Image: www.facebook.com/dustin.farthing.3; photographer: RonnyMac.com; courtesy: IJSBA.com
Dustin Farthing serves as an example of how a talented watercraft racer segued his racing career into a lucrative business within the powersports industry. Now the proprietor of Speedzone Motorsports in both Gadsen and Oxford, Alabama, Farthing is still active as both a racer (even claiming yet another IJSBA World Championship this past October in Sport GP) as well as coaching his son Deven, who too actively competes.
One admirable trait of Farthing’s is his keen awareness of what brought him the success he enjoys currently, and the multi-world champion has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the fractured state of the world of professional jet ski racing. So much so, that Farthing shocked the racing community by proposing a 3-day annual world class event that would beckon athletes from around the globe to Atlanta, Georgia with the allure of a $200,000 purse.
The response was overwhelming. At the time of this writing, the proposal has received over 200 comments, 46 shares and hundreds of responses. Farthing wrote in a Facebook post:
Jet ski friends,
This is a question for everyone involved with racing. We all know there’s dozens of series, sanctioning bodies, [and] championship events that claim to be the World or National Championship. We all wait around for schedules, locations, dates and venues constantly every year.
What racers from around the world would support a one-off championship race located in Atlanta, Georgia with a $200,000 payout?
This would be one weekend of racing and the $200,000 purse [would] be paid out to all classes offered. The payout would include amateur, junior, pro am and professional [classes], like it use to in the “old days.”
Atlanta offers the largest airport in the USA, hotels, restaurants, Six Flags [Over Georgia] amusement park, water parks, [World of] Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, basketball Arena and more.
Shipping into nearby ports are easy in Savanna, Georgia and New Orleans, Louisiana. Airport shipping directly into Atlanta and easy entrance for anyone driving into the state.
Tag a friend, and comment if this is a race you would like to see happen?
