[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 12/3/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

December 3, 2008

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People –

 

 

Salton Sea Speedweek on tap

Imperial Valley Press – 12/2/08

By Eric Galvan, staff writer

Ross Wallach, president and owner of RPM Racing Enterprises, says he’s heard all the rumors and talk about the Salton Sea being a dead sea, but this weekend he plans to show how alive it really is.

For the first time since the 1970s, speed boats will take to the sea as they try to break and establish new speed records.

“I’ve heard people talking about the sea, but I’ve been down there and I know there’s plenty of uses for the Salton Sea,” Wallach said. “This weekend we figure on having between 50 and 100 boats and I think we’re going to see a lot of records set.”

Officially called the “2008 Salton Sea Speedweek presented by Centurion Boats,” the event will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Salton Sea’s recreation park in the North Shore area. It will follow rules and guidelines set by the American Power Boat Association and the Union of International Motonautique.

Each participant will run a kilometer, or 5/8 of a mile, on a course set up at the Salton Sea. Wallach said because of the sea’s low level, air density and buoyancy, the Salton Sea is ideal for speed boat racing and for setting speed records.

“There seems to be a resurgence in wanting to do these (kilometer races),” Wallach said. “And the Salton Sea holds the key to setting more records than anywhere else.”

Imperial County Supervisor Gary Wyatt, a past president of the Salton Sea Authority, said there have been many inquiries and many uses of the sea over the last few years for those wanting to recreate in the area.

He said the interest proves the Salton Sea is still a viable source of recreation.

“It’s a resource that many people thought was gone,” he said. “But to others, it isn’t.

“This absolutely shows one of the real values of the sea is recreation for various types of events,” he said. “And it shows the sea is usable and viable right now.”

If this event is successful, Wallach said he has plans to bring actual speed boat races back to the Salton Sea.

In 2009, along with the Salton Sea Speedweek, he said he would like to have the Salton Sea 300, a 300-mile endurance race as part of the American Power Boat Association’s “Triple Crown of Endurance” racing.

If that’s successful, he said in 2010 he’d like to bring back “the grand daddy of all endurance boat races,” the Salton Sea 500, a two-day endurance speedboat event.

“There’s a lot to this and I think the Salton Sea’s got a lot of potential,” he said. “I hope this weekend proves to be the launching ground for all of this.”#

http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2008/12/03/local_news/news02.txt

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