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Wave > Article Index > December/January 2008 > DOCKtails > FULL THROTTLE!

December/January 2008 Issue

FULL THROTTLE!

12/18/2007 9:18:45 AM by Bobbye Kenyon

We track the action as a super-sized fleet of 73 Super Boat International Productions/American Power Boat Association Offshore–UIM competitors revved up the Key West waters in a heated chase for the 2007 World Championship title.

Photos courtesy of Newman PR

It was ready, set, race as top contenders pointed their rigs and converged on the mecca of offshore racing at the 27th Key West World Championship for an exciting week-long event that comprised dynamic end-of-season competition, spine-tingling mishaps and high-powered parties at this Southernmost Florida Keys locale.

A full-throttle mode was everywhere. Race Village was jam-packed with fans as they got an up-close look at mega racing machines housed in the dry pit area while getting autographs from their favorite teams. Pulsating Duval Street was a party zone from sunset to sunrise as the offshore arena delivered one outrageously fast and furious show.

During a pre-race interview, throttle ace John Tomlinson of Aventura, Florida, painted an unequivocal description of the site that continues to entice racers from around the globe to its famed venue. “Key West always has the hype,” the multi-titled Tomlinson said.

However, this time around, the scene exceeded its limits by attracting an impressive fleet of 73 national and international entries that generated one incredible event.

A highly fueled scenario unfolded as the race day countdown got underway: crew chiefs were making final preparations, last-minute strategies were in the works and the adrenaline was on overdrive. Within minutes, the teams jumped in their boats, revved the engines and blasted to the milling circle. Then the orange smoke was lit, signaling three minutes to start. The pace boat picked up the pack, headed down the back stretch toward Turn 1 and raised the green flag. Mega horsepower was unleashed as the boats accelerated to awesome speeds…the ultimate race was on!

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN A play-by-play of the action you either witnessed or missed. Either way, we’ll make you feel like you were there. The hotly contested Super Vee clash for this year’s World Championship title proved larger than life. An impressive fleet — reigning national champs Yachts Fountain, Miccosukee Indian Gaming, Predator and Lucas Oil Outerlimits — comprised the evenly matched line-up. “There’s no strategy today…the best will win,” said Yachts Fountain throttleman Michel Karsenti as he prepared for the first round of racing. An aggressive contest between Miccosukee Indian Gaming and Yachts Fountain paired the talents of Brett Furshman and Wyatt Fountain against French racers Serge Allegre and Michel Karsenti. And it proved a heart-pounding triple chase from start to finish as the sister Fountain Vee hulls traded wins on Wednesday and Friday. Miccosukee Indian Gaming took the finish line Wednesday, while a thrilling deck-to-deck battle wowed ‘em as Yachts Fountain blazed past Miccosukee and grabbed an awesome win on Friday. Going into the final round, the teams were ranked side by side in the point standings, separated by a slim average speed margin that gave an edge to Miccosukee. “The turns will make the difference,” Karsenti remarked. “The one who has speeds in turns has the advantage.” A super Sunday showdown was inevitable. However, the Miccosukee Indian Gaming team did some serious test time on Saturday that ultimately paved the way for a risky strategy. And they opted to roll the dice. “We decided to try something different,” driver Brett Furshman said. “When you come to Key West you want to be in the game on the last day.” The team’s high-stakes gamble paid off. Taking the green flag, Furshman and Fountain blasted Miccosukee Indian Gaming to front of pack and never looked back. “We could air it out…we needed to keep the speeds up in the turns,” Furshman explained. “We were almost wide open going into Turn 2. It was a gamble to see if it would work. If it got rougher, it wasn’t going to work; if it got calmer, I thought it would work.” Although Allegre and Karsenti pushed Yachts Fountain to the max, their hard-fought battle was lost early in the game. They were never able to catch the rival Miccosukee team. “In these calm waters, they have a better set-up, better set of props,” Karsenti said. “That’s life. There’s nothing we could do.” And driver Allegre remarked, “After the fourth lap, it was over.” While Furshman cautiously maneuevered around the specifics involved with the winning configuration, Wyatt Fountain summed it up simply. “We changed the set-up,” he explained. “We went to a faster set-up and it worked.” Fountain Powerboats dominated the class and impressively swept the Super Vee podium with World Champs Miccosukee Indian Gaming, Yachts Fountain and Predator taking the top three positions. Reflecting back, I recalled a conversation I had earlier in the week with David Knight, executive VP of Fountain Powerboats. Long after the boats were cleaned and put back on their trailers, his confident pre-race comments still reverberated throughout the pits. “Our boats are so dominate in Super Vee,” Knight said. “If you don’t have a Fountain, you aren’t competitive.”

