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| OPA And The Jersy Boyz |
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OPA/The Jersey Boyz - Ocean City Grand Prix
Race 1 ~ Miss GEICO Triple Crown
06/04/2008
Big boat race! Lots of people are going to be there! This is the way to start the OPA season! Ocean City was true to form, 54 boats in attendance, the pits, beaches & boardwalk were packed with spectators and the water was BIG!
June 1st was the opening race for the OPA season. It was also the 1st race of the Miss GEICO Triple Crown (Race 2 is Patchogue, NY & Race 3 is Point Pleasant, NJ). Sunset Marine once again hosted the Dry & Wet Pits from May 30th to June 1st. The Commander Hotel also once again hosted Race Command on Race Day. Stars Powerboat Rescue is on board with the OPA this year to insure the safety of all the race teams this year.
All the usual suspects were in attendance with their machines; The Godfather, Smitty, Louie The Rigger, Sticks, Haggin, Garbageman, Dirty Curty, Mad Dog, ScottyB & the Rock Star, Pops, Wild Bill, Ricky Bobby, Pop Pop, Diamond Dave, Rob Nunziato, The Dukes, The Jersey Boyz crew and many many more. And not to forget all the new teams that joined OPA this season, in which I’m sure will turn into the “usual suspects” as well.
And let's not forget what occurred at the drivers meeting this year. Smitty & Augie “The Godfather” Pensa announced Louie “The Rigger” Giancontieri to the Board of Directors to the OPA/The Jersey Boyz as Consigliere to all the Race Teams "families". Good luck Louie and welcome aboard.
Race day started with Classes 3, 4, 5 & 6 in the 1st Race. The first start was Class 3. The flag dropped, Wanted Racing took off and there was no looking back. The local team of Bill Purnell (proprietor of the Atlantic Hotel which hosted many race teams) & Walter Piasecki (NJ) flew through the air the entire race to take the checked flag! In Class 4, Konrad took the early lead and battled it out with AMF Laveycraft. But those rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean took its toll on Konrad. AMF Laveycraft then soared to victory & the checked flag. Class 5 had a whopping 13 boats in its class and made for an awesome start and a very competitive race. And once again the great Atlantic Ocean showed us what it can do. Outrageous took the checkered flag. Now on to Class 6. Now these teams got courage. At times the swells were so big, that it was impossible to even see these boats as they were running. Unfortunately, Knot Guilty in with their new boat started taking on water and had to be towed in. Reindl One Design (Purple Boat) took the checkered flag.
Now it was time for the BIG BOYS to test their skills on the Great Atlantic Ocean in Ocean City. Race 2 consisted of the following classes: Class 1 & 2, Cat Lite, Super Cat, Extreme & Turbine. In Turbine was Miss GEICO. That boat soared both in and out of the water to take a Victory. In Extreme the open cockpit cat, Chaos, also soared to victory. In Super Cat, Talk’N Trash was chasing down Reliable Carriers, but could not overtake Reliable, as Reliable went on to Victory. Unfortunately, Pursuit Cat was towed in upside down, but no team members were injured. In Cat Lite, was AMSOil and Motley Crew. These boats battled each other and the ocean, running their boats on the ragged edge. AMSOil went on to win. In Class 1, Cleveland Construction (aka Traffic Light) took off from the start to never look back. They were out in front and that’s were they stayed. Even with 2 broken skegs, they were able to take the checked flag. In Class 2, there was some early excitement. Both Strictly Business & On The Chip turned in on the first lap. On The Chip had black smoke coming out of the engine compartment. The fire was put out. Both Curtis & Jeff Cropper were treated for smoke inhalation and released. The battle of the day was Muscle and Wazzup. Through out the entire race, these two kept battling and changing positions, Muscle ended up with the checkered flag.
What a way to start the season! As history shows, Ocean City proves to be a great race! Over and over again, this race proves the excitement from the race teams, volunteers, sponsors & spectators.
Smitty, Augie & Louie would like to thank ALL those involved that made the trip to Ocean City! Lukie, thank you for coming on such short notice to set up the race course with son. Sam & Toni Pottoff, as usual, thank you for all you do. This thanks also includes: the racers, their crews & families; the registrars; the volunteers (both land & water); the organizers; the sponsors; the media; and the fans & spectators from both near & far. Without all of you, the OPA would not be what it has become today! You make this sport what it is, and for that we thank you!
