2000-2009
Dale Anderson
Born: June 24, 1955
Died: September 8, 2002
Buried:
Age: 47
Full Name: Dale Wesley Anderson
Nickname:
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event: National Jet Boat Association race
Accident Date: September 8, 2002
Boat: "Bad Boy's Dixie Toy"
Biographical: His boat became airborne and flipped. He was transported to Kern Medical Center where he died shortly after arrival. He was from Newport Beach, California.
Sources
"Drag racer dies at jet boat tourney," Manila Standard, September 9, 2002
"Drag racer dies in jet boat event in Calif.," Spartanburg Herald-Journal, September 9, 2002
"Racing accident kills man," Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Sep. 9, 2002
Social Security Death Index (Dale W. Anderson, born June 24, 1955, died Sep. 8, 2002, SS# issued in Calif. In 1969)
California Birth Index (Dale Wesley Anderson, born June 24, 1955 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Hodson)
Photos
Joe Barnes
Born: September 3, 1944
Died: August 28, 2004
Buried: South Fork Cemetery, South Baptist Church, near Halls, Tennessee
Age: 59
Full Name: Joe Henry Barnes, Jr.
Nickname: "The Real 239"
Location: Green River, Livermore, Kentucky
Event: Kentucky Drag Boat Association 9th annual "Thunder on the Green" race
Accident Date: August 28, 2004
Boat: 239 "High and Dry"
Biographical: During qualifying, he died instantly when his boat flipped in the air and he was ejected. Wind and speed were thought to be a factor in his crash. He was from Ripley, Tennessee, and had been racing boats for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.
Sources
"Tennessee man killed in western Kentucky hydroplane race," Elizabethton Star, August 30, 2004
Social Security Death Index (Joe H. Barnes, born Sep. 3, 1944, died Aug. 28, 2004, SS# issued in Tennessee in 1960, last residence was Ripley, TN)
Harriett Barnes Higgs, e-mail communication to site administrator, Aug. 18, 2011
Rita Barnes, e-mail communication to site administrator,
Photos
Lloyd Burns
Born: February 17, 1939
Died: April 21, 2007
Buried: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana
Age: 68
Full Name: Lloyd Holmes Burns, III
Nickname:
Location: Kentucky Lake's Pisgah Bay
Event: Kentucky Drag Boat Association
Accident Date: April 21, 2007
Boat: outboard-engined drag boat
Biographical: He was practicing to later make runs at the KDBA event at Pisgah Bay on Kentucky Lake near Grand Rivers, Kentucky. His boat went airborne at high speed, then flipped, and disintegrated. Burns was thrown from the boat. He was transported to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville where he succumbed shortly afterwards. He owned a boat shop in Evansville, where he lived. He was survived by his wife, Carol, and children.
Sources
"Indiana boater dies after crash," Paducah Sun, Apr. 22, 2007
Obituary, Evansville Courier & Press, Apr. 23, 2007
Social Security Death Index
Indiana Death Certificate
Photos
Melvin Eaves
Born: September 5, 1950
Died: July 1, 2001
Buried:
Age: 50
Full Name: Melvin Ray Eaves
Nickname:
Location: Alabama River
Event: Alabama River Rampage
Accident Date: July 1, 2001
Boat: Modified Production outboard-engined drag boat
Biographical: He was thrown from his boat during a race at nearly 90 MPH. His helmet came off upon impact. He was transported to Jackson Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He resided in Vidor, Texas.
Sources
"Investigators look into boating death," Montgomery Advertiser, July 3, 2001
Social Security Death Index
"Racing boat pulled from river," Montgomery Advertiser, July 6, 2001
Photos
Vidor High School 1968 Yearbook
Don Ermshar
Born: February 16, 1943
Died: August 27, 2009
Buried: Crestlawn Memorial Park, Riverside, California
Age: 66
Full Name: Donald Paul Ermshar
Nickname:
Location: Marine Creek Lake, North Fort Worth, Texas
Event: Southern Drag Boat Association Cowtown Drag Boat Nationals
Accident Date: July 12, 2009
Boat: top alcohol flatbottom
Biographical: He was traveling at 161 MPH when he skidded out of control at the finish line. He was submerged under water for about five minutes in his safety capsule until rescue workers could extricate him. He was transported to Harrison Methodist Hospital. Initial diagnosis showed his injuries seemed to be minor, but he developed complications and died about six weeks after the crash. He was from Riverside, California, and was survived by his wife, Phyllis.
