Offshore racing
 

Have you ever been to a offshore race? Do tell. If not move on. This treads not for you. This sight was built around people that you have to love for living an racing offshore. Not people that have never lived the dream. Please old school people stay with us we need your input. Thank you so much for what you do for the sport we love you. Artie

I have been. Saw the races in the Chesapeake when I was younger. Last one I made was Clearwater 2 yrs ago. I have a very demanding work schedule and haven't been off for another that I wasn't in class yet. Had a blast at the Clearwater race. Plan on hitting many more when I finish getting a bigger license and have more time off.

Looking forward to KW this year! Should be exciting, with the close competition in the SB Class, the SB Stock, and especially the Unlimiteds...with RF3, Alex and Ani, Qatar, CMS, Gasse and Envy all on deck with Geico! Can't wait!!!

My father rigged for Miller / Saccenti in the 70's in Hollywood and N. Miami. I used to sweep floors, polish parts , sort stainless bolts ,and dream all summer. I remember them handing my dad a big stack of cash and asking him to rent a motorhome for the Key West race. We loaded up with food and drinks for the crew and took off. The motorhome kept backfiring out the carb every time my dad would hold the heat to it ,so it took forever to get to Key West.(The bridges were only one lane in each direction with guardrails made of the old train rails). They had team shirts for all of us and I felt like King $hit ! They prepped quite a few boats at the shop ( Popeye - La Tortuga 44 MSV , Mighty Mouse , Boogie Bear Production class and more). We attended quite a few more races over the next few years with the teams. I was able to meet some of the best the business ( Bob Saccenti , Sonny Miller, , Brownie, ect ). When I started building my race boat , guys like Joe at Offshore (pre Dollar Marine) Jay Ross at Sonic, just said " take it and pay for it when you can". Knocky House would never let me pay for any prop work...... These were the guys that shaped the sport because they love the challenge and I am proud to have met them !!!

My father used to take me to Pt. Pleasant NJ as a kid and in 1976 to Atlantic City, plus the Barnegat Bay races. I met Rocky Aoki, Betty Cook, ect...Had bee going to the races since 1973-1974....went to the race in Atlantic City (this summer), and I was at the race in the Chesapeake (back in the day) that ICU Lookin referenced when Zero Defect was there. I have never been a racer in an organized race, it is a regret....

The days of the Cigarettes, Magnums, Bertrams, Coyote, and even Scarabs, and many other brands raced too I took all of those pictures except the one of Pepe Nunez and Dr. Bob Magoon, I just wanted to put those picturesin there too, I have posted them before but that does not mean some OSO members have seen them, enjoy.

I never got to the old school races as I was a child back then lol.

I have been going to the Clearwater races since it started here and have never missed a year yet. Mom use to take me to Sarasota and a few keys races as she always loved the sport when I was growing up.

Did I see correctly where the times of last weekends race was 21 min, 23 min ???? We used to do laps at Sarasota that were 26+ miles long. Class 1 Boats ran 150-200 miles, Now a Race is over within 30 min... Not Cool!!!!! You mean to tell me Betty Cook was Tuffer than Big Scotty ??? :)

:DAs a member of the CBPBA I got hooked on racing in the 80's and would help out as flag guy in the pace boats. They had races at the Bay Bridge and 1 year in the Baltimore harbor to the Key Bridge. Had some big players show up like Reggie, Art Lilly and Alcone to name a few. Have been to every KW Worlds since 2001.

I met Betty Cook back in the day when race was out of Freeport Long Island,she was racing the Kaama Scarab at the time. Was just a kid but those were great times.

My dad started in 1982 driving for Bobby Sheer. I grew up watching him throttle Skaters and Spectres until I was finally old enough to join him...he stepped out of the big cats and hopped in a 27 foot vee bottom with me in 2009 and we haven't looked back. That was 2 boats ago now though...

YOU don't go offshore anymore all they do is run in circles no throttling or navigating oh well and the prize money hasn't gotten any better what gives???

