S PEEDBO AT M A G A ZINE
INSIDE: SPECTACULAR SKATERFEST!
LAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOTOUT American Ethanol’s Astonishing Seventh Top Gun
NO V E MB E R / DEC EM B E R 2 02 1
WILD CARDS!! CARDS
Big Cat Poker Run Rocks Northern CA NOV/ DEC 2021
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TABLE OF CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
COLUMNS 9 RAY LEE
FEATURES 16 OZARK DAREDEVILS
10 BOB TEAGUE
The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout and Poker Run offer an unforgettable weekend of speed and fun on the infamous Missouri waters.
14 INDUSTRY NEWS
32 OFFSHORE HEROES
Here’s a recap of the four recent offshore races, which took competitors to Indiana, Michigan, Florida and North Carolina.
48 BIG CAT POKER RUN
Northern California’s premier party of the year perpetually draws dozens of big muscleboats to the town of Discovery Bay during thelate summer.
58 SKATERFEST
In what could be the last-ever cat gathering of its kind, Skater owners celebrate with a first-class powerfest.
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Speedboat.com Published by DCO Enterprises, LLC Publishers Ray Lee ray@speedboat.com Chris Davidson chris@speedboat.com Editor Brett Bayne brett@speedboat.com Senior Tech Editors Bob Teague bobteague@teaguecustommarine.com Jim Wilkes jim@speedboat.com
Tech Editors Greg Shoemaker Jim Wilkes Valerie Collins National Sales Ray Lee Director ray@speedboat.com Cover Photos by Kimber Ott; Todd Taylor and Tom Leigh (insets) Table of Contents photo by Tom Leigh
BRETT’S COVE 64 SPRING FEVER
A 1980s Rayson-Craft gets a new lease on life, thanks to Kenny Spring, who poured his heart and soul into this astonishing restoration.
72 HAVASU FLASHBACK
Recently unearthed slide photography reveals images of the once-great Lake Havasu Outboard World Championship event.
78 SNAKE ATTACK
Art Director Gail Hada-Insley
Helicopter Services Fred Young fyoung@live.com Photographers
Todd Taylor, Mark McLaughlin, Paul Kemiel, Jeff Gerardi, Daren Van Ryte
Operations Manager Michele Plummer and Subscriptions michele@speedboat.com
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Jet boat competitors converge on Idaho’s infamous waterway for the Thunder on the Snake race.
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S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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OBSERVER’S SEAT RAY LEE Have I ever mentioned that I love my job? For the record, it’s not all the glitz and glamour as it appears. There are many long hours, days, nights, and weeks of seemingly endless tasks to be done to keep this Speedboat train rolling. But the perks far outweigh the “work” of being the publisher of this magazine. One incredible “perk” came about during our trip in late August to the Lake of the Ozarks, MO to cover the weeklong event that is the LOTO Shootout and Super Cat Fest. It was the day before the start of the Shootout that Speedboat’s chief photographer Todd Taylor and I were invited to join Don Onken and the rest of Team American Ethanol at an undisclosed location for their pre-Shootout test runs. At that time, Onken Racing’s 51' Mystic catamaran powered by 9,000+ hp quad-engines had won six consecutive Top Gun Shootout titles and had their sights set on their seventh. We arrived that morning just as the unmistakable black and gold vessel was being launched into the water by their matching semi-truck on the most elaborate trailer you’ve ever seen—complete with sliding bunks, pneumatic tires that lift the transom and all operated via remote control. Todd and I were buzzing trying to photograph and film all of this as it was happening. We watched the team fire up one engine after the other while closely monitoring the computer that was hooked up to them. The decibel meters were pegged deep into the red from the raw rumble that roared into the moist Missouri sky. It was right around this time when the question was asked of me. I barely remember it because I honestly couldn’t believe my ears and was certain I had misheard it. “Would you like to go for a ride?” asked Don’s son, JR Onken. It was surreal. I think I stuttered something incomprehensible at first until finally articulating, “ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD!” I climbed into the portside rear seat directly behind John Cosker and buckled in. He and Tony Battiato ran through their checklist while we idled out to open water, not unlike speedboat.com
The Ride of My Life
that of commercial pilots prior to a crosscountry flight. We were soon up on plane and about ready to roll. I watched as they hovered the boat right at 40 mph, which is the maximum speed allowed while entering the start box of the three-quarter-mile Shootout course. Then, Cosker dropped the hammer, and I was thrown firmly into the back of my seat. The brute force and incredible torque of those quad engines screamed as I watched Cosker’s hand progressively push the throttles forward, simultaneously watching the speedometer click higher and higher. I glanced out of the side windows as the houses and trees along the shoreline rapidly blurred by. We were immediately up over 150 mph within mere seconds. I was trying to take note of everything that was going on. Tony’s skillful yet reserved manner of handling the wheel. The disciplined throttle control of John Cosker. The attitude of the boat at all speeds, which was always docile and in-control. I continued to study
their methods when I felt that disheartening deceleration, indicating that my E-ticket ride of a lifetime was about to be over. Our top speed was 157 mph, which was the intended top speed with me on board. I had hoped to go faster but what a RUSH! As we emerged from the cockpit, Cosker and Battiato concluded that the boat was not running at its peak performance. Having been partners in running the boat for so many years, they knew it immediately and instinctively. It turned out that they had hurt the portside aft engine during our run, an issue that would plague Team Onken all weekend. However, despite being down on power, Team American Ethanol ran a total of five passes between Saturday and Sunday, (a team high), while continuing to work on the issue in between runs, bettering their previous speeds with each pass. Ultimately, on the last day with only minutes left until the conclusion of the 2021 event, Cosker and Battiato achieved the weekend’s top speed of 193 mph on radar and secured their seventh consecutive Top Gun title. Congratulations to Onken Racing and Team American Ethanol on a truly epic achievement this year! Also, a personal and heartfelt “thank you” for allowing me a glimpse into your world and all the hard work and dedication you put into thrilling the fans, year after year. Onward to number 8! S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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TEAGUE ON TECH BOB TEAGUE
Johnson Lifters 2116BBR-T.
HYDRAULIC ROLLER LIFTERS
Dear Bob: I am building a 540 cubic inch Mark IV big block Chevy. I am looking at hydraulic roller lifters. I plan to run a cam with .632" lift. I noticed there is a Johnson standard lifter and a Johnson high lift lifter. Could you recommend one over the other? Thanks! Byron Scholle Cincinnati, OH There are two lifter companies that are using the name Johnson. We have amazing success and support from the company that is based in Taylor, MI, that specializes in ultra-high-performance hydraulic roller lifters. This is not the company known as Johnson Hy-lift that is also based in Michigan. We have good results with the Johnson part number 2116BBR-T lifter. This is the .300” taller version and has a special diameter (slightly less) for use in the performance marine environments when block temperatures are usually lower than automotive applications. This feature helps to prevent the lifter from sticking in a bore. The .300” taller version fits all after-market and stock blocks. Push rods that are about .180” longer are required compared to lifters with “stock” dimensions. The desired lifter pre-load is .035” down from zero lash. It is important to establish how much the pre-load is for your application. This can be done with a dial indicator on the push-rod end of the rocker arm. If you are using stud mounted rocker arms, it will require less of a turn of the adjusting nut accounting for the rocker arm ratio. If you are using shaft mounted rocker arms, the amount of turn to achieve the proper pre-
Lifters installed in an engine build.
load will be slightly more because the adjustment point is directly on top of the push rod. The amount of the turn depends on the number of threads per inch involved. Generally, most big block Chevy rocker studs are 7/1620 which means there are 20 threads per inch. Most shaft mounted rockers have adjusting cups that have either 3/8-24 or 7/16-20 threads. Basically, the proper adjustment for stud mounted rocker arms is about 1/2 turn down and a little more for shaft mounted rocker arms. Pre-oiling device made from distributor housing.
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We like to soak the lifters submerged in the oil that you will be using in the engine for an extended period of a few hours or so. It is also a good idea to pre-oil the engine before running it until you observe oil coming out of all the rocker arms. This way, you know that all lifters are pumped up and lubrication is going to all rocker arms before the engine is started. We have good success running these lifters in engines exceeding 6400 rpm as long as the valve spring tension, quality, and design are adequate. It is not unusual to set valve spring tensions as high as 190 pounds on the seat and over 500 pounds “over the nose” with great success. speedboat.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
CR Racing Wins RWO Clearwater Race
R
ace World Offshore's first of two races this year took place
in Clearwater, FL, in late September, with 37 boats competing in 12 different classes. Although six of the classes saw participation from only one or two boats, Super Stock lured a total of nine racers, and bracket Class 5 featured six. CR Racing, with Rob Unnerstall (D) and Casey Boaz (T), took first place in Super Stock, besting CMR, Performance Boat Center and Jackhammer. Meanwhile, Myrick Coil (D) and Tyler Miller (T) of Super Cat’s M-CON beat Chariots of Fire and Graydel. M-CON, a 38' Skater, has dominated the class in OPA Racing all season. Team Woody, a 30' Phantom piloted by Micheal Stancombe and JJ Turk, won in Class 5. Other winners: Shocker (Stock V), Sheriff Lobo (Modified V), The Developer/WIX Filters (Class 2), SRS Racing (Class 4) and Gerard
Super Stock class victors Rob Unnerstall and Casey Boaz take their CR Racing 32-foot Doug Wright catamaran to first place.
