Inside Interview
©2004-6 Dwight Drum

Story and photos by Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

"You never run the same lap twice."

Owner/driver
Budweiser Select Offshore Racing

Motorsports drivers are a special breed. Motorsports team owners are special too. A driver's threshold of fear is either higher or more controllable than most and their need for speed is always accompanied by a greater need for money. Putting on a fire suit and helmet doesn't make anyone a racer and having a big bank account won't buy the ability to take financial risks that every team owner must assume.

Dave Scott exhibits a special combination as owner and driver of the Budweiser Select boat. He has throttleman Johnny Tomlinson at his side and a world class sponsor on board as he willingly brings his wallet and bravado to powerboat racing.

It takes special ingredients to rip the water with twin 1500 horse powered engines. It will take only reading speed to get through the next 900 words and know more about what drives Dave Scott.

Dwight asked Dave Scott:

"Yeah. Years ago. I used to run back then it was IDBA, International Drag Bike Association. I had 17 records with them over time. I got out of that, primarily because I sold my first business. I stopped racing bikes and sold my airplanes. I tinkered with street rods until I bought my first boat about 12 years ago. Then I got the world speed record in 2000. We've bumped it up twice since then. We've got it up over 202 mph now. I'm getting ready to try another one soon."

"You know I think it goes back to the background I've just described. Always in the past I've raced as a hobby since high school days. Boat racing is different. It's more challenging, but it does filter on all your experiences from before when it comes to racing and setups. Not what you do, but how you do things. I really like owning a team. I've put together obviously a very successful team and I'm very proud of that."

"I think water gives you much more satisfaction and obviously it's much more challenging. No doubt about it. Of all the things I've ever done, and that would be racing cars and motorcycles, or flying airplanes, boat racing without a doubt is the most challenging thing I've ever done. It draws on all of your senses, because you never run the same lap twice, if you will. That's the thing about it that's the most challenging form of racing that I've ever done. "

"I don't know how to quite answer that. What I dislike most being asked is by people and we like take time with them. 'How much does it cost? How fast does it go?' But probably the thing I dislike most if that's your question is, 'Have you ever flipped over or how many wrecks have you had?' I try to just pass that up with why go there?"

"We have people that follow us and comment on our successes. We have been very fortunate since we've been sponsored; we've won the national and world championship titles five consecutive years now. We've set and held the world speed record since 2000. We've broke it ourselves a couple times. I think when people do come up and comment on how nice the boat looks or probably the most rewarding is when come up and they do it every race and comment on how professional the team is. They are obviously very good at what they do. Every one of these team members are also very polite, courteous and take time with fans. When they (fans) compliment the team and achievements, I'm obviously very happy."

"Actually it's what goes on behind the scenes, that time it takes to get new boats completed. That time to get our engines. I do a lot of development on new boat that we're designing or we having built. The same with the engine program, we never want to sit still. We're always designing, trying to enhance our engine program. That all takes a tremendous amount of time that no one ever really sees. That just goes on in the background. R&D and development takes as much time as our program does. "

"We're talking about champions now; I think they all have a desire to succeed and to be the best at whatever that might be. I think that's a very common trait amongst them. "

"You know there are so many of them. I would just say that every race is a good time together. This team is really close. Usually the first night of an event our guys work really hard to get all set up. Then we'll typically go out and enjoy some of our sponsor's products and it's kind of like a bonding. It's really a nice evening and then everybody seems to know because they are professional that it's time to get to work. It really is like a big family. "

"Again, I guess it would be the challenge of being on the course out there. I'm sure that's what drives me. "

"I really love the sport. I love the challenges. It's often called the most dangerous form of motorsport racing. Actually that get's back to your first question about racing, it's also the most challenging. I think that's what we like about it the most. We like events like this. We're here for a good cause. All in all it's the challenge of racing and obviously being able to represent our sponsor such as Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser Select. That's a real honor."