Despite busy weekend in Pulaski County, Grand Prix garners support

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Officials are calling the Offshore Super Series (OSS) power boat races, held at Waitsboro Recreation Area, a success, despite s slightly smaller crowd than expected that may have resulted from spotty showers moving through the area and a busy weekend made up of two graduations and several major fundraising events.

June 8, 2010

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer Commonwealth Journal

Somerset —

This weekend in Somerset was a busy one, but some people still took the time to make their way to the Offshore Super Series (OSS) power boat races, which organizers said went off without a hitch.

The 2010 Lake Cumberland Grand Prix power boat races, held from Friday, June 4 through Sunday, June 6, took place this year at the Waitsboro Recreation Area in Pulaski County — a bit farther north than last year’s races — and organizers are hailing the event as a successful one.

“We had a great outpouring of support and volunteers from the entire Lake Cumberland economic zone,” Larry Combs, race coordinator and director of business services for The Center for Rural Development, said. “We hope that the business community profited from the regional and national attention this race brought to our area.”

The Somerset area was the setting for the 15th Annual Relay for Life, two high school graduations and a golf tournament this weekend, giving everyone several options of where they wanted to spend their weekend.

A “pretty good” crowd chose to watch the races, said Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce President Jack Keeney. The event featured a 4.5-mile race course at Waitsboro Recreation Area complete with tight turns and fast runs under the Ky. 90 bridge.

Spectators on land and boat, spread along the length of the race, took in the event, making it difficult to pinpoint the size of the crowd. Spotty showers and storms plagued the main races on Sunday, but a significant number of people still took in the races.

At the closing awards ceremony on Sunday, June 6, at Race Village at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, J.D. Hamilton, president of the Lake Cumberland Association, said participants put on a “great race,” according to a press release from The Center.

“So many people have come together to make this event happen,” Hamilton said, as quoted in the press release, “and we will work on growing the event next year and the year after that.”

Although a busy weekend coupled with some rains may have factored into a smaller crowd than what some had hoped for, organizers and participants alike were pleased with the attitude of those in Pulaski County and on Lake Cumberland.

“We really enjoy the hospitality of everyone here at Lake Cumberland,” John Brunner, director of operations for OSS, said after the final races June 6, according to the press release. “We send a special thanks to J.D. Hamilton, Larry Combs, The Lake Cumberland Association, The Center for Rural Development, and the countless volunteers for all their help in making this a great event. We look forward to returning next year."

The exposure of the area to a national crowd is expected to impact the local economy into the future — just as last year’s races did, according to organizers.

“I think there will be a lot less people asking ‘do you have water?’ and a lot more asking, ‘where can I launch my boat?’” Combs said in the press release.

According to OSS officials, the results of the Lake Cumberland Grand Prix are as follows:

• Pro AM 1: First Place, No. 14, Saratoga Stampede, 100 points; and Second Place, No. 47 Voodoo Ride-Global Warmer, did not start (DNS), 95 points.

• Pro-AM 3: First Place, No. 411, Octane, 100 points; Second Place, No. 29, Typhoon; Third Place, Pirate Racing; and Fourth Place, No. 23, Screamin’ Nuts-TOUR SEKY.com (DNS).

• Pro-AM 4: First Place, No. 69, Thunder Run, 100 points; Second Place, No. 401, Simmons Racing, 95 points; and Third Place, No. 417, Team Purrrfect, 91 points.

• PX: First Place, No. 13 Popeye’s, (DNS), 100 points.

Cat Lite: First Place, No. 388, Team Phoenix Parts, 100 points; and Second Place, No. 13 Popeye’s, 95 points.

• Cat OB: First Place, No. 1 Mapei, 100 points; Second Place, No. 111, Fluid Sealing Products S111-Doubledge Motorsports, 95 points; Third Place, No. 29, Talbot Excavating, 91 points; Fourth Place, No. 324, You’re Gonna Have That, 88 points.

• V Lite: First Place, No. 4, Watch Your Back, 100 points; Second Place, No. 29, Typhoon, 95 points; Third Place, No. 21, Pirate Racing, 91 points; Fourth Place, No. 411, Octane, 88 points; and Fifth Place, No. 23, Screamin’ Nuts–TOUR SEKY, DNS, 86 points.

• SV Unl: First Place, No. 47, VoodooRide-Global Warmer, DNS, 100 points.

• V Ext: First Place: No. 14, Saratoga Stampede, 100 points.