WILDWOOD CREST — Hydroplane racing driver Mark Johnson flipped his boat over in the fifth race Sept. 29 at Sunset Lake Hydrofest.
His bright yellow Number 30, sponsored by Pennzoil, flipped over as it was entering the first turn on the oval course in the 5 Litre Stock Final.
The race was stopped as a rescue boat picked Johnson out of the water. He was unhurt. His boat, a 5 Litre Stock Hydroplane, was completely upside down in the water.
Officials fired a flare to stop the race and raised the black flag to send drivers back to the pit. Johnson, a 31-year racing veteran from Mt. Arlington, is a three time American Power Boating Association Hall Champion inductee.
He began the race in the outside position. The race started with Number 3, driven by Eric Labelle, breaking down during qualifying laps.
“I’m fine,” Johnson told the Herald from the pit docks. ” I hit a little bit of a wake out there.”
“There was no warning, it just caught air,” he continued. “It’s such a big boat when it catches air there is nothing you can do.”
He said he has flipped over before during his long career including a double flip in the same boat last year. Johnson said he believed the boat had cockpit damage from a lot of water entering the boat when it flipped.
He said he swallowed some water himself.
Number 3 is capable of speeds up to 120 mph.
Racing was discontinued for the day at 3 p..m due to low tide conditions.
