Bud Light Boat Stomps by 28 Seconds

As mentioned earlier, the Bud Light Offshore Racing Team was truly in a class of their own Sunday. Out of the 5 boats that raced in the Superboat Unlimited class, the Bud Light Team averaged an astounding 28 second lead ahead of the second place boat, winning first place.

Around 10 am the boats started arriving at Marina Landing on Panama City Beach, just at the foot of the Hathaway Bridge. The boats were lifted from their trailers and lowered into the water, sometimes right into their respective slips.

“It was a great race. We got to the crane early, so we changed the gears and the props. That was definitely the right call,” said Johnny Tomlinson, Throttleman.

With 12 scheduled laps, the checkered flag was thrown on the 11th lap due to overwhelming mechanical failure of other boats. 24 boats competed in National Championships on this 6 mile course.

The wind was a gusty 15 knots early in the day and the seas had a moderate chop, but calmed as the day wore on.

“It just goes to show you, give us a little rough water and that’s the key. In this kind of race, the boat has to do some of the work and the motors don’t have to do it all. If you give us 2- to 3-foot seas, we’ve got an even playing field,” said Dave Scott, owner/driver.

The Bud Light Offshore Racing Team has a total of 67 wins with 10 National Championship Titles, 8 World Championship Titles, 6 Top Gun Titles, and 6 Official Speed Records.

The next and last scheduled race this year will be in Key West, Florida November 2 – 9.

Boat Race This Weekend

You know, it is actually kind of a shame, the lack of media presence at this awesome event, that is. There wasn’t even anything in the New Herald this morning. I took tons of pictures and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The “staging” area was truly a sight to behold. If you are subscribed to our twitter page, you were getting messages as I was nearly getting my ear drums blown with the loud crack and roar of the huge race boat engines. All of the ones that I asked were running 500+cu V-8’s with many running superchargers. 800 to 1000 hp per engine was common.

In order to get the boats in the water, they were brought close to the marina on their trailers, then lifted with a crane above the pilings, over the docks and lowered into the water; many times, directly into their respective slip.

Many crews were up late Saturday night and into Sunday morning tweaking their engines, and one team to speak of actually had to replace a ruptured head gaskett. When the boat was first placed in the water was the first opportunity they had to test the motor in the water.

At first, race teams were worried about the wind and the chop size in the gulf, but things actually calmed down and the surf was quite mild.

Tourist and locals alike crowded the beach in droves craving to see the action that was to happen a mere 300 yards from the shoreline. I was perched atop the Towne of Seahaven’s Origin building with a view of almost the entire course, except the start finish line.

Unbeknown to me, my “spot” was also the “spot” of a couple of the race teams and their coordinators. With their communications equipment in place and their headsets on, they awaited the start of the race so as to relay live, real time information to their pilots and other crew.

When the race began, the Bud Light boat shot out in front to capture a lead that grew rapidly throughout the race. It was very obvious that this boat was truly in it’s own class.

There were several classes racing, but the Bud Light team won overall.

This event was here last year and I beleive the year before. I challenge the local media outlets to give this event more coverage in the future. We need to support these events that come to our area.

Race Day This Sunday

Very few overwhelming experiences have stuck to the memory section of my brain from my childhood like race day. Grant it, my childhood consisted of car races of the stock/indy/GTP variant, and not boat races. However, even though this weekend’s events won’t let you get as close to the racing action, there will still be tons of action, speed and power, lots and lots of power.

The official race-village is at Pier Park on Panama City Beach, in the eastern most parking lot, closest to Calypso Towers. Race crews are already setting up, cleaning their boats and preparing for Sunday’s Race Day.

I’ll be poking around all weekend taking pictures, and encourage all who can to attend. It will be an awesome time. Words can’t describe the massive hulks of power and speed these awesome vessels are capable of. You’ve got to hear the roar yourself.

