With the New Orleans and St. Petersburg events under its inaugural-season belt, the International Hot Rod Association Offshore Racing Series rolls into Cocoa Beach, Fla., next month for Thunder On Cocoa Beach. The organization’s first two offshore racing affairs saw record-setting turnout—51 teams in New Orleans and 64 teams in St. Pete—and may well see its largest fleet yet in Cocoa Beach. Buzz around sport is most Spec-class racers and a slew of Bracket-class competitors are plan to show up at the famed rough-water event.
But will the notorious Cocoa Beach conditions materialize this time around? For while the Atlantic Ocean off the well-known strand always are rougher than they look, the notorious side of Cocoa Beach conditions has been absent for the past several years.
The most wild and rowdy Cocoa Beach affair in recent memory happened in 2018, when the venue was on the Powerboat P1 schedule. Conditions have been sporty a few times since, but the 2018 affair—check out the image above for proof positive—was one for the books.
While Tampa Bay was about as rough as it gets for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix and Lake Pontchartrain was it usual sloppy self for the New Orleans Grand Prix, neither boasted open-ocean water. Cocoa Beach is overdue to deliver it, and after two relatively mild events competitors might just be ready for it.
Without a doubt, Tyler Miller, the owner and driver of the Pro Class 1 Monster Energy/M CON Offshore Racing team, is at least sort-of eager to run in the rough stuff.
“We are super-excited to get back to Cocoa Beach,” he said. “The fans are amazing in Cocoa Beach.
“And seeing the beach lined with thousands of fans make the rough water not hurt as much,” he added and laughed. “Our team can’t wait.”
The owner/driver of the Super Stock-class CELSIUS/Valvoline team, Chris Hopgood said his team and others in the class are ready for something rougher.
“Without a doubt we are,” he noted.
But the question remains: Will the notorious Cocoa Beach conditions return this year?