More than 70 offshore teams compete for the checkered flag at the 2006 OSS Merrick World Cup Classic in Destin, Florida. On November 5-12, 2006, Destin, Florida, was the place to be as the OSS, OPA and POPRA – combined Merrick World Cup Classic reigned supreme in the region, promising racers and spectators heated offshore action of the highest degree.
Sponsored by AJ’s Seafood and the Budweiser Select brand, the atmosphere at this year’s OSS power spectacle couldn’t have been more perfect. Great hospitality, excellent accommodations, exciting nightlife and spectacular white sand beaches provided the perfect back drop for one of the most anticipated events on the offshore performance calendar.
Adding to the action was the first-ever live TV race coverage of both Saturday and Sunday races by John Haggin and his AMF Offshore Team. In addition to offering coverage in High Definition (HD) over the internet world-wide, the event was ported live to Cox Cable in Florida, Hooters Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and even Haggin’s Jumbotron in the dry pit area, providing viewers with a front row seat of the warriors in battle. In fact, spectators were treated to awesome racing action with the Outerlimits Vee bottom win the OSS Vee, even after a collision in the first race, and well as a sweep of the top five cat classes by MTI cats.
The format for the World Cup Classic was two equal distance races with equal points. The World Title was awarded to the team with the most pints in their class. While the OSS raced Thursday and Sunday and OPA/POPRA raced Wednesday and Saturday, all competitors challenged the same 6.83 mile rectangular-shaped race course in front of the high-rise condos and hotels lining the Destin beaches. The week-long event also gave spectators ample time to rub shoulders with the racers and view the armada of performance at the pit areas in Ft. Walton Beach.
For 2006, the OSS National Champions awards went to:
OSS Cat (twin Super Series engines) “Reliable” a 42-foot MTI
OSS Cat Lite (twin Mercury Racing 525’s) “Hooters” a 36.5-foot Skater
OSS Vee (twin Mercury Racing 525’s) “Miccosukee” a 40-foot Outerlimits
OSS Cat Extreme (twin SC engines) “Budweiser Select” a 44-foot MTI
OSS Cat Outboard (twin MR 2.5 EFI Race Offshore) “MOJO” a 32-foot Wright
OSS Vee Lite (Mercury Racing 525) “SCREAMIN’ Eagle” a 30-foot Phantom
OSS Turbine Extreme “AMF/PLATINUM PRINCESS” a 40-foot Platinum |
