Thunder On The Gulf

Orange Beach Race The roar you hear coming from the gulf this weekend "will" be the sound of thunder but it may not be what you think.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Fri, August 15, 2008 - 4:30 pm CST

The roar you hear coming from the gulf this weekend "will" be the sound of thunder, but it may not be what you think. Thunder on the Gulf returns to Orange beach and while it is a spectacle for race fans, it means big bucks for the city of Orange Beach.
It's dubbed the most dangerous woater sport in the world, but it could also be called, a family affair. "It's the love of doing this and being with my Father," says Michael Stancombe. He is the throttle-man for "Peppers". "It's a team effort. It's not just one person. I couldn't do it without my father. He is one of the best drivers out there and I'm racing with family members. We're a great team."
Being related seems to have worked well for another team too. "I'm fortunate that I've raced with my brother for ten years so we don't talk a lot in the boat we know what each other is doing, he drives and I throttle and it works." John Kostelac and his brother have three world championships to show for their teamwork,
And then, there's the husband and wife team on "Under Destruction" Jenni Dunbar is the only female racer. "I can't wait. I'm hoping the seas aren't too big. We don't want to break anything but it makes for better racing, more exciting if there is a little bit of a chop."
This year the family theme also continues off the water. At race village there are vendors for arts and crafts, food and live entertainment as it becomes more of a festival on the gulf according to Visitors Bureau spokesman, Mike Foster. "Last year this event generated fourteen thousand room nights and almost five million dollars spent on the island in one weekend. That being said, it's obvious it's very, very important weekend for us."
It's also important for the boats. "We always do fairly well here," says Stancombe, "and this weekend we really, really want to win this race."
After six years, Thunder on the Gulf continues to grow to include the whole family in and out of the water.
The boats hit the water Saturday for test runs then races begin Sunday. For a complete rundown on the weekends event click on www.thunderonthegulf.com.

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