WORLD OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP - Powerboat Archive

WORLD OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP
SPEED RECORDS AT STAKE
Bob Nordskog
Michael Doxtord
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ftl ttsnore racing history is about to be
V made in a big hurry. Within a period
of only six weeks, late September to
early November, a new world offshore
driving champion will be crowned and
the existing official speed record apoears
almost certain to be broken.
The rush for ocean racing immortality
will occur as a result of the 7th Annual
Powerboat Magazine World Offshore
Speed Trials on September 29 at
Marina del Rey, California and the first
ever World Offshore Championship
Race at Key West, Florida held on
November 1 2.
Due to the advent of the "super light"
deep vee hull created from Dupont's
new Kevlar 49 armaid fiber plus several
horsepower making engine improvements,
speed marks in all classes seem
within easy reach of many competitors.
lf weather conditions will coooerate as
in the past, the early morning one
nautical mile high speed attempts just
north of Marina del Rey Harbor should
generate a host of new records.
The primary interest of course will
focus on the ooen class I boats which
will be shooting at Bob Nordskog's
90.555 mph two-way average set in
1976. Nordskog is again the odds-on
favorite to break and retain the world
speed title with his just completed 39
foot Kevlar Cigarette powered by twin
turbocharged Chevrolet engines prepared
in his Van Nuys, California based
Competition Center. Given favorable
water conditions, Nordskog should
easily up the record by several miles
per hour edging ever closer to the
magical century speed mark. lt is interesting
to note that the offshore speed
record has escalated some 14 miles
per hour in only the last seven years.
The progression has been steady as six
consecutive years have established
new official speed standards. lt should
also be noted that Nordskog has held
the record in 1971-75-76. He is the
only driver who has claimed the title
more than once.
For this year's competition, Nordskog
is likely to receive a stiff challenge from
a pair of Kevlar built 38 foot Bertrams

uri';en by Preston Henn and Rocky
Aoki. Both boats appear capable of
speeds over 90 miles per hour on any
given day. In addition to the fierce battle
for open class honors, Production boats
will also take aim at their respective
division records. The Soort class mark
at 8O mph held by Jim Ross will probably
be hotly contested by lovely lady
driver Sandy Black of New Baltimore,
Michigan in Lil' Rhino. Likewise, Modified
and Production class speed standards
will also be in jeopardy as more
than a dozen of the best ocean racing
pilots vie for record book recognition
in this once a year opportunity for world
speed marks.
Although all-out speed is the prime
factor in setting one mile records, it
doesn't necessarily determine the
winner of an ocean race, especially
an event like the World Offshore Championship
at Key West, Florida on November
12. For the first time, offshore
racers representing five continents will
meet during one colossal ocean racing
encounter to decide the world champion
for 1977. This single event format
is a complete departure from previous
years which required racers, desirous
of the prestigious world title, to spend
great sums of money and time traveling
the globe in order to acquire enough
points to achieve the overall crown.
Finally after lengthy persuasion by Bob
Nordskog to the UIM offshore commission
it was agreed that the single
race plan should be adopted beginning
this year.
Now, offshore competitors must fight
to win their respective continental
championships which qualify them for
a berth at the world finals. Each continent
is allowed to send its three too
ranking drivers from each of the UIM offshore
classes I and ll plus the cabin
cruiser division to the Key West battlegrouno.
Thus far the World Offshore Championship
entry list is reading like a
'Who's Who' of the sport. Confirmed
entries to this point include Michael
Doxford of England, winner of the South
African title; Peter Dean of Australia,
overall victor in Australia; and Bob
Nordskog, the chamPion of South
America. Still the North American and
European championships are yet to be
decided. The U.S. title is a six-way dog
fight between Joel Halpern, JoeY
lppolito, Preston Henn, Betty Cook,
Rocky Aoki and Sandy Satullo, all still
having excellent chances to make the
top three with only two races to go on
the schedule. In Europe, the same kind
of battle is brewing with the ltalians
looking to make it a clean sweeP for
their country if possible.
Powerboat Magazine has been haPPY
to assist the Key West Race Committee
with the enormous task of organizing
this spectacular event and wishes to
extend an invitation to all of our readers
to attend the race.
NEW JERSEY OFFSHORE POWERBOAT
RACING ASSOCIATION. INC.
SIX DOWN AND FOUR TO GO
Things are getting tighter and tighter and
with four races left on the schedule,
anybody can be US I in the Offshore Class.
The pattern established earlier this year
continues, with the hot boats breaking down
and a new winner almost every race.
Experience, speed, and dependability are the
name of the game and the last four races will
determine who will be US l.
The River Crab Classic was held on June
l7 and Point Pleasant's own Joey lppolito,
won the first race of his career. There is
something special about a first win in
Offshore and NEJOPRA would like to
congratulate Joey, his crew and the
Anheuser-Busch people for their success in
their NATURAL LIGHT, a 35' Cigarette
with Kiekhaefer Aeromarine engines. Our
congratulations, also, to "superwoman,"
Betty Cook, for her close second place finish
in her 38' Scarab, to Joel Halpern, who was
third, in his 38' Cobra, and to Wayne Szarka,
who finished fourth. Front-runner, Preston
Henn, Rocky Aoki, Sandy Satullo and
Diamond Don Smith, did not finish due to
mechanical problems, so as usual, everything
tightened up. Point standings after the first
six races are as follows:
l. Betty Cook. ......1,14'7
2.JoeIppolito.... ..1,094
3. Joel Halpern ........896
4.PrestonHenn. ......830
5.RockyAoki.
.......'167
6. SandySatullo .......564
7. Billy Martin ........525
8. TomGentry ........400
Twenty-one drivers have points in the
Offshore Class and any of the above eight,
with some consistency in the last four races,
could be Overall Winner, or iertainly in the
top three, and qualify for the World
Championship Race later on in the year.
We regret that we have no official point
standings at this time for the Production
Classes. However. Newsletter No. 6 which
will be our wrap-up letter will bring
everything up to date for all classes.
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