MOSS POINT—The sounds of roaring engines will fill the downtown area in Moss Point November 15 and 16 for the annual Roar on the River drag boat races.
Sponsored by Moss Point Main Street, the Outboard Drag Boat Association (ODBA) will once again stage its final race of the season on the Escatawpa River where guests can view the excitement from the riverfront boardwalk. Races begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. daily until all divisions have named champions.
ODBA utilizes the Main Street location twice each year. Racer and organizer Kevin Turberville said the association enjoys the location because of its large space for staging the pit and for boaters to gather along with the boardwalk that allows view of the full racing area. Not only is there space for viewers on land, many boaters anchor outside the designated track to view the races from the water.
“Moss Point has the best location to see the action up close from the beautiful boardwalk,” he said. “This is our final race of the season for all organizations before taking a winter break.”
Racers will come from not only Mississippi but also Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas along with some that come from Canada.
The field of 40 racers will include five classes: Pro Stock, V6 Pro, Super Mod, Pro Mod and Lake Racer. The FREE family-friendly event will be staged from McInnis Avenue to Dantzler Street. Food and merchandise vendors will be set up along the riverfront as well. Benches line the boardwalk, but guests are encouraged to bring along chairs.
While the racers and families enjoy the location, the downtown Moss Point merchants and vendors also get a boost from the added exposure and sales.
“We always stock a bit extra on race weekends to accommodate the extra crowd,” said Janley Edgecombe, owner of Wiggles Bait Bar and More located next to the downtown launch. “Not only do we have plenty of stock, we have a great view of the boats and the starting line.”
The launch will be closed to public access Saturday and Sunday so that race boats can be launched and removed. Plenty of parking is available along Main Street and in the city hall and parks and recreation lots.
