Arkansas Blog

This topic is kind of a comment on the blog/AT approach to enviro issues - if it disturbs their upper income, AR obssessed readers - they are agin it. If it affects kids and the lowerclasses - like lead poisoning - or asthma - they ignore it. If it hurts their advertisers like Chenal Reality or Stephens - like air pollution - they ignore it. If it attracts attention - like the CAW -Deltic Timber tumble - they jump in - late but in favor of waht the readers want.

OK Ralph, I'll bite, what does allowing this activity gain the Corps? The people of the area? or anyone (other than the racers) else?
(For the record, I'm against lead poisoning, increased arsenic in our drinking water, air pollution, the Deltic Timber land grab-nope, won't be impacted either way as I don't live in Pulaski Co.)

Not to worry folks, when the race committe and the boats' sponsors find out that the whole area is dry as a bone (no booze for 50 miles) the event will quietly be cancelled due to a 'scheduling conflict'. Trust me on this one.

How come old Huck doesn't defend Greers Ferry? Or will G_d sound off about the depth of our thinking? Will the governor of the better machine defend the structure of Nature's Cathedral.

It's just a race. Probably what once a year or a one-time event? Noise goes away right?

The Bush administration is determined to single-handedly destroy what's left of our environment.

The Corp of Engineers is nothing but a depository of can't-be-fired federal employees who don't give a damn about anything other than the self-preservation of their species.

Mystery Shopper is correct...the one time when being dry may serve a greater good!

As a racer, I can tell you that we are very respectful of any and all site we race. We are very proactive when it come to the environment and wildlife.
We have large #'s of people in helicopters and boats looking out for Turltes, Manatees, Gators, whatever. If an animal is spotted on or near the course, the race is stopped.
As far as pollution goes, a deisel powered cabin cruiser is much worse than our race boats and here is why.
The fuel we use burns much cleaner than deisel and our exhaust comes out, in most cases dry and above the water.
A 2stroke ouitboard pontoon boat burns a mixture of gas and oil and the reason its quiet is because the exhaust comes out down at the prop.
You tell me what is worse
Sail boaters, at least where I am from do more environmental damage with their keels running aground and tearing up sensative grassing shallows wich are breeding grounds for a wide array of marine life.
We will bring in hundreds of thousand of dollars that will be spent in your community and for local charities over the course of 3-4 days
and we will be a little loud but thats it. Our team alone has donated over If you are so concerned about the environment, get rid of the 2 sroke pontoon boat and the big cabin cruiser with a 3 ft wake that will wash out any nest nest or seedling on the banks when their huge wakes hit shore with one pass.
I think the real story is that you guys have a little slice of heaven up there in AK and are afraid people may find out about it. Get over yourselves, come out and enjoy the awesome sport and bring the family. We welcome fans in the pits and take time out to answer any and all questions as well as show them our boats rigs and toys up close.
and personal
All these and you can watch the races for free.
Sorry for the rant, but there is a ton of misinformation out there about who we as racers are and what we are about.

PS we have 2 or 3 dry site we race every year, no big deal, who in there right mind will go out and run a 100-200mph boat drunk or with a hangover. Not this racer

PPS Excuse my typos, I was typing fast and did not proof read my post. Is there an edit feature?:)

Scott...racers like you may be great guys/gals, your sport is still loud and an unnecessary intrusion into areas like Greers Ferry (opinion, I know). Areas like Greers Ferry need less pollution, not more (regardless of how comparatively good the boats are). We didn't need more snowmobiles in Yellowstone, either.

But thank you for noticing our little pieces of heaven. Arkansas is a beautiful state and most of us would like to keep it that way. Heck, I'm surprised Bush hasn't sold Greers Ferry.

