Point Pleasant Beach 2017 Grand Prix Events Kick Off Today

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Want to check out all the powerboats slated to race in this Sunday's Point Pleasant Beach Grand Prix?

Then head on over to Race Village at the Silver Lake parking lot on Ocean and Arnold avenues in Point Pleasant Beach. The boats will be there all day.

It's the first day of the Point Pleasant Beach Grand Prix festivities. A block party with the boats on display will be held at 4 p.m. on Arnold Avenue, followed by a "racer meet and greet" at Martell's Lobster house at 308 Boardwalk and Ocean avenues

The event is sponsored by the host club - The New Jersey Powerboat Racing Association - which has been the host club since the race began more than 40 years ago in Point Pleasant Beach.

"There is probably no single race more famous than The Benihana Offshore Grand Prix," according to njoffshore.org. "This race was known as the Indy 500 of 0ffshore racing and was held in Point Pleasant Beach during the 1970s"

The race course has been shortened considerably since them, from more than 200 miles to four miles.
Roughly 35 powerboats took part in the newly-revived 2016 Grand Prix. The boat races once held a place in Jersey Shore history.

Mayor Stephen Reid - who pushed to revive the event in Point Beach - has called the race a "shot in the arm" for Point Pleasant Beach businesses.

Restaurants, hotels and local shops all did a brisk business last year with the boaters and spectators. Reid is hoping for more of the same this year.

- On Thursday, residents and visitors can "Meet the Racers" at Jack Baker’s Wharfside Patio Bar charity event to benefit K Hovnanian’s Children Hospita/l

- A block party will be held on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. down Arnold Avenue to Lincoln Race Boats, where you can again meet the racers.

- The Point Pleasant Beach Rotary Festival will be also be held on Saturday. The 2017 boats will go in the water for testing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Parade of Boats will be held at 4:30 p.m. heading north on Ocean Avenue.

Sunday, May 21 - Race Day. Races start at noon Teams prepare for the race behind the Wharfside on Channel Drive. Watch the race from the Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk.

Winner’s Circle Jack Baker’s Wharfside Patio Bar will follow each race.
Image: Patch file photo