By WILLIAM AXFORD
Boats race past the old Seven Mile Bridge during a previous competition.
SUPER BOAT INTERNATIONAL
In the early 1990s, the Keys had a full slate of powerboat races, with competitions in waters off Key West, Marathon and Islamorada. This year, the islands will be back up to two competitions after several years of having just one.
On Fourth of July weekend, Super Boat International is bringing back the Marathon Super Boat Grand Prix, the first time since 2009 the Middle Keys have hosted races. It joins Super Boat International's world championship in November in Key West.
Race producer John Carbonell says it will be like the "olden days," when powerboat races based at the old Faro Blanco Marine Resort drew big crowds and celebrities, and were an economic boom for businesses.
"There was an opening for the Fourth of July race and the people from the hotels wanted to bring the races back," Carbonell said. "There should be 20 to 25 boats in Marathon, the big ones. They can get up to 150 mph."
The marina behind the Hyatt Place Faro Blanco Marine Resort & Yacht Club in Marathon, 1996 Overseas Highway, will serve as headquarters.
The wet pits, the docks where the public can check out the boats for free, are open from noon to 4 p.m. July 4 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 5. July 5 is race day, with races at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. along the bayside from the Tranquility Bay Resort at mile marker 48.5 out to the Seven Mile Bridge and finishing at the Hyatt.
Seven classes of races will be held: Superboat, Superboat Unlimited, Superboat Extreme, Superboat Vee, Superboat Stock and Production 3 and 4.
The last attempt to bring powerboat races to Marathon was in September 2013 by Powerboat P1 USA. The Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association protested, saying they would disrupt four days worth of the eight-month commercial lobster season. That race, a season finale for the organization's Superstock series, was canceled.
Carbonell said safety will be an important aspect of this year's races, with medical responders on the water and helicopters in the air to watch for sea life.
The Marathon races are the second in a series of six leading up to the Key West world championship. The others are in Cocoa Beach, Pensacola, Clearwater and Michigan City, Ind.
The Key West world championship saw tragedy in 2011 when three racers died when their boats flipped.
http://www.keysnet.com/2015/06/02/50...ng-to-the.html
Results 1 to 8 of 8
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06-04-2015 10:01 AM
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- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- West Michigan
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06-05-2015 09:07 AMIt is really too bad the race is the exact same time as Sarasota.
Nice to have an event back in the middle keys, but still too bad on the timing.Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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07-03-2015 07:43 PM
Superboat races return to the Middle Keys this weekend
Superboat International stages the races.
In the early 1990s, the Keys had a full slate of powerboat races, with competitions in waters off Key West, Marathon and Islamorada. This year, the islands will be back up to two competitions after several years of having just one.
On Fourth of July weekend, Super Boat International is bringing back the Marathon Super Boat Grand Prix, the first time since 2009 the Middle Keys have hosted races. It joins Super Boat International’s world championship in November in Key West.
Race producer John Carbonell says it will be like the “olden days,” when powerboat races based at the old Faro Blanco Marine Resort drew big crowds and celebrities, and were an economic boom for businesses.
“There was an opening for the Fourth of July race and the people from the hotels wanted to bring the races back,” Carbonell said. “There should be 20 to 25 boats in Marathon, the big ones. They can get up to 150 mph.”
The marina behind the Hyatt Place Faro Blanco Marine Resort & Yacht Club in Marathon, 1996 Overseas Highway, will serve as headquarters.
The wet pits, the docks where the public can check out the boats for free, are open from noon to 4 p.m. July 4 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 5. July 5 is race day, with races at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. along the bayside from the Tranquility Bay Resort at mile marker 48.5 out to the Seven Mile Bridge and finishing at the Hyatt.
Seven classes of races will be held: Superboat, Superboat Unlimited, Superboat Extreme, Superboat Vee, Superboat Stock and Production 3 and 4.
Carbonell said safety will be an important aspect of this year’s races, with medical responders on the water and helicopters in the air to watch for sea life.