Sources
"Drag boat racer in stable condition after Fort Worth crash," Star-Telegram, July 13, 2009
http://dragboatalley.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/2/481.html (accessed 7/25/10)
http://dragboatalley.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/4/286.html (accessed 7/25/10)
Social Security Death Index (Donald Ermshar, born Feb. 16, 1943, died Aug. 27, 2009, SS# issued in Calif. In 1959, last residence in Riverside, CA)
Photos
http://teamrfc.org/DonErmshar.shtml (accessed 7/25/10)
Lance Faulkner
Born: August 24, 1969
Died: November 22, 2001
Buried: East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, Provo, Utah
Age: 30
Full Name: Lance Travis Faulkner
Nickname:
Location: Lake Mead, Parker, Arizona
Event:
Accident Date: November 22, 2001
Boat:
Biographical: He was testing a drag boat when the propeller broke and the boat flipped over on Lake Mead. He lived in Provo, Utah, and was survived by his wife, Melanie, and young daughter.
Sources
"Boat crash claims Lance Faulkner," Deseret News, Nov. 27, 2001
"Racer remembered for putting others first," Deseret News, Jan. 14, 2002
Photos
Alan Hawkins
Born:
Died: June 17, 2000
Buried:
Age:
Full Name:
Nickname:
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event:
Accident Date:
Boat: "Gladiator" blown alcohol hydro
Biographical: He had only raced his boat a few times prior to his fatal accident. He suffered rudder failure near the finish. More research is needed.
Sources
Gary Brown, e-mail communication to site administrator, Oct. 4, 2010
Photos
John Hipwell
Born: September 24, 1957
Died: October 3, 2004
Buried: St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery, Dover, New Jersey
Age: 47
Full Name: John Robert Hipwell, Jr.
Nickname:
Location: Lake Yosemite, Merced, California
Event: International Hot Boat Association race
Accident Date: October 3, 2004
Boat: "Madness" top fuel hydro
Biographical: His boat spun out of control at 201 MPH on the top end. He was making a single pass after his competitor broke. He was an auto mechanic and lived in Landing, New Jersey. He was survived by his wife, Jo-Ann.
Video:
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Tribute to John Hipwell
Sources
"Crash victim loved racing," Merced Sun-Star, October 5, 2004
"Landing man killed in California boat mishap while trying to set world record," New Jersey Highlands News Service, October 11, 2004
http://dragboatracing.com/Community/Forums/tabid/54/aft/35688/Default.aspx (accessed 7/25/10)
Photos
http://www.pbase.com/richard/boat_races (accessed 7/25/10)
Charlie Hodsdon
Born: December 21, 1963
Died: October 15, 2006
Buried:
Age: 42
Full Name: Charles Ronald Hodsdon
Nickname:
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event:
Accident Date: September 17, 2006
Boat: "White Thunder" River Races jet boat
Biographical: His boat went airborne at about 140 MPH at about half track. He was ejected, but the boat landed on top of him. He was transported to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. He was paralyzed from the waist down. After about three weeks, they transported him to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California. Unfortunately he began having complications, was operated on, and died. He was from Paradise, California, and was survived by his wife, Audrey.
Sources
http://dragboatalley.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/2/243.html (accessed 7/26/10)
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_8039514 (accessed 7/26/10)
Photos
http://dragboatalley.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/2/243/2.html (accessed 7/26/10)
Mike Neuharth
Born: January 3, 1959
Died: April 9, 2005
Buried: Mount Angeles Memorial Park, Port Angeles, Washington
Age: 46
Full Name: Michael Alan Neuharth
Nickname:
Location: Firebird Lake, Phoenix, Arizona
Event: International Hot Boat Association Lakefest
Accident Date: April 9, 2005
Boat: "Silver Belle" Pro Mod
Biographical: He had just finished a qualifying run at about 165 MPH. He had just backed off the accelerator when one of his sponsons lifted and the boat nose dived and did a hard right turn. It then began flipping violently end over end and side over side. The boat sank in shallow water and rescue workers got to him within 90 seconds, but were unable to resuscitate him. Some thought that because the capsule didn't separate from the hull, that malfunction may have led to his death. He was from Sequim, Washington, and was survived by his wife, Judy, and three children.
