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Show CCRMA Makes Change En Race Specifications The annual CCRMA Mara: thon race has been upped to professional standards . for the 1968 run, after adhering for ten years to its original multi- class specifications, which encouraged participation participa-tion by family-type, non-pro- fessional boaters. The famous 196-mile race on the Green and Colorado Rivers waterway from Green River to Moab, was christened christen-ed in a trial run in 1957, and immediately mushroomed into in-to one of the nation's popular popu-lar water events. In past years, the race has included as many as four groups, with several classes for each group: pleasure group, modified group, jet group and unlimited. Only cabin cruisers and outdrives were banned. At a meeting last week, the CCRMA directors voted to cater to professional racers rac-ers and reorganize the race into a 3 class event single engine outboard, multi-engine outboard, and jet class. There are several reasons for the decision. Of prime importance is the annual Friendship Cruise which pre-ceeds pre-ceeds the Marathon Race each year on the same stretch of water. This cruise, which now provides a water entertainment enter-tainment outlet for the family fam-ily boaters, had not been as popular as it now is when the first Marathon specifications specifica-tions were laid. The Friendship Cruise began be-gan as more or less a local event to test the wafer and publicize the race. It now attracts at-tracts as many as 809 family fam-ily boats each year. The Marathon, on the other oth-er hand, was experiencing problems. Family boaters hesitated to compete with professionals on the same waters wa-ters at the same time; pros disliked the prospect of racing rac-ing on rivers cluttered up with amateurs. As such, the Marathon Race has not captured cap-tured the popularity which has made the Friendship Cruise famous. The new Marathon Race specifications include only . three classes: A, single engine en-gine outboard; B, multien-gine multien-gine outboard; and C, the jet class. A class will consist con-sist of a minimum of five boats entered and starting in that class. Entry fee will be $25 per boat, and as usual the race will be run in June. Thi.3 year the take-off is scheduled schedul-ed for 7 a.m., June 8, following follow-ing a 6 a.m. pit meeting at Green River. A new prize schedule is expected to entice more professionals pro-fessionals into the race, too. A total of $1,300 awards money mo-ney will be split as follows: $500, first place; $2f)0 second place: $100 third place; and the $500 grand prize and Tribune Tri-bune Trophy for the fastest overall time for outboards. CCRMA trophies will also be awarded to first, second and third place winners. A complete rundown on specifications and regulations will be available from the CCRMA offices in Green River, Ri-ver, on request. CCRMA officials are looking look-ing forward with optimism, and the Marathon Race, now to be a hard fought professional profes-sional race, may bring new speed records this year. ' |