Crazy Chicken Seeks Fourth Consecutive World Title In Key West
With the first race of the Super Boat International Offshore World Championships in Key West, Fla., just two days away, the Crazy Chicken team of driver Dee Early and throttleman Anthony Silveria are gearing up for a run at their fourth consecutive world title in the Production 4 class. Early and Silveria have shared the cockpit for the past four of the team’s 15 years on the racecourse, during which the Crazy Chicken outfit has claimed six world titles.
“We won all three races in Key West last year,” said Early. “That was the first time we won on all three days, and this is our fifteenth year. I think we were the only team that won all three races last year. It’s pretty unusual.”
The Crazy Chicken team’s usual throng of fans appeared for yesterday’s parade down Duval Street in advance of the SBI Key West Worlds. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Early and Silveria competed in the 2016 SBI season-opener in Cocoa Beach, Fla., in May, but work, personal obligations and a lack of sponsorship—In-Tone is no longer backing the team—kept them off the course for the rest of season. For the Key West event, the team was able find multiple sponsors.
“Instead of one big sponsor, we have a whole lot of smaller ones like Babcock’s Enterprises, C.M.S. Racing Engines, Westrec Marinas and La Trattoria Restaurant here in Key West,” said Early. “Everybody pitched in to help us get here.”
Early is optimistic about the team’s chances to win its fourth consecutive world title in its 28-foot open-cockpit Extreme V-bottom powered by a 500-hp engine.
“We love all the parties, but we’re here to win,” he said. “That’s why we’re here. We do our best to stay on top of everything—people can’t believe it when they see us still working on the boat at 10 at night.
“We are all geared up to go racing,” he continued. “We’re blessed to be here and we’ll try to put on a good show and make all the Crazy Chicken fans—we have so many great fans—proud of us.”
Regardless of what happens during the three Key West races, the team will experience at least one winning moment during Friday evening’s Boat Parade and Display on Duval Street.
“Friends of ours are getting married on the boat,” said Early. “That will be the first time the Crazy Chicken has been used as a wedding ceremony boat.”
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