Safety is job one at Fox River speedboat races
Thunder on the Fox is not your average festival. It's not in a park or a parking lot, but on the Fox River, and a crowd of up to 10,000 is expected to show up Saturday and Sunday to line Elgin's riverbanks to watch boats rip through the water at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
The novelty of the event means Elgin police and fire departments — along with event organizers — are doing extra work to make sure the weekend goes smoothly, perhaps even injury free.
Jim McGrath, of Elgin's McGrath Motors, is the promoter for the event and the reason it's being held in Elgin. He started tunnel boat racing two years ago and since has become an avid competitor.
McGrath persuaded APR SuperLeague to hold its season opener along the Fox River in his hometown. That means Coast Guard involvement to block off the river beyond the racecourse, extra training for paramedics and police officials to monitor the shore.
Though the danger is mostly for the racers, safety also comes into play for attendees.
“Spectator safety is always a concern,” said Sherron Winer, a co-owner of APR SuperLeague. “We want people to have fun; we certainly don't want them to get hurt.”
The New York Times reported a particularly horrific crash at a powerboat race in August of 1988 in Pittsburgh when a boat spun out of control and crashed into a crowd, injuring 24.
Winer said SuperLeague's record is spotless when it comes to spectator safety in the 138 races held since 1986.
For the racers, it's another story.
“I've seen an accident every time we race,” McGrath said. “It happens; it's racing.”
McGrath said the sport is getting increasingly less dangerous as safety standards become more stringent but some risk is part of the game.
APR SuperLeague chose the Elgin location after deciding it met the course requirements for width, length and depth. It also got the approval of the Coast Guard, its own insurance company, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the City of Elgin.
Assistant Fire Chief David Schmidt has coordinated the fire department's safety efforts. He said there will be three paramedics and an ambulance on the shore, plus three divers on a department boat and an underwater rescue team for the river.
Friday morning — a day before Saturday's first race — all of the divers will get special training to prepare them for emergencies.
The course goes north from the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., to almost Slade Avenue. Spectators can buy tickets and enter the festival on Ann Street just north of the library, then line the river's edge with blankets and chairs of their own.
Caution tape will be set up to keep people 30 feet from the riverbank and fencing will surround the event area — mostly to keep people out before they buy tickets.
Mayor David Kaptain said safety concerns did come up in considering granting permits for the boat racing event.
“I did raise the question,” Kaptain said. “I didn't want anyone getting hurt, but staff felt they had been answered adequately. They're the experts.”
Meanwhile, Elgin businesses throughout Elgin are looking forward to the increased traffic for the festival weekend. If the SuperLeague's predictions come true, 20,000 people will pack downtown between Saturday and Sunday.
The police department is in charge of controlling crowds and traffic for the first event of its kind in the city. Lt. Leigh Rawson said there is no way to predict how big — or well-behaved — the crowd will be.
“We just want to do what we can to be ready for anything that may happen,” Rawson said.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for 7- to 12-year-olds and free for those younger than 6.
A schedule of events is available at thunderonthefox.com.