Great Lakes Grand Prix!

[Ratickle]

More racing....

[Ratickle]

The Outboard Cats ran tight the entire race......

[Ratickle]

Few more. Crazy Chicken and Simmons were tight the entire race also. Simmons kept pulling ahead on the corners a little each lap.

[Ratickle]

Found an interesting boat in the pits after the race.......

Gorgeous boat I think......

[Ratickle]

Then there was this bum on a boat in the channel running away......

From the cops was my guess........

His probation officer probably doesn't know he left NJ......

[Ratickle]

Huge Spectator turn out rivaling Sarasota. Town loved it. Some said to have signed 1200 autographs. Race day rough and rougher at one end.

Obviously un official

Aqua Mania
Gieco DNF

WHM wins un challenged

Peppers wins unchallenged

CMS wins but problems early

Mikkosukee
OPA

Hard Rock wins worked on engines test day and never tested
Global Warming
Davis Motorsports led early but had problems DNF
Rockstar DNF

Panasonic ran hard led over all for part. Wins

Don't Blink wins

Crazy Chicken and Simmons raced hard not sure who won
National Guard dnf

TKO wins

Traffic Light no show

I believe CMS broke on lap two.

I pretty sure there were 17 boats that started, 12 boats that finished, 10 classes total, may have been 11. But not absolutely positive.

[Ratickle]

I've got some film from my other camera I dropped off on the way home. I'll see what I have there tomorrow.

Terri took almost all of these.

[ApachePete]

Lots of spectators, but so few race boats, in so many different classes,that it was simply a BIG FLOP, IMO.

I think that the "death of offshore" has been accurately reported . . . at least for SBI.

The only real drama came in the first turn on the first lap, when the new Geiko and Aquamania cats came in so fast that they swung wide in the turn and then RAN INSIDE THE SWIMMING BUOYS, coming frighteningly close to taking out dozens of swimers just off the beach.

After that near disaster, both boats practically slowed to a stop around that mark. The single engine V's were taking the turn faster.

Then either Geiko or CMS over-compensated in the same turn, and ran inside the second turn-buoy, effectively missing the turn. Then they both broke/quit, and Aquamania ran around the course at what looked like 70 MPH for the remainder.

LAMO.

There was only one big cat ( WHM), and it was soundly spanked by several Fountains which looked to be running at least 10-20 MPH faster. I guess there's no need to actually "race" when you're the only entrant in your class.

Not much fun to watch.

Fans started leaving 40 minutes after the start.

Sad.

[ApachePete]

Not inside, but within 10 feet. And people were there.

WAY inside!

No question.

Saw it from directly behind from the East pier-head.

Check the CBS film.

[SHARKEY-IMAGES]

WAY inside!

No question.

Saw it from directly behind from the East pier-head.

Check the CBS film.

Most likely CBS will edit it out....

[catastrophe]

Most likely CBS will edit it out....

Too bad they can't "edit in" some more entrants.

Broke..broke..only one in class...ran whole race at 70mph !!??

Is this a prelude to KW ?? BBBOOOORRRINNNG

[boatme]

I believe CMS broke on lap two.

I pretty sure there were 17 boats that started, 12 boats that finished, 10 classes total, may have been 11. But not absolutely positive.

This is very disturbing 17 boats handing out 10 checkered flags this plain has got to stop

This just makes our favorite sport look like "The Clampets put on a boat race"

I feel so bad for the great racers that put their heart, soul, and MONEY into this sport only to have it put together in such a fasion that it diminishes their efforts

[Ratickle]

WAY inside!

No question.

Saw it from directly behind from the East pier-head.

Check the CBS film.

Will do, I should have it on film. I was half way between buoy four and the pierhead not more than 200 feet from that swim buoy and watched the guys scrambling to get out of the way.

I was watching the guys trying to walk on water more than the buoy though. And the othe two, Geico and CMS, had already made the corner and pushed him wide.

