Key West Florida-Higgins Beach-May 16th, 1996
Nuff Respect, the overall race winner, and winner for Superboat.
Photo by Carl Hunt Hays III
Update
The Superboats are back in town and the Conch Republic is coming to see what has
come to town. I watched young Kyle Lepin walk among the group of Superboats to
arrive today and shyly seek autographs from the racers and crew of the first
boats in town. Kyle looked in amazement at the four number six Mercury outdrives
on the stern of Offshore Ocean Racing's four engine hyperboat Nuff Respect and
knew that this was to be no ordinary boat race. "Mom, look this one has four
propellers!",Kyle said as he tugged at his mother's sleeve. You are right Kyle,
the big boys are in town and it's going to be no ordinary Sunday boat race.
Event Two in the 1996 SBR series comes to America and Key West is where it all
begins. As of 4PM today the kilo record holder Jaws was in place in the dry
pits next to Nuff Respect and Alcone Motorsports had pulled into line with
their formidable craft a few slots south. At the end of the line was Riveted
the 39 foot aluminum Cougar from Virginia and more boats were making their way
to the staging area. The weather, which can prove fickle, looks good. No
rattling coconuts on Higgins Beach today and the sea is dead calm under a
brilliant Florida sky. Tomorrow the wet pits open at Oceanside Marina and the
action begins. Water rescue tests at The Holiday Inn Beachside under the
supervision of David DePetrillo, a Driver's meeting scheduled for 6PM and the
8PM cocktail party at The Key West Hilton will highlight the day's activities.
Keep those Web browsers locked on www.offshore.com for the latest news on the
action here at the end of the road. This promises to be a thrilling event.
Hemmingway said in The Short Happy Life, "They are not dangerous, are they?"
Nah. The boys just want to have fun. Have fun fellows. Run fast-run safe. The
world is watching on the World Wide Web!
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