Special report by Norm Rosen

OSS Brings Racing to Toronto!

Toronto’s harborfront reverberated with the roar of more than fifty of the fastest boats on the Offshore Super Series circuit when promoter Pierre Major’s Offshore Powerboat Race thundered into Canada’s largest metropolitan area. Poker Runs America Magazine was proud to produce the Official Race Program for the event, which drew entries from as far away as Florida and California, as well as dedicated race fans from across North America and enthusiastic spectators from all over the world. The race, which marked a return to Toronto’s outstanding facilities following a seven-year hiatus at Ontario Place, came just one week after the Molson Grand Prix road race, and for many fans, the impact of two consecutive weekends of world-class motorsports competition was the highlight of a spectacular summer in Canada’s heartland. In an area where offshore racing is an exotic sport, Toronto fans had an ideal opportunity to become completely immersed in the action as race organizers went out of their way to provide the background information and access to the boats that is so vital to the growth of a loyal fan base. With regional media on site throughout the weekend, and OSS officials providing a wealth of opportunities for TV, newspaper, and radio reporters to get “up close and personal” with the racers, exposure on Canadian networks was at an unprecedented level. The host venue, Ontario Place, offers excellent facilities for a race of this type, with easy access to the southern shore of Toronto Island, where fans could almost reach out and touch the boats as they raced by at impressive speeds. Many boaters fail to realize that Toronto, sometimes referred to as the Tropic of Canada, is one of the most temperate locations in Canada, and is actually farther south than Chicago – so it came as a surprise to some that the mercury touched 95 degrees F on race weekend, and the waters of Lake Ontario produced ideal waves for both Vee and Cat competitors. After practice runs on Friday and Saturday, the racing began with earnest on Sunday, with driver Larry Kostelac and throttleman John Kostelac taking first place in the OSS Vee Lite category in their Mercury-powered Extreme “Wild Ride.” Jim Natoli and Randy Schleuss in their Extreme “Typhoon” captured second place, while Cory Shantry and Larry Fontecha powered their Phantom “Drive By Progressive” to third place. Average speed for the winning boat was 79.82 mph on the closed circuit. George Auriema and B.J. Maher led throughout the race in their 30’ Phantom “Imco #10,” but for one reason or another they pulled off the course one lap short of claiming victory, and by the time they realized their miscalculation they could do no better than 6th place. In the OSS Vee category driver Brent Furshman and throttleman Joe Sgro of Bad Apple Racing guided the #30 boat, “Miccosukee Indian Gaming” to victory, with the twin 525 Merc powered 38’ Fountain race canopy boat logging an average speed of 82.64 mph. Finishing second in the class were Bob Oliver and David Peterson in #16 “Black Pearl,” while Ed Smith and Anthony Smith came in third in “Wazzup”. In the OSS Cat Outboard division Grant Bruggemann and Stan Perkowski took “Mojo” to the top spot with an average speed of 90.14 mph, followed in second place by Rob Nunzaito and Dan Lawrence in “Loan Shark,” Paul Whittier and Gary Ballough in “Mapei” claimed third place. In the exciting Cat Lite class Steve Page and throttleman Joey Gratton powered their 36’ Skater, #31 “Hooter’s Hotel and Casino” to first place with an average speed of 95.69 mph. Gerry Chastelet and Chris Hanley came in second in their 39’ MTI, the #40 Reliable Carriers entry, and third place went to Wilma and Brian Ross, who campaigned a brand new 39’ MTI “Learning the Ropes” on its maiden race. The adrenaline was pumping for all it was worth in the OSS Cat class, as the J.D. Byrider #45 boat, driven by Tony Marcantonio and throttled by Mark Kowalski challenged racing legend Billy Mauff and throttleman Jay Muller’s Skater “WHM #5” in a duel that brought the crowds to their feet – with the lead changing hands in the final lap, the chequered flag went to “J.D. Byrider” with an average speed of 100.22 mph, less than 1 mph faster than WHM. Tom Abrams and Steve Curtis had mechanical difficulties, but salvaged third place in the #20 “Reliable Carriers” MTI. The big cats roared in the OSS Cat Extreme class, with David Scott and John Tomlinson leading from the get-go in #11 “Budweiser Select,” finishing with an average speed of 110.46 mph. 2005 OSS World Champions Mike DeFrees and Jeff Harris drove the #7 CRC MTI to second place with an average speed of 109.97 mph, after starting out on the first lap with a blistering 115.95 mph. Third place went to Herb Stotler and Rick Wyatt in Cintron # 21. The fastest class on the water belongs to the AMF/Platinum Princess #26, a 40’ Platinum Rage cat powered by Turbine Marine’s twin Lycoming T-53 engines. Mark Granet and Scott Begovich are just waiting for AMF’s #113 Turbine Marine boat to be launched, so they can have some competition in the OSS Turbine Extreme class. For the latest in OSS racing action, and all the results from this year’s events, race to www.offshoresuperseries.com.

There’s nothing like the excitement of the Vee Lite class, as the nimble speedsters
vie for position during the opening seconds of an OSS race.




Motley Crew took first place in the Cat Lite category.

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