Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

Ron, very well put....

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

I'm sure some others will fill in some of the blanks but I recall APBA being the only game in town back in the 70s.

Then some of the bigger high dollar teams hired John Carbonnel to run a series just for the them. It was called OPT, Offshore Professional Tour. It lasted a few years until the money stopped flowing and some of the teams left the sport.

OPT went under but John kept going as SBR, Super Boat Racing.

Around the same time, the group in NJ decided APBA wasn't doing things the right way and formed US Offshore.

SBR had some financial problems and started SBI, Superboat International.

US Offshore fell apart when Bill Gifford decided to call it quits and then OPA filled in where Bill left off.

Billy Frenz also ran a series in Long Island called NPBA - National Power Boating Association.

Then came APBA Offshore LLC, which has now become APBA offshore Racing.

Sorry, no timelines but I do have a TShirt from each of them.

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

Racing Cigarettes (the early days of offshore) in the 1970's ran in the low 70's....... 90 was unheard of until cats forced the issue and drive heights were raised...... in the 80's.

T2x

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

Ron, Do you remember USPBA, Early to Mid 80's? Ran a few race's then folded. I remember Joey Imrecia was part of the tech. team. They raced in Connecticut @ Long Island. Bring back the old day's !!

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

Don't forget guys offshore racing was brought on by drug runners,if it wer'nt for the need for fast boats that could run across the ocean in any condition of water,There may not have ever been a need to build such an animal.I guess all good things come out of all conditions!I'm to young to remember the days of races from florida to the bahamas,but it was an organized event that alowed drug dealers to easily get by customs right under their noses!Of course it did'nt take to long for them to realize what was happening.

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

Do they all still fit? :)

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

I'm not sure exactly what channel, etc. but I remember growing up in the mid 80's and seeing offshore racing on TV and just getting hooked. Boats like Ohio Steel, Inxs, etc. There was one German boat I believe that ran diesels from what I recall....anybody remember this boat?

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

http://www.rogerwittenberns.com/personal.html

found inxs

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

http://www.biggerhammer.net/offshorepage/photo/lga.jpg

You mean this boat?

Lots of history from the mid 90s can be found at this link.
http://www.biggerhammer.net/offshorepage/teams.html

Re: Offshore Racing......Then and Now
 

I thought it was a japanese or chinese guy? I think it had a huge wing on the back, I'm gonna have to think about that one.

Racing today sucks compared to what it used to be, the race in GH this past weekend was a 5 mile course, I remember when this race used to be 15+ miles one way! Thats a real test of a product, not this mamby pamby BS.