VIDEO: LOTO Shootout Wraps Up With Big Crowds

This year's Lake of The Ozarks Shootout closed out on Sunday as thousands of spectators from all over the country turned out to witness one of powerboating's most exciting events. Here's a brief wrap-up from local Television news station KYTV. Some Sunday speed numbers had the Nauti-Marine boat clocked at 196mph, Dirty Duck - 141mph, Pure Platinum at 169mph, and the Mercedes boat hit 157.

Organizers were extremely pleased with the big turnout for the event. Ron Duggan, owner of the event host site, Capt. Ron's Bar and Grill, said crowd estimates were around 50,000 people. "We obviously are going to break some records with the number of people we have and the economic impact should be very significant...I'm hoping for over $2 million to the lake's economy this weekend."

Earlier in the week, the Shootout also featured a high performance powerboat poker run and a golftournament. It was the 21st year for the event, which raises funds for Lake Area Rescue Teams, Habitat for Humanity, and other charitable organizations.

Cinzano Takes the Checkered Flag Again at 2009 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race

For the third time, Cinzano, piloted by Marcus Hendricks, Tim Grimshaw and Eric Smilie took the checkered flag at Britian's 2009 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes Race with a time of 3hrs 35.20, just seconds ahead of Hot Lemon. As weather conditions in the race deteriorated, Austrian Hannes Bohinc and his Wettpunkt.com team were denied the victory after a ruptured fuel tank forced their boat from the competition with just 1.5 miles to go.

PHOTO CREDIT: BYM Sailing & Sports.

On of the highlights of this year's race was the fact that 70-year old sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe single-handed and non-stop in 1969, teamed up with female powerboat champion Shelley Jory. Racing as Team Scorpion, they finished the race in fouth place, with Sir Robin navigating.

PHOTO CREDIT: BYM Sailing & Sports.

Once again, Europe’s oldest offshore endurance powerboat race lived up to its legendary reputation. Gordon Oliver, chairman of the Torbay Hospitality Association, said that a special series of celebrations would be held next year to celebrate Cowes-Torquay's 50th anniversary:

"For 2010 we're looking to bring together people who have played a part in Torquay-Cowes in the past. There have been lots of famous people who have participated. We really want to make it something to remember."

2009 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes - Official Race Results

1. - 558 - Cinzano - CUV/Ilmor
2. - R2 - Hot Lemon - Scorpion/Yanmar
3. - 47 - Relentless - Revenger/Mercury
4. - R14 - Team Scorpion - Scorpion/Yanmar
5. - 343 - Carbon Neutral - Revenger/Mercury
6. - 18 - Power Products - Phantom/Yamaha
7. - 130 - The Fugative - Shakespear/Yanmar
8. - 100 - Blastoff - Fountain/Mercury

It's Come to This: Fountain Files for Chapter 11

Clearly, times are still tough in the boating industry. Fountain Powerboats, which had just acquired Baja Powerboats last year, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization this past Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Company founder Reggie Fountain, who started the company in 1979 near Washington, N.C., told the UK news Agency Reuters that the company is talking to as many as nine possible buyers of their current marine inventory to help pay off liabilities. “Business has been very, very weak,” he explained.

PHOTO CREDITS: Fountain Powerboats

According to the filing, the company lists $18.4 million in assets against $50.2 million in liabilities. If a sale of the inventory assets is successful, the company will continue its search for new investors; court papers indicate that if the sale is not approved, the next move would be toward an "orderly" liquidation.

VIDEO: Old School Classic - 1968 Bahama 500 Offshore Race featuring Odel Lewis

I just came acroos this gem of a video, posted by Greg Terzian on Vimeo. It's a wonderful vintage documentary that gives you an inside look at the preparation that went into classic offshore races like the 1968 Bahamas 500. Directed by Mabry Edwards, the story of the 11-hour 530-nautical mile race features offshore icon Odel Lewis and is ably narrated by Dick Stratton.

While things have changed a lot over the past 40+ years -- especially regarding the speeds and technologies -- a lot of things haven't changed, either. The intense focus, dedication and fearlessness of competitors like Lewis (who won this particular race) is clearly evident, and that's something you can still see today.

