Powerboat P1 - SuperVee Light event to Typhoon

by Powerboat P1 on 21 Jul 2010 Powerboat P1 USA Offshore Invitational - Super Vee.

Randy 'Mad Dog' Schleuss and Colby Lawrence overcame mechanical problems and several slow heat race starts to win the SuperVee Lite Class of the Powerboat P1 USA Offshore Invitational; the race was held in conjunction with the 101st running of the APBA Detroit Gold Cup July 9-11.

In addition to bragging rights, the Team Typhoon names will be inscribed on the historic 'Gar Wood Trophy,' which is on permanent display at the APBA Museum, located at the organization's headquarters in Eastpointe, Michigan.

Typhoon, a 30' Extreme, was part of a 10-boat field of vee bottom offshore race boats invited by APBA, the Detroit River Regatta Association, and Powerboat P1 USA, to perform at the historic Gold Cup hydroplane race -- the oldest active trophy in motorsports. Powerboat P1 USA sponsored the event through a partnership with the Powerboat Marketing Alliance (PMA). Seven Super Vee Light (SVL), two Super Vee (SV), and a SuperSport boat made the trip to the Motor City for a series of exhibition heats throughout the weekend, thrilling the crowd with excellent racing and the throaty roar of powerful offshore power, unmatched by even the much faster hydroplanes that race for the coveted Gold Cup.

The Super Vee final was won by Dan Davies in the Global Warmer/Voodoo Ride, a 42 foot Fountain; the overall event win in Super Vee went to Bill Mazzoni and Leon Wollard in the Taboo/My Smokin' Ride, another Fountain.

The Gar Wood Trophy is named for legendary racer and boat builder Garfield Wood, a five-time Gold Cup winner; his boats bore his name and dominated powerboat racing for decades as he began setting speed records in 1916. The sterling silver trophy, which bears two replicas of Wood's legendary boats, is inscribed, 'In commemoration of the contributions of Gar Wood and the City of Detroit to Power Boat Racing on the Detroit River.'

The trophy was originally commissioned to honor unlimited hydroplane race drivers, but was retired in 1977. The American Power Boat Association (APBA) decided in 2007 to use it to honor the winning offshore team participating in the Gold Cup, because of the two Garwood boats on the trophy, which resemble offshore vee bottoms. 'Detroit ROCKS!' a visibly moved Schleuss told the crowd of spectators at the podium presentation, adding 'It was a thrill to race at this historic event and that trophy is HEAVY.'

The racers spent an hour Sunday morning signing autographs for thousands of fans, who were provided a free commemorative poster provided by Powerboat P1 USA that featured the participating race boats as well as the sponsors who helped make the event happen: Jarvis Property Restoration, Shogren Performance Marine, F!ogs, and Hering Propellers.

Also honored on the podium were second place finishers Mark and Jenny Dunbar in Under Destruction; third place Pirate Racing with the father/son team of David and Travis Denham; and the father/daughter race team of Mike and Madison Janssen finishing fourth in Watch Your Back. Madison Janssen made her offshore racing debut at the Gold Cup, and at age 17, easily captured the swagger and bravado synonymous with offshore racing.

'Powerboat P1 USA was asked by the Gold Cup Organizers to help put on a show for some of the best race fans anywhere,' said P1 USA Director Martin Sanborn, 'These teams put on a heck of a show! But talking with the racers, they received far more than they gave! The warm welcome we were given by the Gold Cup organizers and the race fans in Detroit was incredible. And the camaraderie of the teams on and off the race course is amazing, as Typhoon's mechanical woes were solved with the help of a borrowed drive and spare propeller from the Time Bandit and Watch Your Back teams. It was simply a fantastic weekend,' he added.

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