St Clair Race Coverage
07-27-2010 | 04:15 PM
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St Clair Race Coverage
Voice Newspaper
Sunday boat races highlight St. Clair Riverfest
Published: Monday, July 26, 2010
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Boats sit in the dry docks at last year's races. (File photo)
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By Jennifer Sattler, Voice Reporter
The St. Clair River Classic is rated as one of the top offshore racing sites in the United States. The race begins at noon on Sunday with viewing available from Palmer Park in downtown St. Clair.
"The venue is ideal for both racers and spectators. Everything is within walking distance," Blue Water Offshore Racing Association President Ed Smith of St. Clair said.
The OPA Sanctioned event attracts over 30,000 spectators to the city. It is the highlight of a weekend of events that will include concerts in the park and a fair in town.
Blue Water Offshore Racing Association President Steve Brunner is hoping for 40 to 60 boats this year. Race boats show up as early as today and can be viewed around town in the dry pit areas.
"There will potentially be 11 classes. Classes 1-6 are speed and size regulated, after that there is Super Vee, Super Cat Lite, Super Cat and Extreme. All are regulated by engine size and hull configuration. The extreme class will have at least one turbine boat, Miss Geico, capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph. We are in hopes of having several boats in that class," Brunner said.
The 2010 race course will follow the shorter route established in 2009. The slower boats will debut at noon while the more powerful classes will race later in the afternoon.
The BWORA and OPA volunteers have fine tuned race logistics making it manageable for race teams unfamiliar with the area. While the venue is unique, for many competitors the freshwater is an added bonus.
"There's a lot less clean up compared to salt water racing, " Brunner said. "Teams from all over the country comment on our blue water, the Jersey Boyz team asks who added the 'Tidy Bowl'. The friendly people of St. Clair make it more enjoyable for the racers. There are racers who have been here so often they have made permanent friends in the community."
It's not all about boats, though as River Fest has added culture free concerts beginning Friday with top entertainers. Candlebox takes the stage at 10:15 p.m., Friday. Great White known for its 1987 double platinum album "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," won't make the baby boomers feel too out of place. Great White will be on stage at 10:15 p.m., Saturday.
You will pay a premium for parking but free parking is available on city streets. Street vendors will offer food throughout the event.
Longtime St. Clair businessman Dale Carney considers the offshore race a first class event.
"We (my family and I) love race weekend. The kids always enjoyed the carnival but this year there are other activities for them to enjoy," Carney said. "As a business owner I think it's great."
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of voicenews.com.
Walter Wilker wrote on Jul 27, 2010 4:24 PM:
" I watched the boats from the Canadian side and really enjoyed them. Next year I am going to get a hotel room on the US side and enjoy the concerts on Saturday and be with the US crowd cheering the racers on Sunday.
Great Great event "
Sunday boat races highlight St. Clair Riverfest
Published: Monday, July 26, 2010
1 comment(s) | Email to a friend | Print version | ShareThis
Boats sit in the dry docks at last year's races. (File photo)
View and purchase photos
By Jennifer Sattler, Voice Reporter
The St. Clair River Classic is rated as one of the top offshore racing sites in the United States. The race begins at noon on Sunday with viewing available from Palmer Park in downtown St. Clair.
"The venue is ideal for both racers and spectators. Everything is within walking distance," Blue Water Offshore Racing Association President Ed Smith of St. Clair said.
The OPA Sanctioned event attracts over 30,000 spectators to the city. It is the highlight of a weekend of events that will include concerts in the park and a fair in town.
Blue Water Offshore Racing Association President Steve Brunner is hoping for 40 to 60 boats this year. Race boats show up as early as today and can be viewed around town in the dry pit areas.
"There will potentially be 11 classes. Classes 1-6 are speed and size regulated, after that there is Super Vee, Super Cat Lite, Super Cat and Extreme. All are regulated by engine size and hull configuration. The extreme class will have at least one turbine boat, Miss Geico, capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph. We are in hopes of having several boats in that class," Brunner said.
The 2010 race course will follow the shorter route established in 2009. The slower boats will debut at noon while the more powerful classes will race later in the afternoon.
