Hall of Fame

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NPBA Hall of Famer Bob Saccenti

The Magic Throttle Arm Offshore Racer and Manufacturer Bob Saccenti joins the National Powerboat Association's Hall of Fame August 21, 2015.


Bobby's Race Boat Affiliations:
36’ Cigarette Blonde / 28’ Cigarette Mighty Mouse I / 28’ Cigarette Mighty Mouse II / 28’ Cigarette Flying Machine / 36’ Cigarette Popeye / 44’ MSV La Tortuga / 36’ Cigarette Baccarat / 32’ Cobra Renegade / 35’ Cigarette Jerry Jacoby / 29’ Mirage Scorpion / 37.5 Cigarette Ajac Hawk / 35’ Cigarette Fast Company / 39’ Cigarette Fast Company / 39’ Squadron Apache / 45’ Cigarette Parker Meridian / 41’ Apache Warpath / 41’ Apache Team Apache / 41’ Apache Warpath II / 41’ Apache Cat / 47’ Apache Team Apache / 41’ Apache Meanstreak / 36’ Apache Geronimo / 36’ Apache Team Apache

Awards:
1976 Florida Governors Cup / 1980 Boating Magazine Offshore Design Award / 1981 APBA Crew Chief of The Year / 1983 George Linder Designers Award / 1984 APBA World Championship / 1985 UIM World Championship runner up / 1986 United States Championship US1 / 1986 APBA Throttle Man of The Year / 2007 Geico Racing Team United We Race Award / 2013 Guernsey Gold Cup United Kingdom

Past Race Originations and Affiliations: H.O.R.B.A. / A.P.B.A. / S.B.I. / U.I. M. / O.P.B.R.A. / N.J.O.P.R.A. / P.O.P.R.A. / G.L.O.P.A.

NPBA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: 2008

The Freshmen

Top Row left to right: Roger Munn, Rich Luhrs, Tom Akouri, Peter Aitken,  The late Mike DeGeorgio's son and daughter (from S & S Prop), Charlie McCarthy, Ray Patneude, Rolf Papke Bottom row: Mike Schoderer, Lindsie Pirie, Chris Lavin, Joe Sgro,
Guy LaMotta, John Bochis, Me, John Coen.
Missing from the picture are Ron Barrette, Jimmy Macintyre, Sal Sciandra, and Peter Mazzo..

Watch the Hall of Fame presentations at the 2008 NYC Powerboat Poker Run

The following achieved the required votes and were inducted on June 13th, 2008, 7 PM,

at the NEW YORK CITY POWERBOAT POKER RUN. 
tap/click the underlined & italicized names to watch the inductee video clips

Date: June 1, 2008 

 1. Billy Frenz: a Racer, a  Musician, and the “Showman” that makes all this  HAPPEN!!! 
 2. Pete Aitkin: BLACK DUCK RACING; 30 Shadow Cat w/twin Merc O/B’s then triples…became a legend!
Jim McIntyre: MAD MAC RACING, 32 Scorpion, triple Merc O/B’s…this was just the beginning, he is still in the “game” today in a big way.
 3. Ron Barrette: OVERDOSE, SUPERDOSE, MAXED OUT RACING, 30 Superboat w/O/B’s, 40 Skater Cat. …names say it all!!!
 4. Rich Luhrs: SHADOW RACING, Image 21 O/B and the 1st 30 Shadow Cat…Designer, Builder, Commentator Extraordinaire…he knows everything about the “game.
 5. Joe Sgro: FEVER RACING, 28 Manta w/Small Blocks …ran over 80 mph back in the 80’s, realized you go faster by chine-walking since you only use half the “coefficient of drag”…currently a star on the OUTERLIMITS/LUCAS Race Team… Tester of the new Racing neck/helmet support brace.
6. Guy LaMotta: DRY MARTINI, 27 Magnum w/Holman & Moody’s, 40 Cigarette, 53 Magnum…a great competitor, innovator, and connoisseur to our sport!
 7. Sal Sciandra: AWESOME RACING, 32 Scorpion, 36 Eliminator Cat, 40 Skater Cat…1986 NPBA CHAMPION and still one of the fastest guys on the water!
 8. Chris Lavin and Mark Lavin (Deceased): JESSE JAMES RACING, 28 Cigarette in 1984, 30 Chris Cat, 35 Conquest Cat…Courageous is a term that fits the Lavin Bros and their memorable style!!! “Hats-off” to their dedication & contributions to the sport…forever!
 9. Larry Smith: OUTRAGEOUS RACING, 30 Sutphen in 1979, 33 Sutphen, initially powered by Jim Ross Engines in the 30 and later powered by Bill Flynn’s tachometer’s needles past 9,000 rpms(no rev-limiters) to make 92+ mph…!
10. Steve Berk: GREAT ADVENTURE, WINGS RACING, 30 Sutphen, 28 Cigarette,…numerous fast boats since then…he loves the rough water where real men race!
11. Pete Mazzo: DYNAMITE RACING, NO DISCIPLINE; presently runs a 46 Outerlimits and is a “legend” on the Poker Run circuit.
12. John Bochis: CRAZY GREEK; the name says it all, racing on Barnegat Bay since 1974, rose to “fame” on the NPBA Circuit and still goes faaaast!
13. Michael Georgio (Deceased): S and S Propellers’ Patriarch and an asset to all teams that wanted to go faster. Michael ran with the EXTRACTOR RACE TEAM on the NPBA Circuit.
14. Tom Akoury, HIGH ROLLER, BLACK DUCK RACING; Throttleman extrordinaire, started on the NPBA Circuit and conquered APBA also.
15. Joey Detore, (Deceased), M-77 SUPERBOAT, started in 1976 at Billy’s Gateway Powerboat Regatta and achieved “fame” while racing with Reggie and  beating those “Movie Stars” on Lake Ponchetrain.
16. Joey Impresscia, EAST COAST MARINE PERFORMANCE; started racing with Joey Detore in 1976 at the Gateway Powerboat Regatta and has made a “World Class” profession of it.
17. Charlie McCarthy, BANANA BOAT; Showed up in Greenwich to race with his 24 Banana Boat, “Fast Lady” (Cigarette)and never looked back.
18. Peter Meyer, LADY L, INSTIGATOR; From a 28 Signature to his 38 Fountain, Peter has become a World Champion
19. Rolf Papke, STILETTO, PROROC RACING; Another success story in the industry of Hi-Performance Boating headquartered in Brick, NJ.
20. John Coen, SUPERBOAT , Builder of the Superboats of Long Island and my first nemesis in Class “A” Club Racing. He has sustained the test of time and become a legend in the industry.
21. Tony Caligure, OCEAN OUTBOARD; Tony’s 24 Checkmate made his mark on the NPBA Circuit and founded Ocean Outboard, Inc of Freeport, NY.
22. Roger Munn, JOLLY ROGER; Famous for winnimg races in his 27 Magnum where ever he entered. He dominated the fleet!
23. George Linder, designed our Shadows, Conquests, plus the Chris Cats including all of the Jesse James Cats.
24. Tim Ciasulli: MAXON RACE TEAM…still leading the way in his 51 OUTERLIMITS “Planetman”.25.
Lindsey Pirie: Indigo Race Team…he built the boat!
26. Steve Schoderer; Indigo Race Team wouldn’t have won all of those GATEWAY POWERBOAT REGATTA’S back in the 70’s without Steve’s talent!
27. Reggie Fountain: …  ", the LEGENDARY"!
28. Joe Barrese: ..at 81 years old (c.2008), still does his own “wrenchin’” AND GOES 92 mph!
29. Ray Patnaude; a racer and organizer from New Jersey…the “behind the scenes” guy that make the New Jersey scene tick.

