There's no arguing that the past year packed more action and special effects than an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. In the world of offshore performance boating alone, 2003 was a time of sweeping change and tragic upsets. The offshore community reeled at the news of the sudden, unexpected deaths of racers Tim Walters and Jack Stoerrle, both on the water during competition. Later in the year, accidental death claimed the lives of Mercury Racing's "Prop Doc" Dennis Cavanaugh and Donzi's Steve "Speed" Simon (read our special tributes in this issue).

Not all the news was bad, though. Throughout the season, performance boats of all shapes and sizes were setting incredible new kilo records across the country. During the summer's Fountain Powerboats Offshore Grand Prix, Bacaradi Silver officially clocked through a kilo course at 202.9 mph. Meanwhile, Callan Marine's Tencara 48 set a 203 mph course record during the Shootout in Lake of the Ozarks.

Then to add a little more heat to the high-performance kitchen, Poker Runs America gave birth to its first ever World Championship Kilo/Shootout. The event took place prior to our annual Washington, North Carolina Poker Run on the Pamlico River, minutes away from the Fountain.factory.

This marked the first time a poker run boat set a new world speed record. Bob Russell's 42 GTX Outerlimits blazed across the water at a blistering 147.61 mph - earning him the fastest V-hull crown.

Hot new engine technology made its debut, too. Both the Bacardi Silver Skater and Outerlimits set their new speed records using Sterling Performance's 2003-introduced 1450 hp engines, available in both race and pleasure boat versions.

What's more, Ilmor Racing unleashed a marinized version of the all-alloy V-10 that powered the Viper sportscar. The monster 550 hp motor generates a whopping 600 ft-lbs of torque.

Finally, the opera of race sanctioning organizations got even soapier, as sites and dates kept constantly shifting. For the very first time there were - count 'em - three world championships and another race sanctioning group was added to the mix.

While APBA Offshore and APBA Detroit battled it out, they decided to move the world championships from Key West to Orange Beach, Alabama. Meanwhile, long-time Key West race promoter John Carbonell, who had left Key West the year before, and held the 2002 SBI worlds in New Orleans, headed to Deerfield Beach, Florida for the 2003 world championships.

Then, just when you thought the roostertails had settled down, along came a brand new group and race in Key West. The new association of offshore racers, calling itself Offshore Super Series, ended the season with a bang - in the form of a third world championship in Key West, organized by Lee Mills. Latest news has it that an entire series of races are in the planning stage.

How's that for an offshore screenplay! ( Top )