OSS: Series spotlight - Typhoon Racing

"TEAM TO WATCH

Typhoon Racing On a Roll in USA's Offshore Super Series 2008

If winning was easy, everyone would be doing it. Typhoon Racing knows that it takes hard work and dedication to win and that's just what they did at the first race of the 2008 Offshore Super Series race in Biloxi Mississippi on April 6th. Typhoon Racing scorched into first place in the Vee Lite class having come from the third row on the starting grid, in a class of 8 boats. They took home their share of the $50,000 purse by running an average speed of 83.23 mph around the eight mile course. With the intent of securing their lead in the standings, Typhoon had everything in play during the second race of the OSS season in Lake Havasu, Arizona on Sunday April 28. With a last place start on the grid, the team moved up from 6th place to 2nd place only to have the unthinkable - and almost impossible - happen.. a broken propeller that quite literally propelled them out of the race."

Lake Havasu Shootout Cut Short by Winds

"By DAVID BELL
Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:42 PM MST

Winds gusting as high as 33 mph forced the cancellation of the second half of the Shootout at the 2008 Desert Storm Poker Run, presented by Lake Racer and Teague Custom Marine, Inc., on Lake Havasu Saturday. But not before a King of the Desert was crowned.

Driver Michael DeFrees coaxed his offshore powerboat to a top speed of 165 mph, the fastest speed recorded in the morning session."

All Roads head west to Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu, Az 4/11/2008 - The Offshore Super Series is honored to take part in what looks to be the biggest boating event west of the Mississippi. The Lake Havasu event will feature the Desert Storm Poker run which will be held on Friday with Speed runs planned for Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon, POPRA will provide excitement on the water as their boats race for checkered flags. Then on Sunday the OSS boats will take the lake by storm with two races at noon and 1:30 pm.

Don’t miss this high octane weekend of fun under the desert sun in Lake Havasu Arizona on April 25 – 27 for the second race of the OSS 2008 season.

Records Broken At Smokin' The Sound

"BILOXI (WLOX) --- Spectators watched in awe as the power boats cut across the waters of the Mississippi Sound.

Marc Granet and Scott Bagovich, the driver and throttle man for the Miss Geico boat joined the crowd in victory after winning the extreme turbine class competition. The duo worked hard to capture the title of fastest boat in the race, and broke their own record."

Perfect day for a race

"BILOXI --It's a surefire formula: A warm sun, a few cold beers, the smell of burgers on the grill and the sound of intense action on the water.

Thousands of race fans gathered Sunday along the Biloxi shoreline to watch powerboats growling by at speeds of more than 150 mph."

Rough waters await Smokin' competitors

"BILOXI --Smokin' the Sound, which spotlights the qualifying round today, has often been compared to NASCAR on the water.

Instead of cars rounding a racetrack at speeds of more than 150 mph and covering 500 miles in a given race, boat racing on the Offshore Super Series can be more demanding."

SMOKIN' THE SOUND

"Smokin' The Sound, the first race of the year on the Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association circuit, takes place Saturday and Sunday along the shore in Biloxi. Last year's events reportedly drew crowds of spectators ranging from between 20,000 and 30,000, most situated"

Dave Scott Racing Biloxi preview

"Biloxi, Miss. (March 31, 2008) It's that time of year again and the 2007 National Champions - the Bud Light Offshore Race Team -

are in action with a brand new look and sponsor for 2008. Dave Scott's Offshore Powerboat team will shed the Bud Select red and black to run Bud Light blue and silver. The new colors will debut at 'Smokin' the Sound 2008' as it kicks off this year's Offshore Super Series (OSS)."

Funeral Arrangements for Al Copeland

Services for Mr. Al C. Copeland will be held, March 31, 2008, at 02:00 PM at the following locations:
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church
6367 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
504.486.6331

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. with Mass at 2 p.m.

