The real thing. The longest running powerboat race in the world. 95 miles of pure exhilaration that you can never truly experience unless you run it yourself. It's either that or get yourself on a helicopter and go see it up close. For many people Great Race is a 'big lime' as we say in Trinidad. The biggest of this kind for the year as far as anyone is concerned. Until you can see the highlights on television and the pictures you can only imagine. We teamed up with Extreme Motorsports to get you in on the action. So... what are you waiting for?

 Thanks to Extreme Motorsports the local television programme that was awarded primary coverage of the Carib Great Race 2004 we managed to muscle our way into one of the three helicopters available from National Helicopter Services Ltd. Little did we know they stuck us (and Barry from RallyMac) in a chopper with no doors (so we could shoot) with Joey "Johnny Bravo" De Freitas, their 'Top Gun' pilot! Can you say barrel roll?

A bit of the sights on the way to the race. By the time we get there, Sports I & II and Pirogues have left the milling area and are about to start. Sports I, Sports II and Pirogue class boats gather pace as the starter boat takes a right. The boats normally mill around a starter bouy until the race gets underway at which point they keep pace, with the starter boat until it turns. After that the race is on! A, B, C and M racing class boats break the mill (cruising around the pre-starter bouy waiting on the start boat's signal) and come out side by side. They remain holding formation behind the start boat until they pass the start marker where the starter boat exits the course.

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  

  

Mobil Heatwave on the move, past Castol Extreme and pulls alongside Baico II. At the first marker Baico II turns after Mobil Heatwave and is followed by Rage– with their aft/mid mounted wing. Castrol Extreme (A1), the boat that made the flip at the last meet has made a full recovery, seen here getting some flight time. Rage is still building speed before they too can become airbornw. Up front, Baico II tries hard to keep up with Mr. Solo Too, with both boats getting airborne through this part of the course. Below... "So high from Solo!" (qu: G. Acosta – NP)

Rage starts putting on some speed, Baico II tries extremely hard to run alongside but suffers crew injuries after a 15ft, 30-45 degree tilt jump, complete with hard re-entry. Baico II would remain stopped until med choppers arrive for airlifting injured driver Junior Phillips. Mobil Heatwave seems to be getting airtime like Mr Solo while Rage keeps on storming, with plenty wind below the boat! Below, Mr. Solo spies Tobago in the distance but loses oil pressure in one engine due to a chafed supply line. The engine survives till the end thanks to NP Ultra TEC synthetic oil.

 

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  

  

Darin, Gino and Hayden are totally amazed that their engine survives, giving it the all-hail sign and thanking their lucky stars that the NP UltraTEC oil protected it so well. Amidst the hugs and all-hails, Gino manages to put down a little "can ya FEEL that!... huh? can ya? can ya?" Victory dance, much to everyone's amusement. Below we see the Store Bay crowds eagerly awaiting the arrival of their favorites and the massive Carib Bottle. Rage seems to have slowed down considerably after breaking their wing, allowing White Heat to gain some ground... well, water. Mobil Heatwave comes in for their finish, while the Mr. Ghany and the Rage crew try to secure that wing. In the melée Roughneck makes a last lap pass on Esso Special FX. The boats seem to have designated a finish parking area. And where are the Carib Girls?

Along with each boat's supporters, the Carib Girls show us their colours for the chopper cams to see. Too bad we can't show you how we reply using the chopper. We were in it after all, you would have had to be on the ground to see. Wonder if anyone got that on camera? Below, checkered flag girl makes finishing worth it, Ambush looks like they are ready to ambush and Hero takes the pirogue class smiling. Check out how he does his job– nail throttle, leave it there and smile... Baico I takes their Sports class win, finishing ahead of many of the race class boats. And get this, their navigator is just 17 and SHE's probably the reason why they hired a special helicopter to stay with Team Baico this year... But seriously, job well done Miss Kadra Branker. All dressed in yellow, Team Solo definitely had no shortage of support.

 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  

 

 Speeches, congratulations, kudos, compliments and of course prizes! Officials of TTPBA and title sponsors Carib shared their congrats to all on another successful running of the Great Race. Below, one prizewinner brought his own Carib Girl. At the end, Joey (JB), myself and Barry give you the thumbs up for a seriously great race. Johnny Bravo? Guy can FLY! If you were at Store Bay you know what I'm saying...

Hope you enjoyed coverage of this event... keep logging in to www.zorce.com!