Sources
"Cause of racer's death may be faulty capsule," Arizona Republic, April 12, 2005
Social Security Death Index (Mike Neuharth, born Jan. 3, 1959, died Apr. 9, 2005, SS# issued in Calif. In 1972)
California Birth Index (Michael A. Neuharth, born Jan. 3, 1959 in San Joaquin Co., mother’s maiden name was Mueller)
Photos
Smoke on the Water: The IHBA 2005 Season Opener (DragList.com)
Stevie Rawleigh
Born: July 20, 1957
Died: September 28, 2008
Buried:
Age: 51
Full Name: Stephen Todd Rawleigh
Nickname: Stevie Smith
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event:
Accident Date: September 28, 2008
Boat: 19-foot Chevy-powered flatbottom
Biographical: He was traveling about 115 MPH when he lost control and the boat flipped upside down over and over. He was transported to Kern Medical Center where he died.
Sources
"Man dies at Lake Ming drag boat races," KGET.com, September 28, 2008
"Arizona drag racer dies after Lake Ming crash," BakersfieldNow.com, September 29, 2008
Social Security Death Index (Stephen Todd Rawleigh, born July 20, 1957, died Sep. 28, 2008, SS# issued in Calif. In 1963)
Photos
http://stephenrawleigh.webs.com/whenwhere.htm (accessed 7/25/10)
http://stephenrawleigh.webs.com/ (accessed 7/25/10)
David Skalicky
Born: September 12, 1973
Died: July 10, 2005
Buried: Evergreen Memorial Park, Crockett, Texas
Age: 31
Full Name: David Lee Skalicky
Nickname: "Mr. Dixie"
Location: Oklahoma River, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Event: Southern Drag Boat Association Ozarka Bricktown Nationals
Accident Date: July 10, 2005
Boat: "Bad Boys Dixie Toy Express" blown gas flatbottom
Biographical: He was thrown from his boat near the start when the front end of the craft came up. His body position when thrown into the water was not good and he suffered a broken neck. He was transported to the O-U Medical Center where he died. He was a school teacher from Crockett, Texas.
Sources
"East Texas man dies in drag boat racing accident in Oklahoma City," KTRE.com, July 10, 2005
Social Security Death Index (David L. Skalicky, born Sep. 12, 1973, died July 10, 2005, SS# issued in Texas)
"Accident claims boat racer," The Oklahoman, July 11, 2005
Photos
http://www.pipelinepc.com/dixieexpressracing/home.html (accessed 7/23/10)
http://dragboatracing.com/Community/Forums/tabid/54/aft/35706/Default.aspx (accessed 3/12/11)
Find a Grave (photo courtesy of Carol Johnson Hoch)
Jim Tucker
Born: March 7, 1957
Died: June 20, 2009
Buried: Mission Burial Park South, San Antonio, Texas
Age: 52
Full Name: James Delson Tucker
Nickname:
Location: Creve Coeur Lake, Maryland Heights, Missouri
Event: 30th annual Budweiser Creve Coeur Lake Drag Boat Classic
Accident Date: June 20, 2009
Boat: "Say When" hydro
Biographical: During qualifying he was speeding about 140 MPH when his boat began chine walking and then dipped bow first into the water and its deck was torn off. It then proceeded to disintegrate. He was ejected from the boat and died soon after on shore. He was from Kingsbury, Texas, and was survived by his wife, Yvonne. He was a 20-year veteran drag boat racer and had been the IHBRA Pro-Eliminator world champion in 2008.
Video:
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TV news report of crash
Sources
"1 killed during boat race," News Tribune.com, June 22, 2009
Social Security Death Index (James D. Tucker, born Mar. 7, 1957, died June 20, 2009, SS# issued in Texas in 1973)
Texas Marriage Collection (James D. Tucker, married Yvonne Laney on Dec. 20, 2000 in Guadalupe Co., TX)
Photos
"Oklahoma City Nationals: Drag boats welcome U.S.S. OKC crew," The Oklahoman
Jay Wallace
Born: September 26, 1962
Died: May 6, 2006
Buried: cremains scattered at Lake Mead
Age: 43
Full Name: Edward Jay Wallace
Nickname:
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event: National Jet Boat Association May Shootout race
Accident Date: May 6, 2006
Boat:
Biographical: Witnesses thought his throttle got stuck while traveling about 130 MPH and he hit the shore at full speed. His boat flew into the air, over a parking lot, and crashed into a hillside causing a grass fire. He was thrown from the boat after it left the water. He was transported to Kern Medical Center where he died. He was from Las Vegas, Nevada, and was survived by his wife, Denise, and three children.
Sources
"Man dies after weekend boating accident at Lake Ming," BakersfieldNow.com, May 7, 2010
Social Security Death Index
Photos