October 11, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Gulf Coast Powerboat Association is delighted to announce that the week of Thunder on the Gulf 2010, October 12th – 17th, is jam packed with excitement! The beautiful venue of Orange Beach will host OPA’s World Championships. Come explore the Dry Pits located at the Gulf State Park Pavilion on the beach, which will be open to the public daily. Observe monster race boats and their teams, purchase official race merchandise, and be a part of the festivities and entertainment with a spectacular view of the coast. Register to win a ride in a Geico race boat, Thunder posters, and free tickets to Talladega. “Deadliest Catch” fans check out the Time Bandit race team and race boat!

The “Thunder” will take place on the Gulf of Mexico for four days starting Thursday with two days of racing! During these four days visit Cobalt, www.cobaltrestaurant.com, and watch the cranes “splash” the race boats in the Wet Pits at Outcast Charter Docks and Caribe, www.caribe-resort.net. This will be an exciting week for our coast with boat races, parties, a poker run, and free concerts!

VIP Passes, which give you free access to pits, VIP hospitality tent viewing the races and parties are now available on the website and at the office. You don't want to miss this amazing experience! To learn more about the powerboats that will race this year check out www.oparacing.org. For more details including volunteering, race course and info visit www.thunderonthegulf.com. You may also call our office at 251.980.RACE (7223) or stop by and see us at 4547 Cypress Village Blvd, Suite 8, off Canal Road. See you at the races!

Special thanks to our sponsors: Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, State of Alabama, Gulf State Park, City of Orange Beach, Caribe, Island House Hotel, Deep South Cranes, Outcast Charter Docks, LLC, Dogwood Productions, Cobalt, Perdido Key Chamber, Baldwin EMC, Spectrum Resorts, Gulf Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Happy Harbor, Budweiser, PEPSI Buffalo Rock, Les Roux, Perdido Beach Resort, Portside Realty, Gulf Coast Newspapers, Beach Express, Brett/Robinson, Youngs Suncoast Realty, Tim Garner-Attorney at Law, Sunny 105.7, Live Bait, CenturyLink, Grant, Sanders, & Taylor-Accounting Firm, Clear Channel Radio 95KSJ & The Rocket, Coast 360, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Flora-Bama, Posh Interiors, Hood’s Home Center, Just Books & Movies, Pleasure Island Poker Run, Kumaco LLC, The Wine Source, Medstar, Papa Murphy’s Take’n’bake Pizza.