Gold Coast Underwater Grand Prix - Wreck Scooter Race

[ricki]

Why not take a bunch of divers give them scooters and set them loose to play. Say something like ...

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album527/thunderball.sized.jpg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059800/rl]


No, well perhaps something more orderly, like a race!

http://wreckracingleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/FormulaH20-Logo-e1278891501970.jpg
http://wreckracingleague.com/

Coming this weekend off Pompano Beach, FL!!! The second in a new underwater race series, fun for racers and spectator SCUBA divers.

"The next stop on the Formula H2O circuit is the beautiful beaches of Fort Lauderdale for the Gold Coast Underwater Grand Prix
August 20th to 22nd. Racers and spectators will experience the thrill on Formula H2O racing around the shipwreck Tracey.
The Tracey is one of the three wrecks that make up “Wreck Trek – Fort Lauderdale.”

"Race description:

The race will be held at “Wreck Trek Ft. Lauderdale” . The course will be set up around the wreck of the Tracey including a series of
“S” turns. Racers will lap the wreck including a swim through the stern. Spectators will watch from the deck of the Tracey giving
them a great vantage point as racers speed by. Come join in the fun whether you are a racer or spectator."

South Florida Diving is the Host Dive Shop for the Gold Coast Underwater Grand Prix – Call 800-771 -3483 for more information."

More details about the Gold Coast race at: http://wreckracingleague.com/?page_id=563


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs105.ash2/38606_422638418863_150059598863_4615444_1708297_n. jpg


A few video clips of the Tracy taken while scooter free diving last year, the site of this weekends race:

5881445 5892512 14220662

5911237 14204744


http://wreckracingleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/WRL-LOGO1-300x213.jpg
http://wreckracingleague.com/?page_id=451


Photos of the first Grand Prix on the Vandenberg off Key West by Don Kincaid:

http://www.fksa.org/albums/album527/thumbnail.sized.jpg

Full sized images by Don at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=229396&id=93532765943


Videos from the Vandenberg race in June 2010:

KkJwshccBEc 12573355


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs225.snc4/38597_422641508863_150059598863_4615560_7457547_n. jpg


AND for those vintage diving, scooter enthusiasts, there's a classic clip from James Bond's Thunderball including an interview
with cinemaphotographer Jordan Klein on his creation off Nassau in the 1960's.

http://www.history.com/videos/bond-gadgets-underwater-fight#bond-gadgets-underwater-fight

http://film.com.tr/resim/filmler/thunderball/resim012.jpg
http://film.com.tr/



p.s. - Special thanks to Brian, Steve and the folks at: http://www.meetup.com/goldcoastscuba/ for telling me about this great
event among several others! If you're into diving, this is a good group to be in.


.

[ricki]

Just back from the captains meeting for the Gold Coast Dive Scooter Race the tentative race course is shown below, subject to change.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs316.snc4/41115_416323698198_633803198_4832880_3623560_n.jpg

Currently, they're thinking about running 6 or so laps around the 131 ft. long, 30 ft. beam MV Tracy in 70 ft. of water. All racers perhaps 20 or so will start at the same time, racing below deck level and ideally not slamming into one another. The two course departures abeam of the ship are intended to slow down the competitors, bunch them up and likely provide photo ops for the spectators watching from the upper deck of the Tracy. There will be three classes of race scooters largely dictated by cost and performance. Everyone will run at one time and the results sorted out from the video record of the finish line. Tomorrow is a trial day with the race to follow on Sunday!

More to come ...

[ricki]

Here's a rapidly assembled video from today during the test run around the Tracey. Not everyone showed up, tomorrow is the real race. Still it was a fun experience and it is surprising how fast you can go.


14326378

[ricki]

14489359

The latest overview video on the race.


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs298.snc4/41233_421815409036_729569036_4920318_6576490_n.jpg

[ricki]

I should have mentioned I was using two different corrective GoPro housings to shoot this. I had an Eye of Mine (http://www.eyeofmine.com/) housing in my hand and the Sartek (http://www.sarind.com/) housing in a chest mount. You should be able to tell the difference given the chest mount is tighter in from a fixed perspective. I moved the hand camera around a lot more.

Here's a rapidly assembled video from today during the test run around the Tracey. Not everyone showed up, tomorrow is the real race. Still it was a fun experience and it is surprising how fast you can go.


14326378