BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — The drag boats are coming to the lake and organizers say they feel lucky to have found a good place for their sport to hold its competitions.
For the third time the members of the Southern Outlaw Dragboat Association will “take to the lake” in Lake Butler to compete and put on a show for all the residents attending. The races first came to the lake about four years ago, looking for a place to hold a non-sanctioned practice event. When they held their competition, they found that the lake fitted their needs perfectly and asked to return the following year. Now, the Lake Butler event is an annual endeavor and is officially on the SODA schedule of sanctioned events in Florida.
Racers will come from 10 or more states to compete at the event, with most from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North and South Carolina, although some will travel further. The event is officially known as the Tommy Styles Memorial Shootout, in honor of a deceased member of SODA.
The teams and their boats will start coming in to the area the previous day, getting settled in at motels in Starke and Lake City and hoping to get out on the lake a little to test the course. The event itself will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2022 and is expected to last about five hours. Boats will race in four or more classes, based on size, configuration and engine type. New this year will be the arrival of nitrous fueled boats – the fastest of all the types.
The sanctioning body is providing its own insurance for the event, so there is no cost to the city for the race. The event is of great economic advantage to the restaurants and many of the businesses in Lake Butler, with many reporting good sales in previous years.
Racing will begin at 12-noon on Saturday and admission is free to all. The City of Lake Butler has joined in the spirit of the event and worked to allow it to have a festival atmosphere as do other events held at the lake, such as the annual July 4 event. There will be five or more food trucks on hand to provide attendees and participants with lunch and snacks and the all important cold beverages. Local vendors will also have tables set up around the perimeter of the park, selling a wide variety of locally produced and crafted products.
“We want to make this event an opportunity for residents to have a day out and some family-oriented fun,” said City Manager Dale Walker.
There is still time for vendors wanting to get in on the fun, but the sign-up ends Friday, April 8 at 4 p.m. Those interested should contact the Lake Butler City Hall at (386) 496-3401 for details.
The lake will be closed to private boats for the duration of the race due to safety concerns. Parking will be catch-as-catch can, so be sure to wear walking shoes. Attendees may also want to bring portable chairs, although they will probably be on their feet, watching the races, most of the time. The noise level is much lower than might be expected, with the city saying that they have received very few complaints in previous years.
So, load up the family and come to the lake to watch some fast boats compete one on one with each other. Wear a hat, grab your sunglasses and don’t forget the sunscreen – then come on down to the lake for an afternoon of fun and excitement!
