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2008 Event Schedule
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*Event dates tentative
| CHAMP-2 (F2) |
| Date |
Location |
| May 3-4 |
Port Neches TX |
| June 21-22 |
Bay City, MI |
| Aug 2-3 |
St. Louis, MO |
| Aug 9-10* |
Algonac, MI* |
| Sept 20-21 |
Orange, TX |
| *Nov 1-2 |
Naples, FL |
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CANADIAN DRIVERS HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN CHAMPBOAT!
BRIAN VENTON & TED GRYGUC BIG PLAYERS IN 2008 SEASON!
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – 1st of July, 2008 – As the F1-ChampBoat Series heads off to one of the most historic and challenging race sites in all of the sport the “3 Rivers Regatta” on the Alleghany River in downtown Pittsburgh on the 3rd and the 4th of July, the week begins with another celebration honoring the 2nd country of North America that of Canada and the “Canada Day” holiday on the 1st of July.
The country “to the north” has played a major role in the continued
success, in this, the most exciting show on water, with numerous
drivers and past race sites dotting the landscape and making this a
truly “international” sport for the F1-ChampBoat Series.
Throughout the years and most notably beginning back in the 1970’s when
Grand Prix races held in St. Louis, Missouri represented “World
Championship” status if you won this August event, drivers such as Olie
Berkis from Toronto, Ontario driving his Twistercraft and Mark
Rothermel again from Ontario would challenge the big names of Bill
Seebold, Ben Robertson, Art Kennedy, Cees van der Velden and Renato
Molinari just to name a few.
A decade later in the 1980’s the names of Rob Scythes from Holland
Landing, Ontario, along with Lee Davies and Keith Hagedorn who put
their names in the record books bringing with them a following that
would eventually steer enough enthusiasm to push for races to be held
in “The Great White North”.
For a time “Players” Cigarettes were “a player” in the series in the
early 1990’s when Winnipeg and long standing Saskatoon were part of the
championship. During this same time Jon Friesen of Vancouver, British
Columbia finished in the top 10 in 5 of the 8 races in 1993 to take 8th
in the championship and one of the most successful campaigns ever by a
Canadian driver.
Well, this is the past and currently in the last few years two
Canadian’s have made a big impact on the series with one a past driver
and another being a strong contender for a top-5 in the championship
standings before this 2008 season ends.
Past World Champion and now owner of his own race team Ted Gryguc of
Woodbridge, Ontario steered his talents the past few years to fellow
Canadian Mark Major until the Ontario drivers recent retirement. The
1991 Mod-VP class champion now is owner to the all powerful Speedmaster
Marine/Gary L Barton race team with championship point’s leader and
double race winner this season in Miami, Florida driver Shaun Torrente.
“We have a great package this year with Shaun,” said Ted. “I think my
past experience as a successful driver and his natural talent,
together; we have a great chance if we can keep the momentum going, to
take a title this season. I realize it’s early, but we are on the right
track and are two for two thus far heading to Pittsburgh.”
“Being Canadian is something I am very proud of and I want to help keep
the tradition alive with the “Can-Am” championship in this series. We
continue to spread the word at home about how spectacular these races
are and at the same time are hoping once again to bring the show back
across the border were it was for so many years.”
While Ted directs from the shore, another Ontario native is proving he
is only getting better as the seasons go on. Bowmanville, Ontario’s
Brian Venton came close to winning Rookie-of-the-Year status back in
2005 and now is enjoying his best start in his career with an 8th and a
6th in the first two races of 2008.
“We were actually pretty pleased with our last outing in Bay City,
Michigan two weeks ago,” said Brian. “We were penalized a lap for
starting a second too early, but I still managed a 6th place finish.
Our new Gran Prix boat is running well and we have a good team again
with Don Jenkinson running things with his great experience as a past
driver and good manager, we feel we are right in the ball game this
season.”
Brian has finished in the top-10 in the drivers points championship in
the three years he has competed on the circuit despite running a boat
that turned out to be less than ideal in most circumstances. Now armed
with a new state of the art hull under him, he is starting to show his
true skills as a driver.
All in all, this first week of July is something special to all of
North America. Two countries who are the closest of friends each
celebrating their independence from Great Britain at different times
but with the same goal, to enjoy their freedoms to love life at the
fullest, and for many Canadians that has been the exciting sport of
F1-ChampBoat power boat racing!
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