Great Lakes Grand Prix !
08-10-2009, 12:57 PM
#41
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What I would like to know is for all of the teams there ,with the exception of Simmons and Ryan, Why were they not in St Clair? When I pulled in on sunday morning I about had a heart attack. All of the teams that I thought would have made the trip to St Clair were sitting in Mich City only 3 hrs away. I understand cash issues and also mechanical issues, but find it odd that everyone got their stuff together to be at City. Noboday wants to say that maybe politics but one tends to think so sometimes.
I hope and pray that next year CMS, Aqua Mainia, WHM, Geico, Cat Killer, TKO, Peppers,and all the others, will put forth a greater effort to show up on the east side of the state for Harrison and St. Clair. It being understood there were over 40 boats at St Clair that should have also supported the Michigan City race, as well.
As for the course, the swimmers should have been out of the water or the course should have been pushed out a couple hundred yards. As for the turns they to should have been 75yds wider. I honestly thought that the course went up the back side of the spectator fleet and then between the bouys. But that was not the case when the course was ran by the 1st boat and helios.
Other than those 2 small items I found it to be a nice site and the vantage point from a spectator point was fantastic.
I hope and pray that next year CMS, Aqua Mainia, WHM, Geico, Cat Killer, TKO, Peppers,and all the others, will put forth a greater effort to show up on the east side of the state for Harrison and St. Clair. It being understood there were over 40 boats at St Clair that should have also supported the Michigan City race, as well.
As for the course, the swimmers should have been out of the water or the course should have been pushed out a couple hundred yards. As for the turns they to should have been 75yds wider. I honestly thought that the course went up the back side of the spectator fleet and then between the bouys. But that was not the case when the course was ran by the 1st boat and helios.
Other than those 2 small items I found it to be a nice site and the vantage point from a spectator point was fantastic.
Last edited by bk1425; 08-10-2009 at 01:02 PM.
08-10-2009, 01:25 PM
#42
Racer
Racer
Brian,
For the Teams that were in St Clair, I would bet the reason they were not in MC was mostly money. Our Team can't/won't pay SBI fees for one race. Even if I did I would have been the only SV there. I asked several times "who was going" and only got weather updates. It is just not worth it.
As far as why those teams at MC that didn't run in St Clair, only TKO does not have a class to run in with OPA or OSS.
For the Teams that were in St Clair, I would bet the reason they were not in MC was mostly money. Our Team can't/won't pay SBI fees for one race. Even if I did I would have been the only SV there. I asked several times "who was going" and only got weather updates. It is just not worth it.
As far as why those teams at MC that didn't run in St Clair, only TKO does not have a class to run in with OPA or OSS.
08-10-2009, 01:44 PM
#43
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I was completely impressed with the race and how it was setup even though there was a small turnout of race boats. Our local organization that put this on said that between Friday and Sunday that over 90,000 people were at Washington Park which does not include spectators from Stop 2 down to Stop 20. There were also roughly 200 or so boats spectating yesterday. The Coast Guard and DNR did a great job of keeping the boats away from the race course despite what others are saying....I was in the middle of the course and they kept us about 100 yards from the outside of the track buoys. In other words if you weren't there don't criticize the race or the way in which it was handled. Hopefully with the amount of spectators and the nice setup more boats will show up next year. Lake Michigan can get very rough as was evident yesterday with 4 - 6 boats breaking before the end of the race.
