July 12, 2009 Long Beach Ca USA to Catalina and Back Offshore National Championship

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Press Release from R.P.M. Racing Enterprises

CONTACT: Ross Wallach - (310) 318-4012
rossdbos26@yahoo.com

REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA – May 18, 2009 - RPM Racing Enterprises released today the final details, plans and schedule for the 2009 APBA Offshore National Championship Long Beach 2 Catalina & Back PWC Race presented by Sea-Doo. Four separate racing events will comprise the Long Beach Power Fest which will take place over the weekend of July 11th & 12th, and are an integral part of the City of Long Beach’s summer long Sea Festival. In addition to the very fast Personal Water Crafts on Sunday morning the Long Beach Power Fest will feature the 61st Annual Long Beach to Catalina Water Ski Race on Saturday morning, and the 98th Annual Offshore Power Boat Challenge on Sunday. Just added for this year’s event is tunnel boat racing action as Round # 2 of the Western Formula Light Series (WFLS) makes its debut stop during Power Fest. These highly maneuverable 14’ long tunnel boats (cousins to the larger Formula One Tunnel boats) can literally “turn on the dime” and pull 4-6 g’s around the tight 7/8 mile course. The WFLS tunnel boats will race just outside of Rainbow Harbor (adjacent to Parker’s Lighthouse).

Ross Wallach, president of RPM Racing Enterprises said, “We’re very excited to bring these events; the world famous Long Beach to Catalina Ski Race, the famed Long Beach to Catalina & back PWC Offshore National Championship presented by Sea-Doo, the Western Formula Lights Series and the Pacific Offshore Racing Association’s Power Boat “Rum Run” Challenge, and being able to work with everyone involved to make this unbelievable event become a reality. The combining of forces offers a plethora of new opportunities to make this entire weekend an overwhelming success”.

Five classes of personal water craft including the “sportsman” first time racer class and the “manufacturer’s stock” classes to entice the average PWC enthusiast to participate are expected to swell the field to over 75 boats as the news of the weekend of racing stirs interest in the entire personal water craft community to enter and be a part of this momentous weekend. Offshore PWC racers from across the country are clamoring to get their entries in and compete with the elite West Coast group of offshore endurance experts try to break the new records in every class set last year for the challenging channel crossing.

The 2008 overall winner, Craig Warner, Corona, CA will be back again to defend his title on a Kawasaki Ultra 250X. Among the early entries are Mike Follmer, Newport Beach, CA on a Yamaha FZR, Mark Gerner, Aliso Viejo, CA on a Kawasaki ULTRA250X and Nick Vanis, Los Alamitos, CA on his factory Honda.
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This race for the APBA Offshore National Championship will start off with a “rolling start” in Los Alamitos Bay near the Queen Mary in Long Beach at 8:00 AM by a flagman on an official vessel anchored in the harbor. The PWC’s will proceed from the start out through the Queens Gate entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor into the Pacific Ocean on a straight line across the channel to Catalina Island. Navigation always plays a large part in any offshore race but particularly here where racers lose sight of land and all fixed reference points at some time going in both directions. PWC racers are required to have a GPS system, compass, radio, cell phone and numerous other safety items in order to make the potentially dangerous crossing as safe as possible. When the PWC’s arrive at Catalina, they will have to negotiate around a three masted schooner with a large marker flying overhead that will be anchored one mile offshore and have race officials on board documenting their passage. With helicopters overhead guiding and filming the event, the fleet of PWC’s will proceed back to Long Beach along the same route they just traversed the channel on to reach the finish line just off the stern of the start/finish vessel. The entire event, as well as the other two events this Long Beach Offshore Power Fest weekend will be filmed for later editing and broadcast on the new, national Water Channel. The race is also expected to garner the largest and most diversified media coverage ever for boat racing because of the popularity of the three completely different types of races being run and the importance the City of Long Beach is placing on this weekend of events.

The renewed national interest in PWC racing and the emergence of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) as the sanctioning body and driving force in PWC racing have contributed to the promoter’s expectation that over 75 riders will be vying for titles in this race. In addition to the safety equipment required by the APBA rule book, several additional safety items will be required of the racers to insure a safe trip across the channel to Catalina and back, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Long Beach Lifeguards will be providing support for the events. An announcement will be made soon regarding which emergency water service has been contracted with to provide racers with towing and on the water emergency service, as well as the announcement of a host hotel that will serve as race headquarters.

Promoter Ross Wallach said, “I can guarantee everyone involved that I intend to raise the bar even higher with this event after what we learned from last year to ensure that every racer, fan and sponsor carries away enough memories to last them until next year along with some fantastic trophies for overall and class winners”. Race specifics and entry forms are forthcoming so be ready to enter soon because there will be no race day entries accepted.

