P1 Powerboat Grand Prix races coming to Bonnabel Boat Launch this weekend

METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — The P1 Powerboat Grand Prix will be on Lake Pontchartrain at the Bonnabel Boat Launch this weekend.

One of the teams racing this weekend is Boatfloater.com, Mod V Class, out of Florida.

The sound of the engines, the speed of the boats, and the southern grit of the Bonnabel Boat Launch are all part of the P1 Powerboat Grand Prix races.

“What we have here is a 29-foot extreme, powered by innovation big box Chevy, with speeds in the mid-90’s,” Steve Kildahl, Powerboat racer said.

Boatfloater.com is Steve Kildahl’s powerboat. He’s from Sarasota, Florida, and this is his fortieth year of racing.

Last year his boat took second place in the National Championships.

“Our son is the one driving the boat, and I work the throttles,” Kildahl said. “My wife is the driver of the truck to the crane, and our daughter is on the radio talking to us during the race. It is great to race with the family.”

“We have six and a half boot beams on the boats. Sometimes very squirrely at high speeds. This boat is probably the oldest in the fleet. 2004, but it is still competitive,” he said.

“They are going to be out here racing for points in the National Championship. The one thing that’s different about powerboat racing is how inviting and open the teams are. You can come and check out the boats, take pictures, talk to the teams. It is really cool to see. It gives you goosebumps,” said Thomas Covington, Director of P1 Powerboat Grand Prix.

Boats hit the water Saturday morning, and races continue until Sunday evening. All the racing fun begins Friday evening with a pit party at 6:00 p.m.

All weekend the event is free and open to the public, but VIP tickets are being sold.

There will be food vendors and entertainment.

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