OFFSHORE SUPER SERIES POWERBOAT RACING ASSOCIATION AND FIRST ANNUAL HOOSIER OFFSHORE CLASSIC
January 17, 2011
Indianapolis, In: Organizers for the 1st Annual Hoosier Offshore Classic Powerboat Race are working with state, regional and local officials to bring offshore powerboat racing to Bloomington, Indiana. Race Producer, Rick Lehman, first met with racers and Team Lucas Oil – Peppers owners, Micheal and George Stancombe in 2008 to start the planning process. They brought in Offshore Super Series Powerboat Racing Association (OSS) race staff and officials to organize efforts for coordinating a world class event.
Lehman is excited to bring such a prestigious group of race teams to Indiana and said, “We are working with the Indiana Motorsport Initiatives, the Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Monroe County office of the Department of Natural Resources along with various other entities. The focus is on creating a weekend festival for families to come and enjoy the beauty of the Lake Monroe area and see some of the top offshore boat teams compete. It will be an adrenaline filled weekend all in a family friendly environment.”
The recent alliance of OSS and American Power Boat Association (APBA) brings the prestige of Union Internationale Motonautique (U.I.M.) sanctioning to this event. U.I.M. is the international governing body of power boating. This race should draw not only top-ranked national but international teams to be among the competitors.
The event will bring travel and tourism revenues to a top recreational and collegiate sports area. The weekend will feature some of the fastest offshore race teams competing for points and cash purses. The teams typically arrive with their families for a long weekend vacation. Fans of racing come to cheer on their favorite drivers and throttlemen.
OSS CARES, which is the charitable division of OSS, coordinates with local and regional charities to give children and families a unique, one-of-a-kind experience as they meet the race teams and participate in the weekend activities.
Race committee members include: Rick Lehman of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ellen Greenleaf, Micheal Stancombe, Rick Davis, Les Sebring of Indianapolis, Indiana and John Brunner of Dallas, Texas. OSS officials Jim Koert and Mike Mares have been advising Lehman on the race course layout and various safety issues to ensure a successful event.
Lehman also stated, “Indiana is known for racing; the Indianapolis 500, the NASCAR Brickyard 400 and the Madison Gold Cup Hydroplane Regatta, to mention a few, so it’s only natural that we add offshore powerboat racing to our list of events. The event will only add to the State’s attraction for the motorsport industry.”
The tentative race dates are September 16th-18th of 2011 with festivities starting earlier in the week.
For more information visit: www.hoosieroffshoreclassic.com or www.offshoresuperseries.com
Contact Race Producer:
Rick Lehman
lehrmct@comcast.net
260-740-6105.
Ellen Greenleaf:
OSS Media/Events
ebgleaf@hotmail.com
317.409.3776
All articles, photos and logos published in PowerboatPro´s Offshore Super Series news section, courtesy of OSS.
