Forget everything you’ve heard about
rules. In the fiercely competitive world of professional powerboat
racing – as with every motor sport worth its salt – rules
exist to ensure that every event is as safe and trouble-free as humanly
possible.
Contrary to what is thankfully a slowly disappearing “myth-conception,”
these mandatory rules governing the pro circuit were never ever meant
to be broken. Undeniably, they are stringent and strictly enforced
– and for good reason!
A few weeks ago, during an interview with one of the nation’s
top-ranked, title-winning veteran racers, the word “safety”
reared its controversial head. Given my longstanding respect for this
offshore veteran, I wanted his take on safety in performance boating
– recreational versus racing.
Be careful what you wish for.
“Racing,” he said, “is a lot safer than taking your
family out for a leisurely cruise on your favorite waterway.”
Appetizing food for thought – and the more I thought about his
response, the more I became convinced he was absolutely right.
Rules and guidelines governing offshore racing – no matter which
organization creates them - have nothing whatsoever to do with politics.
They were written and revised by experts to benefit one of the oldest
sanctioned motorized sports in the world.
SBI/APBA OFFSHORE-UIM
2005 marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of offshore
racing – Super Boat International Productions, Inc.
After devoting 29 years of his life to racing and promoting offshore
powerboat racing events, John Carbonell now sits at the helm of
a race organization that has acquired the APBA Offshore license
for the next ten years.
Boasting a dramatic increase in membership and a growing legion
of fans, SBIP/APBA-UIM is running eleven national races for the
2005 season – including the newly added Ft. Lauderdale, FL
and Chattanooga, TN sites – plus its championship event in
Key West, Florida.
This year’s world championship event will celebrate its 25th
birthday,” says John Carbonell, president of SBIP. “It
will be the largest powerboat race in the world, with more than
85 boats. We’re expecting tens of thousands of fans to attend
this event.”
According to Carbonell, SBIP is also looking at other new sites,
both here and abroad, given the widespread interest from city officials
and companies inquiring about the possibilities of holding events
in their communities.
“This is a new and exciting era for SBIP/APBA-UIM Offshore,”
Car-bonell stresses. “I look forward to welcoming everyone
into our family, and making each individual an integral part of
the most thrilling and glamorous adventures in motorized sports
- offshore racing .” (Page Top)
OFFSHORE SUPER SERIES POWERBOAT RACING
ASSOCIATION
Back in December 2003, 30 race boat owners shared a dream. Basically,
they were looking for a new avenue to enjoy their sport. Almost
two years later, the dream remains very much real. It has also enjoyed
tremendous success.
The original Offshore Super Series (OSS) concept involved four classes
of race boats and a board of directors that consisted of some of
the top names in offshore racing: Tom Abrams, Gerry Chastelet, Ben
Hedrick, Billy Mauff, Jim Richardson, Bertel Schmitt, Bob Teague,
Todd Welling and Paul Whittier.
This year, OSS has added a special outboard-powered cat class, which
has increased its growing membership of offshore race teams.
An open invitation to race producers interested in being part of
a new series featuring many of the finest canopied boat teams in
the nation resulted in the appointment as CEO of Elaine Motl, a
10-year veteran race producer from Corpus Christi, Texas.
Although she had come to talk about her race site, Motl was asked
to run the entire OSS tour. A few weeks later, she accepted the
position of CEO.
In the past year, OSS has grown into an organization with 34 boats
and 240 members. Now considered one of the nation’s top tours,
OSS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development
and growth of offshore powerboat racing.
“Our objectives are to further the image and professionalism
of offshore racing,” says OSS president Paul Whittier. “We
intend to provide quality venues for fans, sponsors, producers and
member racers.”
GREAT LAKES SILVER CUP SERIES
This ten-year-old non-profit volunteer-operated organization is
composed of the following non-profit racing associations: GLOPRA
(Great Lakes Offshore Powerboat Racing Association), BWORA (Blue
Water Offshore Racing Association), NCORA (North Channel Offshore
Racing Association) and MOPRA/LSCORA (Michigan Offshore Powerboat
Racing Association/Lake St. Clair Offshore Racing Association).
According to the GLSCS web site, “The purpose of the series
is to schedule, organize, market and promote offshore powerboat
racing events or other related events; to promote boating safety
and to raise funds for various charitable organizations.”
(Editor’s note: GLSCS membership voted to cancel its 2005
series of races).
PACIFIC OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING
ASSOCIATION
Strategically aligned with the SBIP/APBA/UIM Offshore Racing Association,
POPRA is currently headquartered in California.
POPRA has had a lengthy history of racing under the American Power
Boat Association, the Offshore Division and APBA Offshore.
While POPRA will continue to thrill its home-based fans with a series
of divisional races, its member teams can also take advantage of
the SBIP/APBA/UIM Offshore Racing Association’s Racer Development
Program.
Competitors can race both National and Divisional Series.
“Together, we can support each other and help the sport progress
to a more mature level,” said Seber. “We want to encourage
every team to come to a place where they can race competitively.
No matter what affiliation.”
OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE ASSOCIATION
The East Coast counterpart to Pacific Offshore, OPA offers five
classes of racing in the P1 to P5 (70 mph to 115 mph) speed brackets.
OPA racing is run by the Jersey Boyz Offshore Racing Crew under
the direction of two presidents, Eddie Smith and Augie Pensa.
On a divisional scale, OPA members also race at several events on
other national circuits.
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