OPC, the Outboard Performance Category of APBA, was the outgrowth of boat racing enthusiasts' desire in the 50's and early 60's to compete in their family boats with standard mass produced outboard motors larger than the 40 cubic inch motors racing in the APBA Stock Outboard Category. This desire led in 1961 to the hugely successful race on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Florida, run under APBA's Special Events, and organized by E. C. Kiekhaefer, the legendary head of Mercury Outboards, under rules prepared by Charlie Strang, his right hand man at Mercury, and Jimmy Jost. This 6-hour marathon had 62 entries and was won by Jon Culver and co-driver Chuck Merserau. In 1962 Jon Culver was appointed Chairman of the newly formed OPC Category, with Edgar Rose as Chairman of the Technical Committee in charge of the rapidly evolving rules. Though OPC was initially called "Outboard Pleasure Craft" the name was changed a number of years later to "Outboard Performance Craft".

The first OPC National Championships were held in 1963 at Lake George, NY and consisted of Closed Course Nationals, Marathon Nationals, and Kilo Trials. National Championships have been held annually ever since, with more than 200 entries at some of them.

Initially, the boats were true pleasure craft but as some of the drivers wanted more speed, OPC gradually evolved new classes allowing flat bottom boats, and subsequently tunnel boats. These boats were pioneered by Dieter Schulze of Austria and Angelo Molinari of Italy. Angelo's son Renato went on to perfect his father's designs. The size and power of outboard motors continually increased, hitting a peak in the 1980's when the Outboard Marine Corporation headed by Charlie Strang funded for several years the U.S. Formula One circuit in which the tunnel boats were powered by V-8 400 horsepower Johnsons and Evinrudes. Mercurys were almost as powerful. At one of the OPC National Championships during the 80's two of the greatest OPC drivers, Billy Seebold, Jr. for Mercury and Jimbo McConnel for Evinrude diced it out, each winning one heat and the contest had to be decided on total time, McConnel winning by a razor thin margin of one-hundredths of a second. The highest OPC speed record of 143.7 mph is held by Todd Bowden who drove a Mercury powered tunnel boat.

Races are held throughout the USA and through the year. Both clock starts and modified Le Mans starts are used as announced in the Race Circular. National records for each class are kept for the top straightaway speeds over a one-kilometer distance, and for the top speeds achieved during competition. OPC has always been in the forefront of accommodating technological developments in outboard motors and provides for level field competition not only for older motors but also the newest outboard motors available in marine dealerships.

Classes

Sport C; 35 cubic inch motors on true tunnel hulls. 10 to 12 foot
boats average in the 50 and 60 mph range. Flying speed of 65 mph.

SST 45; a real drivers class, utilizing the OMC 44.9 cubic inch
motor with a racing gearcase. This highly competitive class had a
straight-away kilo record of over 87 mph.

SST 60; using 14 foot tunnels and the OMC 56 cubic inch stock
motor this class skims across the water at almost 95 mph top end.

SST 100; 15 foot boats with OMC 122 cubic inch stock
powerheads on a racing midsection and gearcase, these boats top
out around 100 mph.

SST 120 ; one of the most competitive classes, the 120 kilo record
is in excess of 121 mph in 16 to 17 foot tunnel hulls. The Mercury
and Mariner motors are essentially stock on racing mid-sections
and gearcase. It is not unusual to see three to five of these boats
hit the turn together at 100 mph. Familiar to TV viewers worldwide.


Formula V; the only class still using true V-bottoms, these boats
use any motor up to 100 cubic inches. Using a "formula" for
handicapping the boats by weight you will see motors from 50 to
100 c.i. on 13 to 16 foot boats. Allowing for modifications these
boats will average in the 50's and reach top end speeds
approaching 80. Almost a "run what you brung" it is not unusual
to see some boats and motors older than some of the drivers.

Champ Boat; highly modified 122 cubic inch Mercury Marine
products propel these 17 foot tunnel boats at speeds in the 130
mph range. The "Indy cars" of the water racing world these boats
are seen almost weekly on the large sports cable networks.

Mod U; for modified unlimited, this is where the art of raw
horsepower explodes. Usually using a 18 foot tunnel hull this
class can hit speeds in excess of 140 mph. You will see the few
remaining V-8 OMC's compete with the biggest V-6 motors from
Mercury.

The Series

APR, American Performance Racing, showcases the SST 60 and
SST 120 classes. The APR travels throughout the south and
mid-west, From Columbus Ohio to Orlando, Florida. One of the
most competitive series they have international affiliations and a
weekly segment on "Water Sports World". For information: 304.
455-2049


PTT, the Pro Tunnel Tour does not actually conduct races they
run in conjunction with other events. The PTT highlights the SST
45 class. Information; 708. 546-5961.

NORA, the National Outboard Racing Association, conducts
races primarily in the South running a variety of classes with SST
120, SST 60, Mod U and Formula V being the featured classes. For
information 803. 844-8739

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