The 2003 Ft. Lauderdale Offshore Gran Prix promises a blazing show of speed and thrills at a fast pace. The October 3rd and 4th event, billed as the largest race competition to hit the Atlantic in South Florida history, expects a total of 70+ boats at the start of race weekend.

Competitors will be traveling from the four corners of the U.S. in this, the final stop in the APBA Offshore GMC Pro Grade National Tour before the Championship Title Bout in St. Petersburg, next month.

The real show of the day might just be Super Vee Competition, and with nine teams officially entered, they lay plans to steal the show and the thunder from the other classes. The Super Vee raceboats, named for their Vee bottom design, are priced between $500,000 and $750,000, yet when it comes to engine packages, it's a split decision. While one half the fleet utilize the GM Vortec Program, and the others boast Mercury engine packages, fans will have to wait until the water settles to see which team, and which equipment reign supreme.

Defending their first place slot with 482 points in the National Series is Team Donzi Racing for a Cure, the Sarasota based team propelled by National Champions, Lee Murray and Doug Valentine. Team Donzi holds a strong 72-point lead over the second ranked Ettore Squeegee/Mercury Racing. Jim Richardson, Jr. and Dennis Sigalos of Oakland are hoping to squeeze out more than just a 20 point spread from fellow Californian's Spiderman of Bellmont.

Todd Welling and Lance Henrichsen, of Spiderman are in the hot seat at 390, and will have to spin a strong web to keep out Mitch Miller, of Cornelius, North Carolina and teammate Matt Rice, of New Oxford, Pennsylvania in the fourth ranked Utz Castaway at 383. Competition will be strong, hard and most assuredly fast as these teams hit the high 100+ mile per hour range.

Rounding out the pack in fifth is the San Diego, California based Lucas Oil Scarab #7, with Nigel "Captain" Hook and Craig Archer at 340 points, followed by last years defending National Champions, Pier 57, now Pier 57-Everlast. Bill McComb, of Sarasota and Rick Turmel of Tamarac, at 331 on the big board are just nine points behind the slick Lucas Oil team.

Edging close to the Pier with a six-point spread between them is Todd Klindworth, of St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Bob Bull of Cocoa, Florida in H & H Speed & Marine, ranked seventh overall at 325.

Eighth on the scoreboard is the Ft. Lauderdale based Miccosukee Indian Gaming, with Brett Lee Furshman and Todd Easton at 307, but don't count out a surprise or two from the ninth ranked, newer entry to the fold, Fury. Racing brotherhood Steve Delaney, from Palo Alto, California and Ray Delaney of Sarasota, Florida joined the fleet mid-season with their new raceboat but have combined efforts to use Ft. Lauderdale in preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Orange Beach, Alabama in November.

"Fans need to get down to Ft. Lauderdale Beach early on Saturday, because the stadium seating is the sand, and the viewing is free," said Michelle May - Schmidt, Race Producer of the event, which will benefit the Child SMILE America Room at the Ft. Lauderdale based Kids In Distress Community.

Schmidt says in addition, the New Auto Toy Store Thunder Row Dry Pits will be open at the Radisson Bahia Mar Beach Resort on Friday, October 3rd from 10:00am until 8:00pm and again on Saturday Race Day, from 9:00am until 8:00pm, before, during and after the racing competition. Tickets are available at the gate at $10 daily/ $15 both days, Kids 12 & under free, and entry includes an Official Race Program Book that can be used for autographs. Cameras are always welcome.

All information on the event including race competition times and schedule of parties, including the Friday Night Meet the Racers Party at the Days Inn Bahia Cabana Beach Resort, as well as the Saturday Victory Lane Celebration Party at Shooter's Waterfront Cafe, are posted here.