http://keysnews.com/node/18642

With powerboats still running through the mind channel
By J.W. COOKE Citizen Staff Writer

It happens to me every year that I cover the Key West World Championships. For the days following the final race, the powerboats just don't stop running through my head.

Beyond my head still ringing during the aftermath, every engine on a motorcycle or semi truck that is within an ear shot, makes me turn looking to look for a passing high speed watercraft. It's as if I were a dog with its ears perked up after hearing another barking K-9.


At night, instead of counting sheep, during my dreams I recall the boats in the order they were running during the week: Oh, there goes the Miss Geico, followed by the Aqua Mania. Here come the WHM and CMS. Oh, look the Saratoga Stampeded and Panasonic boat are side by side once again. And those are just the final heats of the day. It certainly goes on from there. Either I'm so exhausted from the day or it is somehow strangely soothing that I always seem to fall asleep early and wake up refreshed.



Despite the after-effects, each year brings a set full of interesting stories and this year was no different. With a list bursting of international squads to record breaking boats to locals back at the top, the 29th annual World Championships might have been the most intriguing since I began covering the races.


Without a doubt, to me, the most fascinating portion of the races was on Saturday night when Al Copeland Jr. unveiled the monstrously-gorgeous "Phenomenon," which was his father's dream that was fulfilled five years in the making. The 56-foot long, 13-and-a half-foot wide, 2,600-pound, half airplane-half boat, 11,000-horse power, four-turbine engine, appropriately named vessel, was truly phenomenal. Just standing by the boat, the paint job alone -- which glistened with holographic images of his father's initials, which now represent the Al Copeland Foundation -- was magnificent. If that weren't enough, I felt dwarfed by the prototypical boat and was privileged to be standing there as history was being revealed to the public. I hope it's a safe voyage when the crew attempts to break the propelled speedboat world record of 227 mph in January. The Phenomenon will be gunning for an average speed of 240 mph.



Beyond that phenomenal night, there was still lots to remember for this year. I shook hands with royalty as a Sheik of Qatar brought his Spirit of Qatar teams to Key West and left with a world title. I had an encounter with the Swedish Lucas Oil team that had an English throttleman, along with an Italian-American-New Zealand crew and the rest of the international teams, which helped make this a true world championship.



There were the ups and downs of seeing national championship teams falter over the week, while others claimed their first world title. There were spinouts that left certain teams being towed back into the docks and out of the race. However, all of those incidents, which are common during boat races, went without injury and no damage was sustained by the crafts that are beyond repair. And of course, last but certainly not least, the local Rum Runners team of Big Pine Key, returning a championship to the Keys, winning the Production-5 class for the first time since 1999.



Congratulations to all the champions. To CROPRA and Superboat International Productions, thanks for putting on another successful set of races.



At this point, there is only one thing left to be said. We'll see you next year. Hopefully, the boats will stop running through my head by then ... BRRMMM ... Oh, there goes another one.

To JW Cooke:
don' t be so impressed by shaking the hand of one sheik, there are thousands of them!
They all **** the same way everyone else does, except for one difference.........they always wipe with their left, unless they are left handed! ( This was told to me by one very high profile sheik, he never behaved like one.)
In my life I have met lots of royalty and stars of all types, there is absolutely nothing to be impressed with, other than the very few that do not act like "stars"!

Yea Georges,
Great to know you have been there and done that. This particular Sheik put two Supercats and three semi's on a boat and brought them to Key West. That makes him a Rockstar. Both drivers were down to earth, available and extremely impressed with the venue. Not sure what the fascination is with their toilet habits. Whatever.

Ditto Steve...John McCann

Nice post RaceGirl!

Got to love it!

It's going to be a long winter for some.

Yeah OK, the arabs do have unlimited $$$$....... so in your mind they are rockstars.............duh............ok.
As far as the toilet habits.........if you haven't been to those countries, you wouldn't understand.

Actually Georges,
In my mind anyone making a commitment at that level to Offshore Powerboat Racing is a Rockstar. Your prejudice and and envy are courious but common.
You must have seen my travel map. There are indeed a few Middle Eastern countries I have not been to, four to be exact.

Well, I don't know anything about your "travel map", but from what you state here, you need to travel to 3 more.
The only middle eastern s**t hole that I haven't been to is AfghaniCRAPistan......... you also need to visit at least 58 countries, and not just once!

PS, there is no envy.
To these people it is not really a commitment, as it would be for you and I, it is merely entertainment, a distraction, until they get bored with it and go on to something else.
They do not sacrifice anything from their lives to do this, they just do what they want because they can.
That being said, I admit they have put together a first class race organization and are putting on a great show while they are doing it.

Uh huh ... you mean like rockstars right?