Hot Licks Boat
Hot Licks could go Top Fuel Hydro in 2004! It wasn't hard to make the leap, two whole Divisions, to Top Fuel Hydro. The team under the supervision of Dennis Gibson, a crew chief/owner with 20+ years experience in boat racing, showed their commitment and perseverance in 2004.
The boat was originally built to run in the Pro-Modified Division. In 2003-2004, the boat began the season racing and winning in the Pro-Modified Division. However, Hot Licks only ran five races before an exciting opportunity presented itself.
Dennis "Hoot" Gibson - Team Owner
The basics of
drag boat racing are very similar to those of land drag racing. It is an acceleration race over a measured quarter mile straightaway on water between two high performance race boats.
However,
drag boats us a slight moving start. This starting system was implemented as a safety precaution because it is difficult for a boat driver to determine if the boat will launch straight from a standing start.
As two boats are “paired up” on the holding rope, a countdown clock begins before the boats get the green light. During competition, if either boat crosses the starting line before the green light is illuminated, it is disqualified.
Each boat is allowed to qualify for eliminations by making at least one quarter-mile timed run. Each of the boats is clocked for an elapsed time (ET) that is determined from the time it takes the boat to cover the quarter-mile race from start to finish.
drag boats qualify on Saturday for a two-day event and on Friday and Saturday for three day events. Only the top qualifying boats will compete in the championship elimination rounds. The winner of each round of racing advances to the next round until only one boat remains as the class winner.