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leads to city Ley Ang Z Zsfoy By Paul Svoboda THE INTELLIGENCER 7 It's appropriate that Tom Boul- ter once raced a ‘boat dubbed "Smooth Move." Because, during a 32-year boat racing career, the Belleville native made mostly smooth moves on mships. On Sunday, oe 9, Bouter will make yet another smooth move as he will be inducted in the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at 1 p.m. on the Market Square. "It's an honour,” say says Boulter + feels pretty 800d,” Boulter, ‘@ 1OT Of, yeas doing it. "But, I think maybe my dad (Bill) is more excited than Tam." ? der ‘was as I ily involved in Tom's career as anyone family. In fact, Tom Soon; Boulter was doing more that. At the tender age of 12, Boulter dimbed aboard a boat for his first official race. At 13, he was the youngest driver to ever start und finish the grueling 100-mile Lawrence River marathon. What followed over the next several years were a string of ican boat racing championships and ges ive-mile record in the "B" ; Hydion division in 1976. — A one-kilometre speed record in the same class in 1978. — Three US ‘anadian Point titles between 1976 and 1978 and regi in 1980. State High Poi aa from 1977 to 1978. But, the bel es yet to ene In 1983 at ter scored a lunprecedented ick by cl speed boat ha’ three nati aU cists Sale iy oficompetitiag, hat was probably the spor biggest thrill,” says Boulter. That and racing with his late brother, Todd, when the Boulter twosome teamed up in the mid- 1980s to form an almost unbeat- apie jandem on the inboard rac- ‘with ae 1988 Canadian High Point championship already under their collective belt, Tom and Todd took turns driving their 6-litre craft "Smooth Move” at the 1989 Gold Cup in Picton. On Saturday, the Boulter boys won the John Porter Trophy and on Sunday they earned the Parkhurst Transportation Tro- "Especially now (following Todd's death from: ae es was a thrill,” says they kind ‘Of killed Onn r (6! a8 mci after that and switched to 7-litres and that just became too expensive. "There was really no money in it. Peonle. felged each other Florida once and took only a pro- peller. | borrowed everything else down there. One person would lend you a boat, one a motor, another a helm Boulter attributes his — and the family's — success to "prac- tice, practice, practice" and count- less hours spent in the garage tin- and tuning engines. a wwas a year-round deal," he Says a lucky as he was skilled, Boul- ter managed to avoid a serious spill or major injury during his three decades on the water. "L crashed once,” he says. "I got tangled up with three guys at a start and got cut up. But, you "But, when you're out there, it's okay ay. While Boulter has no qualms about retiring when he did, he joes miss the camaraderie. "That's what was nice," he says. “L know people all across Canada and the U.S. I never had to stay in a hotel. Everyone helped each other out." Boulter is one of four inductees will be introduced through the aiuis sports media on Thursday, Aug. 30; Tuesday: Sept. 4; and Thursday, Sept. |