I respect your opinion, but I think the economic impact we have on any community far outweighs the downside.
We are talking 30 boats
Yes they are loud, but the impact on the environment so low it is probably immeasurable. The race is one day for about 2 hours and testing is one day for about 4-5 hours
Throw an hour on each end and you have about 8 hours of noise and in return you get hundreds of thousands of $ dumped into your local economy. All I am saying is I believe the positives far outweigh the negatives(many of wich are only percieved)
Thank You for your thoughts and I hope you guys can do a little research before you attack raceboats impact on the environment. Like I said, Pontoon boats, sailboats, and Cruisers have a far greater chance of damage and pollution then we do.

PS We are not as loud as you may think

"I think the real story is that you guys have a little slice of heaven up there in AK and are afraid people may find out about it. Get over yourselves, come out and enjoy the awesome sport and bring the family."
Posted by: Scott B

Speaking of research...we'll see you in Alaska...

If these boats have no potential impact on the environment then I wonder why OSS charges a $75 environmental impact fee?? Or is that really a secret "tax" or a way of lining someones pocket.. Maybe I answered my own question.
I am less concerned about the impact of the power boat on the water than I am about an estimated 30,000 people coming in and trampling an area not designed to sustain such traffic. Although I would mention that for every action there is an opposite equal reaction. A boat moving 45 miles an hour across the water displaces a lot less water than a boat moving 200 or do these boats push air and actually fly? The proposed course is alongside a shoreline with a potentially endangered species of Mussel which is negatively impacted procreatively with respect to wave action. This to me is a concern. Not to mention that Eagles also nest alongside the course area but no one seems to care about that. Beside that I live beside the course, 75 feet from the lake and am against it but that doesn't seem to matter either as my opinion here doesn't seem to matter. But my tax money is right here and I pay for quiet enjoyment in addition to the fact that the area chambers, realtors and other marketers of this area promise quiet enjoyment, pristine beauty and untrampled spaces. That this is my backyard which I help pay for I guess isn't important or respected in light of differing views but I am both entitled to my opinion and to protect what I pay for. I live here and my money pays more than a few salaries here, that should matter.
With regard to the so called money brought into the area that I am not so sure about. I hear everyone in support talking abuot it but those are just words. Saying ain't doing. Wondering how many of those talking about it have actually studied it and can back up their words with actual documented facts from local area businesses. Maybe in some areas where the businesses are within easy proximity of the races that can happen and where there are many hotels and motels being supported by local traffic. That ain't here. I and others are currently studying that information about the so-called economic impact and what we are finding out is quite contrary to it. For one, the race brings its own vendors so where does that money go? Out of the area. For two, there is no real way locally to put up 30,000 people so they will come from somewhere else and leave to somewhere else thus not really spend alot of money here. And our study is uncovering information that seems to support the opposite, meaning not quite as much money as supporters say will come, will come. What price freedom?
Maybe the fast food restaurants will benefit and a few camp site areas but that is negligable and doesn't support local merchants much. The marina area/ race area is so far removed from any real local busineses that it is unlikely any great number of businesses in the area will benefit to any great extent. Of course, the marina might benefit and the Fairfield Bay city coffers somewhat and a select few but lets don't kid ourselves and make local busineses think they are going to benefit from this in any great way, they are not to any great extent and I will be the first to say "I told you so."
We have major events in this area right in the middle of the city(s) which don't bring in a lot of money why is this one going to be any different it takes place in the middle of nowhere so to speak with regard to where all the businesses are located. There are hardley any businesses left in Fairfield Bay now because of the way things have been run there so maybe the three gas stations there might see some revenue frm this and the pizza parlor but what's left? The only people I can see that will make any real money are the organizers pockets and that is what this is really about monetarily speaking, in my opinion, besides the 30 or so that race. Maybe the race will happen here, maybe it will not but if the politicians and Army Corps of Engineers do not listen to the overwhelming opposition to this event on this lake by the people that actually live alongside the lake and pay the largest tax share property wise then trouble is abrewing for sure. At least that is my opinion and I am sticking to it.
And to Scott I say, we are not in AK we are in AR and no we won't get over protecting what we have it's that very protection that keeps it the way it is. And to the few here that are crying about not having any money maybe they need to move on or find a new job the rest of us are living very well off the local economy and like things just the way they are.

