Champion boat racer plans Orange finale

Driver Dustin Terry proudly displays the checkered flag after driving the McCollough Racing Formula 1 powerboat to victory at last weekend’s Powerboat OPC Nationals in Shreveport, La.

Dave Rogers

For The Record

Six-time world champion Tim Seebold, the winningest U.S. Formula 1 powerboat racer, says this weekend will mark his last “Showdown on the Sabine” as a driver. He is retiring after 44 years in the cockpit.

Keven McCollough doesn’t plan to let him go out a winner, though.

The longtime racer from Buna who now owns his own race team, McCollough Racing, saw his driver, Dustin Terry, pilot his Formula 1 boat to victory over Seebold last week in Shreveport, La.

The Powerboat OPC Nationals on the Red River marked the second win in as many outings for Terry and McCollough Racing. The team owner likes that momentum.

“Tim Seebold is the best of the best and we outrun him last weekend,” he said. “We have a brand new boat that’s been real productive for us. This race [in Orange] is one of the toughest ones.

“We hope our luck holds out.”

The ninth annual “Showdown on the Sabine,” free to the public, takes place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 16-18, at the City of Orange Boat Ramp.

It’s the next-to-last 2016 stop for the Southern Professional Outboard Racing Tour (SPORT) series.

The Orange Convention & Visitors Bureau is hosting the event, which will include live entertainment by Jamie Talbert and the Band of Demons at the Riverfront Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Boats will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

SPORT Racing incorporates four classes of powerboat racing into all of its events: SPORT F1, Formula Lights, Tri-Hull and J-Hydro.

The SPORT F1 class features tunnel boats that can turn on a dime and accelerate to speeds of over 120 mph.

Formula Lights are basically a smaller version of the SPORT F1 class in appearance and handling characteristics. The Formula Light boats are shorter with smaller horsepower engines. They operate with a top speed of about 75 mph.

The Tri-Hull class is based off of vintage walk-through windshield cruising boats with V4 fishing engines. This class always proves to be a crowd favorite.

The J-Hydro class is used to train young drivers. They are able to learn the basics of racing through experience in these 12-foot knee-rider boats propelled by 9.9-hp outboard engines.

For more information, call 409-883-1011 or visit the Orange Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook page.