Slough books 23 boats for opener

Right, More than 500 campers are expected at Webb's Slough by Saturday. The Slough population just west of St. John probably exceeds the population of the town.

Webb's Slough expects 23 boats will hit the course Saturday in the first event on the American Sprint Boat Racing Association opener. The card this year will include some veteran crews who have moved up into the unlimited class.

The opener at St. John has stretched into a four-day event with campers allowed to be on the grounds on Thursday. Camping on the trimmed alfalfa/grass turf had become a large part of the attraction. Last year's June event brought more that 500 campers to the site, according to Amanda Webb.

Saturday races will mark the start of the 11th season for the slough.

St. John fans had a preview of the races during the St. John fair when Dennis Hughes of Spokane brought down his boat. Hughes, who is one of the racers that will move up into the unlimiteds, tested his boat while making the spring visit to St. John.

Scott Saxton of Surrey, B.C., a member of the Fat Buddies team from Canada, is also expected to enter with a new unlimited boat which will run on methanol. Saxton, who has raced in the 400 class, has always been a crowd pleaser at the slough with his all-out racing style.

The entry card for Saturday's races will have six in the unlimited class, nine in the modifieds and eight in the 400s.

Webb said some other boats are known to be out there, but crews have been pressed for time to get all the pieces put together for Saturday's opener.

SJE grad Skylar Smith, now a student at WSU, and his dad Donald and crew have been working to get their boat ready for the 400 class.

The race cards also lists three rookies with two in the modifieds and one in the 400.

The boats will have a downtown show and shine Friday from 4 until 7. The course will open for practices Saturday at 9 and qualifying runs will start at 10.

The boats will make another stop at the slough Aug. 26 and then convene at Port Angeles for the season championship. St. John and Port Angeles are the lone courses on the circuit for this year's sprint boat campaign.