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Crowds gathered at Lakeside Park on Saturday and Sunday to watch high-speed boat racing as part of Lakefest and the Southern Drag Boat Association 2021 season. The elevated viewing area at Lakeside Pavilion may have been the best seats in the house. Photos by Nathan Hendrix/The Highlander
Lakefest is one of the most photo-worthy events in the area with blazing speeds and huge wakes on Lake Marble Falls.
Driver Michael Ratliff of Kingsland lifted off from the starting line during his first race on Sunday, Aug. 8. On Friday, crews and drivers had one last chance to perform checks and tune-ups on their machines before the races started. The crew of Bad Moon Rising used the time wisely.
Weather was an issue on Sunday as wind speeds cliimbed and created harsh conditions on the surface of Lake Marble Falls. The course was shortened to an eighth of a mile to create a safer race for the participants. At the event, even personal watercrafts were represented as racers showed off their skills in high-speed jet ski races.
John Murray of Kingsland was one of the local drivers represented at the next-to-last race in the 2021 Southern Drag Boat Association season. The tow crew was the unsung hero of the event taking boats to the starting line from the new launch point. The process was slower this year because of high winds creating choppy conditions on the lake.
Friday evening’s Show and Shine event provided race fans with an up close and personal look at the powerful boats featured at this year’s Lakefest.