Boats hit 200 mph on Lake Marble Falls

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - Sounds of roaring engines attracted thousands of people to Marble Falls this weekend for the 21st Annual LakeFest.

More than 100 boats raced down Lake Marble Falls, topping speeds of 200 miles an hour.

About 10,000 other people showed up to experience that rumbling feeling as well. Matt Howard drove in from Denton with his buddies to watch.

"They wanted me to come out here and just enjoy the experience," he said. "Man, this place is awesome -- shaking your organs, man. It's intoxicating: the sounds, the sights, seeing the spray. You just can't beat it."

The average boat has 3,500 horsepower behind its driver, taking only two seconds to hit four Gs.

Mickey Snider has been racing pro for five years and said the feeling is intense.

"You're out there skiing at 20- to 30 mph," he said. "Well, just times that about 20 when you fall, and that's what it feels like."

That means safety is priority No. 1.

Each driver must  wear a flameproof suit, crash helmet, face shield and an air tank -- in case they get trapped under water.

One driver was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure due to back pain after he crashed.

But Snider said you can't let wrecks slow you down.

"It's like bullriding and racing cars," he said. "When you crash, you have to get back on it."

The three-day racing event brings in lots of traffic, revving up plenty of  local business.

"If we had 10,000 folks and they each averaged $100 -- I wasn't real good at math, but I'm almost sure that's a million bucks. And a million bucks in a weekend, we'll take it," said Bill Rives of the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Drivers competed for more than $100,000 in prizes.