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History of the Benihana Grand Prix

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(New York and New Jersey) This race originated June 6, 1959 as the Around Long Island Marathon, becoming the Hennessy Long Island Marathon in 1966, the Hennessy New York Grand Prix in 1968, the Hennessy Grand Prix in 1970 and the Benihana Grand Prix in 1975. In 1975 six boats were disqualified for missing a checkpoint; only one finished...Jon Varese. Sponsor Rocky Aoki won 1979 race. The 1980 race was double weighted for the revived British Harmsworth Trophy. Both the race and the trophy were won by Yank Bill Elswick. Seventy-seven starters for 1980 Benihana race was an all-time record fleet in the sport. It was the largest offshore powerboat race in the world. The course changed from around Long island to an Atlantic Ocean race in 1969. The race lost the Benihana sponsorship in ‘83 and ran as New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix.
Race Winners 1959 - 1986
Year Driver Boat Name Boat Size / Make Power Distance Aver. Speed
AROUND LONG ISLAND MARATHON
1959 Jim Lacy HUNTER 17 17’ Hunter 70 hp 280 mi. 34.2 mph
1960 Chuck Mercereau POWER CAT 17’ Power cat 2/80 hp 280 mi. 46.7 mph
1961 Sam Griffith GLASS MOPPIE 31’ Bertram 2/330 hp 280 mi. 44 mph
1962 Jim Wyrine GULFSTREAM 19’ Glastron 2/100 hp 258.8 mi. 42.9 mph
1963 Gene Bianco ELTRO 19’ Eltro 2/100 hp 240 mi. 44.2 mph
1964 Odell Lewis MONA LOU 25’ Bertram 2/310 hp 245 ml. 58 mph
1965 Stan Humes N/A 20’ Owens 225 hp 234 mi. 30.2 mph
  HENNESSY LONG ISLAND MARATHON
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1966 Allan Brown BROAD JUMPER 28’ Donzi 2/530 hp 253 mi 53.8 mph
1967 Dick Genth THUNDERBIRD IV 28’ Formula 450 hp 253 mi 47 mph
HENNESSY NEW YORK GRAND PRIX - NYC
1968 Bill Sirois STERNWINDER 31’ Bertram 2/475 hp 253 ml. 63.5 mph
1969 Peter Rittmaster AMERICAN MOPPIE 31’ Bertram 2/475 hp 222.5 mi. 48.9 mph
HENNESSY GRAND PRIX - Pt. Pleasant NJ
1970 Bob Magoon ANDREA 32’ Cary 4/140 hp 198 mi. 47.1 mph
1971 Bob Magoon AEROMARINE 36’ Cigarette 2/500 hp 206 ml. 70.2 mph
1972 Sandy Satullo COPPER KETTLE 36’ Cigarette 2/525 hp 181.3 ml. 72 mph
1973 Bob Magoon AEROMARINE lii 36’ Cigarette 2/600 hp 181 mi. 73.4 mph
1974 Snapper Norris SLAP SHOT 36’ Cigarette 2/600 hp 180 mi. 72 mph
  BENIHANA GRAND PRIX - Pt. Pleasant NJ
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1975 Jon Varese LA TORTUGA 44’Miller/Saccenti 2/600 hp 179.2 mi. 56.9 mph
1976 Bob Magoon CAM 2 MOTOR OIL 40’ Cigarette 2/625 hp 200 ml. 56.7 mph
1977 Joel Halpern BEEP BEEP 38’ Cobra 2/625 hp 178 ml. 64.3 mph
1978 Billy Martin BOUNTY HUNTER 39’ Cigarette 2/625 hp 178.2 mi. 78.4 mph
1979 Rocky Aoki BENIHANA 38’ Cougar cat 2/625 hp 178 mi. 69 mph
1980 Bill Elswick LONG SHOT 39’ Cigarette 2/640 hp 208 mi. 69.7 mph
1981 Paul Clauser SATISFACTION 41’ Cougar cat 2/650 hp 208 mi 81.6 mph
1982 Howard Quam BENIHANA 37.5’ Active cat 2/650 hp 208 mi. 80.3 mph
NEW JERSEY GRAND PRIX - Pt. Pleasant NJ
1983 Tom Gentry MICHELOB LIGHT 38’ Cougar cat 2/650 hp 208 mi 65 mph
1984 George Morales MERCRUISER SPECIAL 46’ Cougar 3/700 hp 160 ml. 87 mph
1985 Al Copeland POPEYES-DIET COKE 50’ Cougar cat 4/750 hp 155.8 ml. 64  mph
1986 Bob Kaiser G-K SYSTEMS 38’ Cougar cat 2/700 hp 148.9 mi. 92.4 mph


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