The BWORA and OPA volunteers have fine tuned race logistics making it manageable for race teams unfamiliar with the area. While the venue is unique, for many competitors the freshwater is an added bonus.
"There's a lot less clean up compared to salt water racing, " Brunner said. "Teams from all over the country comment on our blue water, the Jersey Boyz team asks who added the 'Tidy Bowl'. The friendly people of St. Clair make it more enjoyable for the racers. There are racers who have been here so often they have made permanent friends in the community."
It's not all about boats, though as River Fest has added culture free concerts beginning Friday with top entertainers. Candlebox takes the stage at 10:15 p.m., Friday. Great White known for its 1987 double platinum album "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," won't make the baby boomers feel too out of place. Great White will be on stage at 10:15 p.m., Saturday.
You will pay a premium for parking but free parking is available on city streets. Street vendors will offer food throughout the event.
Longtime St. Clair businessman Dale Carney considers the offshore race a first class event.
"We (my family and I) love race weekend. The kids always enjoyed the carnival but this year there are other activities for them to enjoy," Carney said. "As a business owner I think it's great."
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of voicenews.com.
Walter Wilker wrote on Jul 27, 2010 4:24 PM:
" I watched the boats from the Canadian side and really enjoyed them. Next year I am going to get a hotel room on the US side and enjoy the concerts on Saturday and be with the US crowd cheering the racers on Sunday.
Great Great event "
07-27-2010 | 04:18 PM
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1
From: Columbus,MI
Also from The Voice
Thousands crowd riverfront for races
Published: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
No comments posted. | Email to a friend | Print version | ShareThis
Lightning Jacks, followed by the race helicopter, storms down the St. Clair River Sunday. (Photo by DAVE ANGELL)
View and purchase photos
By Jennifer Sattler, Voice Reporter
Thousands of fans lined the city’s Palmer Park Boardwalk for the 16th annual St. Clair River Classic offshore race Sunday afternoon.
Rated as one of the top offshore racing locations, the venue attracted almost 50 boats divided into 11 competitive classes.
The crowds patiently waited for the six and half hour event to reach its racing crescendo.
Miss Geico rifled through the river with a raging speed of up to 150 mph, placing first in the Turbine and Extreme Class.
“We’ve had a great weekend. I estimate there to be at least 40,000 people downtown here to watch the race,” St. Clair Police Chief Richard Jefferson said.
There’s no doubt the Blue Water Offshore Racing Association and Offshore Powerboat Association inject fuel into the local economy. Throughout the three-day Riverfest event, an estimated 100,000 people walked the city streets and dry pit area to get a look at the high powered race boats while vendors worked to make an extra buck.
The festival also featured music as Candlebox took the stage at Palmer Park Friday followed by 80s rockers Great White Saturday.
“It’s great to bring that many people into St. Clair for one weekend,” BWORA President Steve Brunner said.
OPA Official Frank Vecce complimented the BWORA’s Volunteer Commitment.
“For a city this size, the volunteer power is amazing,” Vecce said.
The OPA official scorers combine science and technology when scoring a race.
“To the untrained eye, it may seem as though these boats are all competing (running) at the same time and in the same class. However, they are not…The race is divided based on speed and size. It’s scored using photo finish technology leaving it error proof and supporting scoring decisions,” OPA Scorer Sam Potthoff of Oldbridge, N.J. said.
Armed with a Canon digital camera and a telephoto lens, Potthoff, who travels to races throughout the country with wife Toni, marked every boat’s lap.
“There’s no disputing a photo finish,” he said.
