This weekend's race is part of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) race circuit. OPA is the primary sanctioning body for Lake Race, and the Lake of the Ozarks event is one of the best-attended OPA races.
“OPA has kept the bracketed class racers in the sport,” Racer Nick Scafidi, Owner/Driver of the Shadow Pirate/Nick’s Creative Marine Super Stock boat commented. “They have kept it affordable for anyone who gets the racing bug, and they have some big guns racing with them as well.”
Lake Race brings powerboat racers on an uncommon journey to the Midwest when it draws them to Lake of the Ozarks. OPA racers mostly live and race in the northern part of the United States. Another sanctioning entity, Super Boat International (SBI), headquartered in Key West, Fla., draws more racers from the southeast. A new sanctioning contender, Race World Offshore (RWO) also out of Key West, was launched in 2017. RWO has five races scheduled in 2018. (OPA Racing and the American Power Boat Association [APBA] have been a joint sanction, since 2014.)
Lake Race is Unique
One thing racers agree on...they love Lake Race! “Lake Race is unique,” Super Vee Lite World Champion Driver Stephen Kildahl enthused. Kildahl took the first place trophy in the Super Vee Lite Class at Lake Race 2017 in his boat Boatfloater.com. “We can run at higher speeds than on the ocean,” he explained. “I consider Lake Race a sort of drag race. Not having the 5-foot seas allows us to stretch our legs a bit, and enjoy the race. It’s also a great course to test out new equipment.”
Lake of Champions
Lake Race is increasingly becoming a “can’t-miss” event for racers who are serious about competing in OPA. Last year, among OPA’s six races, Lake of the Ozarks’ Lake Race was the second-most attended, with 36 participants.
“Last year was our first time at Lake Race and we were pretty excited,” Alex & Ani throttleman Serafino Cazzani said. “The Lake of the Ozarks is a high performance boat mecca where some of the fastest boats in the world are headquartered, teams like CMS, PBC/Jimmy Johns and Wake Effects. The best of the best are here, the ones with the most experience, speed records and world championships. It’s a challenge to come into Randy Scism’s backyard and run against him in front of his family and friends. The fresh water is less buoyant than salt water and slows the boats down a little. I wouldn't be surprised if Scism has a secret tool for fresh water."
Racers also love the excitement of race fans in the pits. “Everyone welcomed us like we were their neighbors,” Nick Scafidi added. “To see so many people show up for a powerboat race is huge!"
The Boats
In 2018, OPA will offer nine races, with 12 classes, however, any class of offshore boats are welcome and can race under their own set of rules, as long as there are five boats competing in that class. Otherwise, any boat can fit into one of the speed bracket classes.
Class racing is an inexpensive way to race. In Production Class Racing, there are no strict engine specifications to follow, as long as a boat can run 60 mph. There are currently seven brackets in the Production Classes. OPA Racing also offers four Spec classes, which include Super Cat, Super Vee Lite, Super Vee Xtreme and Super Stock, and one open class, the Extreme. An exhibition race, such as a Pontoon Class, can be added if a race site requests one. Any size, or type, of pontoon can enter the pontoon class.
In the 12 regular classes, the Chief Referee places the boats in the appropriate class, based on an engine rev limiter, propeller size and pitch calculation. Sometimes several classes of boats race at the same time. Different classes do not run against each other, as each Class runs only against the ones running in their class. The twelve individual classes are broken up into separate races, and there are several races happening at same time. The numbers on the front of each boat will indicate what class they are racing in. This is why spectators and racers have to be careful not to think the race is over for all the boats in a competition when the checkered flag is raised.
Titles, Championships and Trophies
OPA racers earn points at each of the sanctioned race events in which they particpate. The points are added up at the end of the racing season. To qualify as an OPA National Champion, a racer must attend the National Championship race and four OPA national sanctioned races. Lake Race is an OPA sanctioned race. Divisional races do not qualify for National Points. The high points title holder receives the “Stugots Cup.” OPA may elect to offer an annual Kilo speed record run for its registered members as well. Also, the "Godfather Cup,” a perpetual trophy established by Augie Pensa, is awarded to the OPA member that displays the most excellence and sportsman-like conduct throughout the year. The "Jimmy Welsh Trophy" is another perpetual trophy that is awarded to an OPA crew member (non-racing member) for displaying the highest dedication and excellence throughout the year.
The Money
The purse is divided evenly between all classes that have at least five participants. The breakdown is as follows within each class: 1st Place - 50 percent, 2nd Place - 30 percent and 3rd Place - 20 percent. Those percentages come from the amount the race site raises for the event. Racers pay an annual OPA membership fee, a $1,500 equipment registration fee, and an annual APBA membership fee.
OPA’s mission is for everyone to have fun, enjoy each other’s company, travel to some great race sites and race boats. It’s a simple combination of fun, food and racing that the racers seem to enjoy.
“Smitty and everyone at OPA and Lake Race do an excellent job,” Scazzini ended. “OPA is the best, they treat the little guys the same as the big. And they do everything they can to make sure the race stays safe.”
