3rd Place Overall for #7 Lucas Oil Skater

The Sunday edition of the Miami Herald headlined, "Crowd enjoys a hot time, The 12th Annual McDonald's Air & Sea Show in Fort Lauderdale thrilled spectators with sun, skin, smoke on the water and fire in the sky." Upwards of two million people lined miles of beaches for what was lauded as the world’s largest live spectator event, and the APBA Super Boats were first on the program both weekend mornings.

As printed in THE MIAMI HERALD:

• 9 -11 a.m. Super Boat Grand Prix, Fort Lauderdale beach A1A/Sunrise Blvd.
• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. McDonalds Air & Sea Show, Fort Lauderdale beach A1A/Sunrise Blvd.
• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Do It For Real Zone with Military interactive exhibits, Sunrise Cinemas Galleria Mall, Fort Lauderdale
• 6 -10 p.m.: Bruce Rossmeyer Harley-Davidson Block party, Fort Lauderdale beach A1A/Sunrise Blvd.
• For more information go to www.nationalsalute.com
• On radio: live broadcast on Radio 850-WFTL AM
• On the web: live coverage via webcam at www.850wftl.com

The eight-hour show on both days included a smorgasbord of military and civilian aircraft, boats, a blimp and even a mock beach invasion by the U.S. Marines. This was the last performance of the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat supersonic fighter, like the ones made famous in the Tom Cruise flick Top Gun. Being retired in September, the Tomcat went out in style, soaring through the sky with high-speed passes. Aerial stunts by the world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels (F/A-18 jets) and the Canadian Snowbirds (CT-114 jets) adorned the skies. Ten U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuted in, while twenty of the world’s fastest super boats blazed the waves just off the swimming line. Waters initially appeared calm with two to three foot waves, but gradually with military ships and spectator fleets maneuvering alongside the course, the winds picked up and several high rollers dominated the seas.

Saturday’s race got under way at 9:45 a.m., and like a catapult the #7 Lucas Oil Skater burst into first position, took the inside lane at the corner, and headed south down the beach leg. Hotly followed by #96 Yachts Fountain (former Rodriquez Group) Michel Karsenti and Serge Allegre who captured the checkered flag weeks earlier in Miami, the red #7 Lucas Oil led the Super Vee pack until they lost speed due to the tips of the propellers clipping each other. “We were planning on having the diameter of the two propellers trimmed by 3/8 inch after the race, but by turning the propeller rotation in we achieved that prematurely,” commented Rick Turmel, throttleman of the #7 Lucas Oil. “With a such brand new boat we are still trying a lot of different set-ups, and I’m confident she’ll be untouchable once we’ve dialed her in.”

Saturday’s race results — 1st: #96 Yachts Fountain; 2nd: #11 Joe Boxer/Patron; 3rd: #76 Fountain/Mercury; 4th: #7 Lucas Oil Skater.

Sunday’s race started 9:00 a.m. with #7 Lucas Oil Skater holding the #1 inside lane. Green Flag! As if a repeat of its swift acceleration in the previous day's start, the #7 Lucas Oil Skater showed its heels to the same line up behind. Halfway into the race distance, Lucas Oil's sleek new Skater still held station, with the French duo of Michel Karsenti and Serge Allegre in #96 Yachts frequently catching up on the straight-aways, then losing out on the corners. Close on their tail was another Douglas Marine Skater of Bill McComb sponsored by Joe Boxer (shorts) and Patron Tequila (also shorts). With three and a half laps to go, racers Hook and Turmel overshot a turn letting second and third place boats take the inside. “I take full responsibility,” said Hook, captain of the Lucas Oil team. “I’m so accustomed to throttling that I miscalculated the situation now that I am driving. It was a split second of timing where I erred on the side of caution. Between Rick and myself, no other team has as much experience in the Super Vee class, but sometimes you can out think yourself.”

Sunday’s race results — 1st: #96 Yachts Fountain; 2nd: #11 Joe Boxer/Patron; 3rd: #7 Lucas Oil Skater; 4th: #76 Fountain/Mercury.

Final results for the Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix —
1st: #96 Yachts Fountain
2nd: #11 Joe Boxer/Patron
3rd: #7 Lucas Oil Skater
4th: #76 Fountain/Mercury

This race will be televised to over 125 million households on the Fox Sports Network in September.