Yes, I have been watching Offshore Powerboat Races since the 80's along with other forms of boat racing such as Drag Boat Racing and Unlimited Hydro Plane Races. Since seeing Offshore Racing I got hooked on it as a spectator and have attend all local Races on Lake St. Clair, Detroit River and St. Clair River. I have also attended Offshore Races in Toronto at the Ontario Place Offshore Challange in the 90's on Lake Ontario. The Detroit International Offshore Powerboat Championships in the Motor City was always a dream for me that finally came true. Two great waterfronts in two great Cities and two great Countries that offered spectators on both sides of the Detroit River great viewing of the entire race course. Many will say that it isn't the same as it use to be in the Ocean where you had to navigate the course in big water but unfortunately times have changed and we make the best of what is available and what spectators want. It's all about the spectators and they have been treated to some great racing where they can watch the entire race with family and friends along the waterfront and see the boats going by more often. I have also seen Poker Runs and enjoyed seeing them go by to their next Poker Card Stop and oftened wondered, if there were no Poker Runs just how many of these big and fast boats would be Offshore Powerboat Racing? I don't remember Poker Runs in the 70's but in the late 80's I think it started but I could be wrong. I'm looking forward to 2015 and going to watch Offshore Powerboat Racing and looking forward to the Detroit International Powerboat Championships in the Motor City and one day I may go to the Key West Offshore Powerboat World Championship.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]530543[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]530544[/ATTACH]News to me

Been to a couple. Would love to do the Bimini run if my boat ever gets finished.

Saw my first race Key West 1982, have been hooked ever since, living the dream!

Thanks! Great story's. keep them coming.

The first race I went to was Point Pleasant in 1980. Started racing in 83/84. I was one lucky bastard. I was racing with some of the legends. I was an 18 year old kid that got to live the dream. I look back on it now and it always brings a smile to my face.

I'll never forget the drivers meeting for the final race in Key West in 1985. Rocky Aoki sat down next to me! He gave me some words of encouragement. One of my heroes sitting next to me at a drivers meeting and telling me I could win! And we did!

I will never forget that. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Yes she was, I Grew up in NJ and my Dad was the dockmaster at Kings Grant Inn(Pits for the Hennessy and Benihana. Betty Cook was one of my idols and still have an autograph.

I remember as a young child seeing the Lady L for the first time at our marina in the 80's. I knew then I would be racing boats!

Been to several. There was a race from richmond to Virginia beach and back called the Rudee Run. Reggie flew in for one of them. Also first turbine boat I had ever seen made the run once, early 90s. Had a couple of buddies who would volunteer as safety boat to get closer to the course. Saw zero defect at Kent Narrows. Even pulled the R&R racing guys out of the water in Ocean City when they took on a bunch of water. Got on ESPN for 2.3 seconds then, too. Used to love the Va Beach race on Labor Day weekend. INXS enclosed 47, Pete Rose and the hit king fountain, even Joe Theisman when his leg faced the right way.

Saw a few races on the Chesapeake over the years and always wished I had one of their boats. Not sure if it ever raced on the Chesapeake but I got one a couple years back.

http://www.supernova19.com/108818000.jpg

Funny thing, the wife and kids took a cruise to the Bahamas a couple weeks back. Now my wife, kids and my boat all have been to Bahamas. I haven't.

How many of Todays Offshore Racing Boats could actually make it to the Bahamas??? Some don't/Cant carry enough fuel, Some would Snap in Half at the thought of crossing the Gulfstream :)

In the open class we had a joke that we pulled on any new racers.

Hi welcome to the open class, just wanted you to know .......that there is an inside bet the drivers have ......that is $1,000 to the driver that makes it first .......to the first checkpoint.

Of course, we didn't and there was never any money paid, but in the hopes the new guy would try and end up blowing his engines, we used it.

In Detroit one year, we spotted a new boat and looked at the name on the driver list......well, this guy had raced one time the year before, but he still might go for it. Nope, Bobby Saccenti notices his throttleman is none other than Billy Sirois. He would know right away it wasn't true.

So, we never got topull that joke on Al Copeland with the new Popeyes boat.