Marine (Class 6). Running uncontested were SV Offshore/Sweetwater (Class 1), Marine Technology (Stock 450), Rollin’ Dirty (Class 3) and Jackhammer (Class 7). Race World Offshore’s next race is the
Key West World Championships, set for Nov. 7-14. It’s the second year RWO is producing the Worlds in Key West after taking over the contract in 2019; the 2020 event was canceled because of the Covid pandemic.
Hook, Johnson Set New Ocean Cup World Record Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson, piloting a 44'9" Mystic, have set a new world
record in the 45 Class during the Second Annual Ocean Cup race Oct. 1, going from Huntington Beach, CA, to Catalina Island, around the island, and then back in just 1 hour and 10 seconds. Their average speed was 112.90 mph; top speed was 145 mph. The event was part of the Pacific Airshow, which entertained thousands of spectators in Southern California. Racers covered 112.5 miles as the “opening act” of the [text continues on page 82] Above left: Austin and Mike Carver in their MTI V-42, powered by five Mercury Racing 450R outboards. Their official time was 1:31:05. Near left: Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson in the 44'9" Mystic JHook. They set a world record with a time of 1 hour and 10 seconds.
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daredevils The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout and Poker Run offer an unforgettable weekend of speed and fun on the infamous Missouri waters.
Todd Taylor, Tom Leigh and Ray Lee
photography by
Above: American Ethanol on the way to taking its seventh Top Gun honors. Right: Don Onken, John Cosker and Tony Battiato accept their Top Gun trophy with their entire crew.
L
ocated smack dab in the middle of Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks is a canyon of a mountain lake that
each summer transforms into a stage befitting a liquid procession of the nastiest, tastiest, meanest, coolest, and most over-the-top performance boats on the planet—particularly on a very well-known expanse of water situated between mile markers 7 and 28. This is where the fastest boats go to flex during speedboating’s most auspicious annual event: The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout. It all began in 1988 as The Lake Rescue Shootout—an event in which many local boats participated simply to establish who had the fastest boat. As the summers passed, the Shootout exploded in size, but
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the call has always remained the same: Put up or shut up. For every water throttler within an ever-growing towing range, the performance boating season’s annual pinnacle occurs the week before Labor Day, with the fastest boat on the water grabbing the coveted Top Gun trophy. The biggest milestone in the event’s most recent history occurred in 2017, when the traditional mile-long course was shortened to 3/4 of a mile—a move designed to make the event accident- and incident-free. At this year’s late-August weekend event, a total of 95 competitors shelled out $50 per run to take a shot at occupying a stretch of center stage in their quest for a plaque and 364 days of undisputed bragging rights.
There were literally thousands of packed spectator boats—an astonishing number of which were comparable in caliber to those running timed passes on Saturday and Sunday. For the last six years, the fastest boat to compete in the Shootout has been Don Onken’s American Ethanol, a 2013 51' carbon-fiber Mystic catamaran piloted by John Cosker and Tony Battiato. The boat is powered by quad engines totaling 9,000+ hp. Its speed this year was 193 mph (compared to last year’s speed of 202 mph). “We had an engine that was down on power this year, so the speeds were disappointing,” Cosker told Speedboat. “But it was good enough to win our seventh Top speedboat.com
Above: Myrick Coil (with his children) and Rusty Williams, pilots of the Performance Boat Center/FASS Fuel Systems (top left), which raced Brian Correll’s plane at the famous exhibition race. Left: The party at Performance Boat Center is always one of the highlights of the Shootout. The incredible fireworks show was bankrolled by John Woodruff, owner of the 48' MTI Windship. Below: The Bikini Life Fashion Show at Super Cat Fest.
Gun in a row.” American Ethanol ran a total of five runs this year, starting with 175 mph and working its way up to 193 mph. “Overall, it was a great weekend,” Cosker adds. “The spectator fleet was the busiest I think I’ve ever seen—getting the boat to the start line and off the course after the run was more hectic than ever before. The event just keeps on growing.” The man behind the Shootout is “Captain Ron” Duggan, owner of the popular lakefront restaurant Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill. Duggan told Speedboat that this year’s activities “went so well, it was scary smooth. Everything went amazingly well, other than the heat, which was horrible. But we didn’t have any issues. [text continues on page 77] speedboat.com
S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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OZARK DAREDEVILS STREET PARTY Below: Presented by Waves & Wheels Marine Audio, the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout on the Strip was an overwhelming success again this year. Center: Performance giant Mercury Racing’s elaborate display (left) and Uncharted Territory, a Cigarette Racing 42X owned by Mike Maasen of Poly Lift (right).
Above: The Street Party was inundated with spectators. Among the cool rigs on display was the Marine Technology MTI 390X offshore raceboat campaigned by Taylor Scism and Johnny Tomlinson. Right: Midwest Boat Center displayed this Nor-Tech 450 Sport center console.
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Several incredible Skaters wowed the crowd, including Tyler Miller’s world-famous M-CON offshore competitor, as well as his new red 368 Skater (right), and John Rhee’s new eightseater 438 Twisted Twins (below).
Left: The newly restored 1987 41' Apache Scalp Hunter vee bottom was a labor of love for owner Todd Crossley, who showed it off with a matching Ford GT and a custombuilt Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Right: Alex Pratt of Good Boy Vodka fame displayed his turbine-powered catamaran, a canopied 50-foot Mystic project boat sponsored by Xinsurance.
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OZARK DAREDEVILS STREET PARTY
Chris and Gina Harbison’s MTI HP Mafia / Ozark Charcoal raceboat.
Above: MTI showed off this gorgeous 42V demo boat. Right: Jason Curry’s MTI 390X. Below: Black Thunder owner Tim Doran displayed his 43’ demo boat.
Karl Waite’s restored 2002 42’ Lightning (featured in our April 2017 issue).
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101854_SpeedBoatMar19_02,07,09,13,15,17,23,53,57,83,84.indd 2
2/11/19 10:51 AM
OZARK DAREDEVILS POKER RUN
Cigarette Top Guns (left) and 42Xs (above) were in full force at the poker run.
MYSTIC
MTI
22
Below, Josh Denning drives his Mystic M4200 center console, powered by with quad Mercury 400s.
Below left: Kelly O’Hara’s beautifully renovated MTI 36’ cat, Holy Cow! with twin Mercury Racing 700 SCis.
S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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Devin Wozencraft in his 2015 Skater 308 cat with new Mercury Racing 300 AMS engines.
SKATER
Left: Ryan Steele’s Renegade 33' center console, powered by triple Mercury Racing 400s, with Jody Hamilton of Hamilton Finance on board.
John and Julie Tokar pilot Kahuna, an Outerlimits SV43 with Mercury Racing 1100/1350 engines.
OUTERLIMITS
Ed Urbanek drives his Outerlimits SL52,powered by Mercury Racing 1350s.
Mike Demore in his MTI 42V center console.
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OZARK DAREDEVILS SHOOTOUT
Chad Havens’ 2008 Skater 40. Top speed: 157 mph.
DCB
SUNSATION
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SKATER
Mark Cooper’s DCB Mach F32 (below). Top speed: 136 mph. Left: Cooper with his team, including Bob Teague.
Michael Hall’s 2022 Sunsation 32 CCX, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R. Top speed: 76 mph.
S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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SKATER
Jamin Jones took the 36’ Skater Team Yahoo to 160 mph.
Above: Jamin Jones of Houston, TX, in Team Yahoo, a 2009 36' Skater. The boat made a single pass; top speed 160 mph. Right: CR Racing, a 32' Doug Wright with Rob Unnerstall, made 11 passes (one for each crew member on the wheel); its best speed was 116 mph. Below: Dave Stone of Scottsdale, AZ, driving his DCB F32, was clocked at 113 mph.
DCB
speedboat.com
CR Racing
This 2017 32' Doug Wright achieved 116 mph.
Dave Stone in his 2010 DCB F32 achieved 113 mph. It was his first time participating in the Shootout.