For fans of real old-school offshore racing, the video is a real treat. These boats are not as big as today's monsters, and they don't have GPS, but you will see that they DO get a lot of air! The video also makes one wonder what happened to all of those great racing boats, and if any are still around.

To see more of Greg's posted videos, go HERE.

Lake of The Ozarks Shootout Just a Week Away

Last month, we told you a little bit about the great boating action to be found at Missouri's huge Lake of the Ozarks, otherwise known as LOTO. The eagerly-anticipated Lake of The Ozarks Shootout is the largest unsanctioned boat race in the United States, and was named by Powerboat Magazine as one of the "8 boating events that you must see." With speeds reaching well over 150mph on a mile-long drag course, boats from all across the United States, Canada, and beyond to vie for the honor of being “Top Gun”.

Last year's 20th Anniversary event, which was held at the new location of Captain Ron's brought a new and exciting chapter to the shootout. Crowds over the two-day wekend were estimated at over 60,000 spectators, watching David Scott & John Tomlinson re-captured Top Gun Honors with a top speed of 178 mph. This year's Shootout will continue to benefit the Lake Area Rescue Teams, as well as Habitat for Humanity, and other charitable organizations.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.lakeshootout.com.

This year's event, scheduled for August 27-30, promises to be another exciting weekend, filled with high speed fun and lots of serious partying. Accommodations throughout the region tend to fill up fast, so if you're planning on heading out there, you better get on the phone now and find out what's available. Check out the event web site HERE for more information.

2009 Shootout Schedule - Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Friday, August 28, 2009

7:30am-7pm Poker Run
8am Registration and Start at Franky & Louie's
9am-6pm On-site Registration on Cannonball Beach
9am-5pm Racer Village open to public at Captain Ron's
9am-5pm Vendor Booths open to public at Buccaneer Bay
6pm Stereo Shootout presented by Waves & Wheels at Dog Days
8pm-12am Platinum Powerboat Club Party at Cannonball Beach

Saturday, August 29, 2009

8am-4pm Registration on Cannonball Beach
8am-4pm Safety Inspections and Class Identification
9am-5pm Racer Village open to public at Captain Ron's
9am-5pm Vendor Booths open to public at Buccaneer Bay
8:30am Driver's Meeting on Cannonball Beach
10am Opening Ceremony
10am-11:30am PWC classes run
11:30am-12:30pm Professional/Manufacturer classes run
12:30-2:30pm Open Classes Run
2:30-4:30pm Professional/Manufacturer classes run
7pm Live Entertainment at Captain Ron's

Sunday, August 30, 2009

8am-3pm Registration on Cannonball Beach
8am-3pm Safety Inspection & Class Identification
8am Driver's Meeting on Cannonball Beach
9am-5pm Racer Village open to public at Captain Ron's
9am-5pm Vendor Booths open to public at Buccaneer Bay
10am National Anthem
10am-12pm Professional/Manufacturer classes run
12pm-2pm Open classes run
2pm-4pm Professional/Manufacturer classes run
4pm-4:30pm Final Top Gun runs
6pm Awards Ceremony at Captain Ron's
7pm Live Entertainment at Captain Ron's

Darren's Offshore Photo Gallery is a Feast for Powerboat Racing Fans

Not long ago, we came across Darren's Offshore Photos - a remarkable site that features some incredible shots of offshore powerboat racing from the past three decades. Not only is the site a treat for fans of racing and great action photography, it's a great repository of examples of racing boat design -- as you'll see some images of the hottest high-performance boats to ever hit the water.

Darren Luhrs, who took many of the photos, is well-known around the offshore racing circuit as "the world's number one fan." Darren has traveled all over the United States attending offshore races with his father, lifelong boat racer Rich Luhrs. Rich has also enjoyed a long career as a commentator for offshore racing telecasts, on networks such as TNN, ESPN and SpeedVision. Father and son can both be found prowling performance boat venues all over the world.

PHOTO CREDIT: Darren's Offshore Photos.

