Fausey part of local race contingent at upcoming Regatta
LOCKPORT, PA – It’s not hard to determine what brought local powerboat racer Aaron Fausey to his passion. Fausey was born and raised in Lockport Heights and therefore spent his early years with a birds-eye view of the annual Jaycees Labor Day Regatta and its three days of racing just below his house.
Fausey still calls Lockport his home and if there is a prize for least miles traveled to the Regatta this weekend, he’ll be the easy winner. But this time Fausey won’t be watching; he’ll be racing up and down the Susquehanna River for the fun, the friendships and the prizemoney. He’ll be part of four local residents in the hunt over Labor Day weekend. What their fellow boaters call “the Lock Haven crew” will be very much present; they are Fausey, Sean Haines, Brenan Haines and Bob Wahlers. They “crew” together and travel together, but travel won’t be a problem this weekend.
Speedboat racing is an unusual calling, but as Fausey explained his interest to The Record, “At the end of the day in boat racing it isn’t all about the money it’s about having a good time and making friends.”
The Woodward Township resident this week offered his answers to Record inquiries on his love of the sport:
Where did the interest in powerboat racing come from?
The interest in powerboat racing came from just going to the pits where all the boats are parked for the Lock Haven races and making friends with everyone and helping them out all weekend, everyone is like family, and who doesn’t love a sport that’s competitive but still has a family like atmosphere.
Did you watch the races growing up? At what point did you decide to jump in? How long ago was that?
I always lived close to the Susquehanna, so I always looked forward to watching the races every year when I was growing up, it was never a point of deciding to jump in and do it; it was when is someone gonna let me take one for a spin. I raced my first boat when I was probably 12 or 13 in a J Hydro when the family I helped every year at the regatta offered me to run their boat.
What has the progression been?
The progression has been awesome, After I raced my friend’s boat for a couple of years, I got out of it because I was getting too big for the classes they were running so I just went back to help out.
Is this the first time in a larger boat? Where/when did this happen? How do you advance yourself in this?
Definitely not my first time in a boat like this, but this is my first full year running a Hydroplane full time. What got me back into the sport was the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association puts on a driving school the Friday before the Labor Day Regatta so I decided to give it a shot again and then raced the school boat that whole weekend as well, made more friends while doing it and by the end of the weekend I had contacts on how to get my own ride for next year. I highly recommend anyone looking into driving a Hydroplane to attend the driving school at Lock Haven because you will leave with empty pockets and no regrets. If you have any questions on how to join the driving school come over to the pits during the Regatta any boat racer will be willing to talk to you and lead you to the right person.
Where all do you race? Have any success yet?
Since getting my own boats I have raced two times in Millville, NJ, Kittanning, PA and Franklin, PA. I have had some success, my very first race with my new rig I won in Millville, NJ against a field of 9 or 10 boats. That was last year…. this year my success isn’t the greatest I placed third or so overall all at the Spring Millville race this year, then we went onto Franklin where I flipped the boat going into the second turn while running third, so I didn’t finish well that weekend. Last weekend we went to the beautiful Kittanning, PA site where I didn’t have such good luck either where I was running first place in the second heat and came down the back stretch on the first lap, hit some wake, and blew the boat over backward.
How big is the racing circuit?
The racing circuit is fairly large; you can race anywhere from New York, Maine, Canada, and Florida and everywhere in between.
Is it difficult to get into this pursuit?
It seems difficult to get into, but it isn’t. The wonderful people that come to the Regatta are all willing to give a hand in helping get someone new into the sport; therefore, you aren’t alone.
Where/when do you practice?
I typically do some testing at a private place at a family member’s house a couple of times a year. Also, many race sites will allow you to do testing the Friday before the races start, giving you some practice.
Where do you find these boats? Expensive? Where do the engines come from? Who maintains them?
Facebook groups have been a big hit the past couple of years for buying and selling these boars, my boat personally came from Maine, but you can find them all around the world.
Most people say this sport is expensive, but this is one of the most inexpensive sports. But at the end of the day in boat racing isn’t all about the money it’s about having a good time and making friends.
The engine that I am currently running which is a Yamato comes from Japan. I typically do all the maintenance to my equipment unless I were to blow the motor up then I have to send it out to someone because they are a sealed motor and only certain people are allowed to work and rebuild them.
Describe how you feel about it: A love? A passion? Fun?
Boat racing is a passion for me it is just a great time being friends with all the other racers then you hit the water and become competitors and when you are off the water you are friends all over again.