S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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OZARK DAREDEVILS SHOOTOUT
Mike Maasen in his 42' Cigarette achieved a top speed of 90 mph.
CIGARETTE
Rusty Williams made six passes; best was 126 mph.
Top: Mike Maasen in his 2004 42’ Cigarette Uncharted Territory was clocked at 90 mph.
DCB
WRIGHT PERFORMANCE
Tony Chiaramonte took this M37R with twin 450Rs to 118 mph.
Above: Rusty Williams of Performance Boat Center (with girlfriend Jessica Moore) took his 2021 Wright Performance 360 to a top speed of 126 mph. Right: DCB co-owner Tony Chiaramonte made three passes in this M37R, powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards, to a top speed of 118 mph.
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Mike “Gordo” Gordon of New Port Richey, FL, took his 1998 26' Corsa to a top speed of 87 mph. Patrick Bobby’s 100% electric 22' boat got a little squirrely on its way to a top speed of 49 mph.
CE
CORSA
VISION MARINE
Chad Prater of Shawnee, KS, made one pass at 118 mph with his 2010 35 Baja Outlaw, Hammer Down. This “fastest Baja in the world” was featured in our June 2021 issue. Jim Schultz of Lake Zurich, IL, drove Factory Billet, a 2008 Outerlimits 51’ GTX vee bottom, to a top speed of 161 mph—the second-fastest boat at the 2021 Shootout.
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BAJA
OUTERLIMITS
S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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OZARK DAREDEVILS SHOOTOUT Left: First-time Shootout participant Karl E. Waite of Flagler Beach, FL, made three passes in Haulin’, his 2002 42’ Fountain. The best attempt yielded a top speed of 116 mph. Karl Waite took his 2002 42' Fountain to 116 mph.
DOUG WRIGHT
FOUNTAIN
Randy Keys took his 36 Doug Wright to 106 mph.
Gary Schoepke piloted this 51' Outerlimits to 106 mph.
OUTERLIMITS
Above: Randy Keys of Polk City, IA, made three passes in his 36' Doug Wright, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards. His top speed was 106 mph. Left: Gary Schoepke of New Kingston, PA, made a total three passes in his 2008 51' Outerlimits Bankrupt Me, powered by three 700-hp engines. His top speed was 106 mph.
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VELOCITY
Del Flores took his 2003 39' Velocity to 101 mph.
Todd Goodwin drove his 2004 42' Fountain to 106 mph.
FOUNTAIN
Top: Del Flores of West Caldwell, NJ, made two passes in his Spartan Power Boat Club 39' Velocity, powered by twin Whipplecharged 509-c.i. engines. His top speed was 101 mph. The boat is sponsored by CP Pistons and Carillo Rods. Above and right: Todd Goodwin of Goodwin Competition Engines (Omro, WI), made three passes in Summer Thunder, a 2004 42' Fountain. His top speed was 106 mph. speedboat.com
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OZARK DAREDEVILS SUPERCAT FEST
Super Cat Fest, a concurrent event described as “the ultimate showcase of high-performance catamaran hardware,” was once again headquartered at the famous Camden on the Lake Resort. Typically, this adjunct event features a huge bikini contest; however, this year, an all-new concept was launched: the Bikini Life Fashion Show, which became a fundraising event. As various swimsuits were auctioned off, money was raised to benefit 2-year-old Elijah Torres, who is suffering from an autoimmune condition and has to stay at a local hospital. Funds raised for the Torres family will go to offset their skyrocketing medical expenses. Apparel was donated by Demon Bikinis, Buns Out Swimwear and Boat Babe Official.
Above: Alex Pratt of Good Boy Vodka donated a case of vodka to be delivered to the winner’s address every month for a year. Right: Two “shot skis” were also among the items auctioned off this year.
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On Friday and Saturday, Camden on the Lake was the site of the annual Super Cat Fest Silent Auction, where money is raised to support various charities. As always, numerous items were won and immediately donated back by the winners so they could be re-auctioned. Top left: Super Cat Fest’s Charity Auction raised more than $60,000 for charity.
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Brett Bayne •
story by
photography by
2021 OFFSHORE
A
s the 2021 racing season barreled toward two climactic World Finals events—RWO’s
in Key West, Nov. 7-14 and OPA’s in Englewood, FL, Nov. 18-21—competitors traveled from Michigan to Indiana to Florida to North Carolina in search of points and prestige. At press time, racers were due in Clearwater, FL, for the first of Race World Offshore’s two 2021 events (see Page 14), while simultaneously plotting strategies for their World Finals. Meanwhile, here’s a recap of the most recent action. CLASS ONE: With many of its international competitors still restricted from the country due to the pandemic, reigning class champion Miss GEICO only had SV Offshore/Sweetwater and Lucas Oil SilverHook to contend with. Throttleman Sir
Paul Kemiel, Jeff Gerardi and Todd Taylor
HEROES
Here’s a recap of the four recent offshore races, which took competitors to Indiana, Michigan, Florida and North Carolina.
Steve Curtis and driver Brit Lilly defeated SV in St. Clair, MI, and both SV and Lucas Oil in Michigan City, while SV ran uncontested in Morehead City, NC. Miss GEICO’s Michigan City race turned out to be its last, as GEICO’s sponsorship concluded this year, and the team made the difficult decision to withdraw from competition for the remainder of the season. In a statement, the team wrote: “We would like to say thank you to the many loyal fans, race organizers and local communities for the amazing support over the past 14 years.” SUPER CAT: The 38' Skater M-CON, with Myrick Coil (D) and Tyler Miller (T), continued to dominate the class, running uncontested in St. Clair, trouncing WHM Motorsports and Chariots of Fire in Michigan City, and defeating
Chariots of Fire in Powerboat P1’s race in St. Petersburg, FL. Chariots, another 38' Skater, is piloted by John Paul Emmons (D) and Jim Mcintyre (T), and has gotten a late-season start—the only race prior to Michigan City it attended this year was in Sarasota, where poor weather conditions prevented the Super Cats from racing. SUPER STOCK: This class has seen a comparatively higher boat count, with eight teams present in the Midwest and 10 in St. Pete. CMR Roofing, with Shaun Torrente (T) and Eric Belisle (D), was victorious in Michigan City and St. Pete, while CR Racing, with Rob Unnerstall (D) and Casey Boaz (T), took first place in St. Clair. (Both boats are 32' Doug Wright hulls.) Performance Boat Center/FASS Fuel Systems, a 32' Wright Performance with Myrick Coil (D) and Rusty Williams [Text continues on page 43]
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WHM Motorsports owner/driver Billy Mauff presents a check donation to the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City, IN, for the remodeling of the big cat exhibit for the African lions and Bengal tigers. Due to health concerns, Mauff will likely miss the rest of the season.
speedboat.com
Some views from Michigan City, IN, from top to bottom: spectators line the shoreline of the Lake Michigan race course; race fans fill up Franklin Street after the boat parade and enjoy the Taste of Michigan City food event; opening ceremony with race officials and Mayor Duane Parry; LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau staff. S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES CLASS 1
MISS GEICO: Brit Lilly and Sir Steve Curtis take their last ride in the world-famous Victory hull during the Michigan City race, above. GEICO’s sponsorship concluded this year, and the team has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the remainder of the racing season. Right: The team behind the boat’s stellar success: Micah Paul, Gary Stray, Curtis, Lilly and Patrick Cleveland. Not pictured: driver Travis Pastrana.
SV OFFSHORE: Left: Simon Prevost (D) and Vinnie Diorio (T). Below: Their 39’ Outerlimits Supercat, based out of Richfield, WI. Diorio (who captured a World Championship title in 2018) and Prevost are both proud ambassadors of Outerlimits Powerboats of Bristol, RI. The pair took on Miss GEICO at this year’s Cocoa Beach, St. Clair and Michigan City races, and ran unopposed in St. Pete.
LUCAS OIL SILVERHOOK: This year, Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson took their 48' vee hull to Cocoa Beach, Sarasota and Michigan City. Unfortunately, the pair did not finish the last race due to a mechanical issue.
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SUPER CAT CHARIOTS OF FIRE: Driver John Paul Emmons and throttleman Jim Mcintyre got a late start this year; Michigan City was technically their first race. Seen here in St. Pete, the 38' Skater came in second behind M-CON.
M-CON: Myrick Coil (D) and Tyler Miller (T) (below) are the undisputed heavyhitters in this season’s Super Cat race. Seen here in Michigan City, the boys beat out WHM Motorsports and Chariots of Fire in their 38' Skater.
WHM MOTORSPORTS: World Champion racers Jay Muller (D) and Billy Mauff (T) had to settle for second place in Michigan City (left). The only other race they participated in this year was the season kickoff in Cocoa Beach.