A lot of offshore racers and photographers also contribute to Darren's site. In fact, he will add your photos to the site if you like; send them to him in JPEG format and tell him how you want the credits listed. All submitted photos are posted on the "Racers Photos" page, with full credit for the shot and a link to your website. It's clear that Darren understands how important it is to preserve the history of offshore racing...as he notes on the site:

"My trips to the races have allowed me to assemble a huge collection of offshore racing photos and now the Internet allows me to share them with you. This site has been built for your viewing pleasure, so stop by often and send your friends."

PHOTO CREDIT: Darren's Offshore Photos.

The site features a wide range of subjects, including race action from Key West, New Jersey, Sarasota, SBI Bahamas, NBPA New York '03, St. Clair MI '06, World Record attempts and much, much more. If you find yourself sitting around this winter after your boat's in storage, and want something to get your adrenaline flowing once again -- be sure and drop by Darren's photo galllery for a quick pick-me-up. And don't forget to say "hi."

Fear of Water; No Experience - It Didn't Stop Rose Lores from Becoming a Powerboat Racer

Women-sports blog Girlracer [UK] has a fascinating story about Formula 4 Stroke Offshore Powerboat racer Rose Lores. Prior to starting her racing career in 2006, Rose had never driven a boat of any kind and actually had a fear of going underwater. Now, at 50, she's celebrating by unveiling a new boat - sporting a bright orange livery and a new name, reflecting her sponsors, Berkshire, UK-based relationship marketing company, Eclipse Marketing. In the midst of her fourth year of competion, Rose has her eyes firmly set on getting her hands on some silverware, and is working to boost her team's overall stamina and navigation skills to make that a reality.

PHOTO CREDIT: www.girlracer.co.uk

The article explains how, after some NLP sessions (neuro linguistic programming) to cure her fear of water, and a crash course in powerboat racing with 7-time world champion Neil Holmes, Rose set out to prove that she had what it takes. The story also goes on to report some of the challenges she and navigator Sharyn Brown have faced since then, as well as the team's involvement in the current long-distance Cowes races. Check out the full article HERE.

Whatever Happened to Offshore Powerboat Racing? Matt Trulio Post Strikes a Chord with Offshore Boaters

When I first read Powerboat Magazine Editor Matt Trulio's post about offshore powerboat racing on Boats.com - Whatever Happened to Offshore Powerboat Racing? - I had to say there were a lot of things I was forced to agree with. You can't argue that the sport isn't struggling somewhat in the current world economy - but what is troubling is that a lot of the troubles are political and inherent to the sport: Team rivalries (Class 1), money and support (OSS) are just a couple of examples of the problems we are seeing now. Like any sport where strong personalities, significant amounts of money and complex rules may come into play, the results can often be less than desirable.

A lot of expectations have been set for this fall's CBS telecasts of Super Boat International races, and everyone is wondering how the product will look to television audiences. As Trulio points out in his article, those who have followed the sport through its ups-and-downs over the years are adopting a wait-and-see attitude; many just don't see the sport appealing to a mainstream audience - at least not the way it is currently constituted.

When I first started this thread about this story on the Serious Offshore forum, I thought it might provoke some comment from the die-hard racing enthusiasts there on the board. [to actually read the thread, you'll have to register, but it is FREE] Well, I was right. Current racers, fans and some of the most respected people in the sport (Rich Luhrs, Brownie and Trulio himself) have logged on to offer their thoughts on the subject, as have many others.

Surprisingly, this thread has also been one of the most civil and well-thought out conversations about powerboat racing we've seen in a while...many similar "discussions" about the racing scene have quickly dissolved into personal attacks and bitter recollections of the past. So far, we've seen some positive ideas brought out, a general consensus that some type of consolidation is critical, agreement that strong central leadership is a must, and a realization that some fresh ideas are badly needed.

PHOTO CREDITS: (above) woodenboat.com (Trulio) boats.com.

I would recommend that you register at SOS, read through the posts and see what you think. If nothing else, it will give you a valuable look at the landscape of offshore powerboat racing - especially in the U.S., and some insights to how we got to where we are now. More thoughtful discourse like this won't solve the problem by itself, but it may help point us to some solutions that will benefit powerboat racing worldwide. Anything we can do to make it better will help - let us know what you think!