Entombment will follow immediately at the Copeland Mausoleum at Metairie Cemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Al Copeland's name to Merkel Cell Carcinoma Fund. Contributions will be accepted in lieu of flowers. Please direct contributions to the Al Copeland Foundation, Merkel Cell Carcinoma fund, attention Alisha C. Copeland or Charlotte C. Womac, 1001 Harimaw Court South, Metairie, LA 70001.

Mr. Al C. Copeland
February 02, 1944 - March 23, 2008
AL COPELAND: SUCCESSFUL RESTAURATEUR, QUIET HUMANITARIAN, AND INSPIRATION TO MANY

Alvin Charles Copeland, a restaurateur known for his brilliant business sense and extravagant lifestyle, passed away on Easter Sunday March 23, 2008 outside of Munich, Germany of complications from treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer. He was 64.

Diagnosed shortly before Thanksgiving, Al approached his last battle like a true champion. As was genuinely his nature, Al researched every available treatment and sought out the very best methods available. Although he was quite ill toward the end of his life, Al never thought of himself as suffering. He would say that his ordeal, although truly painful and tedious, was “nothing”. “People go through much worse every day,” he would say.

That was the way he viewed things. Al Copeland was grateful for everything he had despite his vast resources. He wanted to help everyone and more importantly feed everyone. In fact, every time one of his grandchildren was born, Al would bring Popeyes chicken to the entire floor of the hospital. Even when he was ill himself, the nurses got chicken or some other extravagant meal.

“Al was a local icon, the stuff of legends. A folk hero, he lived his dreams. He found success in adversity and good fortune in family. He had a joyous time doing it. Controversy only engaged his competitive spirit. He loved spice and speed,” said Kit Wohl, Al’s longtime friend.

Of course, Al is most famous for founding Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken and developing its well-known and loved recipe (still a closely guarded secret). He was the “come back kid”; a true rags-to-riches success story. In addition to his more famous accomplishments, there were many lesser-known sides to his iconic character.

For instance, a huge part of him was dedicated to charity and to the improvement of his beloved city and state.

In 1989, the $1 million Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising was established at Louisiana State University. As part of the Eminent Scholars Program, the endowment provides for the development of a full curriculum of franchising studies at both the undergraduate and graduate level. As a result, June 28, 1989 was named “Al Copeland Day” in both the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

Copeland also supported other education programs such as the National Food Service Institute, the Chefs Apprentice Program at Delgado Community College, the IFA, and several other educational programs.

Al was also famous for his elaborate decorations at his Metairie home. However, his love of Christmas extended much deeper than that. It was his greatest joy to personally hand out candy canes and stuffed animals to the children who came by to see the decorations.

There was also his secret Santa program that went on for a number of years. “I want to give 1,000 children a real Christmas,” he said. “Santa and his elf should ring the doorbell after dark on Christmas Eve,” he specified, “They must have a sack of presents, wrapped and labeled by name—a big gift and some small ones and a stocking for each child. The elf must have a camera, to take two photographs. One for the family and one for me.”

That meant more than 3,000 gifts, 1,000 Christmas stockings, cameras, elves, and Santas complete with costumes. He inspected every gift, discarding some as not big enough, exciting, or special. An entire floor at Popeye’s headquarters was dedicated to a massive corporate “wrap-a-thon” between Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas. The Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver identified the families by Catholic Parish, and provided a list of names, ages, addresses, and telephone numbers to call the families in advance.

Al refused media coverage for the event. He felt it would spoil the mystery of Santa Claus for children.

Al Copeland never did anything on a small scale. Everything had to be the best, and he had to be the best at everything. He was known worldwide for his activities in the sport of offshore powerboat racing. Driving his boats to unprecedented fame in racing history, he brought fun and show business to the sport. He won the internationally prestigious Harmsworth Trophy, the coveted World Championship, and the National US #1 high point championship six out of six times running. He went on to help found the new powerboat association.

When crew and friends used inappropriate language on the race site, he would take a $100 bill from the offender (he often had to pay the fine himself). On the way out of town, he would stop at a Catholic Church and stuff the poor box.

Al Copeland took joy in shaking things up. After the famous war of words with author Anne Rice, he threw garlic from his converted boat during the Mardi Gras parades.

