By Staff
World-class super-boat racer returns to water
By GREG KATSKI
Staff Writer
MOREHEAD CITY — Reggie Fountain Jr.’s return to super-boat racing was a success at the Third Annual Crystal Coast Grand Prix on Sunday.
According to official results posted by Super Boat International Productions, the “Cat Killer” Boat Show Direct super boat, manned by Fountain and his son, Reggie Fountain III, placed first in the Superboat Vee Unlimited race.
The super boat was clocked at an average speed of 91.47 mph during the marathon 84.2-mile race, and finished with an elapsed time of 55.11 minutes.
Fountain’s team beat out fellow Fountain Powerboats race team, Hard Rock Panasonic, by 29 seconds in the Superboat Vee Unlimited race. The Hard Rock Panasonic team had an average speed of 90.68 mph, and crossed the finish line at 55.40 minutes.
The super-boat race was conducted in a two-race format. The first eight laps of the 16-lap race were held at noon, with the last eight held at 2 p.m. The elapsed times were compiled from the two races to determine a champion.
Also racing in the Superboat Vee Unlimited class was the Fountain Taboo, which failed to finish.
Grand prix co-founder and organizer Keri McCann was thrilled to hear that Reggie Fountain Jr. was going to race.
McCann thinks that Fountain’s participation in the race will bring some much-needed exposure to the event.
To show their appreciation and gratitude, the event’s organizers presented Fountain, and the Cat Killer Boat Show Direct team, with the first-ever Reggie Fountain Award.
It was presented to Fountain, founder and CEO of Fountain Powerboats, at the grand prix’s awards party Sunday evening at Jack’s Waterfront Bar in downtown Morehead City.
Every year the award will go to the race team with the best sportsmanship, according to McCann.
McCann said that Fountain was “very gracious.”
The grand prix’s organizers decided to present the award this year to promote sportsmanship in super-boat racing. The award was designed by local Morehead City artist Kirk Davis.
The race weekend, sanctioned by Super Boat International and the American Power Boat Association, welcomed hundreds of spectators and fans to downtown Morehead City and the Morehead City port.
McCann said she is optimistic the weekend will grow every year.