By Jim Bloch
For the 31st time, the non-profit Blue Water Offshore Racing Association is staging an exciting, noisy day of offshore boat racing in the St. Clair River directly in front of the city of St. Clair’s Palmer Park on Sunday, July 27. Many of the race boats will hurtle up and down the river at speeds topping 100 miles per hour.
Four days of festivities lead up to race day.
All the events – the meet-and-greets with the race teams, viewing the testing runs on Saturday and the races on Sunday, plus five days of live music – are free.
The in-river testing and race dates are July 26-27, although the action begins July 23, when M-29, the main artery through the city, is closed and turned into Race Village.
On Thursday, July 24, the boats and their teams begin rolling into town and setting up their exhibits and merch tents along M-29.
The arrival of the boats continues Friday, July 25, coupled with equipment inspections by race officials, the registration of the racers, GPS checks and meet-and-greets with the drivers in Race Village.
On Saturday, expect food trucks and souvenir tables to be out in force. The morning is generally set aside to get the racers ready for Sunday’s action. Swim and dunker testing takes place 8-10 a.m. in the city’s outdoor pool at Eighth and Orchard streets. Registration continues 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The drivers’ meeting is at the fire station 10-11 a.m. The U.S. Coast Guard permit to race in the river is in effect 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Race control boats will be patrolling the water 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Look for the crane of the Marysville-based Raymond Excavating lifting race boats in and out of the Pine River. Owner Dave Burgess and son Brandon have provided the service at no charge – a in-kind sponsorship – since the very first race in 1995.
The race boats will be on the river for testing 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Race Day
Sunday, July 27 is race day. The Offshore Powerboat Association sanctions the race.
Volunteers will set the buoys demarcating the four-mile course beginning at 8:30 a.m. A second drivers’ meeting will be held at the fire station 9-9:30 a.m. The Coast Guard permit will be in effect 11 a.m.-7 a.m.
Around 11:15 a.m., listen for the national anthems of the US and Canada as well as flag-bearing boats floating down the river.
Depending on the final number of registered boats, the first race is scheduled for noon; the second race at 1:30 p.m., the third at 3 p.m. and the fourth at 4:30 p.m. In 2024, 34 teams competed in nine classes.
As the afternoon unfolds, race commentators will announce the races and explain the action over a public address system in Palmer Park as boats in different classes compete simultaneously.
Local teams
Ed Smith, the owner of River’s Bend Marina on the Pine River, will be racing his Knucklehead boat, a 40-foot Fountain, built in 2008 and previously owned by Peter Meijer. Smith purchased the boat six years ago. It sports a V-hull and is narrower than his previous boat, sponsored by Cleveland Construction.
Brian Klinic, of Harrison Township, will be racing his 42-foot Fountain called Twisted. Klinic and Smith both race in the Super Vee class.
Keep your eyes peeled for another St. Clair team, Crazy Rythm, which can be viewed on its trailer on Cass Street rear-round when it isn’t racing. Crazy Rythm races in Class 4, which it won in St. Clair last summer.
Live music
BWORA has partnered with the St. Clair Chamber of Commerce to make sure that the long weekend of racing has a musical backdrop.
Several bands will play in the courtyard of Riverview Plaza throughout the event.
Foster & Lewis play 6-10 p.m., Wednesday, July 23.
Brandon Pavlov takes the stage 6-10 p.m., Thursday, July 24.
Friday, July 25, is third annual hoedown featuring a night of country music. Ryan Scott and the Creek Hounds get things rolling at 4 p.m., followed by line dancing with Jenergy at 5 p.m.; Bernadette Kathryn and the Lonely Days Band at 6 p.m.; the Jack Daniels Band at 8 p.m.; Julianne Ankley at 9 p.m.; and Ryan Jay and the Wrecking Crew put a dusty handkerchief on the proceedings at 10 p.m.
The Blitz plays the plaza from noon-2 p.m., Saturday, July 26. The Meldrum Brothers and Los Gringos play 3-7 p.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight, respectively.
On Sunday, after the races and the 7 p.m. awards ceremony, listen for your favorite Elvis impersonator.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
