FtLaudGranPrix

Thanks to OSO, and the teams that were kind enough to send me completed Media Racer Profile Forms, the following story has been sent in to the Orlando Sentinel. While the paper has editorial rights to use what photo's and parts of the story they were sent, I have listed the original story for your files.
When attending the St. Cloud race, stop by the Sentinel booth to pick up the special insert and make sure to use that for your media report!!
Again, thanks for your help!
Michelle May - Schmidt

Roar at the Shore
Racing Action Returns to St. Cloud’s Lake Tohopekaliga
By Michelle May – Schmidt

St. Cloud, FL - - It’s the time of year when the weather is hot, but far hotter than that is the upcoming Spring Fling and it’s set to unleashes a fury of heat as powerboat racing action roars into St. Cloud. With raceboats boasting speeds in excess of 200+ miles per hour, the sound of engines will be heard near and far along the shores of Lake Tohopekaliga as the first race of the APBA Offshore S.E. Divisional Series gets underway.
Slated this year for the weekend of April 5th & 6th, the annual St. Cloud Spring Fling will bring an estimated forty boats to the waterfront in hopes of claiming the prestigious Florida State Offshore Boat Championships Title. Race teams will begin arriving in the area on Friday evening and will showcase their high tech raceboats, trucks and toys in the Grand Boat Parade down Lakeshore Boulevard on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Autographs are available from the racers and their crew all weekend long.
Expect to see favorites return as well as newcomers, all who will begin testing on Saturday in hopes of perfecting their performance for Sunday’s competition. Action will certainly heat up when Callan Marine premieres their 48’ Tencara with twin Lycoming T55L7 turbine engines. The boat, which competes as PX-17 in the unlimited speed bracket class boasts over 5000hp engines that spin a maximum 15,666 revolutions per minute (rpm). Watching this monster start-up is a sight no offshore fan will want to miss as the kerosene kicks out a spectacular, roaring flame. Driver for Port Orange based Callan Marine Team is David Callan. John Cosker handles the throttles and Crew Chief is John Pompi. The team’s top speed to date is an outstanding 206.7 miles per hour.
Last years National and World Champion Throttleman in the Super Cat Light Class with In M’Ocean Again, Joey Gratton of Sarasota, will jump aboard the Dirty Duck this year and throw down the sticks alongside driver/team owner, Slug Hefner. Dirty Duck, who set a World Kilo Record at 115.338 miles per hour last year, will prove no slouch as the two get to know each other and the boat, one of Randy Scism’s MTI SC – 38’s. Fans should make sure to ask for a famous yellow duck billed quacker, but know ahead of time that your job will be to quack when the team screams by the start-finish line on race day.
The team, from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, will continue their pursuit for another National title in Daytona, where Gratton will meet up with former In M’Ocean Again teammate, Jerry Sorrentino with his new racing partner, Steve Armstrong. That is, unless they dare show up in St. Cloud, which is always a last minute possibility.
Todd Easton and Brett Lee Furshman will head to St. Cloud with their award winning Miccosukee Indian Gaming Team and will premiere their new Super Vee, a Fountain with GM Vortec HP3’s. The National and two time World Champions from Lauderhill are predicted to hit the jackpot in St. Cloud with a first win of the season.
While weekend festivities have been planned to entertain the whole family, one family team is racing to entertain the fans. Campbell Offshore Racing’s Screaming Eagle should end their first race in a new boat with flying colors. The team, from Longboat Key, consists of Allen and Lou Anne Campbell and Ben Hedrick. Crew Chief for the team is none other than former In M’Ocean Again wrenchman, Jon Maas, from Sarasota and Hedrick competed last year in Team Deranged.
Audacity Racing is rumored to be appearing, under the new name O*Town – Team Donzi. With a new boat and famous musicians backing the program, Joey Skrocki on throttles along with Phil Semel, World and National Champion Driver from Catch This, should be singing the high notes all the way to victory lane.
Ryan Beckley and Mark Hanna will be back in P2-24 Kinetic Animation, the 1987 24’ Skater that is sure to ice the competition, as long as it stays within its designated 90 – 99 mile an hour speed bracket. The team, from Sarasota, will join a number of competitors, all who will race in the APBA Offshore Outlaw Performance.
Former Rookie of the Year, Frank Sarro and his Xtreme Fountain racing team will be coming to St. Cloud from Satellite Beach to try and stay within their 70 – 79 mile an hour bracket in the P4 class. A first time for this team, St. Cloud has been known to throw a chop or a racer into the playing field on the 5 – 6 mile course around the Lake. Driver for the team is Scott O’Connor, Sarro will assume the wheel and Mike Sirois takes the position of Crew Chief for the team.
The P5 class will bring back favorites Dave Howard and Mel Voss of Team Vixen in one of the most acclaimed hulls in power boating, a 27’ Magnum. History buffs can truly appreciate the vision it took years ago to test, then incorporate, this winning hull into many of the pleasure boats seen today. The team, based in Ft. Myers, must maintain a top speed of no greater than 70 miles per hour to stay in the race.
And where competition is, competition will come, so fans can expect a number of last minute arrivals, because among the teams, it’s their one last shot to try out their top-secret boat innovations before entering the National Pro Grade Series. That, teamed with their instinctive need to be part of a charity driven event, is what keeps these racers coming back year after year, and bringing with them friends, family and new boaters that will share in the celebration of competition, family, and community.
Over the weekend, residents and racing fans can catch that spirit as well. Proceeds of the entire event help support the St. Cloud Rotary Club in funding projects that benefit the entire community.
In addition to the Sunday racing competition which begins at 1:00 p.m., weekend festivities include the grand boat parade boasting over 80 entries, a bass fishing tournament, an antique classic car display, midway rides, live entertainment and arts and crafts displays. There will be an ongoing raffle for prizes and winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, one hour after the race has been completed.
With this year’s St. Cloud Spring Fling and Florida State Offshore Boat Championships, there is truly something for not just powerboat racing fans, but for the entire family and the after effects will be long remembered after the roar of the engines fade.
For more information on the St. Cloud Spring Fling or to view the event schedule, visit apbaoffshore.com.