P1 USA: Series Detroit preview

POWERBOAT P1 TO HOST VEE-BOTTOM EXHIBITION AT HISTORIC DETROIT APBA GOLD CUP

$25,000+ Sponsorship Package Includes Prize Purse, Tow Money, and Accommodations

Powerboat P1 USA will host an invitational offshore event featuring both the canopy single and twin-powered vee-bottom boats, often referred to as SVL and SV, during the 101st running of the historic Detroit APBA Gold Cup July 9-11 in the Motor City.

While the Gold Cup -- the oldest active trophy in motorsports -- is historically a hydroplane race, offshore boats have recently played a significant role, which event producer Tom Bertollini says "[has] been an important part of the event. They bring the roar of the engines and tight competition that the fans like to see."

Powerboat P1 began the 2010 race season sponsoring a group SVL teams that agreed among themselves to race as a group in a series of events produced by various race promoters; the goal was to increase boat count and thereby improve the competition in the class. Bertollini invited Powerboat P1 to host the event because of its Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) affiliation. UIM is the international boat racing sanctioning body, represented in the United States by the American Powerboat Association (APBA) which presents the Gold Cup. In addition, Bertollini shares the Powerboat P1 philosophy of improving offshore boat racing as a marketing platform with fewer classes, more participants, and a level of professionalism fans have come to expect from motorsports. The mutual goal is to eventually establish an actual world-wide competition culminating in a World Championship event, rotating between the United States and international venues under the UIM sanction. Bertollini calls the addition of the two Vee-bottom classes "a fantastic addition to the show."

The Gold Cup sponsorship will be the first to include corporate partners through the new Powerboat Marketing Alliance (PMA), which was formed to match boat racing events and series' with corporate sponsors looking to reach the powerboat enthusiast. As a result of the PMA support, teams will receive accommodations and travel allowances to help defray travel expenses, inclusion in the race program which is distributed to more than 100,000 fans at the event, as well as team posters for fan autograph sessions. Additionally, teams planning to participate in the Offshore Powerboat Association's (OPA) St. Claire, Michigan race July 23-25, a schedule stop on the SVL schedule, have been offered free boat storage by OPA between the two events.

Racers will participate in multiple heat-races throughout each day of race weekend. Under the Powerboat P1 USA sponsorship, teams must brand their boats with Powerboat P1, UIM and APBA decaling, be professionally attired in race suits and team uniforms and be available for promotional appearance and other criteria.

"Because of the alliances Powerboat P1 USA has formed with race teams, race promoters and the PMA - matching sponsors with events, we were asked to help add to the show at this incredibly historic event," says P1 USA Operations Director Martin Sanborn. "Once again the Gold Cup will be historic as the first venue to benefit from the PMA, and of course the racers get to participate in the oldest and among the most prestigious boat racing weekends in the world. We hope we can continue to be a catalyst for bringing racers, racing organizations, promoters and sponsors together."

-source: powerboat p1 usa