Raise Your Boat Drinks to Jimmy Buffet Tribute Bands

Most boaters know that the only fun that comes close to being on the water is the fun you have after you're tied up at the dock with your friends. It's party time - and that also means it's music time...and what better music to go with fun and the sun than some Jimmy Buffett? Enthusiastic parrotheads like to take in a show whenever they can, but for some, it's not always possible. The next best thing is to check out one of the many dozens of Jimmy Buffett tribute bands that are out there. You can find them all across the USA and even in Australia, and the most up-to-date listing can be found HERE at Buffettworld.com, which is a great source for all things Jimmy Buffett.

PHOTO CREDIT: Valleyfins.ning.com.

The site's Tribute Band Page lists all of the known tribute bands and performers, along with brief bio information and links to their web pages. You'll find bands like New Jersey's Jimmy and the Parrots...Ohio's Gypsies in the Palace...Florida's The Landsharks...and Massachusetts' BaHa Brothers...just to name a few.

So next time you're in the mood for some live Jimmy Buffett music, for the good of your soul or for your next big blow-out party, take advantage of this great resources and see who's playing your favorite tunes. Most of the bands websites have their performance schedules and complete booking information, too. Add a few boat drinks and stir...and you and your friends are sure to have a great time.

Mid-August Poker Run Roundup

The summer poker run season has been in full-swing for some time, and we've already seen some great events on the water this year. Things are still going strong all over the country, from the Great Lakes and East Coast to the sunny Florida panhandle. Here are three mid-August events that are sure to offer you a good time...but you better hurry if you're interested! Even if you don't have a boat - you can hit the participating establishments and check out the Big Bad Hardware.

EMERALD COAST

Emerald Coast Boat Week is a week-long celebration of boating, with the highlight event being the Emerald Coast Poker Run on August 14,15 and 16 in Destin, FL. The run is the Emerald Coast Foundation's flagship event and primary fundraiser, which has raised over one million dollars for local children's charities and youth organizations. This is one of the summer's premier poker runs, and being in the Florida panhandle, is not quite so far south as some of the other Florida runs - making it a little more accessible to boaters in the Midwest.

PHOTO CREDIT: Emeraldcoastpokerrun.com.

On Friday, there's a Miss Boat Week Bikini Contest (judging spots are up for auction) a "Rock The Dock" Party, and a Boat-in Movie. Of course, the poker run itself is on Saturday, with a Sunday follow-up featuring a raft-up on Crab Island. For more information, go to: http://www.emeraldcoastpokerrun.com/home.shtml

PORT CLINTON
The 14th Annual Port Clinton Poker Run has become one of Lake Erie's best poker runs. Scheduled each year to be held on the 3rd Saturday in August, this year's run is set for 8/14 - 8/16, and promises to deliver an exciting weekend and plenty of fun. The number of boats participating has reached up to 60 vessels in past years, and the organizers are again accepting donations for the Project PJs Charity. All entrants are asked to bring a pair of new pajamas to donate; they are distributed to children throughout NW Ohio and the surrounding region.

PHOTO CREDIT: Marine Tech Concepts.

The party begins with pre-registration at Nick’s Road House, located at 124 Buckeye Blvd, Port Clinton, Oh 43452. You can register online and get the complete rundown on the weekend schedule at www.marinetechconcepts.com.

NORTH CHESAPEAKE
For 2009, the CBPBA North Poker Run will be focused in and around some little jewels in and around the Patapsco River area. Scheduled for August 22nd, the start of the event will be featured at the new Hard Yacht Café, located in Bear Creek at Anchor Bay. Other stops include Nick’s Fish House, Reckless Rick’s, Dock of the Bay near Middle River, Pleasure Cove Marina and Club on Bodkin Creek, and a Finale Party - held at The Beach House (formerly Dick’s Dock Bar) in Bear Creek.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Hard Yacht Cafe.

