Lido Shores: Suncoast Summer Fest Grand Prix Boats Roar Past Lido Beach

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Suncoast Summer Fest Grand Prix Boats Roar Past Lido Beach

A large gathering of Lido Shorians and friends have a front row seat.

It was a hot, muggy Sunday afternoon... but that didn't deter some 50 or so Lido-Shorians, family and friends from coming out to Lido Beach to watch the Grand Prix Powerboat races. Actually, the monster boats race on a closed course just off the main public beach near St. Armand's Circle... but they head back to Sarasota Bay via New Pass. Didn't matter to most. It's just fun to see them up close.

Cooling off in the Gulf as the Powerboats rumble back to New Pass.

In addition to the Pavilion... other groups set up large tents to provide shade. For the first time in 36-years there were no powerboat races last year due to Covid. And in year's past... through a vendor, LSPOA has provided Chicago Style Hot Dogs and ice cream bars. The Vendor didn't have enough workers to pull it off this year... so everyone brought their own snacks and libations.

This year's races were also a bit more subdued, lacking the International boats and crews that usually attend because of ongoing travel restrictions.

Sandra Appignani, Joe Super, Mark Baumgarten, Steve Phillips, Ross & Shelly Masters make the Pavilion home base.

A number of people took advantage of the Gulf to cool off as the big, noisy boats made their way back and forth to the course further up the beach. And the bulky sand dredges parked offshore also provided an odd looking backdrop.