The 3rd Annual “Thunder in the Hills Power Boat Races” is
scheduled to be held on weekend of March 29th and 30th
this year, but look for some significant changes. The first big
change is the name of the event. It will now be called “Thunder in
the Hills Family Festival and Power Boat Races”.
Each year for the past two years the 5 Citrus County Rotary Clubs
have organized this event that brings almost 100 power boats (some
reaching speeds of 120 mph) to Citrus
County to compete for points that lead to crowning a
National High Point USTS Champion in
this exciting FAMILY sport. The US Title
Series (USTS) is a national series in the Professional Racing
Outboard (PRO) category of the American Power Boat Association (APBA).
PRO boats are powered by 2 stroke engines
that range in size from 125cc displacement to 1100cc displacement
and turn from 12,000-14,000 revolutions per minute (rpm’s), your
average NASCAR turns about 7,000. The races held in Citrus
County each year kick off the 7 race series that moves about the
country, with the second race also being held in Florida at Lake
Wales. I stress that this is a Family Sport for good reason. Many of
the folks who come from as far away as California and Washington
State are family units with both parents and the their children
bringing their boats to compete in the numerous racing
classes on the
US Title Series and sanctioned by APBA, the oldest sanctioning
organization in the country.
The Rotary Clubs are also taking to heart comments by viewers from
last year and are enhancing the overall family atmosphere that will
be taking place on the shorelines as well.
This year, due to dangerously low water levels in last year’s race
area on Big Lake Henderson in Inverness the races are set to be held
on Lake Hernando in Citrus County close to the intersection of Hwy
486 and Hwy41 in the town of Hernando. Because of the change the
Lake Hernando Beach Park will be the viewing area from which to
watch the races. However, the inclusion of almost 4 acres of land
owned by the Brannen family (Joe Brannen is a Rotarian) that wraps
around the Bank of Inverness, which is owned by the Brannen family,
and which is across the street from the park offers opportunities to
expand the overall venue as well as provide plenty of on site
parking.
In addition the Rotary Clubs are joining forces with the Elks Club,
which will be holding an open house for the weekend, and has their
lodge on the shores of the lake adjacent to the boat ramps from
which the race boats will be launched. This will allow for the Beer
Garden from last year (which was then remote from the viewing area
for the races due to restrictions on consuming alcohol in public
parks) to be right on the lake at the Elks Lodge since they have a
private liquor license and with great views of all the action. Hot
Dogs, Hamburgers and Sausages along with French Fries will be
available for purchase in the Beer Garden area at the Elks Lodge as
well. Food and non-alcoholic drinks will also be available in the
county park area by the children’s games. This area will also have
vendors selling Kettle Corn and other snack type foods.
The Rotary is also working with the Citrus County to close the
street between the Brannen property and the park to create the
opportunity to use this area to bring in 40 booths of crafters to
show and sell their wares during the 2-day event.
The children’s game area will also be expanded from past years to
include games that are more familiar to carnivals, such as a ring
toss, dart throw and basketball hoops among others that will give
prizes to the winners. The Rock Wall Climbing and the Bounce House
as well the other larger children’s entertainment will also be back
as they were very popular with the kids last year.
To add to the venue Rotary is coordinating with a regional car club
to hold a classic car show during the weekend on the Brannen Bank
property adjacent to the craft booth area.
When all is said and done it is our desire to create a truly family
atmosphere that will appeal to the whole family so they come out and
enjoy two days of family fun along with the boat races.
There are big plans in the works to also hold a “Music of the Lake”
event on Saturday Night after the races shut down for the day.
Having the Elks Lodge property available on the waters edge will
allow the Rotary to bring in a band to play music to entertain and
for folks to dance and sing along. As a special treat a 10-year-old
young man who performs under the name “Little Elvis” will be putting
on a show during the evening and folks that have seen him perform
promise that he will “bring the house down”. Much like last year
where several thousand folks showed up Friday Night for “Music on
the Square” on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse in downtown
Inverness the night before the race weekend kicked off race boats
will be on display to touch and feel while asking the drivers
questions and getting your picture taken with them.
The lake will provide an excellent backdrop for this part of the
weekend of Family Festival activity. Food and Beverage sales will
continue to be available during the music venue so the participants
can eat drink and be merry.
So put the dates on your calendar and get ready to bring out the
whole family for this weekend of fun.
