Ever since I was a little kid, I have always been a huge fan of Offshore Powerboat Racing. The biggest race was the Benihana race. Held in Point Pleasant NJ. Always went every year. The highlight of the race was when all of the raceboats came out at once out of the Manasquan inlet, before the start of the race. Probably 60-80 boats all flying out of there at speed, jumping the waves and catching huge air.Thousands of people lined up on the rocks on both sides of the inlet. I thought that that was the coolest thing in the world. Those guys where my idols. Lots of big names too, Rocky Aoki( owner of Behihana restaraunts) Don Johnson the actor. Few other big names. Of course that was my dream to be one of them.
Fast foward to 2002, I finally went out and bought myself a boat to race. Spent a year rebuilding it, lots of time and money. Headaches,etc, etc.. Ran it with my partner testing it. Worked out the kinks got it running good.
On Fri August 15. 2003, we headed up the Mansquan river for the start of the NJ Offshore 2003 Grand Prix race.(Formerly the Benihana Race). At about 11:45 at the beginning of the Inlet rocks I nailed the throttles foward , and with 40 other boats flew out the inlet.
As we where heading out I looked at the rocks on both sides, saw all those people lined up. I know I must have had the worlds biggest smile! I was actually choking up. I hit the intercom and told my driver (and my best friend)" Bro, do you we are actually fuchin doing this?" Im sure that he had just as big a smile on his face. That was the moment I dreamed about since I was 11 yrs old.
We ended up taking forth place. The following day. one of my other buds i race with, called me at 7 30 in the morning. He said "hey Vin I just picked up the Ocean Count Observer ( the big local paper down here). Theres and article about the race in it , and you aint gonna be to happy about it. it's not good."
I jumped in the car and shot over to the store I ran in to the newspapers and looked for it. I picked up a copy and found this picture on the front cover. I let out a yell that scared the crap out of everyone.
This only validated the previous day.
Needless to say I bought every copy!