This great event is sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association (CBPBA) - a Maryland-based group of boat owners who share in their love for the Chesapeake Bay waterways. You can register for this run online and pay via PayPal at www.cbpba.com/catalog

Ilmor's Slick new Website Features Powerboat P1 Success

Renowned for their 10-cylinder Generation III and IV engines, Ilmor High Performance has recently revamped theri whole website with a slick new Flash-based interface, lots of new information and more features. The company's racing success is also more evident, with plenty of photos and a special page of information on it's PowerboatP1 success, as they powered the Fountain Worldwide #99 to a second consecutive World Title at the 2008 Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea in Portimao, Portugal.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ilmor.com

Powered by the Ilmor MV-10, the Fountain Worldwide team, with pilot James Sheppard and throttleman Craig Wilson, took four victories and eight podium finishes in 11 races during the 2008 season. They were also the first team in Powerboat P1 history to win back-to-back world titles in the Evolution class.

In addition to in-depth information on it's current engine line-up, there are pics and data on the new Indy outdrive, Service & warranty info, company history, technical data and an online shop where you can buy Ilmor gear. There's also a nice photo gallery with some nice photography of their engines and some very sharp installations. Check it out!

Class 1 Powerboat Field Leaking Teams as Qatar Pulls Out; Maritimo Could be Next

With 7 teams and 10 boats competing, the prestigious Class 1 Powerboat Championship can ill afford to lose one or more of it's premier 2-boat teams, but it looks like that may well happen in a major dispute over unsportsmanlike conduct charges against the series-leading Victory Team. Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) president Sheikh Hassan has informed a press conference that both Qatar teams have withdrawn from the UIM Class 1 championships immediately. Noting that the decision was "in the best interests of the QMSF," he went on to explain that his decision stemmed from an incident which took place at the start of last month’s Norwegian Grand Prix in Arundal.

PHOTO CREDIT: Class 1 Powerboat - Simon Palfredar.

Citing ‘misconduct and bad sportsmanship’ as behind the decision, Team Qatar members had been unhappy with actions taken by the Victory 1 team, who eventually won the GP; regarding the misconduct, the Sheikh said that officials were too slow in responding to the incident. The Qatar teams, which feature throttleman Steve Curtis in the Qatar 96 boat, along with Abdullah Al Sulaiti and Matteo Nicolini in the Qatar 95 boat are withdrawing with four races left on the Class 1 schedule.

At the same time, there is also a rumor that another team (possibly Norwegian) is also contemplating pulling out of the championship. For his part, Australian Bill Barry-Cotter, owner of the two boat Maritimo team, has is supporting the actions of the of the Qatar team, adding that he also plans to withdraw his own team after the next round of racing in in Romania (Aug.28-30). "We’re making the decision to contest the Romanian round only as a last ditch attempt, in the hope that the Victory team and the organisers can sort this matter out," he said. "If they are unable to solve the problem, Maritimo will withdraw."

PHOTO CREDIT: Class 1 Powerboat - Simon Palfredar.

Tom Barry-Cotter, driver for the #11 boat of the Maritimo team, also supported the Qatar move, and says he is unhappy with the behavior of the Victory team as well. "Maritimo will contest the Romania GP later this month, but if the Victory team do not come to the table and make amends for recent behaviour we will withdraw from the championship."

In his comments, Sheikh Hassan said the Victory team, which is owned by the government of Dubai, had been consistent in breaking the rules and not respecting the instructions given during drivers’ briefings. At the same time, racers on other Class 1 teams have chimed in on the subject as well, describing the Victory team as "bad sports." Sheikh Hassan charged that the Victory team had been "messing with the starts" since 2006, and nothing has been done about it. At this point in the season, Victory 1 leads the current point score following its Arendal win; their other boat - Fazza #3 - is second, just five points behind, Foresti and Suardi holding third with Qatar #96 and Maritimo #11 tied for fourth. Perhaps as a protest, visitors to the QMSF web page are greeted with a blank, all-black page.

