Record-Setting Fleet Registered For Great Lakes Grand Prix
With 53 teams spread across 13 classes, today’s Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., is a record-setter for the annual event, which is the fourth contest in the six-race American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series. And no one is more delighted than lead organizer Rick Wright.
Last night’s Great Lakes Grand Prix parade and block party in Michigan City delivered an impressive turnout—including the Super Stock-class Jackhammer team and assorted friends and family—in advance of today’s races. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“This is the most boats we’ve ever had—I’m thrilled,” said Wright. “Last night’s parade and block party were by far the largest they’ve ever been. There were well over 30,000 people in attendance.”
Today’s action is scheduled to begin at noon Central Standard Time. With nine teams registered, the Super Stock race will be the third and only solo-class contest of the day. Joined by Bracket 600 and 700 classes with six-and seven-team fleets, the Stock V class has seven entries and is slated to be the first race of the day.
Enjoy more images from Great Lakes Grand Prix parade and block in the slideshow above.
Another six-team fleet, the Bracket 500 class will be joined in the second race of the day by five-boat Mod V and solo-boat Bracket 300 classes. In two more solo-entry classes, the Vee Extreme Knucklehead Racing and TSR Factory 450R teams will run in the day’s final contest. They’ll be joined by the three-boat—Chariots of Fire, M CON and WHM—Supercat class, as well as Miss GEICO, SilverHook and SV Racing in the Class 1 ranks.
(From left) Performance Boat Center’s Brett Manire, his daughter, McKinley and girlfriend Alicia Larkin, as well as PBC Super Stock-class throttleman Rusty Williams waved hello to their fans last night on the team’s 32-foot Doug Wright catamaran.
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