Lakeshore Advance, 2012-07-18, Page 4Waking up Bluewaterland
Powerboat Racing:
International event
goes Aug. 5-7
Arra Jeffrey
QM( Agency
Ed Smith says there's nothing quite
like roaring down the St. Clair River at
115 mph, leaving nothing but a
magnificent rooster tail and the
deafening sound of a 1,000 horsepower
V-8 engine in his wake.
"I Just enjoy the thrill of being in the
boat," said the 14 -year racing veteran
and president of the Offshore Powerboat
Racing Association (OPA).
k "I used to race cars, and motorcycles
til I turned around and got in a boat
one day and never looked back,"
Smith brought his 37 Talon Cat
powerboat to Sarnia Bay Marina
Wednesday for the official announce-
ment of the Sarnia -Port lluron Interna-
tional Offshore Powerboat Race, to be
held in the St. Clair River between
Sarnia and Port I luron Aug. 5-7.
"When they approached me about
this race, I was really excited," said
Smith, who just returned from Miami,
Florida -- for the second of eight races in
the circuit, which also includes St. Clair
Michigan's annual Riverfest race. "This
is one of the first races ever that's truly
international. And with both Sarnia and
Port Huron participating, this could be
possibly 100,000 people here to watch
this event."
The event is free, but any proceeds
will go to the Chris Dawson Foundation
and the Jim Stokley Foundation.
The weekend will kickoff with a
variety of waterfront activities Friday,
followed by practice racing and
powerboat displays Saturday, and the
main event., Sunday.
The powerboats will race a four mile
oval circuit from Sarnia Bay downriver
towards Imperial Oil, and back.
"The course is always changing," said
Smith. "You've got waves ; you've got
current conditions, wind conditions -
nothing is the saine on every lap.
"So you've constantly got to be on
your game, and watch the water."
tjeffrey@a theobserver.ca
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Serving Grand Bend and surrounding area
Tars Jaffrey
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and Port
Huron Mayor Pauline Repp pose inside
a Talon Cat Off shore Powerboat at
Sarnia Bay Marina for the official
announcement of the Sarnia -Port Huron
International Ott shore Powerboat Race,
to be held Aug. 5-7.
MADE WISH
Because some
wishes (' (1 !t 't wait
fill. someday.
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