“Million Dollar Run Revs up for Seven Mile Beach on Easter Monday”

Grand Cayman’s premier power boat race ‘Ugland Offshore Racing Million Dollar Run 2011’ will take place this Easter Weekend in Grand Cayman, with events spanning from April 21st through April 25th.

Organizers are set to wow the crowds on race day where spectators will be able to see the full race right on the beach front of Royal Palms!

New event features include:
The new Million Dollar Run Car & Boat Show Saturday, April 23 from 11am-4pm in Royal Palms parking lot.  Show will feature performance boats, jet skis, motorcycles, and luxury cars including select show cars from the Cayman Motor Museum and feature power boats racing in MDR 2011.  Spectators can view vehicles including the new Rolls-Royce Phantom, Ferrari 360 & 430, BMW M3 & M6, Feature antique show cars, street bikes, and Harley Davidson’s!

The MDR Car & Boat Show is an exciting addition to Million Dollar Run because it creates the opportunity for spectators and boating fans to get an inside look to the race crafts and build some anticipation to see them race on the Monday race day event.  It also provides local Car & Boat Dealerships an opportunity to display their new feature vehicles and crafts for 2011.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for car and boat dealerships to reserve an area for the show for displays, information booth, and lending officers.  We are also looking for local Caymanians and residents who own antique and show cars to contact us so that we can have their cars on display as well.

Vibe 98.9 FM and Spin 94.9 FM DJ’s will be providing entertainment all day, the kids can enjoy a play zone with bouncy castles and games, while food and drinks will be on sale all day. Everyone is welcome to attend this family friendly event.  The Car & Boat Show entry is only $5 for adults and free for children under age 13.  The Million Dollar Run Race Day event has no entry fee.

New Race Day features (April 25):

• Addition of new race class: Pleasure Craft Race – this is a circuit race for the fishermen style/ leisure boats.
• Addition of Jet Ski Challenge:  THUNDER RUN – new circuit race for Jet Ski crafts.  Two division classes are available for Registration:  Pro-Am Open  &  Expert Limited.  Over US$3000 in cash and prizes available.
• Corona Kayak inflatable race – fun family friendly race on inflatable kayaks. This will be a team challenge for family and friends – tag team race around buoys set up on the shallow area on beach front.  No entry fee.
• Paddle board race course challenge.  No entry fee.
• WOWBALLS expo
• Corona Volleyball Tournament
• Bouncy castle for kids, and other games for families.

The Race Course
The Race will consist of three boat classes; broadening the range of those who compete in MDR:

Pleasure Craft: 
New class for the fishermen style/ leisure boats and new captains wishing to get involved in the event.

Circuit Class:
Experienced captains and medium performance crafts.

Offshore Class:
Designed for the most experienced captains and high performance crafts.
The route will entail an exciting rolling start from the Marriott Beach Resort area 300 yards offshore, the crafts will then blast up our world-famous Seven Mile Beach heading West towards the Public Beach area and continue to Northwest Point, before making a turn and heading back South towards the Thompson Mooring in George Town, then making another sharp turn before heading back to Royal Palms.

For the poker run element of the race “Cards” are chosen randomly before, during and after the race to form a full five-card hand for each Captain at the race’s conclusion.

Vibe 98.9 FM and Spin 94.9 FM DJ’s will be providing entertainment all day, the kids can enjoy a play zone and food and drinks will be on sale. Everyone is welcome to attend this family friendly event and there is no entry fee. 
The start and finish location, with the main stage for prize presentations will be held at Royal Palms, the setting for the perfect family day out on Easter Monday.

Captains
The Million Dollar Run boat race has a high caliber of Captain’s participating and returning to the event year after year. Andres Ugland Sr. of Ugland Offshore Racing, will race in the offshore class participating for the ninth year.  He is a master of his trade and continues to impress the crowds. Since the debut of his team in 1991, Ugland has continued to excel in his craft and win European, National and World titles. He is, without a doubt, an asset to the Million Dollar Run.

A longtime resident of the Cayman Islands, Andreas is no stranger to the world of racing. As owner of the globally-recognized Ugland Offshore Racing team, he has a reputation for capturing some of the world’s most illustrious off-shore racing titles. The Ugland Offshore Racing name worldwide embodies commitment, technical excellence and, above all, success. The team has captured World, European and National titles due largely to the uncompromising partnership of Mr. Ugland and Norwegian racing legend Jann Hillestad. The company’s legacy stretches back 20 years in the offshore racing world. Andreas Ugland is chairman of the Queensgate Bank and Trust in the Cayman Islands.

Reference:

www.uglandoffshoreracing.com

Dale Crighton - A Caymanian entrepreneur, is back to defend his title of Best Time in the Offshore Circuit Class. In 2010 he dominated the water with his 42-foot Fountain “Heavy Metal” and took home the trophy!  Dale Crighton is one of Cayman’s most successful young businessmen and manages most of his family’s extensive holdings in the Cayman Islands, which include developments ranging from high-end homes to large-scale residential complexes.
Powerboat racing is a passion of Dale’s, and he regularly attends international OSS (Offshore Super Series) and SBI (Super Boat International) races, primarily in North America.

Bob Watler – Winner of MDR 2010 ‘Best Hand’ in the poker run, this Caymanian entrepreneur looks to be the man to beat in both the Best Craft and Best Crew category.  His flawless 38’ Donzi with just under 1,000 horsepower – entitled Happy Ours II - bagged the Best Craft award in 2006 with its candy paint job. The team returns this year and will race Happy Hours II. They hope with their steady craft and great team spirit, to be in the running for a trophy in 2011.

Pre Race Events
Just like in years past, the party starts well before Race Day and teams are encouraged to take part in the festivities. The Captain’s Cocktail Reception at the Grand Old House is at 7pm on Thursday April 21st (keep in mind this is also the last time at which to register). 
Friday April 22 at 12:01am, the official kick-off party for MDR is held at Elements night club featuring DJ Billy Corduroy of Spin 94.9 FM and VJ Docta of Vibe 98.9 FM.
Saturday April 23rd Million Dollar Run hosts the First Annual “MDR Car & Boat Show” at Royal Palms, your chance to get up close with the boats of Million Dollar Run and select feature show cars. The Banquet Dinner for the captains and sponsors will be held at the poolside cabanas at Royal Palms where limited tickets are available for purchase for guests wishing to attend.

General Info
Deadline for entry Thursday April 21, 2011 - Fee US$800

The Ugland Offshore Racing Million Dollar Run is presented by Cayman Motor Museum, Crighton Properties, CayCompass.com, Butterfield, Corona Extra and Corona Light, Bacardi, The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Airways, Fast Signs – Custom Signs and Digital Printing, Intec Research Sound & light systems, Celebrations, Tropical Shipping, Royal Palms, Paramount Carpets, Paramount Media, Vibe 98.9FM, Spin 94.9FM, and Monster Media.

For more information on registration, log on to www.mdr.ky
or contact Christina Hefner at Monster Media on 345-949-8423 or email events@paramountmedia.ky.