be prepared to demonstrate kill switch operation during technical inspection.

THROTTLE RETURN SPRING

A quick action dual return spring attached to the throttle linkage connected to the butterfly shaft arm shall be mounted on the engine.

FUEL SHUT OFF

All boats with an electrical fuel pump must have an automatic shut off. Any boat utilizing fuel injection must have a fuel shut off valve (Dead-Man Shut Off within easy reach of the driver

SAFETY COLLAR

All V drives must have a safety collar on the propeller shaft between the V drive and the boat. Blown V Drive boats must have an additional safety collar in front of the strut.

PROPELLER

All props must have lock nuts, cotter keys, and a locking device on outboards. Fire Extinguisher: All tow vehicles and/or boats must have a secure fire extinguisher.

SECURED EQUIPMENT

All equipment such as, but not limited to, fuel tanks batteries, paddles, etc., shall be firmly secured. All loose gear on board must be removed.

COVERS

Any boat with a drive shaft utilizing a U joint must have a cover. All fly wheels must be covered.

BLOWER RESTRAINING DEVICE

All blown motors must have blower restraints.

INTAKE GRATE BOLTS

All jet boats with loader-type intakes are required to have a least two (2) of the four (4) bolts drilled through and locknut on the intake grate.

Single carb class and up must have ratchet, whirl away, blow off, or similar device.

All classes much have some sort of foot pedal throttle stop.

INOPERATIVE AND/OR UNSAFE EQUIPMENT

If it is determined that an item of safely equipment covered in these rules has been altered, or not activated so as to make it inoperative, the owner and driver and the boat may be suspended from participation. A boat may be disqualified from further participation at a race event after passing initial safety inspections if a race official deems the equipment, hull, steering, rudder, propeller, etc., unsafe.

CHEATING

Any boat or driver caught cheating will lose that night’s points and prize money. In addition, the boat driver’s race points AND prize money from the week prior’s race will be forfeited as well. Anyone caught cheating a second time will be banned from racing for the rest of the season and forfeit all points/monies. No exceptions.

RACING FUELS

Lake Racer outboard, Pro Gas, Lake Racer Inboard, Single Carb, and Multi Carb classes must run GAS FUEL ONLY, none other.

Nitrous oxide is allowed ONLY in open and unlimited classes. NO OTHER CLASSES are allowed the use of nitrous oxide. Boats quipped to utilize nitrous that are participating in non-nitrous classes MUST remove nitrous bottles from the boat and disconnect lines to the plate. This will be checked at the pier.

Open and unlimited classes may run any type of fuel except Nitro Methane. If you are to run alcohol in the open class, you may not do so with a blower.

All racers must carry enough fuel to make all of the runs for his/her class. If any racer runs out of fuel, he/she will be automatically disqualified. It is the responsibility of the racer to accommodate their individual needs for fuel during the races. A racer may find it necessary to purchase a larger fuel tank to accommodate fuel needs. Refueling during races in a specific class is prohibited unless authorized by race officials.

STARTING PROCEDURES

This is a side-by-side, short track (approximately 800 feet) drag race event.

All boats must stop at the first buoy before the start of the Race!

We will be using a light tree. All starting procedures will be covered during the mandatory drivers’ meeting. The starting rotation may change each night. It is the responsibility of the racer to know what order their class is going to run.

All race boats, after each race must return down the north side of race course. DO NOT come back down the center.

BOAT INSPECTIONS OR TECH

There will be tech inspectors for each class. These inspectors will be randomly inspecting boats every week during race season.

Any boat, sufficiently faster or slower than all others in a given class, may be bumped up or down a class at the promoter’s option.

There has to be at least one legal boat in each class to constitute that class. Otherwise, the class may be canceled for the night.

All prize money will be awarded the following week after the conclusion of that evening’s racing program!

Money not picked up will be forfeited at the end of the season. Any complaints… Please see Rob Hardman AFTER ALL RACES ARE OVER.

Any threat to any race participant, worker, official, etc. may result in the expulsion of that driver and crew from Blarney Island for the season.

PARINGS

They are picked out of a hat.

Any of these rules or regulations may change due to unforeseen circumstances. When and if they do, they will be posted at the registration booth, at the Island or will be announced at the driver’s meeting.

Download the Blarney Island 2011 Racer Rules & Regs.