VIDEO: OPA Port Huron AMSOIL Supercat battles for Win
 

https://youtu.be/0a8zOE-CRsQ Enjoy the HD 720P60 onboard video above! Detailed write up for the press release is below! Fun drivers course at Port Huron...

John Teague


Team AMSOIL Offshore traveled back to Michigan for the third weekend in a row for their last Great Lakes stop at Port Huron, Michigan. The historical shipping and trade city is located at the southern base of Lake Huron and the mouth of the Saint Clair River, which is also the border with Canada. The race is a very unique international effort that involves officials and events in both the United States and Sarnia, Canada. In terms of exposure in the past, the Port Huron venue was overshadowed by the crowd and boat count of the Saint Clair race two weeks prior. However, the event has been gaining momentum, with a boat count over 40 and huge local spectator turnout on both the American and Canadian shores, the venue was a great success for great racing!

On Friday the Team AMSOIL Crew gave the boat a complete evaluation. After the rough and unpredictable water in Michigan City, all the boat’s systems needed to be checked for stress and shock loading related failure. The Teague Custom Marine Supercat spec engines passed inspection and with flawless vital signs! A leaking crash box transmission was changed, and the team continued prepping for testing. On Saturday, conditions were calm and the river traffic was light. Throttleman Bob Teague and Driver John Teague achieved speeds nearing 140 mph on the back straightaway of the course. They used their setup experience for the area from past years of racing at Port Huron and settled on a setup combination for Sunday.

Action on Sunday heated up long before the Supercats took to the water in the third and final race of the day. In earlier races, a Class 6, then a Class 5 boat spun and flipped in turn one, which was tucked into the Sarnia Bay entrance. Thankfully, Bob and John would be able to sight the course on a full parade lap prior to milling for the start. The course at Port Huron is always tricky, but this year it was especially so. The overall lap distance was lengthened to 5 miles. Both the north Sarnia Bay turn and south turn were squeezed close to shore for spectators and shipping lane clearance, making for very tight turn exits. There was also a start finish chute, and a left hand pin for fuel dock clearance. Overall, the course featured 6 right hand pins, and two left hand pins.

The Supercats and Supervees lined up in the first start of the third race, with Cleveland Construction #4 assigned the inside lane against AMSOIL #77. On the drop of the flag the two silver skaters drag raced side by side down the front straight into the Sarnia turn. AMSOIL followed Cleveland Construction around the outside, and gave chase down the back straight. The zig-zag nature of the course layout on the Saint Clair River made driving the outside line extremely difficult. Bob and John had a top speed advantage, but the #4 had just enough holeshot to stay established and command the racing line.

Three times AMSOIL dove inside exiting turns and bit by bit made up time. Finally, they squared off the second pin of the Sarnia turn and got the straight line they needed down the back straightaway. In sloppier water than they anticipated, especially with Vee bottoms on the course, they skirted the pins on the inside of the course and pulled up deck to deck with Cleveland Construction at over 135 mph. Having established the inside line the #77 railed the south turn pin to pin and made a perfect exit. Bob and John were able to run unimpeded, and continued to lap the other classes running before taking the checkered flag and victory for the 50 mile race.

At 0:49 when the right shoulder throws the sticks forward---Awesome!!

That water was certainly better to run in than Michigan City. Looks like you guys had the right set up for this race. Cool video!!!

As always a great race and it is nice to see great video and your description of the race. It appeared that Cleveland Construction got a great jump on you guys and held that spot for quite awhile. I don't know what happened but heard that Cleveland Construction broke and pulled out of the race. Congrat;s to Amsoil on another great race

I noticed john releasing the wheel with his left hand some while running straight what was he looking/checking for?

Guessing to see if it was tabbed right? if it was pulling one way or the other they would be scrubbing speed in a straight away... just guessing..... anyone?

Great video!

Good guess but no tabs are used in smooth water like this. I'm letting the wheel go with both hands actually. Finding and letting the boat run straight. The more you screw with it you'll just scrub off speed.

Great Vid and thanks for posting.

I have heard as well from an old boat racer trick if your boat can track true straight and the water conditions allow you to run with your hands off the steering wheel, the faster you will go, the more steering inputs / movement of the wheel - the more movement of the drive(s) or rudder(s) is a speed scrubber. Plus the shortest & fastest distance from point A to point B is a complete straight line. With that said I personally never needed to use that method to drive a boat because I have never raced boats. Just saying.