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news release    for immediate release

Contact: Toni Potthoff 

Offshore Powerboat Race is Delayed Until Sept 9th

 Toms River, NJ, August 13, 2007 – Offshore powerboat racing fans expect to see the annual Offshore Race to be held somewhere between the middle of July and the middle of August, but not this year. For this year, Jenkinson’s wanted to push the race into early September simply because Point Pleasant Beach is too crowded in the middle of the summer, both on and off the water.

 Toni Potthoff, President of NJ Offshore Racing Association said, “Spectators will love this late summer race. Since things won’t be so crowded, Jenkinson’s is letting us stage the boats in the inlet parking lot, which is great for families to stop by and see the boats close up. We’ll also bring back the Friday night boat parade. The parade route will be out of the inlet parking lot, down Ocean Ave, then right on Arnold, up through the center of town, ending at the Elks’ Club on Arnold Avenue. The parade will take the boats downtown during the town’s monthly antique car show. It should be a fun night and a great race on Sunday. We still have room for some volunteers so if anyone’s interested, they should go to www.njoffshore.com and join our emailing list. That’s how we keep thousands and thousands of fans informed about our race.” 

The Offshore race on September 9th will start at 1pm and run along the beach from Jenkinson’s to Bay Head. This year’s race will feature race teams from the East Coast and Great Lakes areas. One team that comes all the way from Florida is Miss Geico, a 44’ catamaran capable of running 200 mph in calm water and will probably run over 100 even in four-foot seas. This bright green turbine powered extreme catamaran has a total of 3600 horsepower and is a show of it’s own. A total of forty boats are expected to take the green flag at 1pm on Sunday September 9th. 

Ed (Smitty) Smith, President of the Jersey Boyz Racing Teams says “Most of the guys racing today got their first exposure to offshore racing by going and seeing the Point Pleasant Beach race with their father. I know that’s what happened to me. That’s why there are so many teams from the Ocean County area, we got hooked when we were about 12 years old and it takes most of us to get to about 30 years old before we can afford to race.  NJ Offshore has been putting on this race for about 38 years now. It had been called the Benihana Offshore Grand Prix at one time when it was most famous. Mr. Rocky Aoki, founder of Benihana and noted more for making this race infamous in the Point Pleasant Beach area, will be honorary Race Chairman. Nowadays we have a whole new group of maniacs running up and down the beach chasing a checkered flag. It’s all free so bring the kids, see the boats and get them hooked…we need some new racers.”

 Any offshore race fan knows that the real show happens before the race even starts. Twenty eight year old Darren Luhrs hasn’t missed a race since he was ten years old.

“I love hanging at the inlet, on the rocks before the race. It’s the only time all year that the Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police, Marine Division close the inlet so that the race boats can take a running start out the inlet and hit those swells at the end at full speed, man do they fly. It makes for some great photos. Last year the inlet was packed two hours before the boats even got to there, hopefully it won’t be so crowded this year since it’s in September. Once the boats go out, everyone walks to Jenkinson’s to watch the race. I think this is the best event of the summer at the Jersey Shore and I can’t wait to start bringing my son to the races once he gets old enough.”

 This event is supported in part through a grant from the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission. Visitnj.org.  Some of the other sponsors that make this event a reality are: Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Geico, AMF Racing, Corona Extra, Wicked Marine Performance, Manasquan River Club, a property of Marinas International, Casio, Patio at the Wharfside, 46 Lounge, United Crane, MONOC and Joey Leone.

 For more information, visit www.njoffshore.com