Charity Wine Dinner, Give a little

The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival is just over a week away and the pre-event kickoff “Charity Wine Dinner” that will benefit the Visual Arts Center is planned for Thursday, October 9th at Breakers Restaurant.

Endorsement will come from the esteemed La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society devoted to promoting fine dining and preserving the camaraderie and pleasures at the table.

The menu for this event will consist of:

Appetizer: Ahi Sushi Grade Tuna with a Wasabi and Rice Vinegar Vinaigrette, garnished with a seasonal Melon Salad and Belgium Endive.

Soup: Cream of Oyster Soup with a hint of Smoked Lobster

Salad: Bib Salad with Fresh Rasberries, Almonds, oven dried Plum Tomato and Kaiamata Olives, topped with a LemonGrass Vinaigrette.

Entee: Pettite Filet Mignon, placed on a Boursin Cheese filled Crouton and a Marinated Mushroom, topped with Lump Crab meat and a Garllic Beurre Blanc.

Dessert: Molting Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Beach Ice Cream and O Rasberry Coulisa.

This amazing collection of flavors of land and sea have been designed by the host chefs Dee Brown of Shores of Panama, Debbie Warren-Cook from of Breakers, and Konrad Jochum of Boatyard. The wine partner, RNDC will be pairing the dinner courses with a selection of fine wines to best enhance the dining experience.

Seating will be limited and the cost is $85 per person, or $150 per couple and will include 1 free ticket to the day of choice at the Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival.

To secure your tickets for this limited seating event, call Breakers 850.234.6060

Pumpkin Patch at Woodlawn United Methodist

Every year, Woodlawn puts on a pretty awesome fall festival with tons of cool stuff to do with the kids. Last year it was at the church, but this year it will be at Pier Park. With the festival, they will be kicking off a pumpkin patch fund-raiser for the youth. The pumpkins won’t have a set price, as I understand it, but will be purchased by us for whatever we want to donate.

If you want to get a pumpkin for a good price, and know that your money is going to a good cause, this is the place to do it.

The fall festival is this Saturday from 10am to 2pm, but the pumpkin patch will be open Monday – Saturday 10 am to 7pm at Woodlawn United Methodist Church, across from Arnold High School on Panama City Beach. You can get more information by calling Woodlawn United Methodist at 850 234 3196.

Bud Light to Race this weekend

This weekend, the Bud Light Offshore team returns to Florida’s Gulf Coast for the Panama City Beach Super Boat National Championship. Dave Scott and team are looking to steer the Bud Light 50’ Mystic to another win in the Superboat Unlimited class.

This race could hold even more importance, as it will give the team a chance to check out other teams they will likely see at the World Championship in Key West, Fla., next month. Throttleman Johnny Tomlinson will be watching closely to size up the competition.

“It will be good to get back in the ocean,” Tomlinson said. “Since it’s an SBI venue, there will be some boats there that we’ll go up against in the world championship. We’ll be able to get a feel for the competition that will be down in Key West and have a better idea of what we need to do to win.”

“I was there my second or third time racing, in 1987 or 1988,” Tomlinson said. “I haven’t been back there in years, but it’s very similar to racing Destin or Orange Beach. With that in mind, I feel confident that we’ll do well. We’ve got a good team, and we just need to continue on with our momentum.”

In 2007, Scott and crew won their tenth National Championship at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. They also brought home the checkered flag in six regular season races. The team won its classes at the Lake Ozark Fire Rescue shootout and secured its eighth World Championship in Key West, Fla. The team’s most recent win of 2008 came at the Captain Ron’s Shootout, securing the Top Gun title with a speed of 178 mph.

Festivities for the Panama City Super Boat National Championship begin Friday, Oct. 3 as the race village opens at 9 a.m. On Saturday, all classes take to the water for testing at noon. National Championship racing begins Sunday at noon.

