Miss GEICO Goes Full Throttle in Quest for the National Title
 

Miss GEICO Goes Full Throttle in Its Quest for the National Title at OPA Races in Cambridge this Weekend

Cambridge, MD - (Sept. 21, 2007) – Cambridge comes alive this weekend with the 2007 OPA National Championships in Cambridge, Maryland. The country’s best power boat racing teams will come together to put a cap on an exciting season of competition – but one team, the mighty Miss GEICO, will redefine racing with her powerful performances. “We’re all set to take on Team Cintron,” said Marc Granet, Miss GEICO driver and veteran of the sport. “All season long we’ve enjoyed a fast and furious face off between all the extreme performance boats. This weekend we’re running for the championship and it’s time to take the gloves off and show our fans which boat is boss.”

The performance extreme national championship is the sport’s most coveted title attempted only by an elite class of watercraft and crew. The Miss GEICO team epitomizes the excellence that is synonymous with extreme powerboat racing. In addition to being a fast and furious flash of green, this turbine-powered boat claims the preeminent crew in the sport today. “We’ve worked hard to put together a team that brings the best in every aspect of our sport,” said John Haggin, team owner and power boat racing visionary. “When it came to putting the boat together, we went for the very best - no holds barred…and when it came to putting our crew together, we did the same. From the gladiators Marc and Scotty who gracefully navigate our monster of a boat through the country’s roughest waters to the expertly skilled crew that keeps everything tight – our team exceeds expectations.”

The weekend’s races will bring Miss GEICO and Cintron back together again for one final clash of the titans. This fan friendly rivalry has been simmering between the two powerhouse powerboats all season and Granet and Miss GEICO Throttleman Scotty Begovich is geared up to end it on a high note for his team. A seasoned racer who honed his skills in the Vee-bottom classes, Begovich brings a rare perspective to the catamaran campaign. “I don’t believe there’s a boat in the circuit today that can outperform ours. Miss GEICO is very responsive,” Begovich said. “Even at half throttle we fly by the other boats like they’re standing still.” Powered by twin T53-773 Lycoming engines, each one puts out 1,850 units in heated horsepower.

All that adds up to a great forecast for this world-class racing team. The OPA National Championships sets the stage for an even bigger showdown between Budweiser Select, long the baddest boat in the business and Miss GEICO – the new kid on the block who is redefining racing in the OSS race next weekend. “My money’s on my team,” Granet said. “It comes down to sheer will and power and in those categories you can put us up against any team and we’ll come out on top.”

Specifications: “Miss GEICO” Unlimited Hydroplane

2007 Miss Geico MTI.

Builder: Marine Technologies Incorporated
Materials: Composite, Carbon, Epoxy
Length: 44 feet
Beam: 10’ 6
Weight: 10,000lbs
Fuel: 500 Gal Capacity
Type: Jet- A, Kerosene, Diesel
Engines: Lycoming T-53 703 series
Drives: BPM, Surface
Horsepower: 1850 x 2
Propellers: Precision, High Strength Alloy
Rudder: Carbon Stainless
Paint: House of Kolor, EFX

Performance: 185+ MPH!!!

Schedule for the 2007 OPA National Championship presented by Mud Puppy Racing - in honor of John Wilmoth courtesy of OPA Racing Website

FRIDAY, SEPT 21, 2007
All Day Arrival of Race Boats; Viewing in Dry Pits – Hyatt Hotel
10:00 PM – 4:00 PM OPA Registration – Inside Hyatt
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Crane in Operation
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Inspections - Dry Pits
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Testing
1:00 PM - Charity Golf Tournament
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Racers party @ Portside Seafood Restaurant-Downtown Cambridge on the waterfront.

SATURDAY, SEPT 22, 2007
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Physicals – Hyatt Hotel
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Drivers Meeting – Hyatt Hotel
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Crane in Operation
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM 1st Race – P5 & P6
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM 2nd Race – P4 & P3
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM 3rd Race – P2 – P1 – PX
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Block Party Downtown Cambridge

SUNDAY, SEPT 23, 2006
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Physicals – Hyatt Hotel
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Drivers Meeting – Hyatt Hotel
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Crane in Operation
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM 1st Race – P5 & P6
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM 2nd Race – P4 & P3
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM 3rd Race – P2 – P1 – PX
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Awards – Blue Pointe Grill.