Count down for Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix

by Bob Wonders on 4 Aug 2011 America’s crack offshore racers are converging on Lake Michigan, Indiana for the third Great Lakes GP and the fourth round of the Super Boat International National Series.

The Great Lakes event is the only freshwater race in the National Series.

Super Boat International (SBI) President John Carbonell said many of the competing boats were capable of speeds in the region of 200mph (321km/hr) in good water.

'Nevertheless, Lake Michigan is not always known to provide good water,' he said.

'I recall racing here some years ago the waves and chip seemed larger than Key West’s open ocean.

'I must say the authorities in Michigan City and Laporte County have done an outstanding job in planning for the event and it has grown every year,' he added.

Many of America’s fastest Super Cat and Vee Bottom teams will be competing and close and exciting racing is anticipated.

Some of the pre-race favourites include ‘Team Cintron’, ‘Team Stihl’, ‘Watch Your Back’ and ‘Global Warmer’.

J.R. Noble, owner/driver of the Super Cat entry ‘Team Stihl’ described the city and the race fans as 'just awesome.'

'I’m really looking forward to the race and it’s great to see so much community support for rhe event,' he said.

Prior to the Sunday (Aug 7) racing, boats will be on display in the dry pit area at Washington Park before the annual ‘Taste of Michigan’ parade culminating in the gala block party.

First race is scheduled fore 11am on Sunday (Aug 7), the second at 1pm.

The event will be streamed live on Superboat.com

Super Boat International has been established since the legendary Miami-Nassau race in 1956 and remains the longest-running professional offshore racing organisation sanctioning body in the US.

John Carbonell, its founder and President, produces offshore races, world kilos and distance records throughout the United States.