Watercross race may be coming to lakefront---(Wisconsin)

CaptnKirk · 02-12-2006, 08:15 PM

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Gulls beware: The lakefront might be getting a little loud this August.

Deland Lakefront Park would be the scene of a Great Lakes Watercross Racing event if the Sheboygan Common Council approves a recommendation from its Public Works Committee to allow the competition.

"We're going to have nine stops this year in Wisconsin," said Scott Hyke, owner of Pro Tour Promotions of Madison, the event sponsor. "We'd like Sheboygan to be one of our 'big lake' races."

Hyke said watercross racing is similar to its on-land counterpart, motocross.

Participants race personal watercraft around a track outlined by yellow and red buoys, in a cordoned-off area that's 1,000 feet wide and 700 feet deep. Riders take anywhere from six to 18 laps, at times reaching speeds of 70 mph. They also compete in freestyle and slalom events and earn points toward a national championship, Hyke said.

Hyke said he chose Sheboygan because of its potential for massive wave action.

"When the waves come in with the winds out of the southeast, the wave conditions are as close to surf as I've seen, other than California," Hyke said. "It's amazing that Lake Michigan produces that kind of surf. It's our hope in Sheboygan that the natural waves will create even better viewing conditions for spectators."

If approved, the race would take place the third weekend in August, which traditionally had been the weekend of the now-defunct annual Lakefest at Deland.

Ald. Dennis Baumann, chairman of the Public Works Committee, said the event would be a welcome replacement for the long-running music festival.

"It's an attraction that's definitely going to bring a little bit more of the tourism to our city," Baumann said. "People look forward to Lakefest, and that's not there anymore. I think this is a replacement so people can do something on that particular weekend."

Baumann said organizers told the city the event would be free for spectators and would not have a negative impact on the lake environment.

If the council approves the event, Baumann said, the city also would verify whether the organizers have the necessary permits and insurance.

Kim Swisher, manager of the city's new tourism division, said the event has big potential as a tourist attraction.

"It's phenomenal for the city to diversify activities like that," Swisher said. "We have this beautiful lake, and of course charter fishing is a mainstay of our activities with boating at the marina, and this is just one more aspect that would bring in more people that otherwise might not come here."

Swisher said there could be some lodging issues because a Road America race is scheduled for the same weekend.

"Hopefully we will have enough rooms at enough places to be able to offer everyone a place to stay," Swisher said. "But that's a great problem to have. I'd rather be full than be struggling to have rooms taken."

Sheboygan Press

CaptnKirk · 02-20-2006, 06:06 PM

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Watercross racing worth considering

It's not exactly a similar replacement for the music-oriented Lakefest, but the idea of personal watercraft racing off Sheboygan in August is nonetheless intriguing.

Pro Tour Promotions of Madison has proposed using a area of Lake Michigan off the Deland Park area for one of nine stops this summer on the Great Lakes Watercross Racing tour. It would be on the third weekend of August, the same calendar spot occupied for a number of years by Lakefest, a free music festival operated by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Sheboygan and, for a number of years, sponsored by Piggly Wiggly.

Lakefest, which began in 1989, lost money last year and the Kiwanis Club decided to end the event.

The Common Council's Public Works Committee has already recommended that the city allow the personal watercraft event, but it will be up to the full council to give the final OK.

Personal watercraft racing or recreational use is not everyone's cup of tea. Many municipalities, especially those that regulate use of inland lakes, have set up strict rules for personal watercraft recreational users. Also, to many people, the engine whine is annoying and the speed with which the craft skim along the water poses a danger to other lake users.

Still, there is a sizeable base of enthusiasts who would likely follow a racing circuit to Sheboygan, a factor in the decision-making that can't be ignored.

About 10 years ago, a group brought powerboat racing to the Sheboygan River for a couple of years — an event that was met with an enthusiastic response from spectators who lined the river to watch.

The Sheboygan area is filled with racing enthusiasts of all kinds. Auto racing fans that flock to the short tracks on Saturday nights and the national and international sports car fans who watch races at Road America. There are also those who love snowmobile and motorcycle racing.

