Sounds like things went well-
Powerboats bring speed to St. Clair- Thousands to attend annual race
By JOSEPH DEINLEIN
Times Herald
ST. CLAIR -- John Pollock had a set of binoculars up to his face Saturday as powerboat Dirty Duck cut through the waters of the St. Clair River in front of Palmer Park.
"We just love 'em," Pollock, 58, said of he and his wife, Nancy. They had been watching time trials in preparation for today's St. Clair River Classic powerboat race.
The race, sponsored by the Blue Water Offshore Racing Association and River's Bend Marina of St. Clair, starts at noon. About 10,000 people are expected at the free event.
"We'll pack the boardwalk," association President Steve Brunner said.
Between 40 and 50 boats of several classes are expected to race in the 10-year-old event, Brunner said. The race is part of the Great Lakes Silver Cup Series. For the first time, the association is hosting the Offshore Super Series, a national race circuit, as part of this year's event.
Winners get a cash prize and trophy and earn points toward a grand prize at the end of the season, Brunner said.
Racers will start the seven-mile track near Palmer Park. The north turn of the race is south of Stag Island near Marysville. The south turn is south of the Cargill Salt Plant near the mouth of the Pine River. The number of laps depends on the class.
Freighter traffic has priority on the river, so racers will go to a caution lap should a vessel come close, Brunner said. Thanks to help from Sarnia Traffic Control, the Canadian Coast Guard group that oversees shipping traffic, organizers time races to miss the bigger boats.
Bob Lerwick, 57, of Columbus Township brought his son, D.J., 12, to catch Saturday's time trials. He saw a sign on Interstate 94 advertising the race and plans to attend today. It's the first time he's been to a race in St. Clair, though he's seen several in Detroit.
"This is much better," he said. "It's closer to home."
Originally published Sunday, August 1, 2004