Online Powerboat Racing Game: King of Shaves King of Power

Not everyone can get a gig piloting a big-dollar offshore race boat. But now you can get a taste of the fun with this online powerboat racing game we just found, brought to you courtesy of King of Shaves. Not only do you get to pilot an awesome world-class racing powerboat, you get to select from several different courses, including Plymouth in the UK and Arendal in Norway, as well as courses in Dubai, Spain, France, Qatar and Slovenia.

CLICK ON PHOTO ABOVE TO GO TO LIVE GAME...

The Flash-based game includes simple instructions on how to play, as well as links to information about Class 1Powerboat Racing and other cool stuff.

I did just okay when I played; I suppose I really should be playing The Docking Game over at Madmariner, an online boating site that I visit from time-to-time. After all, I'll admit that I could use the practice...

NOTE: We moved the actual game to another page on this site, to eliminate the automatic music which was playing here on our home page, and frankly -- driving me crazy. Click on the image above to play the game.

Italian Boat Design Shines on The "High Blue Sea"

It's clear that great boat design knows no boundaries in terms of time or location. Some of the first stepped-hull designs are almost 100 years old, and many of the most innovative design ideas have come from overseas. Such is the case with Renato "Sonny" Levi, who's expressive and effective boat designs are showcased on a very interesting Italian website, Altomareblu - which translates to "High Blue Sea." The site, which is written in Italian, can be fairly well understood in translation; simply click the appropriate language flag, which you'll see in the right-hand column when you visit the webpage. The site is loaded with fascinating historical and technical information that any lover of fast boats will be sure to appreciate.

Born in Karachi in September, 1926, Levi is known throughout the world for his sleek and risk-taking designs. Trained as an aeronautical engineer, he became projects manager in the AFCO yard of his father, who was producing different types of pleasure, sailing and motorboats. The decisive turning point in his career was in 1961 with his transfer to Italy and the Navaltecnica yard of Anzio, where he built the legendary "A Speranziella" which he led personally to victory in the Cowes-Torquay race in 1963. In 1965, Levi became independent and began work as a freelancer and consultant for a large number of manufacturers around the world. In this role he designed a number of racing boats and pleasure craft -- working in wood, iron, aluminum, fiberglass, rubber and even stainless steel.

In addition to Levi himself, the website has a number of other valuable contributors, such as Antonio Soccol and many others, all of whom share interesting stories and insights into past and present examples of Italian boat design. Also covered are the work of other boat designers and racers, with Dick Bertram being just one example. In typical Italian style, a Soccol recollection of the American offshore scene of the mid-60's makes it clear he is quite taken with the mother-daughter racing team of Rene and Gale Jacoby:

"Those compliments on the two American pilots: they create "moral and material damage" with my journalistic collaborations; with well more than a hundred titles written, the memory, sometimes--often goes haywire. However, I am sure that what I had written 43 years ago, was true: Rene and Gale were truly American -- 'cheerful and rather reckless.' And the fact that they were mother and daughter increased their charm."

Some of the stories have appeared in print publications (like "Nautica" - above) and it's fun to note that some include a reference to the subjects "tipping a few" and sharing good times together; many are very personal and engaging, even though they are not always easy to sort out in translation. Don't worry --you'll get the gist of it.


Even if you have a tough time wading through the language translation - the real treasure here are the number of vintage photos you will find. The designs--including boats like "Dart" , the well-known quad-engine "Barbarina" and others. An in-depth study of the designs reveals that although many of the fast boats are very attractive and sexy-looking (what else would you expect from the Italians) the hulls are based on very sound hydrodynamic principles. For example, there is a very nice analysis of "The Ventilation of Planing Hulls" here. You'll also find some neat restoration projects, including this sharp Levi-designed "Mini-Dragon" featured here.

PHOTO CREDITS: All photos in this article, courtesy of Altomareblu.com.

As I noted before, the translations - which are done automatically by Google - sometimes leave a lot to be desired. But the information and entertaining insights you'll find on Altemareblu are definitely well-worth the effort. Be sure to take some time and check it out. Note: All the links I've included run the site through the Google translation system, including the homepage, HERE.