Well put Mike! As a local area resident I would like to see the races come back, for enjoyed and help of our local economy! So If you don't have anything positive to stay go back under the rock you came out of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to the racers, teams and everyone else who made this event posible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
08-10-2009, 02:21 PM
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Even with a small boat count, it sounds like the event as a whole went well. Being that this was a 1st annual event, maybe the thing will get even better next year. It would be great to see lots more boats make the 4 big midwest events since they are all on back to back weekends, Detroit, Harrison, St. Clair and then MC. There are lots of Offshore fans in this area that would travel to see each event. With OPA and OSS talking, maybe SBI and the other orgs will start talking as well and bring the sport to the next level. I know that from a fan prospective, lots of us don't know all the history and reasons for the splits and problems, but, we sure would like to see our favorite boats duking it out against each other instead of running unaposed in their classes. For all the MC organizers, great job and thanks for your hard work. Hope the CG doesn't rain on your parade for next year because of what may have been a turn incident. live and learn for next year. Happy racing everyone!
08-10-2009, 05:37 PM
#46
DriverofDonzi
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I have to agree with Brian. I see was a long list of boats that would show up at St. Clair...About half of these on the list showed up...What happened to other half? I understand that economy is bad out there but the important is that teams go there and have fun racing. Look at Simmons Racing. Simmons Racing raced Harrison Twp., St. Clair., and Michigan City for 3 weekends in a row! It is because Simmons Racing love to race for fun. I just hope next year at St Clair it will be more than this year. Who knows. I applaud to all teams for making their trip to the races...Thank you! 
Chris
Chris
08-10-2009, 06:00 PM
#47
it was awsome to see a city so excited about a race. The city did a great job and Jason and his crew are first class. The fans were like no other i have seen before, they were there day after day and so into it.
With 40,000 on the beach Sunday its a good sign for the futhure of the races to come in Michigan City.
With 40,000 on the beach Sunday its a good sign for the futhure of the races to come in Michigan City.
08-11-2009, 04:49 AM
#50
Shoot'n Motion @ 1/80 Sec
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The feedback has been tremendous, for this Event. I spent the better part of the Weekend shooting around the pits, documenting (photographing) the repairs to Geico's Mystic, and shooting wherever, I could find a location, including, going out on Caveman with Mikey, for the Race on Sunday. Its 5:30 AM (Been home an hour), and I am sorting through pics, and I will, get some posted here of MI City, and still get some posted of St. Clair. 2 Days, is not much time, to dump/ edit/ post, before driving for the next race
From the Fan perspective, the turn-out was amazing. It was a shame, more teams, could not participate, for whatever reasons. However, for those, that did show up, they put on a good show for the crowd. The beach was packed for the better part of a mile, (straightaways were 2.5 miles long), then there were pockets of crowds the rest of the way. The Spectator Fleet was huge. I estimated 200+, and many of them were, rather good sized Crusiers
It was a pleasure, to meet & greet, most of the teams, & make new friends. Already previewing my sorting, I've got some awesome shots of (Geico & Aqua Mania Mystics, WHM, Lucas Oil, Simmons, CMS, Crazy Chicken, OPA & Miccosukee going Deck to Deck, ETC.
Every boat that raced), the Light House, Jetty, Crowds, Marina, Pits (Wet & Dry), Sunset on Saturday, an old Wooden Chris, & Many more. It was a terrific weekend. Looking forward to Next Year.
Good Night... Or Morning for some....
From the Fan perspective, the turn-out was amazing. It was a shame, more teams, could not participate, for whatever reasons. However, for those, that did show up, they put on a good show for the crowd. The beach was packed for the better part of a mile, (straightaways were 2.5 miles long), then there were pockets of crowds the rest of the way. The Spectator Fleet was huge. I estimated 200+, and many of them were, rather good sized Crusiers
It was a pleasure, to meet & greet, most of the teams, & make new friends. Already previewing my sorting, I've got some awesome shots of (Geico & Aqua Mania Mystics, WHM, Lucas Oil, Simmons, CMS, Crazy Chicken, OPA & Miccosukee going Deck to Deck, ETC.
Every boat that raced), the Light House, Jetty, Crowds, Marina, Pits (Wet & Dry), Sunset on Saturday, an old Wooden Chris, & Many more. It was a terrific weekend. Looking forward to Next Year.
Good Night... Or Morning for some....
