PICKWICK, USA – May 5- 7 brought an action-packed introduction to Summer 2006 for the Mid-South with Pickwick Landing State Resort Park at Pickwick Dam hosting the Pickwick Challenge Offshore Powerboat Race and Festival as thousands of spectators lined the shores of the tranquil Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River. Offshore powerboat racing is new to the fresh waters of the Tennessee River and to most of the people who call the small river towns home as powerboat racing was once only associated with the beautiful sandy coastlines around the world. Rural West Tennessee has had its eyes opened twice now with the Pickwick Challenge bringing the world’s fastest, largest and loudest offshore powerboats to an area that would have in the past never even been thought of as a possibility for a venue site for offshore racing.
Offshore racing and it’s excitement, family entertainment, and competitiveness is climbing to a new high with its number of fans and it’s awareness. Recently, even Hollywood has jumped aboard to ride offshore racing to its fullest…people are loving offshore powerboat racing and Hollywood knows that what people love is what makes money. Miami Vice the movie premiered in theaters everywhere July 28 with the movie being centered around the sport of competitive offshore powerboat racing. Miami Vice premiered within the same month as the Pirates of the Caribbean movie with significantly higher ticket sales…thus the phrase “Powerboats sink Pirate Ships” as reported by the Associated Press. Miami Vice brings Offshore Powerboat Racing even more closer to home for people who call Tennessee, North Mississippi or North Alabama home with Pickwick Lake’s David Woods of Pier 57 agreeing to allow Michael Mann, Director of the movie, to use two of his catamaran race boats to film the movie in Miami. Colin Ferrell and Jamie Foxx even wear jumpsuits in the movie featuring the Tennessee based boat dealership, Pier 57 logo. Powerboat Magazine features the boats of the Miami Vice movie in its July 2006 edition of the world’s leading performance boating magazine.
Offshore Powerboat Racing has had it’s awareness and popularity heightened by the big screen and through efforts being made by organizations such as Offshore Super Series and race venues such as the Pickwick Challenge “Racin’ On The River” who are bringing the greatest show on water to new audiences who once they experience the thrill of offshore racing for the first time, are hooked as fans of the sport and want more!
Join the exciting competition of offshore powerboat racing…it’s NASCAR on water, baby! Visit the following websites for information about the sport itself, race schedules and current race tour point standings:
www.pickwickchallenge.com,
www.offshoresuperseries.com,
www.powerboatmag.com. For event information contact Tanya Irwin, Race Director, Pickwick Challenge at (731) 689-4000, ext. 19 or
tanya@pickwickchallenge.com.
