WHAT: Racing of Sea-Doo, WaveRunner, Jetski and other personal watercraft, as Round 3 of the Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour heads to New Baltimore, Michigan, for the 1st Annual Anchor Bay Watercross Shootout personal watercraft race on June 18th. June 19th will feature a PWC and Jetboat Poker Run.
WHERE: The personal watercraft racing event and Poker Run will take place at Burke Park in Downtown New Baltimore.
WHEN: Racing - Saturday, June 18 -- Practice from 9:00-10:00 am, races from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
PWC Poker Run – Sunday, June 19 – Registration 10:00-11:30am. Poker Run noon – 3:00 pm.
CHESTERFIELD TWP., MI. - Start you engines and get ready to catch the excitement of personal watercraft racing action as the 2005 Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour heads to Burke Park in Downtown New Baltimore, Michigan, for the 1st Annual Anchor Bay Watercross Shootout personal watercraft race presented by Jetcrafts Unlimited Powersports and the Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce. This new event is the kick-off of the annual Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival.
For the first time, New Baltimore will host a tour stop on the Midwest Watercross Tour - the nation’s premier regional watercraft racing circuit. This year New Baltimore will host the third event of the season that will be a World Championship qualifying event. More than 100 of the Midwest and Canada’s best watercraft racers are expected to descend on New Baltimore for the competition. The event takes place on Lake St. Clair within the boundaries of Burke Park. In addition to the race there will be a beer tent, live entertainment on Saturday, many vendors as well as a personal watercraft and Jetboat Poker Run on Sunday June 19 that is open to everyone.
Personal watercraft racing is a tough, competitive and increasingly popular sport. Often described as “moto-cross racing on the water”, these exciting events pit up to 18 racers against each other on a racetrack of tight turns and straight-aways. In some classes, racers must also negotiate obstacles and log jumps on the racecourse. A rubberband starting system is used to control the start of each race.
The racers will be competing for a portion of $50,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded during the season, points towards the overall Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour championships and awards, and the right to compete in the World Finals, the world’s largest and most prestigious personal watercraft race. The Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour will also be making stops in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Hillsdale, Michigan; Celina, Ohio; and Rochester, New York.
The watercraft out there racing are not much different from the ones on lakes and waterways everywhere. The only difference is that these watercraft have many several high performance parts added to increase the speed and maneuverability in the water. Some watercraft in the Open classes have over 200 horsepower under the hood and can reach speeds in excess of 70 mph on flat water. But during the races, finding flat water is tough with racers wakes stirring up the course. Because of the wide differences in styles produced by watercraft manufacturers, the watercraft are divided into three divisions; Ski and Runabout. Within each division, there are classes for Beginner, Novice, Expert and Pro-Am riders as well as both men and women. The Ski division features a single rider standing in the tray of the watercraft steering the watercraft with a highly maneuverable handlepole. Riding in the Ski division requires excellent balance and skill. Runabouts are sit-down vehicles designed for two or three persons to ride.
The racing action begins with practice from 9:00 - 10:00am on Saturday followed by more than 30 races from 10:00am. - 5:00pm. The racing is very fast and exciting and admission is free. There will also be a Freestyle event on Saturday at 1:00 pm. Freestyle competitors perform tricks and stunts in a 2-minute time frame for a panel of judges who rate performances on a scale from 1 to 10.
Area watercraft owners are encouraged to participate. All local racers need to have to participate is a boat (of course), a life vest and helmet. Wetsuit, gloves and goggles are highly recommended. Local riders who are interested in competing in the local race should call PM Sports Marketing at (586) 598-2856 or visit us on the Internet at www.pwcfun.com