Now we are off to Harrison Twp for Race 2 of the OPA season. So, get those machines fixed, and we’ll see you there!
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June 2007,
What a weekend. I was going to begin my list of thank you's,
to be truthful I dont know where to start. I saw faces in the Pits I havn't seen in years. So many people there to support this event. Local racers, and buisiness owners Bill Purnell, and Will Lynch. You guys are the best. Phil from, Bull ON The Beach, Rob Asner Promoter turned Boat racer, thanks pal. Brian, Jill and E.R. at Sunset Marina. Unbelieveable support, Mike and Al, the registration was as smooth as silk. Toni and Sam Potoff in Scoring. Ted from Cambridge safety. Mikey's gonna be a star, TV Host. Toni Melia race control. Vinnie, turn Bouy installer. Pops and Clay, back on the medical scene. Bruce Johnson, Rick Kevin, divers. Tow boat for volunteering their assets for the race. Harley Davidson, Ford Motor Company. Ron P on the job. Sharkey shooting away. Freeze Frame Jeff, Talk Offshore, OPA Staff, NJ Offshore staff, Evil Ed Thanks.
Oh yea......Haggin, thanks for just being you. We made a little deal. We race the old Purple boat in Patchogue. With Haggin aka [Ballast] in the boat, and he is getting the Wazzup Tatoo.
You are a Nut. Thanks for being such a force in this crazy sport we all love.
The Pro series....I hope you all has a blast, Jersey Boyz Style.
We hope our relationship will grow and prosper. For a long time.
My dear friend Augie. I know you are having some troubled times. Keep the faith Bro. Things will get better. We missed you. it's just not the same.
Anthony, The best fathers day, any Father could only dream of. I love you.
I know I missed a few, there are just so many people involved in all we do.
Till the next race.....Smitty
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Organizers Hope To Continue Powerboat Races In Ocean City
By Ali Baker, Staff Writer The Dispatch
OCEAN CITY, MD 06/21/2007 - Boat enthusiasts and spectators gathered this past weekend for another exciting year of good weather, fast boats, and intense racing as the OPA Offshore Power Boat Races came to town.
The races occurred on Sunday afternoon, with crowds gathering all along the beach to watch the boats race around the course from 4th street to 42nd street. Unfortunately for the boat Wicked, Sunday’s race was a memorable one for the wrong reason.
While racing, Wicked, a New Jersey boat raced by Jay Muller, had its right hull break away resulting in a hole in the side of the boat.
According to Rob Asner, boat race promoter and racer, the Wicked turned off the engines and floated to shore with really no other option.
“It was either sink or come in,” Asner said of the broken catamaran, explaining that a sunken ship in the ocean would not only be bad for the racer, but bad for the ocean and the environment as well.
“It was a controlled, slow landing,” Asner said.
Ocean City Beach Patrol Caption Butch Arbin agreed that the landing was controlled but maintained there is always a concern for the safety of swimmers.
“We treat everything in the ocean exactly the same,” he said, “whether it’s a boat, a shark, a piece of plywood, or a crashed airplane.”
Arbin said the patrol’s main concern was clearing people out of the way so the boat could land safely.
“There was no imminent public danger,” he said. “Still, our number one concern is public safety.”
The boat remained beached for several hours as crews worked to clear the area and bring in the needed equipment. Further problems were encountered when the first crane became immobile, requiring a bigger crane to be brought in to remove not only the boat but the first crane as well. Nonetheless, the boat was removed from the beach Sunday night, and according to Asner is currently on its way to Florida to face costly repairs.
“It’s a big expense for them, but its all part of the fun,” Asner said, predicting that Wicked should be racing again in about six weeks.
As for the rest of the race, everything went as planned.
“I think everything went smoothly, we had big crowds at the marina and it was a success all around,” Asner said.
Brian Tinkler runs the marina at Sunset Marina and agreed it was a great weekend for everyone involved.
“It was a great event that is defiantly something to build on,” he said. “I think it will become one of the more popular weekends for the town.”
Asner said that although the racers are the main focus, the real heroes of the race are those who made the whole event possible.
Geico was the big sponsor this year, making the race a reality for Ocean City and racing their own boat, Miss Geico, on Sunday.
Sunset Marina donated the marina, staff and hospitality to all of the racers for the entire weekend.
Asner is hopeful the races will return at the same time and place next year after the completion of another successful year of offshore powerboat racing in Ocean City.
“It really was a success and everyone had a good time,” he said.
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