Thanks to Smitty
 

By now from reading the racers forum, you all should have some feeling for just how much time, money and effort goes into putting on an offshore boat race. Well, putting the Camden race together has been way over the top.

Dealing with the City of Camden, County of Camden, Camden parking authority, Camden Police, Battleship NJ, Coast Guard, Marine Police, Wiggins Park Authority, the NJ and PA Division of Homeland security and about five more I can't remember has been a challenge to say the least. Camden is a hotbed of political redundancy and I applaud Smitty for keeping his head, making the numerous trips across the state for meetings with every board member requested his presence. All in an effort to Git it dun.

The prospect of a free race and $26,000 purse has had Smitty's phone ringing off the hook since the purse was announced during the Cambridge race 8 days ago. The concept that AMF and OPA are doing something out of the goodness of their heart and love of the sport with no possibility of a return on investment is mind numbing. Make no mistake, it was Smitty and Haggin that took care of the monetary issues and their deeds have been met with an overwhelming support from racers young and old.

The stage is set, the buoys in place, now it's up to the racers to make this the biggest Performance Class race in history.

Smitty, thank you for putting your business on hold for two weeks, and putting this race before everything else.
Thank you for talking on the phone for 18 hours a day, to convince racers that yes, it's for real, no fine print to read. And thank you most for being you. A great leader for OPA and a very dear friend.

Your wing man,

Ron

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

I agree

Good work, :drink: to everyone involved

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Hear hear! I have spent the past few months working with Smitty to make the Cambridge race happen and I am proud to call him my friend and cohort :D The amount of work and time necessary to make this happen is mind boggling to say the least. I know we were invited to come up and take it easy, but whatever you need, I am there for you Smitty, this is gonna be great.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Thanks for everything Smitty and Haggin:drink:

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Well said, The things these guys have done for the sport in the last couple of races have been incredible.

Thanks Haggin, Thanks Smitty

Camden is just a small taste to what these guys are capable of doing.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Smitty, John you guys are the best!

Brian

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Where is Augie in all of this, Haggin and Smitty wish I was their to be part of history.....

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

I assure you, Augie is working as hard on this race as any other even though he won't be attending. Thank you Augie for everything you do as well. :drink:
Good luck in Deerfield Brother, were gonna miss ya

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Great effort everyone. I'm sure there will be boats coming out of the wood work. Expect a couple GLSCS boats there as my phone has been ringing endlessly.

Sorry I cannot make the event as I will be on my Honeymoon. Scarey .


Good Luck to Everyone

Andrew Bloom

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Congrats Andy :drink:

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Thanks smitty and haggin for a GREAT YEAR and thanks to the wazzup racing team for always being there for us young guys

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Andrew, CONGRATS ! Guy's THANKS. POP-POP and I made sure we did all we could for Smitty with this race last week in Camden. I sure everyone will have a great time. Be safe and have fun! Scotty, Thank You.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Could anybody give me a basic direction to the race site so I can come watch?

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Get to the Ben Franklin Bridge and look south, you'll see the Battleship NJ.

Just follow signs to the Camden Waterfront/State Aquarium. The best seat in the house is aboard the Battleship. I think they charge $13 to get onboard for the day. Kids are half price.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

To Eddy and the whole OPA organization,
Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts! We really don't have the time or the resources to be running to florida to race. OPA makes it possible for us to get out and share in the thrill of offshore racing!!
:D

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Thanks Smitty.Is Brucee racing this weekend?

Wil

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Any race gas in the area?

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

No, fill up before you leave home.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

I can get fuel If you let me know in advance

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

i leave in 9 hrs with my old lady :evilb: :evilb: . once agan thanks to scottb for getting me involved and to ron-p for putting us in a boat to watch the race . see yall in a couple of hrs

jr

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Boaters plan to race along Camden's waterfront
Friday, October 07, 2005 - Millennium Radio New Jersey


Hank Weisbecker



High speed boaters will converge on Camden Sunday afternoon for the second annual Liberty Grand Prix Boat Race. Forty to fifty boaters are expected to race their crafts between the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges.

Event organizer Ken Shuttleworth says the boats will reach speeds of ninety to one hundred miles per hour. "We call it 'Thunder on the River' because that's what it sounds like. It sounds like big thunder coming down."

Shuttleworth says high speeds and loud engines aren't the only aspects of the race that attract fans. "The boats are very colorful. They have paint jobs and they're very artistic in their own way." He says the race is essentially "Nascar on the water."

While the race is scheduled to begin on Sunday, those attending Camden's waterfront Saturday can to talk to the racers and get close-up views of the water crafts.

Event organizers say the race will help bring visitors to Camden who may not know that the waterfront has been redeveloped. "A lot of great things have taken place here over the last five or six years," said Shuttleworth. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Battleship New Jersey.


By: Hank Weisbecker


(Copyright 2005 by Millennium Radio Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)





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Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

I just found this article on NJ 101.5's website...lets hope there screaming about it on the radio.

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Yeah....Thanks for gettin the boat ready in such short time. :drink:

Re: Thanks to Smitty
 

Smitty and Sticks sleep eat and shiiit wrenchy!!!! :D

WAZZZUUUPPPP