The Wayne County Outlook

May 19, 2010

Lake Cumberland Grand Prix fans to meet racing teams at Race Village


CNHI

5-25-10 —     The Lake Cumberland Grand Prix 2010's official Race Village, located at

The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, will officially open the Lake

Cumberland Grand Prix Offshore Super Series (OSS) powerboat race weekend on

Friday, June 4, with a free Southern rock and blues concert, "Parade of

Boats" and the opportunity for fans to get a first look at the professional

racing teams that will compete that weekend in the best in offshore

powerboat racing on Lake Cumberland.

    Pro Am Racing and qualifying heats will be held on Saturday, June 5,

with Race Day scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday, June 6, at Waitsboro

Recreation Area, located a short distance south of Race Village off U.S. 27

at Traffic Light 29.

    At Race Village at The Center racing fans will get to meet-and-greet the

drivers and the entire racing teams, view some of the biggest, fastest boats

on the water, and enjoy an evening of opening night festivities, including a

free concert by rising Southern rock and blues performer Devon Allman, a

guitarist and vocalist who carries on the tradition of his legendary father,

Gregg Allman, of the Allman Brothers Band.

    "The Center is honored to serve as the host site for Race Village and

extends a warm welcome to the racing teams on their return to Lake

Cumberland to compete in this spectacular, challenging race," Laura Glover,

director of sales and events for The Center, said. "Race Village will be

home-away-from-home for these drivers and their teammates from June 4-6

while they are here to compete in the Lake Cumberland Grand Prix 2010."

    Racing teams will begin arriving as early as Wednesday, June 2, and

continue to arrive throughout the day on Friday for the opening of Race

Village at The Center. The boats will be stationed in the south parking lot

of The Center on full display for racing fans to get a sneak peek at the

high-speed watercrafts on the eve of the start of Pro-Am Racing and

qualifying heats.

    "Race Village will provide unique opportunities for visitors to get to

know the racing teams and learn more about these powerful boats capable of

reaching speeds of up to 200 mph," Glover said. "By the time you leave Race

Village on opening night of the Lake Cumberland Grand Prix, you'll know more

about these teams and definitely have a favorite or favorites to root for on

Race Day on Sunday."

    Racing teams will showcase their sleek, powerful boats in a colorful

"Parade of Boats" starting at 6 p.m. from Race Village at The Center. The

caravan of boats will proceed northward up U.S. 27, and then return back to

Race Village.

    Following the parade, Devon Allman, a rising star in his own right, will

perform with his band, the Honeytribe, in a free Southern rock and blues

concert from 7-9 p.m. in The Center's Exhibit Hall. The band will release

its second and latest album, "Space Age Blues," in June.

    "We are glad to welcome Devon Allman and his band to the stage at The

Center," Glover said. "He blends the soulful vocal style of his father with

the masterful guitar skills reminiscent of his uncle, Duane, to create a

one-of-a-kind sound in Southern rock and blues."

    Parking for the opening day of Race Village will be in and around The

Center and nearby on North and South Campuses of Somerset Community College

on Monticello Road.

    Clear Channel Lake Cumberland's Classic Hits Q97 FM will be broadcasting

live radio remotes from Race Village and the race site on Friday and

Saturday.

    On Race Day, OSS powerboat racing announcers Martin Sanborn and Charley

Haimes also will be broadcasting a live play-by-play account of all races at

the Lake Cumberland Grand Prix 2010 for radio and Internet listeners.

    The broadcast, starting with the first race at noon, can be heard on

Classic Hits Q97 FM and on the Internet at www.talkoffshore.com.