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES SUPER STOCK
PERFORMANCE BOAT CENTER/FASS FUEL SYSTEMS: Driver Myrick Coil and throttleman Rusty Williams (left) are leading the class in points; the boys came in second place at St. Clair and Michigan City.
CMR ROOFING: Shaun Torrente and Eric Belisle (left) were victorious in Michigan City and St. Pete piloting their 32' Doug Wright hull. Below: in Michigan City, the team takes on CR Racing (with Rob Unnerstall and Casey Boaz)—who had been victorious in St. Clair a week earlier.
JACKHAMMER: The S-42 entry, a 32' Victory piloted by Reese Langheim and Ricky Maldonado, finished seventh in St. Clair, fourth in Michigan City, and eighth in St. Pete.
FJ PROPELLER: Gary Ballough and Daren Kittredge took their 32' Victory to fourth place in St. Clair, fifth place in Michigan City, and seventh place in St. Pete.
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VEE EXTREME / FACTORY STOCK
KNUCKLEHEAD RACING: Ed Smith and Anthony Smith (left) ran their canopied 40' Fountain unopposed all year, and so far they’ve made every single race except for Sarasota.
MARINE TECHNOLOGY: Legendary throttleman Johnny Tomlinson teamed up with Taylor Scism (daughter of MTI founder Randy Scism) to inaugurate this all-new class in an MTI 390X (right). Like the Smiths in Vee Extreme, they ran unopposed all season; hopefully more racers will throw their hats into the ring in Key West.
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES STOCK VEE
WAZZUP: OPA President Ed “Smitty” Smith and his son Anthony Smith (right) snared a win in St. Clair in Wazzup (below) and followed it up with a repeat victory in Morehead City several weeks later.
YOU GUN LEARN: The Stock Vee class drew four competitors to St. Clair and seven to Michigan City, where You Gun Learn—a 30’ Phantom piloted by Dante Napoli and Mikey Bocchino)—took the top podium spot. Right: the team at Michigan City’s awards ceremony.
MSP RECOVERY RACING: Pete Riveiro and Richard Garcia pilot this 30' Rage. Absent from any OPA race, they showed up for the Powerboat P1 bout in St. Pete and finished third.
LSB HURRICANE OF AWESOMENESS: Brit Lilly and Kevin Smith took their 29' Extreme/LSB hull to second place in St. Clair and third place in Michigan City. Above: The team poses with Brit’s dad, legendary racer Art Lilly (center). RELENTLESS: The 30' Phantom piloted by Travis Pettko and Rob Hartmann finished first in St. Pete and leads the class in points.
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES MODIFIED VEE
PUNISHER: Charlie McCarthy and Anthony Silvera (left) piloted their 30' Phantom to first place in Michigan City and second place in St. Pete.
BOATFLOATER: The 29' Extreme is campaigned by the fatherson team of Steve and Stephen Kildahl (right). St. Clair was their fourth consecutive victory of the year, and they currently lead the OPA points race.
PIT VIPER/LSB: Brit Lilly and Kevin Smith piloted their 29' Extreme/LSB hull to second place in Michigan City.
MARKER 17 MARINE: The 29' Outerlimits (above) won in Morehead City—the only venue it has raced this season thus far. VISIT ST. PETE CLEARWATER: Appropriately, Ian Morgan and Nick Imprescia took their 32' Phantom to first place in St. Pete.
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES CLASS 2
BAT BOAT: The Batmanthemed 42' Fountain, driven by Eliot Gray with Terry Forsythe on throttles (left), captured the checkered flag in Michigan City (above) and then scored a repeat victory in Morehead City.
TEAM WOODY: Chad Woody and Billy Shipley (above) took their canopied 35’ Fountain to victory in St. Clair, then finished second in Michigan City.
WEONTOP.COM: Brian Cole and Johnny Stanch piloted their 38' Fountain (left) to third place in Michigan City and second place in Morehead City.
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CLASS 3
TEAM WOODY: The canopied 28’ Lavey Craft campaigned by Jeff Muehlhausen and Brad Wade (above) ran unopposed in St. Clair and Michigan City. ROLLIN’ DIRTY: The 32' Phantom, piloted by driver Damon Marotta Sr. with Clyde Petty on the sticks, ran unopposed in St. Pete. It was the team’s third race of the season.
[Text continued from page 33] (T), has led in points throughout the season, and took second place in all three races. (Class One, Super Cat and Super Stock class competitors were absent in Morehead City, NC.) MODIFIED VEE: This class saw a different winner in each of the four venues. In St. Clair, it was Boatfloater.com, the 29' Extreme campaigned by the father-son team of Steve (T) and Stephen (D) Kildahl, who lead the OPA points race; it was their fourth consecutive victory of the year. However, their undefeated streak came to an end in Michigan City. Charlie McCarthy (D) and Anthony Silvera (T) piloted their 30' Phantom Punisher to first place, while Pit Viper and Boatfloater came in second and third, respectively. Appropriately enough,
Ian Morgan (D) and Nick Imprescia (T) drove their Visit St. Pete/Clearwater entry to victory in St. Pete (followed by Punisher and Boatfloater); it was a sweet victory for St. Pete, which had previously finished in last place in Michigan City. Finally, Marker 17 finished first in Morehead City ahead of Absolutely Not. STOCK VEE: OPA President Ed “Smitty” Smith and son Anthony Smith snared a win in St. Clair in Wazzup and followed it up with a repeat victory in Morehead City several weeks later. The class drew four competitors to St. Clair and seven to Michigan City, where You Gun Learn (a 30' Phantom piloted by Dante Napoli and Mikey Bocchino) took the top podium spot, followed by the Smiths in Wazzup and Brit
Lilly and Kevin Smith in LSB Hurricane of Awesomeness. In St. Pete, it was Relentless (with Travis Pettko and Rob Hartmann) grabbing the win, followed by Shocker, MSP Recovery Racing and LSB Hurricane of Awesomeness. In Morehead City, Wazzup was followed by North Myrtle Beach RV Resort and Twisted V. CLASS 2: Chad Woody (T) and Billy Shipley (D) took their canopied 35' Fountain—the first of three Team Woody entries—to victory in St. Clair, then finished second in Michigan City behind Bat Boat. The Batman-themed 42' Fountain, with Eliot Gray (D) and Terry Forsythe (T), scored a repeat victory in Morehead City, besting Strictly Business. (Class 2 boats were a no-show in St. Pete.) [Text continues on page 45]
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES CLASS 4
BURNING MAN: Driver Kyle Dietzen and throttleman Tony Canale piloted their 32' Larry Smith Speedster to second place in St. Pete— the team’s only late-season race thus far.
OLD SCHOOL: Matt and Daniel Soper drove their 38' Cigarette to first place in St. Clair and second place in Michigan City.
CIGARETTE JUSTICE LEAGUE: Driver Don Urfer and throttleman Richard Davis were victorious at the St. Pete venue, which was only their second race of the season.
PREDATOR: At press time, navigator Wayne Courson, driver Dean Stahlman and throttleman Nate Hunt were leading in OPA’s points ranking. They took first-place honors in the 39’ Apache at both Michigan City (left) and Morehead City.
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CLASS 5 BULLETPROOF: Driver George Ivey and throttleman Craig Belfatto (left) are currently ranked third in points this season. The pair finished second in St. Pete out of the field of 10 competitors.
SHORELINE PLUMBING: Brent Appiarius and Joe Reilly KO’d the competition in St. Clair, St. Pete and Morehead City, and are sitting on an appreciable points lead this season.
MAY MARINE: After winning their first race of the season in Eastlake, driver Steve La Pinta and throttleman Ron May finished in second place in the Morehead City race driving their Magnum hull (above).
