R acing in the Great Lakes region of the country has gone unrecognized over the past 20 years, primarily due to the short boating season that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. And that’s not even taking into consideration the high concentration of national races centered in the

South, mostly in Florida.

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, many national races were held in cities like Saginaw Bay, Michigan, and Sandusky, Ohio. Offshore powerboat racing has been conducted on a smaller scale by a handful of organizations, such as GLOPRA (in Cleveland) and SBOPC (in Bay City, Michi

jan). These groups are all ;anctioned by the American power Boat Association

APBA).

In 1997, these groups oined forces to form the 3reat Lakes Silver Cup

3eries, which now conducts seven to nine offshore events 3ach season—complete with :heir own nationally televised

TV show on the Speedvision channel.

The popularity of offshore racing in the Great Lakes has continued to grow in the past three years, drawing 15 to 20 boats per event in 1996 and jumping to an average of 30 boats in 1998; 36 of the hottest boats in the region registered in the first race of