Mercury Racing Takes the Crayola Box to Outdrives

Henry Ford once said that when it came to the Model T, "the customer can have any color they want. As long as it's black." Well, Mercury Racing has decided to better old Henry by several degrees, as it has begun offering custom color options for the popular dry-sump NXT1, NXT1 SSM, Six drives and transoms sold as part of a Mercury Racing sterndrive engine package. Now, customers don't have to just settle for a big, black, Merc drive...if they want, they can select from eight color options, all of which have been available on Mercury Racing engines.

With some of the outrageous color combinations we've seen lately, it seems these new drive color choices are right on target. One note - the custom color selected for transoms and drives must match, since the transoms and drives are painted as a set.

Color options include Mercury Racing Blue Metallic, Dandy Candy Red Metallic, Devil Red-Eye Nonmetallic, Slate Grey Metallic, Fire Orange Pearl, Nanna Yeller Pearl, Hulkin' Green Pearl and Joyze Poypole Metallic. Contact your Mercury Racing sterndrive OEM Boat Builder or dealer regarding pricing and ordering information.

Superboat International Heads to Michigan City, Indiana for Great Lakes Grand Prix

The next stop on the Superboat International racing series takes place August 7 – 9 on the southern shores of Lake Michigan for the 1st Annual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix. The Michigan City race is the only SBI race on the Great Lakes, and includes a boat parade on Friday, block party on Saturday and plenty of extreme racing on Sunday.

The city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau estimates that up to 20,000 fans will invade the shores of Michigan City for the Grand Lakes Grand Prix for what promises to be an exciting weekend. Fans will have the opportunity to walk through the dry pits in Washington Park and see all their favorite teams and boats. The event will feature many of the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore powerboats racing along a six mile course, in front of thousands of fans along the Beach.

PHOTO CREDIT: Super Boat International.

The gates will open on Friday at 9:00 a.m.; boats and teams will be setting up during the day, and a boat parade will step off at 5:00 p.m. on Franklin Street. Saturday afternoon's activities include boat testing from Noon to 5:00 p.m., followed by a block party in Washington Park from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Racing competition starts Sunday, with races at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The CVB also is planning a classic car show and live music featuring local bands as part of the festivities.

PHOTO CREDIT: (Top) destination360.com / (Above) Southshoremedia.net.

For more information, visit the www.superboat.com website.

Tentative Event Schedule (Subject to Change)

Friday, Aug. 7
9:00am - 11:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
9:00am- 6:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 5:00pm Meet & Greet Who’s in the Driver’s Seat – Washington Park
4:00pm - 5:00pm Boat Parade – Begins at 10th Street & Franklin Street, open to public
5:00pm - 7:00pm VIP/Racer Party – McGinnis Pub, 227 W. 7th St.
7:00pm - 11:00pm Chuck Wells and Stone Cold Blues – Jaycees Stage, Washington Park

Saturday, Aug. 8
9:00am - 11:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
9:00am - 5:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 11:00pm Tented VIP Seating – VIP tent, boardwalk along beach
8:00am - 10:00pm Shuttle from parking lots at Marquette Mall
12:00pm - 5:00pm Boat Launching – Washington Park
12:00pm - 4:00pm Classic Car Show – Washington Park, open to public.
5:00pm - 7:00pm VIP/Racer Party – Blue Chip Casino, Suncoast Room, 2 Easy St.
7:00pm - 11:00pm Block Party/Live Music (Midwest Hype) – Jaycees Stage area, Washington Park

Sunday, Aug. 9
9:00am - 6:00pm Concession and Vendor Area open- Washington Park
11:00am - 1:00pm Launching – Washington Park
9:00am - 4:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits – Washington Park
9:00am - 6:00pm Tented VIP Seating – VIP tent, boardwalk along beach
8:00am - 6:00pm Shuttle from parking lots at Marquette Mall
10:45am - Boats for 1st race – Parade to Mill Area
11:00am - Start of 1st race – Washington Park Beach
11:00am - VIP Brunch – VIP tent, Boardwalk along beach
12:45pm - Boats for 2nd race – Parade to Mill Area
1:00pm - Start of 2nd race – Washington Park Beach
5:00pm - Awards Presentation – Washington Park