The Future of Offshore Racing

I'll never forget the Betty Cook quote after winning on Lake Erie...

"I'm never coming back"

Then there was the Grand Haven race in '85. Gentry and Copeland raced their 20K/lb, 4-engine superboats. Tom broke and Al won- I think the average speed was 56 mph.

But they're "just lakes".

Grand Haven was my nemesis. 85 we broke a skeg off the drive while leading by a huge margin. I got in the water and checked it and we decided to continue on only to break something else (can't remember what right now) and had to stop. 86 I stuffed the Skater. I'm sure they have really nice people there, but I never want to go back.
 
For the record......... I don't think that Smokey ever ran in Tampa Bay or Lake Winnepesaukee as both of those courses are among the new "spectator friendly" locations.

T2x

Rich,

Tampa Bay is a venue dating back to the 60's, and wasn't one of your first races as a commentator the Hurricane Classic in which the Michelob Light barrel-rolled in Tampa Bay?
 
Long offshore courses

Guys I love them and particpate in them. With that said they are a very hard sell to sponsors. If you race up and down the beach the wakes and seas are rougher than you might think. Yesterday the roughest part of the course between Miami and Bimini was the first and last three miles.

Steve
 
Rich,

Tampa Bay is a venue dating back to the 60's, and wasn't one of your first races as a commentator the Hurricane Classic in which the Michelob Light barrel-rolled in Tampa Bay?


I actually didn't announce that race, but wasn't that when the course ran out into the Gulf? In any event I don't think the Smokey and the Bandit Chris Cat ever ran in Tampa Bay...... The course I was referring to was the "new" St. Pete Course.
 
I actually didn't announce that race, but wasn't that when the course ran out into the Gulf? In any event I don't think the Smokey and the Bandit Chris Cat ever ran in Tampa Bay...... The course I was referring to was the "new" St. Pete Course.

I know in either 1986 or 87 I was driving over the skyway and saw the boats racing through the bridge. I was hooked allthough I only saw a few boats for a few seconds.
Steve
 
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