Used Formula Boats

Shepard races to victory with damaged boat in Formula 2 at the River Roar

BAY CITY — At the start of Sunday’s Formula 2 final at the River Roar Kris Shepard was in trouble.

Despite starting from the pole and pulling away to a big lead the choppy waters of the Saginaw River damaged his No.46 Northern Concrete Pipe boat and it looked like he would drop out of the race.

Then he caught a break with a pair of well-timed race stoppages that allowed him to fix his boat with the help of no less than 20 fellow racers and crew members in the pits. He then rejoined the race and stormed to victory.

“We’re all friends and family,” Shepard said of the massive effort to keep him in the race. “I was just trying to manage the race.”

The Antioch, Ill. racer almost didn’t make it to this weekend’s race because of funding woes, Shepard had to borrow a motor just to run the race. Having previously won the River Roar in 2007 he was only previous winner in the F2 event this year.

Floridian Jeff Reno overcame a fuel leak to finish second in his first River Roar, one of the only drivers other than Shepard to lead the race, with Canada’s Dan Orchard in third. Second-year River Roar racer Dan McGrath used his new boat to finish fourth, the last boat on the lead lap.

For Orchard just finishing was a victory. During the series’ previous race in Port Neches, Tex. he had a violent crash that largely destroyed his boat, his team barely got the red-and-white No.97 to the start line.

“It was a really rough ride,” Orchard said, it took so much effort to fix the No.97 he did not get much time to shake the boat down before the race. “There were so many people who helped out so we got on the water.”

While the first caution may have been a savior for Shepard it was a disaster for Houston, Texas-based racer Ruben Stafford. He had raced his No.5 boat up into third place when going down the frontstretch the rough water broke the bottom of his boat. The damage sent the No.5 into a violent rollover when he reached the next corner and tried to turn.

“I thought ‘I’ve got to get out’,” Stafford said of the crash, his boat overturning and mostly sinking in the aftermath.

Stafford thought his boat was capable of running down Reno for second before the crash, which left him in last place for the day. The damage done to his boat may end his career in F2, he has already purchased a F1 boat and was planning on moving up.

Elizabeth Park (Detroit river) boat ramp - Offshoreonly.com

I was going to cruise the Detroit river on Saturday and was wondering if anyone has ever used the ramp at Elizabeth Park. Specificaly, weather or not any bigger offshore style boats go in and out of this place. I have a Silverado 2500 HD Crew cab and a formula 357 and the total length is pretty long, tight turns and small parking lots are a bit of an issue. I was going to cruise the Detroit river on Saturday and was wondering if anyone has ever used the ramp at Elizabeth Park. Specificaly, weather or not any bigger offshore style boats go in and out of this place. I have a Silverado 2500 HD Crew cab and a formula 357 and the total length is pretty long, tight turns and small parking lots are a bit of an issue. I know a lot of off shore boats also use the Ecorse Public Ramp. It has a very gradual incline which makes getting the boat back on the trailer easy. But a lot of yahoo's also launch there, so it is usually a waiting game.... I would stay away from the Wyandotte, boat ramp. It is very steep, which puts your trailer at a goofy angle when trying to get the boat back on the trailer.

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