TEAM WOODY: Micheal Stancombe and JJ Turk (left) got the best of their five competitors in Michigan City with their 30’ Phantom (above). [Text continued from page 33] CLASS 3: Another Team Woody boat, the canopied 28' Lavey Craft campaigned by Jeff Muehlhausen (D) and Brad Wade (T), ran unopposed in St. Clair and Michigan City, and are poised to capture high points in a class where only one other boat (Rollin’ Dirty) had participated until those races. In St. Pete, Dirty ran unopposed, handing the team of Damon Marotta Sr. (D) and Clyde Petty (T) a victory. Neither boat appeared in Morehead City, giving the only competitor (Jersey Outlaw/Ammo Camo) a win at their speedboat.com
only race so far this season. CLASS 4: Slugging it out in this class for points are Old School (with Matt and Daniel Soper) and Predator (with navigator Wayne Courson, driver Dean Stahlman and throttleman Nate Hunt). Both entries have performed impressively, with Old School taking the checkered flag in St. Clair and Predator kicking butt in both Michigan City and Morehead City. Neither boat showed up for the St. Pete bout, which left Cigarette Justice League (with Don Urfer and Richard
Davis) and Burning Man (with Kyle Dietzen and Tony Canale) to slug it out in Florida. Cigarette came out on top; its only other race this year was in Sarasota. CLASS 5: The boat to beat in this class is unquestionably Shoreline Plumbing. The team of Brent Appiarius (D) and Joe Reilly (T) KO’d the competition in St. Clair, St. Pete and Morehead City, and is sitting on an appreciable points lead this season. However, the third Team Woody boat—a [Text continues on page 81] S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES CLASS 6
DECEPTION: In St. Clair, the 26’ Joker (featuring driver Jesse Schmig and throttleman Robert Bryant, left) emerged victorious over the field of eight competitors. They also earned a secondplace finish in Michigan City.
SMITH BROTHERS/CRC: Out of field of nine boats that traveled to Morehead City, it was Smith Brothers’ moment in the spotlight, with Rich and Pete Smith scoring their first win of the season in their 26’ Joker.
PUNCHIN’ HULLS: Currently ranked fourth in the class, the team of Nick Hurlbut and Andy Miller (right) performed best earlier in the season, earning second-place trophies at the Lake Ozark and Eastlake venues. They finished fourth in St. Clair and Michigan City, and sixth in Morehead City.
RUM RUNNERS: The 26' Larry Smith hull piloted by Michael McColgan and Francis Vellutatu Jr. (above and right) was victorious in Michigan City, and finished second in Morehead City. They are #1 in points as of this writing.
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PUNISHER: In Michigan City, this 22’ Velocity, piloted by Derek Dawson and Beau Purtle, defeated Jackhammer and Chug It to take the checkered flag. Below: the team accepts its winning trophy.
CLASS 7
JACKHAMMER: This 22’ Velocity, piloted by Brian Guy and Julian Maldonado (left) finished second at St. Clair and Michigan City, third in Morehead City and first in St. Pete. This team is currently ranked first in their class.
GOOFIN AROUND: Currently ranked second in the class, the team of Joe and Matthew Lauer (right) finished second in the Morehead City race in their 21' Battle Wagon hull. So far, this team has attended every single OPA race this season.
NAUTI BOYS: The 22’ Progression hull piloted by James Jaonyczk and Joe Reilly Sr. (right) went home from St. Clair and Morehead City with firstplace trophies.
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story by
Brett Bayne •
photography by
Kris Wesenhagen / KKJ Media
BIG CAT
POKER RUN It’s Northern California’s wildest day on the water.
N
orthern California’s premier party of the year, the Big Cat Poker Run, perpetually draws dozens of big muscleboats to the town of Discovery Bay during the
late summer. Following its cancellation in 2020 due to Covid, the fun returned in a huge way Aug. 12-14, with Bob Teague of Teague Custom Marine once again acting as the event’s co-title sponsor and spiritual leader. Since the event’s inception in 2000, Big Cat is staged by the Discovery Bay Lion’s Club (which is where the “big cat” nomenclature derives). The club organizes the poker run registration duties and orchestrates many details of the event. This year, new club President Debbie Finnegan was on hand to oversee the run, which included about 78 boats and 280 participants. Teague and Finnegan, along with Kevin and Leanne Graves, made up the “lead team,” developing and producing the event. “It was awesome,” says Teague. There were “no incidents, all fun, and 100 percent volunteers.” Indeed, this poker run is put on entirely by volunteers who are kind enough to lend a great deal of their time. Thursday night kicked off the fun with a VIP party at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club, with live music provided by the classic rock covers band Undercover of Manteca, CA. Friday featured a lunch run to Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill in Antioch, CA, with a special registration party on Friday night with live music provided by Larry Kramer (owner of Sammy G’s in Palm Springs) and his
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band at Discovery Bay Marina. “The owner of the marina really stepped up this year and helped us with a lot of things,” Teague says. “We also had volunteers help out from three other Lion’s Clubs.” Saturday morning kicked off with a driver’s meeting, followed by the main event, a run that takes participants to Stockton and Discovery Bay by way of the expansive California Delta. Most boaters headed to Pittsburg Marina, with some opting for the Sugar Barge Resort; everybody met for lunch at Windmill Cove Bar & Grill in Stockton, and the partying began again back in Discovery Bay. As always, this event raises thousands of dollars for local charities. “It was an outstanding event, especially given that we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for it,” Finnegan tells Speedboat. “Also, we skipped last year, so we worked really hard to get the momentum going, and it actually turned out to be a really great event. We couldn’t have asked for a better day—everything went smoothly from the time everybody left the Discovery Bay Marina until the time they got back. A few boats experienced some malfunctions, but everything else went very well.” Teague adds: “We also had a very good representation of boat brands—MTI, Skater, Cigarette, Formula, Fountain and more.” Co-title sponsor Gary Colledge of Colledgewood Industries was on hand with his Colledgewood 388 Skater as well. speedboat.com
POKER RUN
Above: Katrina Fontana in her family’s 36 Skater, Stray Cat. Opposite: Windmill Cove, located on the San Joaquin River.
Drew Oberhauser in his DCB F26, powered by Mercury Racing 300Rs. Oberhauser is the owner of the Boatmasters marine repair facility in Livermore, CA. speedboat.com
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BIG CAT POKER RUN Friday lunch run at the Antioch Marina and Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill. Below: Tom McMillin, Rob Storelee and Dennis Leaman attend registration activities at the Discovery Bay Marina. .
Above: Aftermath is Rob Storelee’s 368 Skater, powered by TCM 1075 SCi Stage One engines. Storelee is founder of the R.A. Storelee Insurance Agency Inc.
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BIG CAT POKER RUN Randy Leibenson of Modesto, CA, drives his 29 Nordic, Speed of Sound.
Kris and Shelby Hansen own the first DCB M37R ever built. Tony Chiaramonte of DCB is driving. Left: Kris with his parents.
Jay and Misty Catucci pilot their 2018 DCB M28, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400Rs.
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BIG CAT POKER RUN Left: Irish Exit, an MTI 340X catamaran is owned and operated by Bob McKenna of Discovery Bay, CA.
Right: Brian Creech drives his 1988 36' Mirage, powered by 500-hp Bulldog engines. This hull could easily be mistaken for a Cigarette.
Below right: Leo and Kelly Vik pilot their MTI 390X, powered by twin Mercury Racing 450R outboards.
Bottom: Sargis Nersesyan and friends in his 38' Wellcraft Scarab, powered by TCM 1025s.
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Above: Wild Cat is a 36' Skater owned by Brian Banks of Redwood City, CA. Left: Docked for lunch are, from left: Todd and Evelyn Welling’s 36' Skater, Stray Cat; Bob Teague’s DCB M31 (powered by TCM 1450s); Kris and Shelby Hansen’s DCB M37R (reviewed in the September/October 2020 issue of Speedboat); and Josh and Cherilyn Noack’s 26’ Adrenaline, powered by Mercury Racing 300Rs.
Right: Bill and Normi Lyons of San Jose with kids Nick and Samantha in Mass Disruption, their 40SS Skater powered by Mercury Racing 1350 engines.
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BIG CAT POKER RUN
Above: Debbie Finnegan, Rita Caruso and Bob Teague present Gary and Ro Colledgewood with their Colledgewood sponsor award. Right: Evelyn Welling, Todd Welling and Katrina Fontana accept their Quesco sponsor award. Below: Tony Chiaramonte accepts his DCB Performance Boats sponsor award. Below right: Ray and Renee Malgradi accept their FH Dailey Chevrolet sponsor award.
Above: Bob Teague, daughter Cherilyn Noack, wife Andrea and son-in-law Josh Noack. Right: Brian and Cristi Banks accept their Action Towing (San Jose, CA) sponsor award.
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In what could be the last-ever cat gathering of its kind, Skater owners celebrate with a firstclass powerfest. Top: Skaterfest organizer Ron Szolack drives his 46 Skater. Right: Skater founder Peter Hledin and Szolack at the driver’s meeting.