Another public battle was over tomatoes. The late Johnny Becnel was well known for the kickoff to the Creole tomato season, showing up at the French Market annually to auction off the first Plaquemines Parish Creoles of the year. Al Copeland and Paul Prudhomme duked it out at the auction, ending up at an astonishing $10,000 for the first case, then as gentlemen, split it. The money went to Becnel’s workers, who tended the crop and the tomatoes to Copeland’s Restaurants and K-Paul’s.

Al won numerous awards as well. The International Franchise Association named him 1989 Entrepreneur of the Year. A MUFSO Golden Chain recipient in 1988, he was named to the Louisiana’s Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 1995. In recognition of his many contributions to the community, LRA honored Al Copeland with their first Service to Humanity Award in 1993, the same year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Popeyes.

Al Copeland also was an incredibly spiritual person. He traveled to Rome and visited the Vatican shortly before he sought treatment in Germany. He also bathed in the healing waters at Lourdes, France. He prayed nightly and went to Catholic Mass every Sunday.

Al Copeland inspired a great many people and touched so many lives. He is survived not only by his family and friends, but also by the thousands of people who worked with him around the world, across America, and throughout New Orleans.

As Chris Rose aptly wrote, “He [Al] was our Elvis…The chicken king has left the building.”

His parents, William Allen Copeland Jr. and Augusta Marie Comeaux Copeland, and his brother, William Allen Copeland III, precede Al Copeland in death.

He is survived by his beloved children Alvin C. Copeland, Jr., Bonnie Ann Copeland, Christopher Allen Copeland, Alisha Catherine Copeland, Charlotte Copeland Womac, Alex Cody Copeland, Chandler Alvin Copeland, Casidy Johnette Copeland, and Chaz William Copeland, his grandchildren, Allison Copeland Fitzsimmons, Christina Copeland Theriot, Ashley Ann Copeland, Crystal Copeland Theriot, Christen Copeland Theriot, Alexandria Catherine Copeland, Ariel Lynne Copeland, Candace Copeland Theriot, Alyssa Mary Copeland, Angela Catherine Bruchis, Christopher Allen Copeland, Jr., Avery Ariel Bruchis, Colin Douglas Womac, and Addison Kathryn Womac.

He is also survived by his brother, Gil Copeland and his two sisters-in-law, Jean Copeland and Laura Copeland.

His pallbearers are Al Copeland, Jr., Chris Copeland, Alex Copeland, Gil Copeland, Gil Copeland, Jr., Brad Copeland, Stan Ware, and Jay Polit.

His honorary pallbearers are Ray Maroni, Dennis “Doc” Surgeoner, Kerry Weilbaecher, Jean Cohen, Douglas J. Womac, Jr., Tim Thompson, Alan Jaeger, Andrew Jaeger, Scott Barnhardt, and Jude Clark.

P1 power-to-weight formula to be adopted in the US

"The US-based Offshore Super Series (OSS) has announced the implementation of 'P1-style' power-to-weight ratios for Extreme Vee class in 2008.

The full OSS announcement follows:

Toms River, NJ, United States - In an effort to join a world wide racing platform, the Offshore Super Series announced today that P1 series has granted OSS approval to use its Power to Weight ratio rules in the United States."

Respected industry veteran to head Donzi Marine

When it comes to big names in the boating industry, they don't come much bigger than Donzi, the boat builder established by the late larger-than-life Don Aronow and produced on the famous 'Thunderboat Alley' in North Miami Beach.

Now owned by American Marine Holdings, Donzi Marine has announced the appointment of Craig Barrie as vice-president of sales for the Sarasota, Florida-based company and in choosing the 59-year-old they added 'a big name to a big name.'

Smokin The Sound Prepares To Fire Up Coast Tourism

"BILOXI (WLOX) -- The next big tourism event in south Mississippi is Smokin the Sound. The fourth annual power boat races roar into town next week.

Smokin the Sound is spring's version of Cruisin the Coast. It was designed to bring people to the area at a time when tourism is typically slow."