Outerlimits Offshore Powerboat Racing Team Takes On 2007
 

VIES TO RETAIN ITS 2006 OSS VEE NATIONAL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

When you build the strongest, lightest, and fastest Vee-bottom performance boat on the market, it is natural to “Go Racing!” As Outerlimits Powerboats heads to the casino town of Biloxi, MS for the Offshore Super Series (OSS) Season opener, March 23-25, the company is betting on a “repeat.”

Outerlimits Powerboats opted to take the waters with OSS at the 2006 National and World Championship races. The new 40’ racing hull, built by Outerlimits President, Mike Fiore, for long time friend and racer, Joe Sgro, was at peak performance and took both OSS Vee Class Championship titles.

The 40’ boat was specially designed and built for today’s tighter, shorter race courses and required specific tooling for the dedicated hull and deck. The boat conforms to the OSS rules and standards, complete with Mercury Racing 525 engines and #6 drives.

This year, Champion throttleman Joe Sgro, will act as mentor to rookie driver, John Makepeace. Makepeace, a Massachusetts native who grew up boating with his family, got his introduction to high performance boating from Mike Fiore himself. “About 8 or 9 years ago, I bought a couple of powerboats and broke both of them,” says Makepeace, “Then I met Mike and bought an Outerlimits. He taught me how to really drive the boat—since I grew up on the water it’s like a ‘thing’ inside me—I feel at home in this powerboat.”

Sgro, one of the first Sportsman Class inductees into the American Powerboat Association (APBA) Hall of Champions, says, “I think [Makepeace] is going to do well. He’s young, strong and aggressive—all the right qualities for racing.”

The duo will make its debut in Biloxi and the competition will be tight as the team fights to retain its titles. “When you’re the Champion, you’ve got a target on your back!” Sgro laughs.

In 2007, the Outerlimits Offshore Powerboat racing effort will be two-fold, with Fiore joining the European Powerboat P1 circuit. He will throttle with Sgro at the helm and when Sgro has a conflict with the OSS season, veteran racer and Outerlimits’ customer, Bob Russel, will substitute as driver. Russell and Fiore teamed up in 2001 and 2002 and won back-to-back APBA PX Class World Championships.

Racing is a complement to Outerlimits’ extensive “Poker Run” schedule, blending the competition of offshore racing and the pure enjoyment of recreational boating. Outerlimits uses the same highly-technological custom-building style in both racing and pleasure boats.
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Carbon fiber, post-cured (oven-baked) epoxy construction results in boats that are light, strong and fast. While the U.S. race boat has an enclosed canopy for additional safety, the race team is enhanced by the expertise of its pilots—talented and experienced in the rigors of the sport.

The current OSS race schedule begins in Biloxi, MS and travels through the popular waterfront markets of Greer’s Ferry, AK, Pickwick, TN, Jacksonville, FL and then to Outerlimits’ home turf, Newport, RI. After Orange Beach, AL, the National Championships will be held at the Lake of the Ozarks, MI. Other race locations are still pending.

“We knew we had the technology to build the best-handling boat, perfectly suited to today’s offshore racing tracks,” said Mike Fiore, “Last year we proved we had what it takes and this year, we can even more finely tune our team.”

Outerlimits is widely recognized by its top-of-the-line, brilliantly painted, sleek-lined powerboats and by its NASCAR-style, service transporter that travels to many events across the country. Outerlimits’ commitment to service is also recognized as top-quality and part of the company’s mission in building and backing the finest powerboats on the market.