Miss Geico -AMF Offshore Racing – no connection with 10-pin bowling!

by Bob Wonders on 14 May 2010 I've never met John Haggin, something I'd like to do perhaps at the 2011 Miami International Boat Show.

Never met him, but I like him. How could you not like a guy who lists his prime interests as being ‘fast boats, polo, race horses and gorgeous women'?

Not only that, but his favourite music includes Australia's top act AC/DC, known here in Australia (affectionately, I might add) as ‘acca/dacca'.

I think it's also a pretty safe bet that John Haggin is a true patriot – when he formed his offshore race team back in 2004 he named it AMF, and in case you're thinking American Machine and Foundry, of 10-pin bowling fame, you're wrong.

To John Haggin it means ‘America Moving Forward'.

Like I said, how could you not like this guy?

Anyway, what I'm here to discuss is the #1 boat in the AMF Offshore Race Team, the positively awesome ‘Miss Geico', a Carbon Fibre, Kevlar catamaran that is proving unbeatable on US offshore racing circuits.

By way of explanation for those curious as to the meaning of Geico, it is an insurance company that began life as ‘Government Employees Insurance Company', but is far more widespread these days.

As the major sponsor of the offshore team carrying its name, the insurance company has expressed total satisfaction with the recognition it has achieved from the sponsorship.

‘Miss Geico' is widely regarded as ‘the most recognisable boat in US offshore racing'.

And why not?

'Miss Geico', its dual helicopter turbine engines humming sweetly and delivering 3700hp, has already won four US Super Boat world championships!

Driver Marc Granet and throttleman Scotty Begovich obviously know their way around that high-tech cockpit.

Both men have been involved in motor sport since childhood, and when John Haggin called on them to crew ‘Miss Geico' there was no hesitation from either. The team is planning on adding at least two more turbine boats to its ‘fleet' and sponsorship will only be available to those who move very fast indeed.

There will also be a brand new ‘Miss Geico', this time a 50' (15.24-metres) catamaran as opposed to the 44' (13.41-metres) of the current boat.

Its engines will be superb 2000hp Cobra Attack Helicopter turbines and it is estimated the new boat will exceed 200mph (321km/hr) with ease.

Needless to say, Marc and Scotty are looking forward to the new boat. 'I reckon it will fly,' they declared in unison.

The AMF team is committed to six more races this year, beginning with the Florida event at Sunny Isles, just a few kilometres north east of Miami, over the weekend of June 11-13.

Racing then moves to Michigan (July), New York (August), Atlantic City, New Jersey (September), Maryland and Alabama (October).

So, where will you be able to keep up with all the news on the AMF Offshore Race Team?

Why, right here, of course, on Powerboat-World, where all the powerboat news fit to print goes to air.

If you want more information, visit the race team's website, www.missgeicoracing.com