The super-charged contest for the coveted World Champion title delivered a series of stunning performances throughout the three-day, triple-race format that showcased the very best in offshore as they tested their mettle against the ever-changing 6.5-mile liquid track. “It can be flat, it can be rough,” said Tomlinson as he proudly sat at the controls of a powerful catamaran emblazoned Budweiser Select. “It is always challenging and if you can get through three races, it’s a rewarding way to end the year.” Tomlinson should know since he and owner/driver David Scott captured their eighth World Championship title. The pair laid down an impressive average speed of 118.98 mph aboard their sleek 50-foot Mystic outfitted with twin 1,550 horsepower.

It was another stellar race as Mike Seebold and David Knight ran Shogren Fountain on a flawless course to the finish line that earned them top honors in the Superboat Vee Unlimited Class by capturing triple wins to average 98.37 mph. “Everything was perfect,” Knight said with a smile. “We knew we had the championship (on Sunday), so we turned it up with two laps to go. On the recall, we clocked 145 mph across the back stretch. We just keep pushing the bar of technology higher and higher.”

The event wrapped up Sunday night with an awards banquet. In addition to crowning 14 new 2007 World Champs, several teams were also recognized for their spectacular achievements on and off the course: Sportsmanship Award: Instigator; Golden Eagle Award: Predator; and First Overall: Budweiser Select. Already plans are in the works for next season. If you weren’t part of this year’s high-octane scene, then book your ticket to ride now. The SBIP/APBA Offshore-UIM 2008 Key West World Championship returns to the Southernmost City the week of Nov. 2-9. Don’t miss it! 

AND THE WINNERS ARE… The results of the 2007 SBIP/APBA Offshore-UIM World Championship Superboat Unlimited 1.) #11 Budweiser Select; 2.) #10 Aqua-Mania/G-3; 3.) #7 Team CRC Superboat Vee Unlimited 1.) #76 Shogren Fountain; 2.) #99 Fountain Worldwide; 3.) #22 Instigator Turbine 1.) #113 Miss Geico Superboat 750 1.) #45 JD Byrider; 2.) #57 Nichols Offshore; 3.) #12 BTM Marine Super Vee 1.) #30 Miccosukee Indian Gaming; 2.) #96 Yachts Fountain; 3.) #41 Predator Super Cat 1.) #00 Motley Crew; 2.) #40 Reliable Carriers; 3.) #77 Team Amsoil Superboat Vee Limited 1.) #51 Extreme Vortec; 2.) #17 AMF Lavey Craft Superboat Stock 1.) S-9 TNT Racing; 2.) S-13 Stihl; 3.) S-1 Miccosukee Indian Gaming Factory 1 1.) F1-2 AMF Offshore Racing; 2.) F1-52 AMF Offshore Addiction Manufacturer Production 1 1.) P1-21 Cintron; 2.) P1-30 On The Chip; 3.) P1-5 Media Master Manufacturer Production 2 1.) P2-33 Wazzup; 2.) P2-11 Patron Tequila Ranger; 3.) P2-60 Impulse Energy Drink Manufacturer Production 3 1.) P3-40 You’re In Command Racing; 2.) P3-10 Mid-American Offshore; 3.) P3-65 AMF Still Got It Manufacturer Production 4 1) P4-45 Simmons Racing; 2) P4-17 Team Kansas; 3) P4-21 Dirty Pearl Manufacturer Production 5 1.) P5-33 Crazy Chicken; 2.) P5-1 Rum Runners; 3.) P5-17 V & M Motorsports