There are a number of concerns from the city's standpoint that need to be addressed, such as crowd and spectator control, noise and impact on the lakefront resources, including the environmental impact on public beach areas. A thorough investigation of these issues — and others that may be raised — is a must before the aldermen can make and up or down decision.

If the findings are positive, there is no reason not to welcome this new type of racing and new visitors to Sheboygan.

Although many thousands of people enjoyed Lakefest and we were sad to see its demise, the bulk of the crowd attending was made up of local residents.

Great Lakes Watercross has the potential to bring in thousands of people from outside of this area. This is of great benefit since visitors will be able to see the many other recreational and leisure offerings the Sheboygan area has, which will keep them coming back.

To comment on this go here: Sheboygan Press

CaptnKirk · 02-23-2006, 11:09 PM

This is a response that was written to the Sheboygan Press about the possibility of watercross races coming there. Take a look...

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I am writing in regard to the proposal to allow the watercross race (personal watercraft engaged in racing similar to on-land motocross) at Deland Park the third weekend in August.

In the Saturday, Feb. 11, issue of The Sheboygan Press, Ald. Dennis Baumann is quoted as saying the race is "an attraction that's definitely going to bring a bit more of the tourism to our city." He said race organizers assured him that the race would not have a negative impact on the lake environment. Kim Swisher, our new tourism manager, is quoted as saying, "This is just one more aspect that would bring in more people that otherwise might not come here."

The newspaper article cites the organizer of the race as saying the massive waves created in Sheboygan make it a good choice for racing personal watercraft.

I hope I don't need to quote a study that proves personal watercraft cause noise pollution, leak oil and gas into the water and probably disturb aquatic life. If you live anywhere near the lake, or visit the lake, you have heard the whine of their engines in summer. There are those that will argue the race is only one weekend out of the summer, but this race would increase the popularity of the area as a personal watercraft destination in the future. (Do not advertise it, and they may not come.)

Our Common Council and city departments have the obvious responsibility to maintain fiscal responsibility. One method to balance the budget is to increase our tax base. Besides raising taxes, this can be accomplished through increased building, growth of businesses in the area and tourism. Tax rates seem to be first and foremost on most citizens' minds, and what they express opinions to the city administration about most.

I realize this puts a lot of pressure on these people. As far as I am concerned, and I can't be the only one, those in city government also have an obligation to consider the impact of their decisions on environmental sustainability — what is taken from the Earth, what is put into the Earth — and our quality of life. Not all forms of industry, not all building plans and not all events meet sustainability criteria.

My opinion is that watercross racing is one of those events. I ask those in city administration to please have the foresight to see clearly how your decisions affect the future of Sheboygan and its citizens' quality of life.

Send YOUR comments regarding this in the form at the bottom of this page: Sheboygan Press

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(Do not advertise it, and they may not come.)

....ok..who wants to make it a POINT to go to this event?

02-23-2006, 11:13 PM

thatd b awesome

copperz · 02-24-2006, 01:11 AM

I wish i had more time to say what i think of this lady.

but here is what i said.
Also is this race open to anyone? not just the pro's?

This is a response to LORA Hagen’s article on the water cross racing. Hagen claims that this sport is detrimental to her because it causes noise pollution. Well the noise of these Jet Ski’s is only well heard when you are on the actual beach. You will not hear this noise in the town, or in anyone’s home. The Jet Ski’s do not in any way leak oil into the water. Today’s Jet Ski’s are far more advanced then an average person might think. The engine is very advanced with fuel injection and does not harm the environment in anyway. In fact they run much cleaner then any car on the road. This event will not disturb the aquatic life in any way, the event take place close to the beach and there are no fish nests or any spots that fish hide in open sand. They need cover or deep water. She then proceeds on expressing her opinions on taxes, she has no reason to tell board how to run a city. And this has nothing to do with water cross. If she feels that the town will suffer because of 2 days out of the whole summer. Then she should rally against all the Jet Ski’s and all boats that are on the water. I feel that the people that are on the board will understand that this could be a very important for their town.

02-24-2006, 05:27 PM

where can i send a letter saying **** you to this lady

copperz · 02-26-2006, 05:17 PM

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Originally Posted by boardordi3

where can i send a letter saying **** you to this lady

http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/...602220455/1883