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Chattanooga: Annual powerboat races canceled this year

By: Adam Crisp
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Jim Poplin

Chickamauga Lake will be pretty quiet in mid-October now that organizers of the annual powerboat races there have scrapped plans to hold their fourth such event.

“We feel that without the financial backing this year, and with the present fuel situation and travel expense, it is in the best interest to cancel the event,” said Jim Poplin, organizer of Chattanooga U.S. Powerboat Championship Races and Speed Runs.

He said hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which disrupted gas flow to the Chattanooga area, only complicated the plans for the event, originally set for Oct. 9-12.

“Our boats use the really expensive high-octane fuel, so that’s a factor, too,” Mr. Poplin said. “We fell short of our financial obligations. This is a pretty pricey sport for competitors... It’s just best that we postpone it.”

On top of the financial troubles, the Tennessee Valley Authority plans to draw down the lake level early this year because of drought conditions, Mr. Poplin said.

“Even though TVA has agreed to assist us by supplying the needed water to conduct our races safely ... I just feel like there isn’t any reason to affect TVA if all these other factors are working against us,” Mr. Poplin said.

Plans already are in place to host the race in Chattanooga again in 2009, he said, and the race already is on national powerboat association race calendars.

“We had about 67 boats out there last year, because Chattanooga is everyone’s favorite race,” Mr. Poplin said.

In the meantime, Mr. Poplin said, his team will focus on finding more sponsors for the 2009 event.

“We hope by then the economy will be a little bit better, and we’re focusing on a marketing plan between now and then,” he said.

Last year, officials with the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated that the races brought about $54,000 to the area but said they didn’t have estimates on the possible economic impact of this year’s event.

“We were sorry to hear that the powerboat races had to be canceled this year,” said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the bureau. “We hope they are able to return to the Scenic City in the future.”

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