All the components are converging to make this weekend of events the most talked about and must participate in extravaganzas of all time. Come to the Long Beach Sea Festival, Long Beach Power Fest, and race in the 2009 APBA Offshore National Championship Long Beach 2 Catalina & Back PWC Race presented by Sea-Doo and create your own memories.

For more information on the race and the weekend, please visit www.pwcoffshore.com or www.apbaracing.com. Ross Wallach can be reached at (310) 318-4012
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RPM Racing Enterprises makes history with the induction of 2 new racing categories for the PWC endurance competition format! Introducing the Inaugural New 2009 LB2CAT Divisions:
1. Challenged Athlete
2. Military
The LB2CAT (Long Beach to Catalina and Back) PWC Offshore Endurance race has been the crown jewel of endurance racing for over 2 decades. Endurance racing is growing the Personal Watercraft competition with great enthusiasm of racer support in 2009, with 4 premiere events.

The LB2CAT is approximately 60 miles of Wide Open Throttle (WOT) from the California mainland at the starting line in Long Beach, out across the Channel to the beautiful island of Catalina off of Avalon and back to the finish line in front of the historic Queen Mary Cruise ship anchorage. Join us at the Queensway Launch on Sundday, July 12th, 2009 at 7:00am. All registered competitors will be required to abide by the terms and conditions of the race requirements.

CHALLENGED ATHLETE DIVISION - Open Class, 3 seater

Racing Statement from the words of competitor Ryan Levinson: "Raising awareness for competitive opportunities for challenged athletes, camaraderie and inspiration, whereas positive change comes from challenges". Inspired words from someone who walks that walk every day and will be competing in this years LB2CAT.

This is a unisex division open to those 16 years of age or older and for those who are physically capable of handling a Personal Watercraft at sustained speeds and distances. A courtesy chase boat will follow the last place rider, with a rescue board in case of assistance needed.

Registration Fee: $150.00USD


MILITARY DIVISION - Open Class, 3 seater
Racing Statement: 'On this day we shall stand and race united and remember those brave servicemen and women who have given all. They are now ahead of us. Out on point or patrol. They are not forgotten" Words spoken by RXTUSMC competing on Boat #71.

Open to all divisions of military personnel active or retired who have 'proof of Military ID'. This is a unisex division. (Open Class to the following United States: Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard). Athletes will run their 'colors' on their race boat, a sticker commemorating their branch of service.

Registration Fee: $150.00 USD

Both Divisions will have trophy awards from 1st through 3rd place, and additional donated industry prizes.

APBA Competition license required: http://www.apbaracing.com/membership.html

You will need a confirmed Race # to run on your vessel. please follow the links for advice and suggestions.

http://pwcoffshore.com/LB2CAT_Race_Page.html LB2CAT Information Page

http://pwcoffshore.com/Home_Page.html Additional Information

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Approx. 45 days until the LB2CAT! Assuming we have sponsors, PWCOFFSHORE intends to create another DVD for the 2009 LB2CAT! We have already incurred the cost to hire a helicopter and film crew so we will generate the footage and then take it from there!

We are hearing that there will be a number of huge names there! This is such an epic race, there are no better offshore races in the United States - this is the Daddy of them all. Legends like PWCOFFSHORE Hall of Famer Billy Womack has won this race multiple times and his legacy is sound. Will Craig Warner and Kawasaki win again? Will Honda and Vanis take it this year? Will there be a new name that takes us all by surprise? Will Shawn Alladio be the first woman competitor to cross the finish line yet again? Rough water or flat, this will be another historic race with a winner that will go down in history as one of the revered "Platinum Club" of LB2CAT winners.

This year we will all be inspired with a number of Challenged Athletes that will compete in this race across the channel. When you meet these warriors, you will be inspired, I guarantee it. More information to follow on this topic in the near future.

Sportsman, the new bone stock class, pro, vet master - get those entry forms in!

We can't wait to see everyone!

entry forms are available via www.pwcoffshore.com
 
Good evening all,

The annual Long Beach to Catalina and Back APBA Offshore National Championship Race ("LB2CAT") is right around the corner, July 12 will be here before we know it! Per R.P.M. Racing Enterprises, it is time for us to start submitting our entry forms to Ross Wallach. I will provide an updated list of entries on the various sites as entry forms are received. Entry forms can be downloaded here: http://www.pwcoffshore.com/LB2CAT_Race_Page.html We will provide updated information at this link so feel free to check it from time to time for updates and information. Entry forms received after 7/6/09 will be assessed a late fee.

PWCOFFSHORE has hired a helicopter and film crew to film the race again this year. PWCOFFSHORE is still looking for sponsors for the actual DVD production.

New for this year:
Manufacturers' Bone Stock Class
Challenged Athlete Class (you will be inspired when you meet these champions)
Military Class
We look forward to seeing all of you again for this epic event!

All the best,

PWCOFFSHORE
 
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