Christina Matty was involved in a serious car crash on her way the to the 2005 IHBA Super Nationals in which she tragically lost her father, Lance, her brother, Daniel, and two close family friends, Christina was the only survivor with burns over 70 percent of her body and a broken back. She has recovered thanks in part to the help of the drag boat racing community who helped pay her hospital bills and kept her company during her three months in the hospital.  TFH owner Eddie Knox and boat racers Tony Scarlotta and Jeff Andrade made trips to the picking up family and friends at the airport and bringing them to the hospital. 

Matty made her competition debut at this event in her late father's boat "King Kong." Her dad had purchased another boat to build for her before the accident but Christina thought it best to run her dad’s boat in his honor and she re-named it "Queen Kong." She had never driven a boat in competition prior to this event. It would not be a story book ending, though, as she broke out in the first round river racer class eliminations. 

Knox has safety on his mind
Speaking of Eddie Knox, his driver, Dale Ishimaru, crashed earlier this year at the IHBA Lucas Oil race in Red Bluff, CA, when one of the boat’s two props broke off, causing the boat to make a hard right turn and the capsule to separate from the boat. The capsule landed upside down and Dale's helmet filled with water. Dale almost died but the IHBA rescue crew resuscitated him and he was air lifted to the local hospital with a broken back that  took more than 14 hours of surgery to repair.

Knox was showing drivers and owners some new designs that should result in a stronger, more bullet-proof prop and shaft. A New York-based engineer came up with the improved and expensive fix. Knox was at the race to try and raise funds to build a prototype of the new design and said he will re-mortgage his own house if necessary to make the new design. Knox has also designed a pneumatic saw for the IHBA rescue team designed to cut a driver helmet off, which is difficult because of the rubber "sock" and the breathing apparatus contained under the driver’s helmet.  Knox is also championing the idea of using a style of form fitting seat like those found in open wheel racing to further protect the drivers.

Photo Essay

Drag boat and drag racing photographer Captain Joe Dutra debuted his Pro Mod eliminator hydro at this race. Walt Ott, along with sons Bob and Eric, built Joe's engine! The hull was built by Gene Deaver. The engine is a 481 ci Rodeck with Dart heads and really trick six-blade injector hat designed by Paul Schultz, lead engineer at Lear Jet in Kansas. and carved from three pieces of  billet. Eric Ott made a couple passes in the new boat to get his Pro Mod license running a best of 8.06.

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