The following were the unofficial results of Sunday’s races:
Turbine and extreme class
nFirst: Miss Geico
nSecond: Cat Can Do
nThird: JBS Racing
Super cat 750 series
First: Qatar Number 95
Second: WHM
Third: Qatar Number 96
Cat lite
First: Amsoil
Second: Phoenix Part.com
Third: Infinity
Super vee
First: R Rated
Second: Wazzup
Third: Electrex
Super vee lite
First: Watch Your Back
Second Boat Floater
Third Typhoon
Super stock outboard
First: First Talbot Excavating
Second:Fluid Sealing Products
Third: Your Gonna Have That
Class 100
First: Saratoga Stampede
Second: Global Warmer
Third: Cleveland Construction (Completed four laps)
Class 300
First: Bull on the Beach
Second: TKO (Completed two laps)
Third: Crime Pays
Class 400
First Simmons
Second Formula Boats
Third Chiro I (B/O)
Class 500
First: Boat Responsiblyn
Second: Outrageous
Third: Dock Blood
The following Class 500 entries missed the marker: Specialized, Whoz Your Daddy, Tyler Crockett Marine, and Mitigator (completed one lap).
Class 600
First: Akula
Second: Wazzup II (Completed one lap)
Third: PFE (B/O)
Thousands crowd riverfront for races
Published: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
No comments posted. | Email to a friend | Print version | ShareThis
Lightning Jacks, followed by the race helicopter, storms down the St. Clair River Sunday. (Photo by DAVE ANGELL)
View and purchase photos
By Jennifer Sattler, Voice Reporter
Thousands of fans lined the city’s Palmer Park Boardwalk for the 16th annual St. Clair River Classic offshore race Sunday afternoon.
Rated as one of the top offshore racing locations, the venue attracted almost 50 boats divided into 11 competitive classes.
The crowds patiently waited for the six and half hour event to reach its racing crescendo.
Miss Geico rifled through the river with a raging speed of up to 150 mph, placing first in the Turbine and Extreme Class.
“We’ve had a great weekend. I estimate there to be at least 40,000 people downtown here to watch the race,” St. Clair Police Chief Richard Jefferson said.
There’s no doubt the Blue Water Offshore Racing Association and Offshore Powerboat Association inject fuel into the local economy. Throughout the three-day Riverfest event, an estimated 100,000 people walked the city streets and dry pit area to get a look at the high powered race boats while vendors worked to make an extra buck.
The festival also featured music as Candlebox took the stage at Palmer Park Friday followed by 80s rockers Great White Saturday.
“It’s great to bring that many people into St. Clair for one weekend,” BWORA President Steve Brunner said.
OPA Official Frank Vecce complimented the BWORA’s Volunteer Commitment.
“For a city this size, the volunteer power is amazing,” Vecce said.
The OPA official scorers combine science and technology when scoring a race.
“To the untrained eye, it may seem as though these boats are all competing (running) at the same time and in the same class. However, they are not…The race is divided based on speed and size. It’s scored using photo finish technology leaving it error proof and supporting scoring decisions,” OPA Scorer Sam Potthoff of Oldbridge, N.J. said.
Armed with a Canon digital camera and a telephoto lens, Potthoff, who travels to races throughout the country with wife Toni, marked every boat’s lap.
“There’s no disputing a photo finish,” he said.
The following were the unofficial results of Sunday’s races:
Turbine and extreme class
nFirst: Miss Geico
nSecond: Cat Can Do
nThird: JBS Racing
Super cat 750 series
First: Qatar Number 95
Second: WHM
Third: Qatar Number 96
Cat lite
First: Amsoil
Second: Phoenix Part.com
Third: Infinity
Super vee
First: R Rated
Second: Wazzup
Third: Electrex
Super vee lite
First: Watch Your Back
Second Boat Floater
Third Typhoon
Super stock outboard
First: First Talbot Excavating
Second:Fluid Sealing Products
Third: Your Gonna Have That
Class 100
First: Saratoga Stampede
Second: Global Warmer
Third: Cleveland Construction (Completed four laps)
Class 300
First: Bull on the Beach
Second: TKO (Completed two laps)
Third: Crime Pays
Class 400
First Simmons
Second Formula Boats
Third Chiro I (B/O)
Class 500
First: Boat Responsiblyn
Second: Outrageous
Third: Dock Blood
The following Class 500 entries missed the marker: Specialized, Whoz Your Daddy, Tyler Crockett Marine, and Mitigator (completed one lap).
Class 600
First: Akula
Second: Wazzup II (Completed one lap)
Third: PFE (B/O)