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SKATERFEST SKATER FEST T
his year marks the 10th anniversary of Skaterfest, the gathering of Skaters and their owners on Lake St. Clair, MI, outside of Detroit. Ron Szolack originally launched this power party as a way of getting together with a dozen or so of his friends with Skaters for a fun run over a relaxing weekend. Eventually it outgrew his private residence and moved to the spacious surroundings of Lake St. Clair Metropark. Complete with a wide, multi-lane launch ramp, plenty of dock space reserved for Skaterfest guests, and covered picnic areas, Szolack greets each his guests like they’re family; among the annual attendees is Skater founder Peter Hledin. speedboat.com
photos by Skaterfest was scaled down considerably last year due to Covid, as it was necessary to limit the number of participants to 100 to allow entry into restaurants. “But it went right back up this year, and everyone had a good time,” Szolack says. With around 40 boats total, the group made their usual trek from Lake St. Clair, down the St. Clair River, stopping at Pepper Joe’s restaurant for lunch and at Lake St. Clair Metropark for dinner. On Sunday, participants traveled to Brownie’s on the Lake for lunch. The group included firsttime attendees Tyler Miller of the M-CON offshore race team and his wife, Lindsey, in their stunning red 368 Skater; returning
Tom Leigh
guests included Chris Ryder, who hasn’t missed a single Skaterfest since the event began a decade ago. Ryder was seen in his colorful 368 Skater. Also on hand: Todd Fountain in his 46 Skater, Pete Bogino in his 318 Skater, Mark DiMichelle in his 388 Skater, and Bill Grannis in his 36 Skater. Szolack told Speedboat that while Skaterfest continues to be a popular event, the 2021 edition will be the last one that he organizes. “This is the last one,” he says. “I did it for 10 years, and it’s just time to move on.” He did not rule out the possibility that Skaterfest might continue under different leadership, however. “Absolutely, somebody else can do it,” he chuckles. S P E E D B O A T | November/December 2021
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SKATER FEST Pete Bogino in his 318 Skater, powered by twin Mercury Racing 400R outboards.
JP Frohlich drives his 46 Skater.
Above: The fleet docks for lunch at Pepper Joe’s restaurant in St. Clair, MI. Below: Mark DiMichele and friends in his 388 Skater. Rob Turner pilots his 46’ Skater
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Todd Fountain’s 46 Skater (background) runs next to Justin Beischel’s 368 Skater (foreground).
Above: Steve Gordon in his 46 Skater.
Above: John Frohlich’s 40 Skater. Right: Skaterfest participants gather for a group photo at the Pepper Joe’s lunch stop.
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SKATER FEST Tyler and Lindsey Miller catch some air in their 368 Skater, Diggin’ Deep’r!
Left: Bill Grannis and friends prepare for the day’s fun in his 36 Skater.
Right: Skater owners depart Pepper Joe’s after lunch. Below: Chris Ryder and crew enjoy his 368 Skater.
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Brett’s
COVE Featuring
HAVASU FLASHBACK 1970 Outboard Blowout SNAKE ATTACK Idaho Jetboat Race
SPRING FEVER RAYSON CRAFT RESTORATION
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photography by
Ray Lee
SPRING
FEVER
A 1980s Rayson-Craft gets a new lease on life, thanks to Kenny Spring, who poured his heart and soul into this astonishing restoration.
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H
ere’s a 21' Rayson Craft with a great deal of history. Originally built in 1982 by Rudy Ramos for waterski racer Sam Maus, it has changed
hands several times, and has undergone at least two major restorations. The boat’s one consistent quality is its bright orange paint job, which has made it quite an eye-catcher throughout its 40-year-old life. A couple of years ago, Southern California resident Kenny Spring was combing the Internet, seeking an old boat he once owned—a 21' Rayson. After placing a want ad on a boating website, someone contacted him with a lead about where he might find a Rayson, which was located in New York. Spring made contact with the owner, a deal was struck, and soon the boat was being shipped from the Empire State to the Golden State. The boat was not in immaculate shape, to say the least. “Basically, we redid the whole thing,” Spring says, referring to both himself and his father Tom Spring, who owns the 18' Spitfire seen in the August 2021 issue of Speedboat. “We redid the gelcoat, replaced some rigging, had a lot of pieces powdercoated, and built a new motor and V-drive for it.” [Text continues on page 71] speedboat.com
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SPRING FEVER
Left: Here’s the RaysonCraft in its original incarnation—when it was raced by Sam Maus. Below: The boat as it looked when Kenny Spring purchased it from its previous owner in New York. The Rayson-Craft was without power, but still sported the foot pedals.
Left: To prepare for the new gelcoat, Spring and friends scrape the paint off the de-rigged boat (which had actually been repainted only recently). On the left are Mike Goins of Old Speed Marine and Steve Delight (wearing the hat), owner of the Home Blown Schiada flatbottom, who recently passed away in Parker, AZ. Goins played a huge part in the build. Below: Here’s the Rayson-Craft after all of the paint has been scraped off.
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Above and right: More views of the scraped and de-rigged Rayson.
Left: There was a soft spot in the floor that was cut out and replaced with new bolsa. Below: Poncho at Menace Marine begins to spray the new gelcoat.
Right: The application of the Rayson’s new gelcoat proceeds. Kenny Spring, the boat’s owner, designed all of the colors and graphics. Far right: After the gelcoat has been sprayed at Menace Marine, Poncho teaches Spring how to sand the hull. speedboat.com
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SPRING FEVER
Above left: The freshly regelcoated hull has been sanded and polished. Above right: The floor of the boat has now been completely recoated using paint acquired from Tractor Supply. Left: Towing the boat home from gelcoating, the boat suffered a crack in the cap. After this crack was repaired, an extra silver paint stripe was added to the side of the boat.
Left: The boat has now been re-rigged, with all gauges, steering wheel, foot pedals and other parts and hardware reinstalled into the Rayson. Above: Seats and rails are reinstalled. The starboard-side seat now faces backwards, navigator style.
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Above: As the Rayson continues to come together following its gelcoat and various fixes, Spring has laid a protective pit cover over the hull. Above right: Frank Randel at Randel Welding (Bakersfield, CA) built this new trailer completely from scratch. Below: Spring installs a 509 engine, which has since been replaced with a full race motor. Right and below right: Spring competes (and displays the boat) in Burley, ID.
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SPRING FEVER
This year, for the first time, Kenny Spring has been racing a boat; he has been part of the Southern California Speedboat Club’s season. The photos on these pages were taken at Lake Elsinore as part of Speedboat’s swimsuit edition earlier this year. Above, Spring’s 4-yearold son poses with our beautiful models.
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[Text continued from page 65] While an all-new gelcoat was applied by the team at Menace Marine of Castaic, CA, Spring began work on repairing everything else about the boat himself. That includes building a 475-c.i. GN-legal engine dynoed
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at 1,000 hp. Details of his work can be seen in the photos accompanying this article. “It’s bitchin’,” Spring says of the finished rocket. “It’s probably one of the best boats I’ve ever been in.” Top speed is around 112 mph.
In addition to his original and newer Rayson-Craft, Spring has owned half a dozen other hot boats, including a 25' Eliminator Daytona, 19' Howard Sport Skier and an Advantage Party Cat. For years, Spring has lived with his family in Torrance, CA, while working for the city of Culver City for the past 17 years. “Boats and engine building have always been my passion,” he says, “so I’ve been doing that stuff on the side for years. But I took the job working for the city because I knew it would be better for our family.” Unfortunately, that left Spring feeling rather dispirited. “I wasn’t getting fulfillment or gratification by working for the city—it was kind of the same old stuff every day,” he continues. “So the first thing I did was started racing. This is my first season racing with the Southern California Speedboat Club. I felt like I had something to prove to myself. And then I started talking to my wife about making a career change. We’ve decided to sell our house and move out to the river to open a shop, and she has been very supportive.” Expect to see Spring Family Motorsports open along the Colorado River in Fort Mohave, AZ, very soon!
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Valerie Collins • photos by Chuck Longwell
story by
HAVASU
FLASHBACK Recently unearthed slide photography reveals images of the once-great Lake Havasu Outboard World Championship event.
