MADISON, Indiana - "I'm here tomorrow," said Steve David, U-6 driver, referring to a spectacular and frightening incident at the Madison Regatta. It could have been a disaster when the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto hit something in the water, did a 360, and nearly smacked into a patrol boat.
The U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto and U-3 Master Tire were battling for position going into the first turn...
"We were right on the mark," Steve David, U-6 driver, told WORX Radio. "I had to beat Jimmy to the turn to have any chance."
... the U-6 hit something in the water at the turn pin...
"Sheared off the rudder," said David. "No control whatsoever."
...the boat did 360 degrees in the air and nearly clipped a patrol boat...
"Totally in God's hands," said David. "He's got other plans."
The accident closed the course and shut down Heat 2-B. After consultation, race officials decided the river's just too rough to take much more risk and time's running out. They decided to re-start Heat 2-B, then cancel 3-A and 3-B. Race officials thought they owed it to the fans to run the finals.
As David had a chance to watch the video taken by ABRA photographers, he talked about the safety devices built into the boats.
"I'm here tomorrow," he said.
