BRADENTON BEACH – One of the offshore racing boats participating in the 39th Annual Sarasota Grand Prix powerboat races will make a post-race appearance at the Drift In in Bradenton Beach on Monday, July 3.
The powerboats will race offshore of Lido Key Beach in Sarasota on Sunday, July 2, with qualifying and testing on Saturday, July 1.
The Drift In is one of the sponsors of Joe Olivieri’s OC Offshore Racing team.
Drift In owner Derek Williams said, “My friend Joe Olivieri built the boat and he’s racing in that series. He’s dreamed about doing this for a while. He spent a couple years building the boat and this is his first year. He drives the boat and recently raced it in Key West. Some local businesses sponsor him and we’re going to bring the boat to the Drift In parking lot and do something patriotic in honor of the Fourth of July. Joe’s a local guy. He’s a general contractor and he owns Olivieri Construction. He’s done work at the Bridge Tender Inn before and he’s all over town.
“We’re also doing it for the Denis V. Cooper Foundation and Wishes For Heroes.org – a local veteran’s charity I helped start with a friend of mine, Maverick Johnson. We raise money and give it to local veterans in need,” Williams said.
Denis Cooper (aka ‘Maverick Johnson’), Williams, Gary Kortzendorf, Bob Morrison and Steve Hopkins started the Wishes for Heroes foundation in honor of Cooper’s late father, Denis V. Cooper. Known on-air as Maverick Johnson, Denis Cooper co-hosts a country music morning show on WCTQ 92.1 FM and 103.1 FM. He’ll be attending the Drift In event, which will also feature live music by Dos-Macs.
The event, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will serve as a fundraiser for the Denis V. Cooper Foundation, with the Drift In donating the hot dogs to be sold to benefit the foundation. Denis V. Cooper Foundation T-shirts will also be available for purchase.
Some or all of the Drift In parking lot will be temporarily closed that day to accommodate the racing boat.
“Come see the boat, get a picture and have a cold one and a hot dog. We’re supporting a local charity and celebrating the Fourth of July,” Williams said, noting the racing boat might also participate in the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July parade on Tuesday.
