Boats, marine and boating trends

AMF set to raise the stakes and fans' excitement

MARATHON, Fla., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Few offshore racing venues rival the up close accessibility offered at the Super Boat Grand Prix in Marathon, Florida. A perch atop the Overseas Highway gets the serious racing fan as close to the cockpit as possible. AMF Offshore's "Miss GEICO" racing team is looking forward to giving fans a first hand look at why they're considered the fastest team on water.

"Marathon is an ideal racing experience," said Scotty Begovich, Miss GEICO throttleman and veteran of the extreme sport. "The course allows for straight runs of open water which means I can pull back and really show off the capabilities of our boat."

Powered by the same engines that flew U.S. military helicopters in the first Gulf War, Miss GEICO features unparalleled performance and promise. "Our season has been exciting so far," said Driver Marc Granet. "We've had races where we answered all questions regarding our standing as the fastest offshore team. But, we've also seen a couple of races like Biloxi where technical difficulties got between us and our goals. As we head into summer we're ready for whatever comes our way, and we're counting on a top ranking as part of the package."

Marathon marks the sixth contest of AMF's 18-race season. Along with many other world class racing teams from throughout the country, Miss GEICO will take over the water from the wave ripping shore of Long Beach, California to Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks -- with several stops in between, including race weekends as far north as New York City. The season will end back in the Keys for a World Championship.

"The 2007 season has been an exciting opportunity for our crew to reach out to powerboat racing fans across the country," Granet said. "We've seen the joy racing brings and look forward to exceeding our Florida fans' expectations this weekend."

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MAY 18, 2007 (Friday)

9:00am-5:00pm Registration/Information: Dry Pits -- Between 99th & 98th Street US1
9:00am-5:00pm Dry Pits: Between 99th and 98th Street US1
9:00am-5:00pm Inspection: Dry Pits
7:00pm-9:00pm Racer's Party: Dockside Lounge - 35 Sombrero Blvd.

MAY 19, 2007 (Saturday)

9:00am MANDATORY DRIVERS MEETING: Dry Pits (Tent)
10:00am-5:00pm Registration/Information: Between 99th & 98th Street US1
10:00am-5:00pm Inspection: Dry Pits
9:00am-5:00pm Dry Pits: Between 99th and 98th Street US1
11:00am-5:00pm Testing: As per the Driver's Meeting
10:00am-5:00pm Launching: Faro Blanco 1996 Overseas Hwy
10:00am-5:00pm Fueling: Florida Keys Co-Op 3421 Overseas Hwy
9:00am-5:00pm Wet Pits: Faro Blanco
7:00pm-9:00pm Racer's Party: The Hurricane - 4650 Overseas Hwy.

MAY 20, 2007 (Sunday)

CLOSED Registration/Information:
7:30am-8:30am Physicals: Dry Pits (Tent)
9:00am MANDATORY DRIVERS MEETING: Dry Pits
Tent
11:00am Pilots Briefing: Marathon Airport
7:30am-4:00pm Launching/ Recovery: Faro Blanco
8:00am-12:00pm Fueling: Florida Keys Co-Op
10:00am-11:00am Testing: As per the Driver's Meeting
8:00am-4:00pm Wet Pits: Faro Blanco
1:00pm Start of Race
5:00pm Awards: Dry Pits

Source: AMF