What’s in the Air, Bud? Once Labor Day comes to a conclusion in Pacific Beach and most of the tourists have left our beautiful seaside town, the activities quiet down and things get back to normal. That’s when the long-running tradition of the thunderboats of Bayfair San Diego gets under way on Mission Bay. My good friend and PB resident Stephanie Pietz invited me down to watch the event. She is a promotional model for Lucas Oil and its new television network MavTV. Stephanie is a gorgeous, blonde model with brains to boot. She’s networked her beauty into a diverse venue of personal appearances, including — but not limited to — touring nationally with Lucas Oil and MavTV as they cover the thunderboat series. Stephanie is quite a little spitfire who’s also a semi-pro motocross racer and wake boarder. She’s always out looking for adventure, just like me. Together, we have a lot in common: we have a need, a need for speed. I’ve seen the thunderboats before, but not close-up and personal. I was absolutely amazed by the entertainment value. I was glad Stephanie extended the invitation. The Air National Guard Championship at Mission Bay and Lucas Oil/MavTV put on quite a show, I thought to myself as I watched the drag boats shred the waters off Crown Point Shores. I was most taken aback by the courage of all these pilots who skim the water at such dizzying speeds. Even the Cracker Box boats, whose team drivers push the limits in vessels that were originally carved out of plywood some 60 years ago and yet pack up to 700 horsepower, were impressive. During their warm-up laps, the navigators would proudly hold up the American flag and wave to the crowd before they pushed the “pedal to the metal” and risk their lives right here in our backyard. I couldn’t help but reflect on how relevant it was to see American flags so proudly waving in the wind on these Cracker Box boats, knowing that without the Air National Guard (which exists to protect this great land of ours), we would not have had the opportunity to see such world-class entertainment. In such sensitive times of world peace, my hat’s off to the Air National Guard for bringing the thunderboats of Bayfair San Diego back to Mission Bay. And of course, I can’t forget my good friend Stephanie and her best friend Summer, two of Lucas Oil/MavTV’s promotional models who entertained the crowds all weekend. They make wonderful additions to our beautiful seaside town, our beloved Pacific Beach. — Kevin Di Cicco is the owner of Buddy the dog, who is best known for his roles in the long string of “Air Bud” movies and his ball-playing skills showcased on popular television shows. For booking inquiries, contact www.airbud.com.
