Offshore powerboat racing action resumes tomorrow in St. Clair, Mich., with the Offshore Powerboat Association-produced/sanctioned St. Clair River Classic. Nick Smith, the president of the New Jersey-based organization, said that he and his fellow organizers are expecting 50 to 60 boats to compete in the 32nd annual freshwater contest, which will have a $50,000 purse thanks largely in part to the local Bluewater Offshore Racing Association.
The most recent race of the season was the late-June, Race World Offshore-produced Atlantic City Sports Grand Prix in New Jersey. It was the first event of the year for the Key West, Fla.-based race producer, which is running its National Championship Series under the American Power Boat Association sanction.
GoGPS is one of several Super V-class teams expected to compete in the St. Clair River Classic this weekend. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
As previously reported on speedonthewater.com in late June, the Super Stock-class owners group voted to participate in the July 24-26 event in late June. The St. Clair event is the only offshore event happening this month. It will be broadcast live on the OPA Racing YouTube channel.
Owners group representative Cole Leibel of the Raymarine team said in the story he is expecting 12 to 14 Super Stock teams to run. Reached by text message yesterday, he had no updated team-count to report.
The driver the for Mod V-class Boatfloater.com/Scott Free Racing team, owners group representative Stephen Kildahl said he is expecting three teams to represent the category in St. Clair this weekend.
Though no Class 1 or Super Cat entries are expected at the Michigan affair, GoGPS Super V-class team owner Simon Williams said he has spoken to several other Super V teams and that he is expecting “four or five Super Vs” to take to the course.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Williams, who has two Super V raceboats in his stable but—per his original plan for the season plan—will field just one of them in St. Clair.
Williams isn’t alone in his enthusiasm for the potential Super V turnout this weekend.
“I’m super excited about Super V,” Smith said yesterday. “Having ‘the noise’ is so important for the sport. There’s definitely four teams coming—the Twisted team is undecided,” he continued.
Bracket-class entries likely will comprise at least half of the total fleet in this weekend’s event.
Using history as a guide, Bluewater Offshore Racing Association board of directors member Bob Currier said he is expecting two dozen teams to compete in the Saturday “Clash of the Titans” contest for vintage offshore raceboats.
Though an accurate estimate of Bracket-class teams heading to the race this weekend was unavailable at press time, fans can expect at least half of the total boat count to be of the Bracket-class variety based on traditional turnouts for the St. Clair event.
“The vibe is awesome,” Smith said. “I think a drama-free, guaranteed prize-purse, good old-fashion powerboat race is exactly what we need right now. And I’m super excited that the Super Stock teams sticking to their word.”