Phantom1

Posted on Sun, Jan. 23, 2005

Smokin' the Sound returns for 2005

By AL JONES
THE SUN HERALD

It's still two months away, but organizers of Smokin' the Sound II are eager for the second edition to unfold in South Mississippi.

Despite rumors that the event wasn't coming back, Rusty David said the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association will be in Biloxi during the week of April 19-24 with race central being held at Point Cadet in Biloxi.

"We always wanted it back from day one," David said. "It all hinged on sponsorships and people turn-out. Because of those, we are able to do this again. When the race gets closer, people will get excited. The folks that saw the race last year will tell people all about it and that will be our savior. It truly is the dangdest thing to see."

The 2004 race, which featured five classes (Cat, Cat Lite, Vee, Vee Lite) including the Bat Boats, drew 10,000 fans during the weekend that had a practice round and one day of racing plus numerous parties throughout the week.

David said a weekend full of parties and functions is scheduled for this year, including a practice round and one day of racing. But the 2005 race will only feature four classes: Vee, Vee Lite, Cats and Super Cats. The Super Cats division includes boats up to 50 feet in length, capable of hitting speeds of 140 mph.

"We had 38 boats last year and we're hoping for 50 this year in the top four classes of offshore racing," David said. "We will sign the contract with race officials this week. Race officials were excited and told us that for a first-time race, things went smooth (in 2004)."

Boats will arrive at Point Cadet on April 19 and will be on public display from April 20 through April 22. The practice round is set for April 23 and the race takes places the following day.

Once gain the course will be a 7.8-mile oval running behind Casino Row out into the Mississippi Sound behind the Beau Rivage and back inside Deer Island before the final turn just south of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge.

That means boat reaching speeds of more than 100 mph will come within a couple hundred feet of some spectators.

To ensure the event comes to South Mississippi on a regular basis, small-business sponsorships, corporate sponsorshipsand spectator-boat sponsorships and wrist bands areavailable for sale.

The 2004 event started out rough when Randy Linebach, aboard a 42-foot catamaran, died during the practice run. The boat did a barrel roll after going airborne in two-to-four foot waves.

David said all safety measures have been reassessed by race officials to help ensure a safe race this year.

In 2004's OSS Cat-class race, the biggest of the four classes last season, the Popeye team started strong and cruised to an easy win despite battling 25 knot winds that slowed the boat to 11 mph on turns.

The Popeye team, racing a 30-foot Platinum boat, took control of the race on the first turn. After the second lap, Popeye increased its lead from 35 seconds to 58 seconds and to 62 seconds on the third turn. By the end of the race, the crew had a 70-second lead.

The top speed down the straightaways was 124 mph.

And that from a class of boats one size smaller than the Super Cats in this year's event.

Norman Bates

Again I ask, Why do I seem to remember a number of statements from OSS making it clear that they would never post a race date until everything was signed, sealed and done?