OPA's Great Lakes Grand Prix 2024

[Serious News]

Thursday, August 1, 2024
ALL DAY ---Arrival of Race Boats; Race Village - Washington Park, Michigan City, IN
12pm-3pm REGISTRATION - Sunset Grille
5pm Ribbon Cutting @ Washington Park
6pm-8pm VIP Party at Washington Park Beach

Friday, August 2, 2024
11am-3pm REGISTRATION - Sunset Grille
12pm-4pm Race Boat Inspections - Race Village
10am-2pm Swim/Dunker Testing - Michigan City HS (8466 W Pahs Rd)
5pm Volunteer & Water Ops Meeting - lower level of Sunset Grille
7pm-9pm Racer Meet & Greet - Blue Chip Casino

Saturday, August 3, 2024
9am-5pm Race Village open to the Public
9am-4pm Race Team VIP Tent OPEN to ALL Race Teams
6am Physicals (Teams racing on Saturday ONLY)
7am Racer Meeting & Breakfast for ALL Teams @ Senior Center
8am-5pm FUELING TRUCK OPEN
9am Set Turn Markers
8am Boat Ramp & Crane Operational
9am Race Control Operational
10am-12pm - BOAT RACING
-----RACE 1 -Class 7
-----RACE 2 - Class 6
12:30-3pm OFFSHORE TESTING
4:30pm Parade & Block Party Staging
5:30pm Parade
6pm‐8pm Downtown Street Party

Sunday, August 4, 2024
9am Race Village Open
9am-4pm Race Team VIP Tent OPEN to ALL Race Teams
7am Set Course Buoys
6am Racer Physicals @ Senior Center & Breakfast
7am RACERS MEETING @ Senior Center
7:30am Medical/Dive briefing @ Senior Center
7:30am Patrol Briefing @ Senior Center
7:30am Boat Ramp & Crane Operational
8am Race Control Operational
9am Course Support Fleet on station
10am-5pm BOAT RACING
----- RACE 1 - Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5
----- RACE 2 - MOD VEE, STOCK VEE
----- RACE 3 - EXTREME 1100
----- RACE 4 - SUPER CAT
----- RACE 5 - FACTORY STOCK, SUPER VEE
----- RACE 6 - SUPER STOCK
7pm Awards Ceremony - Blue Chip Casino

 

[Serious News]

Great Lakes Grand Prix underway in Michigan City

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WNDU) - If speedboats that look like spaceships are your jam, the Michigan City lakefront is the place to be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

The Offshore Powerboat Association’s “Great Lakes Grand Prix” is underway. The racing takes place on Saturday and Sunday, but there are a slew of activities taking place between now and the weekend.

Thursday saw the arrival of the race boats, each looking more like Luke Skywalker’s X-wing Starfighter than a motorboat.

Race Director Scott Miller encourages fans to meet the racers.

“I’ve had the pleasure of hosting this event for 15 years, well 14 years. This will be our fifteenth. And it’s gotten bigger and bigger and bigger, and the racers are extremely friendly,” Miller said. “This is probably the most fan-friendly event that you could probably go to. They’re excited to be here just as much as we’re excited to have them here.”
Boats that look like spaceships are your jam.

Miller said that roughly 70 boats and associated race teams from five continents will be racing this weekend. The lightning-fast vessels will navigate a course right along the Michigan City lakefront.

The event has been characterized by an outsized fan turnout each year, with more than 200,000 maritime gear heads lining the lakefront.

https://greatlakesgrandprix.com/

Maps and Schedule
http://www.oparacing.org/mc

 

[rschap1]

Spaceships???

 

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The first race of the weekend was the Class 7 race on Saturday morning. 8 boats were entered.

The red flag parade lap.

 

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Helo covering the start

 

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Some test pics from Saturday

 

[rschap1]

Watched it back at the hotel after. Wonder if the start-finish boat is going to move further off course today?

 

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