ST LOUIS — The new American Power Boat Association ChampBoat Series will sanction the 2002 St. Louis Championship Grand Prix, one of the world's oldest tunnel-hull outboard races, according to a press release from the series organizers. The 31st annual race will be held August 16-18 on Creve Coeur Lake. Champ and SST-120 classes will compete at the event.

"The St. Louis race is the most prestigious outboard powerboat race in the world," said Greg Jacobsen, a ChampBoat executive. "It's an honor for ChampBoat to be selected to sanction an event that is entering its fourth decade of competition."

For its first 28 years, the race was held on Meramec
River near Fenton, Mo. The race outgrew that site two years ago, according to the release, and was moved to larger Creve Coeur County Park.

"The move to Creve Coeur Lake has rejuvenated the race," said Bill Seebold, event chairman, in the release. "The site is much more convenient for spectators and gives us half a mile of beach-front viewing. Our previous race site had gotten very cramped, but the new location has enough room for us to add many amenities to our program.

"We're looking forward to adding many more booths and activities to the event this year to create a family picnic atmosphere and make it a true weekend festival," he added. "Bringing the ChampBoat series to St. Louis will further
enhance the stature of the race."

The St. Louis race has secured sponsorship from the Telmex communications company; Grey Eagle Distributing, the Anheuser-Busch distributor for St. Louis County; Mercury Marine; and the St. Louis County Parks Department.

Mercury Racing has agreed to serve as a major sponsor of ChampBoat, which expects to hold four or five races this season and expand next year, in 2002. According to the release, ChampBoat will post a series points fund of $20,000
to $25,000, depending on the number of races that are held.

Additional series sponsors will include Telmex, Polaris Personal Watercraft and Australian Gold skin care products.