Offshore Powerboat Race Is Set for Dana Point This Sunday

DANA POINT — World kilometer record-holder John Pace and two-time world champions Bruce Penhall and Dennis Sigalos are among the local competitors in Sunday’s Ocean Spray Dana Point Offshore Grand Prix.

Pace, from Huntington Beach, reached 115 mph in his Stock class boat in his first year of racing to set the kilometer world record, though speeds of some boats competing Sunday could reach speeds closer to 140 mph.

Class A, B, Production 2, 3 and Factory 1 and 2 will compete in the first race Sunday, beginning at noon. Production 1, Stock, Pro Stock, Modified and Super Vee, will race at 2 p.m.

Parades from the Dana Point Harbor for each race begin at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Boats will race laps from the harbor to the San Clemente Pier, about 1-1 1/2 miles offshore.

Penhall (Laguna Hills) and Sigalos (Newport Beach), former back-to-back world champion Speedway motorcycle racers, are pilots of the Ocean Spray Crave the Wave Super Vee boat. They have won their class each of the first three years, and last year--in a smaller Class D boat--won overall.

Among the other top locals competing are Phil Albright (Laguna Niguel), Pro Outboard divisional champion the past two years; Tom Stagliano and Dave Thomas (both Huntington Beach), who were Stock divisional champs last year and second nationally.

Among the top drivers nationally are two-time national champion Nigel Hook (Del Mar) in Class B, and current Modified world record-holder Ricky Ford (Chino), who reached 140.999 mph.

Practice runs take place throughout Saturday, and there will be a vendor fair (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), safety demonstration (1 p.m.) and reggae band (1-4 p.m.) at the harbor. Wet and dry pits will also be open all day.

Fans wishing to view the event from the water can call Dana Wharf (496-5794) or Dana Islands Yacht Charters (248-7400). Free shuttle service exists between the harbor and the parking lot at the corner of Selva and Pacific Coast Highway.