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R
ecently, I discovered a treasure trove of photos taken by my brother Chuck at the Lake Havasu Outboard World Championship event back in
1970. These images, half a century old, are a vibrant reminder
of this incredible race from a time when Havasu had only been established seven years before. As this issue went to press, this classic race was about to be revived for the first time in 20 years (look for full coverage in our next issue). The very first Lake Havasu Outboard World Championship event was held in 1964. Around 10,000 spectators lined the shores and 100 members of the press were on hand. Of the 67 entrants, two were women. The winner was Harold Eis, running a Stylecraft with twin Mercury outboards. He took home the prize of $3,200. The following year, there were more than 100 entrants and 12,000 spectators. Harold Eis won again, using twin Mercury outboards. In 1966, the boats were larger to take on the big waves of Lake Havasu. This time, 115 entrants started, but fewer than 50 finished. A triple engine, 20-foot Rayson Craft driven by Don Harper and Dutch Blazer won the $8,100 prize. Drivers came from around the globe to race in ’67, including Hawaii and Austria. The son of future U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Mike Reagan, was first to cross the finish line and win $9,000 with co-drivers Bill Cooper and Rudy Ramos driving a Mercury powered triple engine 24' Rayson Craft. Also on the entry list: Record setting team of Craig Breedlove (land speed record holder), Lee Taylor (world water speed record holder at that time) and Maj. Pete Knight, pilot of the then-fastest plane, the X-15. By 1968, the championship was dubbed the “highly addictive, richest, most prestigious conglomeration of hot boats and drivers in the world.” On this year, 133 boats were situated along a 1/4mile long beachfront pit area. Entrants were from the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Austria. The race was won by Kenny Kitson of Missouri driving Miss Diablo, a Switzercraft wing with twin Mercury 125s. Kitson took home $10,300 in cash and prizes; 56 boats finished from a field of 133. Second place was Cesare Scotti of Italy. In 1969, the purse was raised to a total of $50,000 and 119 boats entered, with only 45 able to finish. Cesare Scotti won the first prize of $15,000. Total horsepower rating of all entrants combined was about 50,000. Approximately 20,000 fans attended to watch a quarter of a million dollars of finely tuned racing equipment. Indy 500 driver Jim Hurtubise drove the 1969 OWC, which began to be called the “Indy 500 of Boat Racing.” The richest boat racing event in world history offered $64,700 in cash and prizes in 1970. The winner took home $18,000 and payments were made all the way down to 13th place. Reportedly, 114 boats entered from around the globe, including South African, K.M. Rontgen (grandson of the inventor of the X-Ray). Bill Seebold drove a 20-foot Ron Jones hull which developed a hole during the race—but as long as he continued to run at speed, he was able to keep the boat from sinking. Bill Sirois of Florida won the race and earned a total prize of $19,875. In 1971, the newly erected London Bridge was added [Text continues on page 76] speedboat.com
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HAVASU FLASHBACK Left: The notoriously rough water of Lake Havasu splintered this rare wooden wing-style tunnel boat and sent it back on the trailer with some major damage. Crashes such as these were commonplace during this wild test of endurance. Below: Triple Mercury outboards propelled this sleek ET-19 Switzer Wing, driven by Ed Stewart and Don Edmondson.
Below: Single-engine OMC powered Schulz tunnel, driven by Tom and Mac McCune of Denver, CO, finished 7th overall. Mac’s daughter, Melinda, also entered as a driver in the 1970 race, but according to the 1972 race program, the race committee felt the race required too much muscle for female drivers, and denied her entry.
Below: Winner of the 1970 Lake Havasu Classic, Up, Up and Away, a Molinari with twin Mercs, driven by Bill Sirois of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Teams with Mercury power on Molinari hulls designed by Angelo Molinari of Italy, finished in the top 4 spots. 2nd was Jim Merton of WI; 3rd was Renato Molinari (son of Angelo), and 4th, the top single-engine finisher, Bob Hering of WI.
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Left: UU-720’s Johnny Adair of Seattle, WA, piloted Popcorn, a Barracuda tunnel with stock twin Mercury engines. Barracuda Boats were built in Portland, OR.
Right: Drivers of this Team Mercury “hot-multi” were Bill Petty and Tinker Collinge (shown at the controls). It was one of the lightweight Glastron/ Molinari hulls.
Above: #114 Harris Marine Center, a Molinari powered by Mercury twins, was driven by Ron Brown of Ft Collins, CO. Below: This American Flag-designed twin Mercury powered hull was among a total of 114 entries to start in the 1970 World Championships.
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HAVASU FLASHBACK
[Text continued from page 72] Left: Color Me Clampon is an 18’ Glastron/Molinari powered by a Mercury 1250 BP Stacker in the S Class for 100-c.i. Unlimited Single Engine, and was owned by Frank Pillsbury and Don Neal of Texas.
Right: 1970 winner #998, Bill Sirois, completed 640 miles on the four-mile Havasu course in eight hours of competition, averaging 79.25 mph. He came back in 1971 and repeated his victory. But that was the last year for multi-engines. Starting in 1972, only single-engine entries were allowed. as the backdrop of the Outboard World Championship (dubbed “The Indianapolis of the Water”). Driver Bill Sirois won $18,000 in cash and Los Angeles Times writer, Lupi Saldana, published an article labeling him “The best tunnel-hull driver in the world.” Pepsi-Cola became the title sponsor in 1972, and the format was switched to single engine tunnel-hulls only. However, many still maintained the same speeds as the former multi-engine rockets. Race director and promoter Robert P. McCulloch Jr. hailed this change as a “true man-to-man test.” The prize purse was $65,000 ($25,000 from Ralph Evinrude and $40,000 from McCulloch Properties Inc). Powerboat Magazine sent
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eight photographers and six writers to cover the race. Grandstands were brought in from California to satisfy the desire to have “front row” seating at Spectator Point for hundreds of boat racing fans. The driver list in 1972 included Unlimited hydroplane Gold Cup winner Billy Schumacher. U.S. Mercury factory drivers included Bill Seebold, Reggie Fountain, Bob Hering and Bert Serra. Also racing were Cees Van der Velden from Holland, Bob Spalding and Tom Percival from England and Renato Molinari from Italy. From the OMC factory
were John Sanders, Ted May, Ron Hill, Jimbo McConnell, Tommy Posey and Cesare Scotti from Italy. Canadians included Barry Taylor, Oley Berkis, Thomas Wood, Roger Wood, Spencer Dunn, James DelGreco Jr, Karl Kasznai, Brian Smith and Dick Summerfeldt. Boatbuilder and racer Dieter Schulze from Austria was also in the field. The race was covered by numerous newspapers, magazines and television programs, which then was capped by the presentation of The McCulloch Perpetual Trophy to the overall winner. Michelob Beer presented jackets to the first 30 finishers as well as “rough going” trophies to the first 12 who dropped out. The Robert P. McCulloch Award went to the man selected for outstanding contributions to outboard racing and the OWC. Ralph Evinrude, chairman of the Outboard Marine Corporation, was a vital force in the OWC since its inception in 1963. Evinrude contributed personal funds to the purse for the race he called “the true testing ground for motors and hulls from which every boater can eventually benefit.” Lake Havasu City had only 9,000 residents in 1972. Founder Robert P. McCulloch and Master Planner-Designer, C.V. Wood Jr. each predicted correctly that so many thousands of boat racing fans being introduced to Lake Havasu City through the world famous Outboard World Championship, would return again to sample the city’s numerous other pleasures. speedboat.com
OZARK DAREDEVILS We ran a ton of boats, and we were up about 30 boats from last year. The crowds were humongous, especially on the water. All of the events were well attended and we had excellent participation. It was just fantastic.” Also on the itinerary this year was the Wishing on a Ride event, which ran out of both Performance Boat Center and Captain Ron’s. “We also restored our Float Your Boat races, where people make their own boats, which is a lot of fun. We had a mini shootout, which had a good turnout, and of course the Street Party was very well attended as well.” Super Cat Fest, a concurrent event described as “the ultimate showcase of highperformance catamaran hardware,” was headquartered at the Camden on the Lake Resort. Typically, this adjunct event features a huge bikini contest; however, this year, an all-new concept was launched: the Bikini Life Fashion Show, which became a fundraising event. As various swimsuits were auctioned off, money was raised for Camden general manager Nicole Torres and her husband Pierre Torres, who is the Executive Chef at Performance Boat Center‘s popular eateries, including Lakeside Grill. The couple has a 2-year-old son, Elijah Torres, who is suffering from an autoimmune condition and has to stay at a local hospital. Funds raised for the Torres family will go to offset their medical expenses. “Pierre and I want to say, from the bottom of our hearts, how much it means to us that the community would consider Elijah for this fundraiser,” Torrez told Speedboat. “We want to express our gratitude for everybody’s generosity. Please know how much it will help us to heal Elijah and provide a great life for him in the future. We also want to thank Super Cat Fest, Alvin Heathman, Nolan Ferris, Camden on the Lake Resort, Performance Boat Center and all of the incredible sponsors that took part in this event, even the ones that couldn’t attend but still donated.” The fashion show, as well as another big auction event, was run by emcee Nolan Ferris, a philanthropist whose passion is to help people in need. “The enthusiasm was just over and above,” he told Speedboat. “Everybody was happy, high-fiving and shaking hands. And when we did the charitable stuff, it was just wide open. A guy bought a skateboard for $10,000 built by DCB.” Another popular item is the shot ski, and speedboat.com
[Text continued from page 16] this year, two of them were auctioned off. “One went on Friday, and one on Saturday,” Ferris said. “Both got bought and then were donated back to auction again. On Friday, one sold for $3,000 each time, and the one Saturday night sold first for $3,000 and then $4,000.” In a similar situation, Ferris auctioned off a pair of propeller-themed diamond necklaces in the $14,000 range, one of which was donated back for an additional sale. “It was just a cool giving spirit,”
Ferris said. “Alex Pratt from Good Boy Vodka donated a case of vodka to be delivered to your address every month for a year.” Longtime Super Cat Fest supporter John Woodruff (owner of the 48' MTI Windship) was unable to attend this year, but donated the Friday night fireworks show, as well as the catered dinner served at the charity auction. According to Super Cat Fest organizer Alvin Heathman, the event helped raise in excess of $60,000 for charity.