As a child growing up on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan boating was a passion and our family boat was a 21' Donzi Hornet. In 1977 my father took my brother and I down to Port Huron Harbor and to Charlie's River Crab to see all the offshore race boats attending the "Charlie's Crab St. Clair River Classic" there must have been 40 or more boats. Although I don't recall being able to see the race my time spent in the dry pits was memorable as well as influential. Little did I know that 23 years later I would be a participant in the "Pro Series 2000 St Clair River Classic". It was my first race in my Factory 2 Formula.

Driver Packet
[ATTACH=CONFIG]530562[/ATTACH]

We did the Bimini run a few years ago, out of Sunny Isles. 30' Skater, 2- 2.5 280's (Diamond Marine) Kyler Talbot drove (with a hand held GPS) and I throttled. made it there and back in 1hr 37min. The water color out there was amazing. We passed a whale on the way back, seriously!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]530564[/ATTACH]

here are the whales ryan
http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...yisles/2-3.jpg


http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/l...nyisles/15.jpg

Ryan's not lying, I saw the whale too! Saw it on the way out to Bimini. Round trip in 43 minutes..

Pretty much the same story / timeline for me. Have gone to most of the races held in NJ since I was a kid in the early 70's.

Still go every year.

Mine was built for it.

Long Island Sound, Newburyport, MA, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Long Beach, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Key West, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Coco Beach, Daytona Beach. The most memorable was Key West 2003? when Sbi, OSS, and APBA all ran together, that and about 100 boats from the Florida Powerboat Club.

My Dad raced a 30' Shadow Cat called Black Duck from 80-84. Won a couple national and world(Key West) titles. I was just a youngin back then but I remember sitting on the Galleon deck in KW watching my Dad go by in a battle for 1st with the 30' Chris Cat Thriller in 84(The Duck won it that year). Back then they only did 2-3 laps of 30-60 miles. Not its like 5-15 laps of 6 miles. You actually had to navigate back then.

We still have the timeshare at the Galleon so I get down there every couple of years to watch the races.

Hows your dad?

I have only actually attended two boat races. One in Galveston in 1995, and the race in Biloxi this year. But I have been a fan for a long time. I would scroll tv guide looking for televised offshore races, used to record them on VHS just to see the boats and drivers. I knew Jack Carmody, before he died in Corpus, I used to sell ski boats in Austin, and Carmody owned the Carlos and Charlies on Lake Travis, often he would have that 46 Skater parked in a slip by the restaurant and fire it up, I think he tried to get a race on Lake Travis, but never quite got it off the ground. Recently I acquired a 35 Fountain that might make in a race in Biloxi, if not pretty sure it will be parked so I can have a better view. I know a lot of people put big money in poker run boats, and then act like it is a race, but offshore racing is the real deal, I hope to see more of it.

Al Copelands house party , '93 APBA Nat. race in Alabama , was a thing of LEGEND!.......Buffet tables overflowing with seafood!...... Crabs as big as dinner plates!.......Grand entrance by Reggie F in a salt crusted black jumpsuit with full MR T gold chains was a sight to behold...... I have to go , getting a little teary eyed.......

That's my favorite memory's. rooster tails you could see all the way on the north side of the lake. Al sure through the best party's. Rest in peace Al. Your greatly missed.

Nice. My 1967 race boat wouldn't hit 145mph even if it was being towed by the space shuttle. lol

Doing well Butch. His new boat is water testing this week. First ever 30' Rage(Activator) with twin OB's(300xs) done up in the black duck colors. Should be a fun ride!

It's in the blood. My dad was a mechanic for Blue Blazes hydro in the 50's. He would wade out with me on his shoulders to watch the races when I was a kid. Then I found the offshore boats..... Unfortunatley Dad passed in 82. Been watching the races since the early 80's. Have always loved the race boats. Head to the Keys every chance I get to catch the races there, and try not to miss too many close to home. Now I am part owner of a marine store/repair shop, which sometimes gets in the way of life. I can now say that I am the proud owner of one of those magnificent machines from back in the day. Magnum Maltese hull #2801. Now all I have to do is finish putting it back together.

I'm telling you Tom, "The Cobe Classic Boat Show at the Fort" (ft smallwood)