[Ratickle]

This is very disturbing 17 boats handing out 10 checkered flags this plain has got to stop

This just makes our favorite sport look like "The Clampets put on a boat race"

I feel so bad for the great racers that put their heart, soul, and MONEY into this sport only to have it put together in such a fasion that it diminishes their efforts

I talked with a lot of spectators, handed out a bunch of flyers for those who didn't know about the site, they were very disappointed. Many had come early to see the 11:00 race, and since I had my OPA drivers ID on they asked me lots of questions.

One group of older people, (my age), said this was the biggest event there in years and they were hoping for a ggod show. They were trying to re-vitalize the towns beach life because of it's close proximity to Chicago. They were disappointed, but hope there will be another attempt.

It is a very nice beach.

[redhotsommer]

We had an awesome time at the event...Michigan City has an awesome facility for certain. The crowd was pretty big...spectator fleet was huge...

I can see how people may have been disappointed in the size of the fleet...plus, it's not easy to just watch boats run in a circle without knowing what's going on...once the initial shock and amazement wear off and the racers space out...it's not exactly like watching NASCAR or a drag race. IMO...that's other people's problem...I LOVED it!

We had a big bunch of bad influence peeps onhand, and made a bunch of new friends as well.

Even got to meet the great Sunkin and Stecz...and STILL had a good time!

I really hope they come back again.

[Ratickle]

The spectator fleet, as well as the number of spectators on shore, was huge. Sorry didn't catch up with you guys.

[DrGaryDC]

Once again, cant wait for Patchogue, NY

[boatman574]

I talked with a lot of spectators, handed out a bunch of flyers for those who didn't know about the site, they were very disappointed. Many had come early to see the 11:00 race, and since I had my OPA drivers ID on they asked me lots of questions.

One group of older people, (my age), said this was the biggest event there in years and they were hoping for a ggod show. They were trying to re-vitalize the towns beach life because of it's close proximity to Chicago. They were disappointed, but hope there will be another attempt.

It is a very nice beach.

I talked with you down at the Crane, Thanks for this Link, it is GREAT. Thank for the CD on the Don Arnow Story, Watched it Last Night. I traveled an Hour, rushed to make the 11:00 Race, was Disappointed it Didn't Happen.



It was a Good Race, VERY disappointed they didn't REALLY Race, but to most who have never seen these Races before it was GREAT. I hope you Guys come back Next Year, but Race a little Farther out, THEY did Come up in the Swim Area, I was on the Pier and Think I have Video of it.

[Ratickle]

I talked with you down at the Crane, Thanks for this Link, it is GREAT. Thank for the CD on the Don Arnow Story, Watched it Last Night. I traveled an Hour, rushed to make the 11:00 Race, was Disappointed it Didn't Happen.



It was a Good Race, VERY disappointed they didn't REALLY Race, but to most who have never seen these Races before it was GREAT. I hope you Guys come back Next Year, but Race a little Farther out, THEY did Come up in the Swim Area, I was on the Pier and Think I have Video of it.

Nice chatting with you, welcome to the site. I certainly hope there's a race there next year as well. Nice site, always need a little tweaking when it's a first time.

Thank Jeff, Freezeframe Video, for the DVD. He has his own section in the Media area and shot the St Clair race I was telling you about, while SHarkey has a section and shot the Harrison race we chatted about.

Have a great time here. Lot's of great people and good info. If you have video, I'm sure some of the guys here will help you post it to a link if you don't know how. You can see above I didn't do to well.

[DAREDEVIL]

Well,,,,,,,,,,,the way i see it ,,,its again about racing united and the only people that can change a low boat count are the racers.
They had an OPA event 3 hours from there a week prior and some of them actually are legal to run SBI races.
Some of them even live close,,,and still NO SHOW.

Thats what is dissapointing in my book.

U can't plame the org. for having a poor boat count ,+ its a new venue up there so some went up there to kind of check it out.
If i would not live 20 hours away ,,i would of been there and raced.

Again,,,i feel next year it will be better and better.

ALSO CONGRATS TO SIMMONS FOR HIS WIN AND EFFORT TO RACE EVERYWHERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offshore Racing need more like him and it will get better fast !!

Scott