Up to 80 speedboat teams will compete in the 17th annual Thunder on Cocoa Beach Super Boat Grand Prix this weekend, a far cry from the handful of racers that participated when the event began in 2011. The race, held on the ocean near Cocoa Beach, is expected to draw more than 100,000 spectators who will line the shore to watch the high-speed competition. Cameron Turk, a 19-year-old Cocoa Beach native, will be at the helm of his boat, following in his father JJ Turk’s footsteps. JJ, who has raced for 13 years, says the event’s course is among the roughest in the circuit due to the East Coast’s swells.
Cameron started racing at age 6 after watching his father compete. He won a world championship in a 22-foot Nitro boat and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for that achievement. His father, also a Hall of Fame racer, drives boats that can reach speeds of up to 160 mph. The Turks are both competing in the event, which has grown significantly since its inception. JJ Turk, who owns a local hotel, is hosting many of the race teams and their families during the competition.
The race is a major economic driver for the area, generating over $12 million annually. Lucy Nicandri of the International Hot Rod Association says the event offers fans a rare opportunity to get close to the action. “The pits are open to the public, and there are not a lot of motorsports that you can get up close, meet the team, see the boats, meet some drivers,” she said. For drivers like Cameron, the goal is clear: win the checkered flag. The event’s 17th year marks another chapter in its history, with teams from across the country vying for top honors on the challenging ocean course.