Smokin’ the Sound
On Sunday, April 6, a crowd of over 30,000 watched from Biloxi beach, docked boats and shorefront casinos as powerboats raced by at speeds of more than 150 mph in the Smokin’ the Sound, the inaugural race of the Offshore Super Series’ 2008 season.
The event began Tuesday, April 1 as race teams from across the country arrived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Smokin’ the Sound festivities and preparation continued throughout the week, with fans and spectators, an estimated 15,000 more than last year, flooding in for the weekend race.
On Saturday, April 5, teams qualified with a run on the official eight-mile course, which ran closer along shore than in past years. Sunday, the teams raced in nine categories, with two boats setting records on the Biloxi course. The Miss Geico team won the Turbine Extreme Class by hitting speeds of 194 mph on every straightaway in all five laps. In the Cat Extreme race, Bud Light’s 50-foot Mystic with two 1,150 horsepower engines also hit 194 mph, but only on two different occasions.
With roaring engines, extreme speeds and rescue helicopters struggling to keep up overhead, Smokin’ the Sound provided an exciting day for the racers and spectators alike. The awards ceremony was held Sunday evening at the Isle of Capri casino in Biloxi. And for those teams that didn’t go home a winner – there’s always next year! Smokin’ the Sound, which first debuted on the Coast in 2004, will return in 2009.
For a complete list of winners and more information on the Smokin’ the Sound, visit www.smokinthesound.com.