Sorry about the AK typo, but I did know it was Arkansas not Alaska.
I don't know much about the area and you bring up some valid points and concerns.I have a clearer understanding of your situation. All I can say is I have nothing to do with where and when we race, I just race. If it so happens that you win you battle with the promoters, more power to you.
If a race happens to go on despite your efforts, stop by the big Blue AMF rig and lunch in the pits is on me. OH, don't worry about the muscles, we race 150 yards minimum from shore and draw very little water. About a 6 inch wake is what most boats have.

PS None of us do 200mph
The majority of the boats run beetween 90-120mph and about 10 have the capabilities to run 150-160mph

PPS Our boat is a turbine powered boat and you can't here it from 200yards away its so quiet.

The first I've heard of this proposed event was on this blog. When is it supposed to be coming and what will the spectator ticket prices be? If not on Greers Ferry why not on the Arkansas River in Little Rock? More hotel rooms & restaurants, scheduled airline service, and for that nautical touch there's even a submarine in NLR. Why they could promote world class submarine races to bring in all that tourism money, race from Murray Park to Terry Lock & Dam, 3 or 4 laps around the course...120mph under the six bridges and nobody would care about the noise or wakes.

That's not good. Glad I don't own property there.

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Fction is the only basis the anti-race crowd spews in press releases and info. Fact...a childs squeaky toy, a lawn mower, or the average motorcycle emits almost 20-30% more noise than the race boats. This is according to a every government web site viewed on noise damage. I sit on my deck and hear the fishing boats ROARING across the lake every morning. Wake damage, the average boat is MUCH more damaging. Crowds...give me a break, the drunks on the lake EVERY weekend is amazing, and we spend every weekend on the lake and do not drink. Boats zooming by just feet from the shoreline, creating 1'-2' wakes slamming onto shore, this is your average weekend. The amazing part, most of the anti-race crowd simply do not want more tourists in the area, amazing considering that is just how they got here in the first place. I challenge them to state some facts instead of the usual fiction they are great at releasing.

I can't believe there is such a stink over having a boat race. One time, noise? What about every week-end? Come on, get real! Whatg is the real reason? This community could use the influx of business and the injection of outside money. What kind of jobs would this provide? It's time to see what is good for everyone.

As the chairperson of the race committe of the Ozark Roar power boat races being held here next year, I am here to say that I am ecstatic that Arkansas Parks and Tourism were excited enought to include this event in their allocation budget for 07'. Initially we just wanted them to be informed of the event and didn't expect a dime. Then when they explained to us that they have a budget for events like these and wanted for us to apply for the money we we were proud that they wanted to be a part of these boat races. Last Thursday they notified us that we received 8,000$ to help us promote the races!! WOW!! The entire race committee is really happy with the commissioners decision for giving this promotional funding. This will be wonderful for promoting the OSS Power boat races in April of 07 here on our lovely Greers Ferry Lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Suzie:
Go to AK, please. Go to AK, BP will welcome you...when it thaws.

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Issuing a permit to allow ocean powerboat racing on Greers Ferry Lake, will definitely disturb the environment of this beautiful lake. Its a quite sensitive situation, need to take steps in favor of ferry Lake and to maintain its beauty.

Issuing a permit to allow ocean powerboat racing on Greers Ferry Lake, will definitely disturb the environment of this beautiful lake. Its a quite sensitive situation, need to take steps in favor of ferry Lake and to maintain its beauty.

Yes, i too agree with ferriy to france

Bad luck to the race committe

Instead of long unending arguments about power boat race on greers Ferry Lake it is always advisable to think of environ protection and slam the issue than discussing about it further.