Originally Posted by Top Banana

Old race boats are usually retired to storage sheds or stripped of their engines and drives and left as bare hulls and decks in the corner of boat yards. Today's fans are left with little more than grainy black and white photos or video clips from races held 20 plus years ago.

But why save them?
The only thing missing was a both an organization that would recognize their value and venues to bring them to. We now have both.

A new organization has been formed by Charlie McCarthy (Top Banana) racer and boat builder.

HISTORIC OFFSHORE RACE BOAT ASSOCIATION
(HORBA)
Charlie Mccarthy, Mananging Director

I turned to my friends for help with this, and the following people, all of whom have been involved in the sport for many years, have agreed to serve on the HORBA Advisory Board.
Allan Brown - (Brownie) racer, boat builder, historian.
John Crouse - author of Searace.
Barry Cohen - racer, boat builder.
Bob Saccenti - racer, boat builder.
Pepe Nunez - racer, boat builder.
Mark McManus - racer, boat builder.
Bill Frenz - racer, poker run promoter.
Steve Berk - (Lucky Strike) racer.
Ed Cozzi - racer, marine surveyor.
Stan Fitts - APBA Offshore Vice President.

What qualifies a boat for Historical status?
Boats (deepV's, cats, tri-hulls, outboards, inboards, sterndrives, surface drives) that have ever raced in the "Offshore Class" of any sanctioning body, at least 15 years ago or longer, qualifies. If the boat has a real race history, it is in.

What venues are we talking about?
The National Powerboat Association, one of the top Poker Run organizations in the country, has extended the HORBA organization an invitation to come and participate. The New York City Poker Run will allow any Historic Boat that is a registered member of HORBA to run in a special new class that has been made just for these boats.

The HORBA boats will be on public display throughout the weekend for viewing. This will be our first official event which will be held this summer on June 17, 2006.

I am sure we will have other invitations from race sites as well as other poker runs, once we get up and running.

UPDATE We have been invited to join the race events put on by OPA, they even volunteered to put on a special race for HORBA boats....details to come later.

UPDATE We have been invited to the Key West World Championship races in November. Display of HORBA old race boats all week, and a special one day in the water event...details to come later.

Membership Inquiries?
We are trying to determine how many Historic Boats are out there. If you are interested in joining HORBA, please e-mail us so that you will be put on the mailing list for updates and send us all the information on your boat, history, drivers etc.

[email protected]

Originally Posted by Les Quam

Just out of curiosity what ever happened to the Top Banana boat raced on the national circuit starting in 1979 that won the Bushmills that year?

Originally Posted by Ryan Beckley

Hey Mike post 347 doesn't quite qualify? Skater / Fountain chopped/hacked/abortion