2025 Great Lakes Grand Prix, Michigan City

[rschap1]

In Super Cat, Vinnie and Chris both got penalized for jumping the start, Dirty Money ended up being declared the winner.

Some very unhappy people.

Chris's team, Graydel, when they were announced at the awards for third place in Super Cat, the entire team stood up, waved the checkered flag they had received from the finish boat, and all walked out with the flag.

Saw "rolling start" when I went to review the results.
Have to admit, made me wonder...


???

 

[Ratickle]

The appeals from both Graydel and Rollin were supposed to be heard at 4:00 yesterday. I have not heard the results of their appeal yet, but the videos they submitted in their appeals sure looked like the penalties should be overturned.

 

[Serious News]

Both teams won their appeals. Graydel is now the winner, Dirty Money moved to second.

 

[Ratickle]

In Super Cat, Vinnie and Chris both got penalized for jumping the start, Dirty Money ended up being declared the winner.

Some very unhappy people.

Chris's team, Graydel, when they were announced at the awards for third place in Super Cat, the entire team stood up, waved the checkered flag they had received from the finish boat, and all walked out with the flag.

Well, they got it changed to the actual results of the race. I was at Skater yesterday and Chris Grant was there. He said he was told the vote was unanimous that there was no penalty, the start was completely legit.
From Speedboat Magazine

WPRA Overturns Michigan City Penalties Against CJ Grant/Graydel, SV Offshore in Super Cat

In the wake of Race World Offshore's XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix event in Michigan City, IN, earlier this month, officials of WPRA—the race's sanctioning body—have concluded the appeal process involving the Super Cat competition.

At the race, acting referee Jeff Harris originally penalized two boats, CJ Grant/Graydel and Rollin Transport/SV Offshore, for passing the pace boat and jumping the start. The initial penalty was reportedly assessed based on a verbal protest that had been filed after the race. Now the board of the WPRA has unanimously overturned the decision to apply 1-minute penalties to both teams.

When the penalties were originally enforced, Dirty Money was listed as the official winner, followed by Team Farnsworth/Hancock Claims, C.J. Grant/Graydel, EWB Racing and Rollin Transport/SV Offshore. However, after the board's decision, the podium changes the finishing order:

1. #54 CJ Grant/Graydel
2. #3 Dirty Money
3. #88 SV Offshore

The decision was welcome news to CJ Grant/Graydel owner/driver Chris Grant. "The appeal process overturned the penalty," he told Speedboat. "We were confident that the start was totally legal. Our boat was set up perfectly for us to lead the whole race and take home a first-place finish. Our team is extremely focused, and you can see the results. We were disappointed about the Sheboygan cancellation, but are ready for Chicago!"

Likewise, Rollin Transport/SV Offshore owner/throttleman Vinnie Diorio was stoked that the decision put his team on the podium, but told Speedboat that the outcome was bittersweet. "Unfortunately, it robbed our team of enjoying the podium during an otherwise awesome awards banquet. To have that taken away from us was pretty depressing," he said. "I hope they learn from their hasty decision. They should have just announced the race as it finished, unofficially, and said it was under review."

But as two boats moved up in the ranks, others had to accept being pushed back. Unfortunately, the lifting of the penalty moved Dirty Money from first to second; reacting to the news of CJ Grant/Graydel's first-place ranking, an obviously disappointed Brit Lilly told Speedboat, "Congrats to them." Meanwhile, second-place finisher Team Farnsworth Motorsports/Hancock Claims was relegated to fourth place. Team owner Win Farnsworth remained upbeat about the outcome.

"It directly impacted me," Farnsworth told Speedboat. "But I didn't feel like what happened on race day directly warranted a penalty. I think Jeff Harris made the best decision he could at the time, but once all of the video footage was examined, I think everybody made the right decision. It was the right call." (Harris and Farnsworth did not vote, due to conflicts of interest.)

WPRA Overturns Michigan City Penalties Against CJ Grant/Graydel, SV Offshore in Super Cat

In the wake of Race World Offshore's XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix event in Michigan City, IN, earlier this month, officials of WPRA—the race's sanctioning body—have concluded the appeal process involving the Super Cat competition. At the race, two boats (CJ Grant/Graydel and Rollin...

www.speedboat.com

 

[rschap1]

Looks and sounds like the right thing to do

 

[Ratickle]

Based on the video evidence they showed to me that they submitted in the appeal, I could see no way that they should have been penalized in the first place. I'm thinking the referee didn't know the rules.....

 

[Serious News]

 

[Serious News]

 

[Serious News]

 

[Serious News]