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In a heart-stopping incident at the **Desert Storm Shugrue Shootout** on **Lake Havasu, Arizona**, two **Freedom One Racing** boat racers narrowly escaped with their lives after their high-speed vessel catapulted into the air, flipped multiple times, and slammed back into the water amidst an attempt to break a 206-mph speed record. The dramatic crash occurred on **Saturday** and was captured on video, leaving spectators in awe.
The **10,000-horsepower, 388 Skater vessel**, built for extreme racing, was attempting to break the **Desert Storm Shootout** speed record during its first pass of the day. The boat, manned by racers using the aliases **JOHN WAYNE** and **CLINT EASTWOOD**, was clocked at **200.1 mph** before the terrifying crash unfolded. According to witnesses, the boat appeared to “skip” across the water before the front tilted, allowing the wind to lift it into a full backflip. The vessel remained airborne, rotating horizontally before reconnecting with the water and flipping vertically once again.
**RAY LEE**, a representative from **Speedboat Magazine**, revealed that the team had come to **Lake Havasu** with the goal of breaking the local speed record. “It’s a 388 Skater estimated at around 10,000 horsepower,” Lee explained. “Their first pass of the day ended with the radar clocking them at 200.1 mph before the crash occurred.” He emphasized that the boat’s design played a crucial role in saving the racers’ lives, allowing them to walk away from the wreck unscathed.
Fellow racer **JEFF CLARK**, another Shootout participant, described the crash as a chilling reminder of the dangers of high-speed racing. “The last thing you ever want to see is a crash, especially something as horrific as that,” Clark stated. He elaborated that at such speeds, the boat’s interaction with the water can become unpredictable. “At that velocity, even a slight tilt or a gust of wind can send the vessel airborne. Fortunately, the boat’s construction ensured that the cockpit remained intact, protecting the racers.”
Despite the terrifying crash, Lee and Clark both suggested that wind conditions might have worked in the racers’ favor. “When the boat cut through the wind, it prolonged the time it remained airborne,” Lee explained. “But the cockpit’s design and the boat’s structural integrity kept the racers safe.”
**Lake Havasu** has witnessed several fatal racing accidents over the years, with the deadliest occurring in **2018** when a boat named **Lickety Split** crashed, claiming three lives. Clark attributed the racers’ survival to the boat’s robust construction. “The boat was built NOT to come apart,” he emphasized. “The cockpit remained intact, and that’s why they’re alive today. I tip my hat to [the builders] for saving their lives.”
The safety measures and cutting-edge engineering of the vessel proved vital in ensuring the racers’ survival, highlighting the importance of technical innovation in extreme sports.
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**Sources:**
[FOX 10 Phoenix](Insert Link Here)
[Speedboat Magazine](Insert Link Here)
[Desert Storm Shootout Official Website](Insert Link Here)