When the going gets tough, the tough get going!
07/12/2003
Ft Lauderdale, Florida - Cigarette Racing is back! The Factory 2 dominating race boat manufacturer in 2001 has had a rather lack luster performance record on the National APBA Offshore circuit. The well known, bright yellow Team Virgin boat, a 36 ft Cigarette Gladiator raced by Todd Klindworth and Tres Martin, won both a National and World title in 2001. While Todd and Tres moved on to race with the big boys of Offshore in an MTI Supercat, Cigarette has struggled with no Factory 2 boat and one Super V not placing often. But that has all changed over the last weekend.
APBA Offshore held the second annual Fire on the Water in Savannah, Georgia last weekend. The racing on Sunday showed you can have fireworks on the water, as well as in the air. The wind wiped up a solid chop on top of 2-4 foot waves and made for an interesting course full of holes and launch pads.
The Super V fleet took off shortly after noon with a fleet of 9 boats. From the drop of the flag H &H Speed and Marine took the lead. H & H Speed is running a 36 ft canopied Cigarette and was the last boat to finish the race in Marathon a month prior.
After Marathon the boat went to the infamous shop of speed for big boats, Martin Offshore, run by legendary racer Tres Martin. Tres completely re-rigged the boat and went to the reliable speed of Mercury Racing. He got the boat to not only have boat speed, but made the boat turn like it was on rails.
As Cigarette and Tres both like the big, rough water, they got what they asked for in Savannah. With Bob Bull (owner) on the throttles and race veteran Todd Klindworth driving there was an experienced team in control. They took off and never looked back running the Cigarette in conditions it was made for to finish well ahead of the second place finisher.
When asked about the decision to re-rig the boat, Bob Bull said I felt I had a good platform to race with, it was just missing the ability to win, so everyone said if I wanted to win, Tres was the man. Obviously the advice I got was correct.
On several corners it could be heard on the radio that there was a Bull in the turn as Bob Bull relentlessly pushed the Cigarette through the waves. Tress experience and knowledge was certainly demonstrated by the powerful performance. Now, can this winning combination do the same on calm waters, that question will have to answered on another body of water.
JM94
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