The Elizabeth City harbor may have secured its future as a boat racing venue Tuesday by surrendering part of its past.

A marine construction crew removed 20 old wooden pilings from the Pasquotank River, many of which were driven into the river's floor three-quarters of a century ago.

City officials hope removing the wooden timbers makes the river much safer for the upcoming Carolina Cup Regatta boat races in June.

"The pilings, located just out of the channel, were a hazard during last year's boat races," City Manager Rich Olson said.

Last June, a number of the 58 racers who competed in the regatta had to swerve to avoid hitting the obsolete wooden pilings, many of which jut out just above the water line, said Leonard Outlaw of Weeksville, organizer of the Carolina Cup Regatta. Outlaw said inboard hydroplane boats, ranging from 13 to 25 feet long, operate at speeds at 90 to 100 mph, although they slow down when approaching curves.

"One driver who was pushed off course went through pilings to avoid hitting them," he said.

Tourism director Russ Haddad said this year's regatta, set for June 9 and 10, would have been held even if the pilings hadn't been removed. But he said race organizers asked that the obstructions be removed.

"From a safety standpoint, that is one thing the Power Boat Association and organizers of the race wanted done," he said. "It could open up the waterway for other events too."

Out of use now for some 30 years, the pilings have long been a hazard to boaters using the harbor, said Jim Overman, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"It will certainly be beneficial for boat races, as well as just the boating public in general," Overman said.

He said the benefit of removing them outweighs their use by fishermen who claim they've caught plenty of bass and rock fish near the pilings.

The city paid Sampson Marine Construction of Elizabeth City $8,000 to remove the pilings. Jeremy Sampson said Tuesday's weather was perfect for his crew — partly sunny, relatively warm with only a light wind blowing.

Ted Sampson, Jeremy's father, said the pilings, most of which were 25-30 feet in length, were probably driven into the river floor more than 75 years ago. Texaco used the pilings to support water platforms along the Camden County shoreline that contained fuel oil tanks. Fuel oil would be delivered to the tanks by boat and then transferred to shore.

Jeremy Sampson's crew included a diver who submerged 14 feet with a hydraulic chain saw to cut off the pilings at the mud level. In some cases, the diver used a torch to cut through old metal cables used to bind pilings together.

A crane on Sampson's barge — about 150 yards from the waterfront — then hoisted the timbers out of the water. Jeremy Sampson said he wasn't sure yet how he will dispose of them.

Olson said the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Tourism Development Authority paid $5,000 of the cost to remove the pilings. The parks and recreation department paid $2,000 of the project's cost, while race organizers paid the remaining $1,000.

Last year, race boaters from Canada to Louisiana came to Elizabeth City to participate in the city's first Carolina Cup.

The event was sanctioned by the American Power Boat Racing Association, as well as by the Virginia Race Association and the Canadian Boat Federation.

Outlaw said the event drew 5,000 to 6,000 spectators, resulted in 174 room stays at local hotels and had an overall impact of $500,000 on the local economy.

"We were the second largest event in Elizabeth City behind the (Elizabeth City State University) homecoming," he said.