The Marathon races are the second in a series of six leading up to the Key West world championship. The others are in Cocoa Beach, Pensacola, Clearwater and Michigan City, Ind.
http://www.keysnet.com/2015/07/02/50...rn-to-the.html
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07-03-2015 07:44 PM
2015 Marathon Schedule
Event Marathon Super Boat Grand Prix
Dry Pits Marathon Airport-US 1 / Aviation Blvd.
Location Marathon, FL
Friday July 3, 2015
9:00 am 5:00 pm Powerboats Dry Pits Open Marathon Airport
9:00 am 5:00 pm Registration: Marathon Airport
9:00 am 5:00 pm Inspections: Marathon Airport
7:30pm 8:30pm Racers Welcome Party Hosted by GEICO: Faro Blanco Marina
Saturday July 4, 2015
8:00am 5:00pm Fueling Official Fuel Southern Racing Fuels Marathon Airport
8:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting: Hyatt Place, 1996 Overseas Hwy.
9:00 am 5:00 pm Powerboats Dry Pits Open Marathon Airport
10:00am 5:00pm Registration: Marathon Airport
10:00am 5:00 pm Inspection: Marathon Airport
10:00am 2:00pm Dunkers Blackfin Resort 4650 Overseas Hwy
12:00pm 4:00 pm Testing: As per the SBIP Rulebook
12:00pm 4:00pm Wet Pits: Faro Blance C Dock Behind Hyatt Place MM 48
12:00pm 4:00 pm Launching: US-1 MM 54
7:00 pm 10:00pm Party & Fireworks on Sombrero Beach Produced by the City of Marathon
Sunday July 5, 2015 Race Day
7:30 m 8:30 am Physicals: Hyatt Place, 1996 Overseas Hwy.
8:00am 12:00pm Fueling Official Fuel Southern Racing Fuels Marathon Airport
8:00am 4pm Launching: US-1 MM54
8:30am Mandatory Drivers Meeting: Hyatt Place, 1996 Overseas Hwy.
9:00 am 4:00 pm Launch / Recovery : US-1 MM
9:00am 4:00pm Powerboats Dry Pits Open: Marathon Airport
10:00am FAA pilots meeting: Marathon Airport
10:00am 4:00pm Wet Pits Faro Blanco C Dock
10:00am 4:00pm Prime Viewing Faro Blanco 1996 Overseas Hwy.
10:00am 4:00pm Prime Viewing Sunset Park Entrance area of 7 Mile Bridge
10:45am Boats of first race proceed to milling area for 1st Race
11:00am Start of 1st Race
12:45pm Boats of second race proceed to milling area for 2nd Race
1:00 pm Start of 2nd Race
5:00 pm Awards Presentation Hosted by Lighthouse Grill: Faro Blanco Marina
Additional Information
Experience the Ultimate Thrill of Offshore Racing Powerboats Dry Pits Free Admission Spectators can see the boats and meet the teams at Marathon Airport
Race Course Gulf Side From Tranquility Bay to the Seven Mile Bridge Finish Line: Faro Blanco Marina @ Hyatt Place, 1996 Overseas Hwy.
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07-05-2015 10:29 AM
Super Boat International
First Race 11:00 am Second Race 1:00 pm
Welcome everyone... we are set for Super Boat Racing In Marathon Fl this Sunday. The first race is at 11:00 and the second is at 1:00 pm EST. Please note start times could vary due to weather or other factors. Also, audio does not come on until anchors and radio station are set to go... usually 15 minutes before race time.
Livestream Link
http://livestream.com/sbi/marathon2015
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07-05-2015 11:53 AM
Results, (Unofficial), Race 1
Superboat Stock
FJ Propeller S-119
Papa's Pilar Rum S-5
Talbot Excavating S-29, DNF
Production 3
2nd Amendment P3-2
Superboat Extreme
Hooters - Instigator 1
Superboat Vee
Sunprint 51
Production 4
Two Cruel P4-1
Five Guys P4-22Last edited by Serious News; 07-05-2015 at 08:17 PM.
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07-05-2015 01:56 PM
Results, (Unofficial), Race 2
Superboat Unlimited
CMS 03
CMS 3, DNF
Miss Geico 113, DNS
Superboat
Team Amsoil 77
Cleveland Construction 4
WHM Motorsports 5, DNF
STIHL US-1, DNF