Smooth sailing

ST. MARIES - Organizers of the second Dave Smith Motors "Race the Joe 2014" jet boat races are gearing up for a Memorial Day weekend race series that will include five locally sponsored race classes.

"This being the second year, a lot more people have heard about us," said Kyla Sawyer, spokesperson for Epic Motor Sports, the event management and marketing company that is co-hosting the event along with the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce. "We are not so new to folks this year."

Last year, the race was nearly halted when the U.S. Coast Guard was notified by a citizen who was concerned about the impact jet boat racing may have on nesting bald eagles and other wildlife in the area.

The issue was resolved when race organizers agreed to provide extra security in sensitive nesting areas and hired a wildlife specialist to analyze last year's race impact on the wildlife in the area.

Sawyer said that analysis showed that their races had little to no impact on the nesting eagles, and although organizers will not be required to secure a federal golden and bald eagle takings permit this year, they have applied for one anyway.

"We want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to get things right this year," she said. "That sure is a beautiful area up there and we don't want to do anything to damage that."

Since the last race, Sawyer said the U.S. Coast Guard has reviewed last year's race course and determined that the 25-mile racing portion of the St. Joe is not considered navigable, and therefore it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard.

"This year it is an entirely new ball game," Sawyer said. "It is back in the hands of the locals. We are working with Shoshone and Benewah counties."

The race runs from the Aqua Park area in Benewah County upriver to the Calder Bridge in Shoshone County and back.

Race organizers have asked those counties to approve a two-year permit to hold the race. Sawyer said that both counties have approved those permits, but Shoshone County made the second year of the approval conditional because it falls on a holiday weekend.

Sawyer said the race was pushed forward a week to Memorial Day weekend from May 23-25 because most racers will be at the 2014 World Championships in Mexico at the beginning of the month.

"We've had several teams ask if we could push it forward to allow enough travel time to participate in the Race the Joe," Sawyer said. "Because of that, Shoshone County wants to monitor the impact on emergency services on the busy Memorial Day weekend before granting approval for the second year."

Frankly, Sawyer said, race organizers are also interested in how the event plays out on a holiday weekend.

"We are interested in taking a look at how things go on that weekend as well," she said, adding a lot of people may have already made plans to load up the motor homes and get out of town. "We just hope that they might want to come join us at Race the Joe."

Sawyer said organizers are currently working to get the official program and advertising wrapped up, but they are happy to have most of the work done for this year's races.

"To have this done so early is pretty exciting," she said. "It is such a big 180 from last year."

This year, Race the Joe, which is a free event for spectators, will feature five racing classes over the course of three days. The event kicks off with a show-and-shine event sponsored by Avista, with several race legs over the course of the weekend.

The five classes include 'Unlimited Class,' sponsored by Burly Racing of Post Falls. This class includes both jet and piston driven boats and can reach speeds of 140 mph.

The Unlimited Piston Class is sponsored by Odom Corporation in Lewiston. It is the newest jet racing class.

The A Class is sponsored by Truline RV of Spokane. This class features boats that race at close to 100 mph. The CX Class is sponsored by St. Maries Auto Parts/NAPA, which has been a local sponsor from the beginning of the races, Sawyer said.

The final class is the FX/FXV Class sponsored by Riddle Marine in Lewiston. FX and FXV race boats are quick and maneuverable. They generally run at a top speed of 90 mph. The race boats in this combined class must use a specific crate engine that cannot be modified.

River race boat teams will compete in one of the five race classes based on engine size, speed and hull design, Sawyer said.

Spectators may watch the race for free from a riverbank with public access along the St. Joe River.

Referees for the first Race the Joe event estimated 5,000-6,000 people watched last year's event, including race teams from Canada and the U.S.

For more information and to follow progress on the race, search for Race the Joe on Facebook, or follow the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce website at www.stmarieschamber.org.