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story and photography by
Marlene Mignerey
SNAKE ATTACK
Jet boat competitors converge on Idaho’s infamous waterway for the Thunder on the Snake race.
This year’s racers pose with race officials, above. Top: Pure Insanity on the course.
T Above: A Class racers Ryan Rogers and his son River took their Pure Insanity machine to first place.
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he 2021 edition of the Thunder on the Snake Jet Boat Race was won by veteran racer Ryan Rogers of Lewiston, ID. Rogers surprised the racing community after coming out of his retirement these past couple of years and rac-
ing with his son, River, as his navigator. Roger’s A Class boat, Pure Insanity, is powered by a 468 small block Chevy. Its elapsed time was 1:36:58, making them the winners in A Class as well as the overall winners of the race. The first Thunder on the Snake Jet Boat Race was held in August of 2011. However, the Snake River has been the premier location for world-class racing since the 1980s. The local racing pioneers, Doug Riddle, Rick Gage and Rich Rogers (Ryan’s father) brought the first World Jet Boat Marathon to the Snake River in 1988. This world event alternates every four years between New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the USA. Originally, 2020 was the USA’s year for the world marathon, but due to Covid-19, this race has been postponed until 2022. The event will start in midMay and include rivers in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.
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Sneaky Snake, with driver Ryan Hudson and navigator Mike Benson, finished second in A Class with a time of 1:49:43. In addition to navigating, Benson is one of the race organizers.
Maniacs, driven by Jeff Edwardsen and navigated by his son Jeremy Edwardsen, finished third in A Class with a time of 1:49:43. Jeff is also one of the race organizers.
Below: First place in FX Class was Fatal Attraction, with driver Chris Barger and navigator Brandon Hunt, both of Orotino, ID. The pair finished with a time of 2:09:54. Right: Second place in FX Class was Alcohaulin’, with driver Mike Lindsey and navigator Riley Brooks of Lewiston, ID, with a time of 2:15:01. Below right: Predator II, with brothers Shay and Grady White, came in third place in FX class with a time of 2:21:21.
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SNAKE ATTACK
Jet Boat Racing icon Leo Wright was born December
20, 1939, in Kentucky. He passed away on Sept. 3, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer. Leo and his wife, Cristina from Las Vegas, NV, and currently residing in Mead, WA, were known as race competitors from Mexico to Alberta, and the premier racing venues of New Zealand. Leo raced the Balsa Marathon in Mexico beginning in 1973 and continuing for nearly 20 years. He won the race twice and ran 31 times in Mexico grand total. He was the first American in 1990 to win the World Championship event in Mexico. In the 1970’s Leo piloted California fiberglass boats. He later
switched to aluminum boats while competing in Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, and USA races. His win in 2004 was the coveted overall World Championship held on the Yuba, Feather, and Sacramento rivers of central California. He was always ready to help his fellow competitors. He was a true international ambassador for the sport of jet boat river racing and his country. Leo also supported many aluminum race boat builders over the years and contributed to the rapid development of the sport. After retiring from racing, Leo and Cristina remained involved as organizers and sponsors of both the races and individual teams.
2021OFFSHORE 2021 OFFSHORE HEROES [Text continued from page 44] 30' Phantom piloted by Micheal Stancombe and JJ Turk—got the best of its five competitors in Michigan City. Also in the mix these past few races were Bulletproof (with George Ivey and Craig Belfatto) and May Marine (with Steve La Pinta and Ron May), the latter of which scored a second-place finish in Morehead City. CLASS 6: As with Modified Vee, competition in this class yielded a different winner at every one of the recent venues. In St. Clair, the 26' Joker Deception (with Jesse Schmig and Robert Bryant) emerged victorious over the field of eight, including Smith Brothers Racing, Moderation and Punchin’ Hulls. A week later, in Michigan City, it was points leader Rum Runners’ chance to shine, as Michael McColgan and Francis Vellutatu Jr. enjoyed their fourth win of the season in their 26' Larry Smith hull. Neither Deception nor Rum Runners came to St. Pete, which gave an edge to Mark Conrod (D) and Chase Gerard (T) in the 26' Corsa Gerard Marine, edging out Offshore Outlaw and Bad Company. Finally, out of a field of nine boats that traveled to Morehead City, it was Smith Brothers’ moment in the spotlight, with Rich and Pete Smith scoring their first win of the season in the 26' Joker hull. It was followed by Rum Runners, Wicked and Moderation. CLASS 7: Nauti Boys, a 22' Progression hull piloted by James Jaonyczk and Joe Reilly Sr., went home from their races in St. Clair and Morehead City with first-place trophies; Jackhammer (a 22' Velocity piloted by Brian Guy and Julian Maldonado) finished second at St. Clair and third in Morehead City, while Goofin’ Around finished second in Morehead City. It was a different story in Michigan City, where Punisher (a 22' Velocity piloted by Derek Dawson and Beau Purtle) defeated Jackhammer and Chug It. In St. Pete, Jackhammer won, running against only one other boat, El Boss. Race World Offshore’s meet in Clearwater, FL (Sept. 24-26) will clear the way for teams to converge in Fort Myers, FL, Oct. 7-9, then in Key West for the RWO World Finals, Nov. 7-14, and finally in Englewood, FL, for the OPA/Powerboat P1 World Finals, Nov. 18-21. Look for full coverage in the next issue of Speedboat!
INDUSTRY NEWS [Continued from page 12] weekend-long event, which is considered the best-attended airshow in the U.S. • Hook and Johnson, whose Mystic cat was formerly campaigned by Christopher Cox and Herb Stotler. It has been repainted, refurbished and rechristened JHook. • Austin and Mike Carver in their MTI V-42, powered by five Mercury Racing 450R outboards. This was the first-ever APBA-sanctioned event to feature a center console. Its official time was 1:31:05, with an average speed of 69.92 mph. • Allen Bellinghausen, Tony Adams and Steve Seaton in a 47' Outerlimits vee bottom known as Patriotic Duty. Its official time was 1:36:00, with an average speed of 70.32 mph. • Walt and Lance Ware, Huntington Beach locals who will drove a diesel-powered 48' V-bottom Apisa, designed by Larry Smith of Scarab fame. Their official time was 1:41:15, with an average speed of 66.67 mph. • Findley Gillespie and Bruce Dudley in a 28' vee bottom Bat Boat by Reindl Powerboats. Their official time was 1:46:36, with an average speed of 63.31 mph. This version of the Ocean Cup race was the latest incarnation of the Catalina Island Challenge—the first recorded U.S. offshore race in 1911. In 1968, legendary racer and Powerboat Magazine founder Bob Nordskog dubbed these races “Rum Runs.” Bob’s grandson, Erik Nordskog, hosted the event’s livestream broadcast with veteran offshore powerboat racing announcer Mike Yowaiski. “This year was a little calmer than last year,” Hook said. “The weather forecast predicted two-and-a-half-footers off the coast of Huntington Beach and threefooters around the island. But there wasn’t much at all. It was pretty flat, with a few swells and bumpy patches on either ends of the island.” Hook said that one of the most newsworthy parts of the race was that it was the very first APBA race with a center console. “I imagined it would be going right around 60 mph, but this boat was the star of the show,” he said. “It had close to the second-fastest time. We started last, so we were catching up with each of the
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boats and passing them. But the MTI was the last boat we caught, and we didn’t catch them until we passed the southwest side of the island where it was pretty rough. But the boat was handling it so nicely with those five outboards on the back. I texted Randy Scism of MTI after the race to tell him how impressed I was. It was running full speed through three- to four-footers, and flying as level as a race boat.” Hook added: “One of the important things about Ocean Cup is that it’s under
the UIM rules and regulations, and has met all the right standards. The boats have to be well-prepared—not many race boats would go 130 miles in open ocean conditions and finish, but we were delighted to have 100 percent completion. Unfortunately, the last boat to come in—the Bat Boat, driven by our friend Findley Gillespie—had its GPS go out. They were trying to follow the other boats, but it gets confusing with all the dozens of cargo ships and oil derricks out there.”
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