During the 2024 Showdown in San Angelo event last weekend in San Angelo Texas, there was an on-water incident that warrants discussion and potential feedback as it relates to this incident.
The purpose of this communication is to outline the events that led up to this incident, discuss the actual incident and re-visit the expectations of the racer in the event that this incident was to once again present itself in future races and/or drag boat passes.
What this communication is NOT intended to do is to point out individual faults, pass judgement or in any other way shed negative light on the racer involved in this incident. This incident was not an isolated event in that this EXACT situation has occurred countless times over my tenure with many different drivers and organizations and many classes of race boats.
For full disclosure: I have spoken in depth to the racer involved in this incident and he has given his FULL blessing to discuss this incident openly. He shares the SDBA's goal regarding this incident, and that goal is to prevent a negative outcome for the racer in the event this incident occurs moving forward.
The Incident: Sunday morning during round 2 of the Pro Outlaw eliminations, the PO Wildfire driven by Robert Leas made a seemingly flawless run. Later, after talking with Robert Leas, he felt the boat violently shake at or about the 700' mark of the track. He indicated to me that the felt he "lost the motor" and that was all. As it turns out, that violent shake was caused by the Prop and Prop Shaft departing the boat resulting in a shoebox size hole in the middle of the bottom of the hull. Robert indicated that as the boat came to settle down in the shutdown area, he "opened the visor" on his sealed breathing system (like he "always does") and waited for the jet ski tow. He then began communicating on his team radio regarding the run when the boat, without warning, quickly sank, stern first to the bottom of the lake. Robert indicated that he had already removed his steering wheel; however, he remained secured in the capsule by seatbelts. The depth at this part of the lake was 8-9 feet so the back of the boat contacted the bottom leaving only the sponsons of the boat visible and floating. The entire capsule (a small lid Kaase) was underwater. Robert Leas reported that he attempted to close his visor and reactivate his air supply but simply was not able to do so. He indicated that in an attempt to free himself from the capsule, he removed his seatbelts and attempted to climb out of the capsule and was not able to do so in that his seatbelts became entangled with his HANS device and his SCUBA air regulator hose. Lastly, he indicated that he thought he was not going to be able to get out of this incident on his own and was preparing for the worst outcome. It was at this time that he felt the Rescue Divers making contact with him inside the capsule.
The Rescue: Both SDBA Rescue boats deployed to the area of this incident and while enroute noticed that the capsule itself was under the level of the water and we did not see the driver on the surface of the water. As we arrived on the scene, we did notice that the driver was trying to get out of the capsule in that the capsule lid, (while still under the surface of the water) was being manipulated back and forth by the driver. SDBA Rescue II deployed 2 SCUBA/Rescue divers into this incident with 1 of the Rescue Divers going to Robert Leas and the other Rescue Diver entering the capsule. Both Rescue divers worked in concert to free the driver from the capsule, and he was brought to the water surface and then onto the Rescue boat and as a precaution delivered to the Ambulance compound for evaluation.
The expectation of a racer moving forward: As we have discussed and trained with each of you during your MANDATORY Underwater Capsule Orientation Program participation, the sequence that we would like to see each of you follow in the event of an incident and NOW during a seemingly normal run is to first, shut down your boat, remove your seatbelts and remove your steering wheel ( if it can be removed), stand up and remove yourself from the capsule and then, AND ONLY THEN, disconnect your Air Supply.
The last thing we want to see any of you do is to talk on your own communication system or do ANYTHING else BEFORE you remove yourself from your race boat and assure your own safety. Let's all work together to keep safety and safe outcomes a priority in Drag Boat racing.
See you on the water. Jimmy
Jimmy Todd
Safety and Rescue Director
SDBA
661-317-0911
SDBARescue@gmail.com