The Dave Scott Bud Light Offshore Race Team is one of the most successful offshore race teams in history, having earned eight world championships and ten national championship titles since 2001. The team is also the proud owner of six offshore speed records. Dave Scott, Johnny Tomlinson and Mike Seebold have more than 40 years of combined experience in offshore powerboat racing.

Bike Week on Panama City Beach, Day 4

Saturday was the last day of Bike Week, for me at least. There were still venues open and bikers abound yesterday, but since it was Sunday and I was completely worn out, I stayed home with the fam.

Saturday was crazy busy, although it seemed like there were more bikers on the road than at the venues. Riding around, it seemed like there were bikers everywhere. Talking to a friend yesterday, he said that it seemed like everywhere he looked, there weren’t just a few bikers, but several packs of bikers – streetside, hanging out, at gas stations, etc.

Talking to several local businesses, many thought this year was actually up from last year’s fall rally. If anyone has any quantifiable evidence to exactly how many people were here, please share! In the future, we’ll have to figure out how to make a count – I know that it hasn’t been figured out yet.

I spoke to the camp site across from La Vela, and they said they were busier than last year, but were unsure if it had something to do with more people wanting to camp because it was cheaper. Talking to vendors, I was told that sales were way up. Apollo Choppers sold 7 bikes! Ms. Newby’s had motorcycles parked all the way down Thomas Drive almost to where Red Rose is and Ruthy T’s used to be.

Check below for pics, and comment on the fun you had over the weekend!!

Bike Week on Panama City Beach, Day 3

Me? I’m great, other than my legs feel like they are about to fall off and I’m totally and completely wiped out. But, I had fun.

What many may argue as the first day of Bike Week on Panama City Beach, today was awesome. Technically the festivities started Wednesday. Some of the venues were open, some bikers had come in town, but for the most part, many of us were worried about the turnout for this rally. Things started picking up yesterday, but today, man o’ man, the bikers rolled in.

Talking around, the numbers still seemed down from this time last year, and I think most agree the current state of the economy and gas prices are to blame. However, overall the vendors I talked to seem to be pretty pleased.

The Apollo Chopper guys were ecstatic having sold 6 bikes between today and yesterday. Merchandise sales seemed to be going very well all around, and at 10 o’ clock tonight, Club La Vela and Ms. Newby’s seemed to be the only party in town. People were almost fighting for a parking spot at La Vela, bikers and cars alike.

I rode all day, and went pretty much everywhere; so did everyone else. There were bikers everywhere – from Back Beach Road, to Pier Park, all up and down Front Beach Road, at all the gas stations, condos, hotels. They were packed in groups on the side of the road, talking, hanging out.

Tomorrow should be fun.

Bike Week on Panama City Beach, Day 2

I didn’t have the pleasure of spending much time out and about this afternoon, but I was out tonight. As always, Ms. Newby’s was slammed. I had the great pleasure of meeting John McVeigh, who said business was good. There were people (and bikes) everywhere.

The weather was cool, and even almost cold riding a motorcycle, but the days have been absolutely gorgeous and clear.

It’s hard to say yet if the numbers are down from last year, but many are predicting they will be. With the current state of the economy and fuel prices, it is expected that many bikers stayed home.

I stopped by La Vela to find I just missed Kelly and The Healers. I’ll catch them tomorrow. Everything was slowing down by 9 pm, except the bars, of course. Edgewater was dead, but I did have the opportunity to see the Dan Lawson Band and the young Patrick jam it out.

Salty’s was busy with some pretty sweet bikes out front, one had a Jack Daniels bottle built into the take, cool.

Tomorrow should be a blast, I’ll have more time to visit the venues and check everything out.

Bike Week is Here

Hoards of bikers arrived yesterday with many more to arrive today. Most venues were not open last night, but Ms. Newby’s, as always, was slammed. With all the venues to open today, Panama City Beach is expected to be slammed with bikers from around the southeast US and beyond.

I will be posting updates and pictures as the week rolls on, stay tuned for updates.