OPA's Roar on the River 2024

[Serious News]

Friday, May 17, 2024

ALL DAY

Arrival of Race Boats; Race Village - 348 Shore Drive, Highlands NJ 07732
Registration - Highlands Business Partners (140 Bay Ave, Highlands)
Wet Pits - Marina on the Bay (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)
Dry Pits - 348 Shore Drive, Highlands, NJ
Crane Area - Marina on the Bay (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)
Ramp - Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor (2 Simon Lake Drive, Atlantic Highlands)
Wash Down Area - Marina on the Bay (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)

1pm-4pm REGISTRATION for Pre-Registered Teams ONLY
1pm-4pm Race Boat Inspections - Race Village
6pm Volunteer & Patrol Meeting - Marina on the Bay / Seafarer
7pm Race Meet & Greet - Seafarer (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)

Saturday, May 18, 2024
10am-6pmRace Village Open
10am Racers Meeting - Seafarer (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)
10:30am-4pm RACER REGISTRATION - Seafarer (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)
TBD Swim & Dunker Testing (Inquire within Registration)
10:30am-5pm Race Boat Inspections - Race Village
10:30am Crane OPEN
12pm-3pm Race Boat Testing
5pm Boat Parade (staging at 4:30)
8pm Racers Meet & Greet - Chilangos (272 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ)

Sunday, May 19, 2024
9am-6pm Race Village open to the Public
8am Set Course Markers
8am Racer Physicals - Seafarer (1 Atlantic St, Highlands, NJ)
8:45am Racer Meeting - Seafarer
9am Water Patrol & Rescue Briefing - Seafarer
10am Race Control Operational
10am Crane & Ramp Open
10am-12:45pm JSBR RACING
1pm OFFSHORE RACING
1:30pm-5pm GPS & RacePak Readings - Race Village
7pm Awards Ceremony - Proving Grounds (56 Shrewsbury Ave, Highlands)

[Serious News]

[Serious News]

Highlands Roar On The River
May 191:00 pm - 5:00 pm
One Willow, 1 Willow St, Highlands, NJ, 07732

The Highlands Business Partnership, OPA – Offshore Powerboat Association and Jersey Shore Boat Racing present Roar on the River from May 17th – 19th. The boats will arrive late Friday, May 17th and kick off the festivities Boaters Pre-Race Party will be at the Seafarer, 1 Atlantic St., from 7-9PM. Additional activities are available at Roar on the River Sponsor establishments; One Willow, Sandbox @ Seastreak and Off the Hook.

On Saturday, May 18th, from 11AM to 4PM, the “Pit” located at the Seastreak Overflow Lot, 348 Shore Drive (formerly Doris & Ed’s Restaurant), will be open to the public, where Race Fans can get autographs and photos with the drivers and view the boats. The festivities continue with a Boat Parade along Bay Avenue at 5:00PM sharp. The parade will start at Huddy Park, down Bay Avenue, turning around at the circle at Bahrs Landing Restaurant and head back down Bay Avenue to their designated establishment or return to the “Pit”. The Pit will not be open to the public on Saturday night however you can meet the racers and view their boats at Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox @ Seastreak, Off the Hook, Chilangos and Franny’s Pizzeria. There will be a pre-race party at Chilangos at 8pm.

The kickoff of the OPA Racing series takes place from 1-5pm, viewable from One Willow, 1 Willow St., Sandy Hook Bay Marina, 1 Willow St., Seafarer, 1 Atlantic Ave., Proving Ground, 56 Shrewsbury Ave., Off the Hook, 1 Navesink Ave. and at the HBP Raceday Party at Veterans Park. VIP seating is available at One Willow, Sandy Hook Bay Marina, Seafarer, Proving Ground, and Sandbox at Seastreak for an additional fee. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance at highlandsnj.com. “We are extremely excited, and proud, to be coming to Highlands. The OPA Racing series kicks off here in New Jersey, where OPA Racing was born.” said OPA Racing’s Sr Vice President Nick Smith. He continued “Racing in Highlands as a brand-new venue and racecourse is particularly exciting. We look forward to meeting a new fan base at the Jersey Shore.”

Connie Cottrell, former local female Jersey Speed Skiff driver and inaugural 1971 Highlands Regatta Race winner, originally of Highlands, will be in attendance with her family. As President of the Jersey Flat Bottoms, a local Jersey Speed Skiff and Ski Racing Runabout Club, Connie was responsible for organizing the first APBA sanction Regatta for Highlands. Connie’s original race winning Jersey Speed Skiff “The Egg Beater”, built by her late husband, Rob Cottrell, and now owned by their grandson, Rob Armstrong will be on display for those attending the HBP Raceday Party at Veterans Park on Sunday, May 19th.

The Winner’s Circle will be at One Willow Restaurant, immediately following each race, with the winners of each race going to One Willow to celebrate with their fans in Highlands. The Award Ceremony takes place promptly at Proving Ground at 7pm followed by a post-race party.

Tickets to VIP locations, where you can get an up-close view of this action-packed event are available at highlandsnj.com.

This event brought to you by Offshore Power Boat Association, Jersey Shore Boat Racing, the Highlands Business Partnership, and its generous sponsors; Pacifico, the Official Beer Sponsor of Roar on the River, Surfside Iced Tea, Proving Ground, Seafarer/Marina on the Bay, Sandbox @Seastreak, Sandy Hook Bay Marina, One Willow, Off the Hook and Chilangos.

https://wrat.com/event/highlands-roar-on-the-river/

[Ratickle]

OPA Racing is excited to announce the Roar on the River. In Highlands, NJ, May 17-19, 2024. This inaugural event kicks off where the Jersey Shore begins. A little shore town with wonderful views and close proximity to New York City. This event is in partnership with the Highlands Business Partnership. Who has worked day and night to pull this event off in such a short amount of time. “This event has promise. It’s a great little town in New Jersey. Somewhere we’ve never been before. With a really enthusiastic board of directors.” ~ Sr. Vice President - Nick Smith. “We are aware the date coincides with Thunder on Cocoa Beach, and plan to change that going forward. But the attendance in both locations are different classes generally.”

Another change this offseason is the loss of Roar Offshore. Ft Myers Beach was excited and hopeful being back on the 2024 schedule. But unfortunately extenuating circumstances rendered the event undoable. With organizers Tim & Cindy Hill eyeing the October date for 2025. Returning as the OPA National Championships. The late postponement of Roar Offshore presented an opportunity to move the Miami Offshore Grand Prix to October 13th, 2024. With Powerboat P1 moving the Sarasota Grand Prix on top of Miami’s September 15th date, the best situation was to move Miami to October.

With all of this movement. Opened a two month gap in the series. From Michigan City’s Great Lakes Grand Prix. Until the Miami Offshore Grand Prix. OPA Racing in partnership with The Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix. Has begun talks to bring the touted event back for 2024. Replacing the September event in Miami for OPA Racing. Details on the Lake Hopatcong Grand Prix are still just beginning to come together. But we will release more information on all of our events in the coming weeks.

[Serious News]