The following letter by Tom Abrams appeared in the Port Huron Times Herald on August 5, 2005. The photographs are courtesy of Kevin Jakubowski of the St. Clair Fire Department.

Despite mishap, racing team praises powerboat competition

The Reliable Carries Offshore Racing Team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans for their support this past weekend for the Offshore Powerboat Races.

Unfortunately, with any motor sport, there is an element of danger. As we were entering a turn, the boat hooked and flipped. What a great relief it was to have the Angels Safety team (divers and helicopter) from the Offshore Super Series and Bob Currier in Blue Water Offshore Race Control.

We also would like to thank the race-patrol volunteers who towed the boat in, the Harsens Island Fire Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff Department for pumping the boat out and the St. Clair Fire Department.

To all the fans who support our team, Steve Curtis and I are fine. We believe the real heroes are the above volunteers. If the boat was ever to race again, it was of the utmost importance that it be flipped over and the water pumped out properly. They did a tremendous job, and were able to save our brand-new boat, so we will be able to race again in Orange Beach, Ala., in a few weeks.

Many thanks again to all who helped.

TOM ABRAMS

Canton, Aug. 1