2019 Offshore Grand Prix Coming This Week To Point Pleasant Beach

People, start your engines.

The event that has come to nearly define Point Pleasant Beach will be ready for launch this week.

The “2019 Point Pleasant Beach Offshore Grand Prix,” sponsored by Jersey Mike’s Subs, returns to Point Pleasant Beach on Sunday, June 16, 2019.

Jersey Mike’s Subs is continuing its partnership with NJOPRA by returning for the fourth year as its title sponsor.

On Thursday, June 13, race weekend starts with a concert (6pm to 9pm) at the Bandshell at Baltimore Avenue off Arnold Avenue. The concert is free and there will be a charity gift raffle to benefit this year’s charity, The Little Red Library.

On Friday, June 14, the Race Village (Pit Area) returns to the Point Pleasant Beach Train Station Parking Lot on Arnold Avenue at Route 35. “Meet the Racers” block party (4pm to 8pm), will be held downtown Point Pleasant Beach from Arnold Avenue at Route 35 South to the Elks Lodge.

The street will be closed to cars and will be filled with race boats, music, sidewalk sales and "fun for the entire family," according to a press release.

On Saturday, June 15, the Race Village will be opened to the public, with an opportunity to see the boats up close.

The Rotary Club of Point Pleasant Beach will be hosting their annual festival alongside the Pit Area from 11 a.m. t0 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s festivities continue with a parade of boats East on Arnold Avenue heading north on Ocean Avenue west on Broadway back to the train station. Staging starts at 4:30 and the parade starts at 5pm.

Sunday, June 16, is “Race Day” Spectators can watch the race teams prepare for the race at Ken’s Landing on Channel Drive. Watch the action from the Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk

New Jersey Offshore Powerboat Racing Association (NJOPRA), is the promoter and producer of the race. The sanctioning organization for this race event is Offshore Racing Association (OPA), located in Brick.

The event is basically a descendant of The Benihana Offshore Grand Prix. This race was known as the Indy 500 of Offshore Racing and was held in Point Pleasant Beach during the 1970s.

The New Jersey Offshore Powerboat Racing Association has been the host club since racing started in Point Pleasant Beach more than 40 years ago. NJ Offshore (NJOPRA) is still a very active club with over 100 members and has kept the tradition of Offshore Racing alive on the Jersey Shore for all those years, according to the website.

Over the years, the name of the Point Pleasant Beach race has been changed each time a new sponsor was obtained. It's been called: The Hennessey Offshore Grand Prix, The Benihana Offshore Grand Prix, The Ray Catena Offshore Grand Prix, The New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, The War at the Shore, the Jenkinson's Offshore Grand Prix and the year of 2005 it was called The Jersey Boyz Offshore Grand Prix.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, June 13, 2019

• Racers Welcome Free Concert
• Gift Raffle to benefit the Little Red Library, 6pm to 9pm
• Band Shell off Arnold Ave @ Baltimore Point Pleasant Beach

Friday, June 14, 2019

• Arrival of Boats to Race Village, Point Pleasant Beach Train Station, 413 Arnold Avenue and Route 35 North
• 4pm-8pm Race Boats on Display at the Arnold Ave, Downtown Point Pleasant Beach

Saturday June 15, 2019

• 11am-4:3-pm Race Village Open to the Public
• 10:30am-4pm Crane Operational Ken’s Landing, 30 Broadway, Point Pleasant Beach
• 5pm Boat Parade (staging starts at 4:30pm)

Sunday, June 16, 2019

• 10am Crane Operational Ken’s Landing, 30 Broadway, Point Pleasant Beach
• 12 noon RACE 1 (subject to adjustment)
• 2pm RACE 2 (subject to adjustment)