LAKEPORT >> Five classes of boats were put through their paces while providing thrills for the crowd during the inaugural Lakeport Sprint Boat Grand Prix last weekend offshore from Library Park in Lakeport.
The weather cooperated and the water conditions were ideal for the competitors. Fans packed the shoreline to take in the action both days.
“The racers came out in force, they could hear the cheers of the crowd over the engines and they were excited to put on a show,” racing promoter Jack Long said. “We gave the Southern California Speedboat Club racers a taste of Lake County hospitality that they will not forget.”
Added Long, “We couldn’t have done this without the support of the Lake County government officials, the City of Lakeport government officials, and the police and first-responders from all over Lake County that were there making sure that everything went according to plan. The feedback I received has been very positive. Sponsors stepped up to support the event, my staff put in long hours making sure this event went off without a hitch, and the volunteers who worked on the land and on the lake showed our guests what we are all about. This has been an amazing experience and I am proud to be a part of making this happen.”
Long said plans are in the work to return to Clear Lake in 2018.
Event sponsors in 2017 were Twin Pine Casino, Steel Wines, Ruzicka and Associates, Valley Oaks, Kelseyville Lumber, Eagle Distributing, Chacewater Winer and Olive Mill, Furia Construction, 94.5 KWINE, Max 93.5; Bicoastal Media, and the Lake County Fair.
You can follow the Sprint Boat Grand Prix on Facebook for the latest updates and information.
Among the competing classes, here are the final results:
GPS-100 — 1. Tim Hoffman, Mesa, Ariz.; 2. Jasper McDonald, Valley Center; 3. Dave Shaw, Temecula; 4. Jeff McLachlan, West Jordan, Utah.
Formula Lights — 1. R.J. West, Manteca; 2. Jared Wallach, Redondo Beach; 3. Mark Halyak, Santa Clarita; 4. Spencer Love, Santa Rosa; 5. Colin Cross, Alameda; 6. Warren West, Manteca.
Unblown Flat — 1. Skip Tuttle, Oakley; 2. Dale Baker, Ferndale, Wash.; 3. Tyler Roth, Concord; 4. Hal Jones, Layton, Utah.
Sportsman Extreme Runabout — 1. Tim Hoffman, Mesa, Ariz.; 2. Mike Stock/Tony Applegate, Boise, Idaho; 3. Mike Purczynski, Hemet; 4. Dave Shaw, Temecula; 5. Jasper McDonald, Valley Center; 6. Lance Nicholls, Castaic.
K Racing Runabout — 1. Duff Dailey, Boise, Idaho; 2. Tyler Roth, Concord, N.C.; 3. Michael Allen/P)aul Fitzgerald, Concord, N.C.; 4. Charley Hamill, Salt Lake City, Utah; 5. Tony Scarlata, Perris.