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2009 INDUCTEES INTO THE NATIONAL POWERBOAT ASSOCIATION'S HALL OF FAME.

The Sophomores

Top Row left to right: Richie Powers, Frank Lach, Kurt Burger, Mark Tangas, Gino Montrone, Frank Buckley
2nd row: Fred Talrico, Natalie Frenz and Billy Frenz accepting for Jack Rea (deceased), Tim Sharkey, Peter Myers, John D'Elia, Phi Fillipone
3rd row: Jeff Gerardi, John Emmons, Dave Patenaude, Joe Calabro and crew, Mike Alesse

Watch the 2009 NPBA Hall of Fame Sophomore class nominee video

2009 Sophomore Class Nominees

Stu Hayim (Recovery)
John D’Elia (Special Edition)
Sky Gillespie - Deceased, (Executioner Tunnel)
Rick Felsen (Hawk Racing Team)
Billy Martin (Bounty Hunter)
Tom Caruso (Total Marine)
Kurt Burger (Smokey and the Bandit)
Fred Talarico (Big Shot)
Jim Laznovsky (Extractor)
Mark Tangas (Profit Taker)
John Demeno (Armed and Dangerous; B-52 Bomber(not the red boat),
Tim Sharkey (Apollo)
The Fillipone Brothers (Double Vision)
Werner Kuenzle (Borderline)
J.D. D’Elia (Breakaway)
Matt Leuci, Aldo Aleszczuck, Gino Montrone (Instant Air)
Joe Calabro, Bob Idoni, Mike Alesse (Phantom)
Jeff Gerardi (Acapulco Gold, Panama Red, Freeze Frame)
Rudy DiPietro (Scarab)
Frank Buckley (HMS Dea Won), Richie Zul (Zul Racing)
Rich Danscicin (Town and Country)

2012 NPBA Hall of Fame Inductees 

The Juniors

 
Mike Fusco “JET SET”, GE Tubine powered 40 Skater Cat
John Ruggieri 26 Scarab NOVA, 40 Activator, “WHITE LIGHTNING”
Rich Troppoli ‘ ShockWave’ 27 Magnum, 42 Fountain Canopy, “RIO ROSES”, 9ooHP Mercs
Tommy Fancher 38 Cigarette, 37 OUTERLIMITS
Johnny O’loughlin 38 Hustler Slingshot “RUNNING LATE”, 37 Outerlimits, ”LETS ROCK”,42 Outerlimits, “WHAT A GAS”, 42 Outerlimits GTX ,”ALL FIRED UP”,42 MTI Race Boat, “JUSTICE IS COMING”, 48 Outerlimits Supercat, “JUSTICE”, 40 MTI R/P Cat, “RED EYE EXPRESS”, 48 MTI Supercat, “TERMINATOR”
Vinny Rifice “ COLOR ME BAD” Skater Cat, “ BAD”. 32 Skater Cat
David Dall 27 Excalibur Speedster, 377 Scarab, 38 Cigarette “PARTY DALL”
Marcus Zavattaro 20 Formula, "LONG GONE", 21 Scarab, 32 Hustler "OBSESSION" , 37 Outerlimits, "ZAZU", 37 Outerlimits, “ZAZU II”, 37 Outerlimits, “WILD CHILD”.
Ozzie Castellnou 32 PowerPlay, 36 NorTech Cat, 43 NorTech w/1075HP Mercs, “Wizard of Oz”
Dr. Steve Thiele 28 Skater, “WHIPLASH”, 32 Ilmor powered Skater
Chris Cestaro Owner of Ocean Performance, Old Saybrook , CT
Steve Barker 39 Sonic w/triple 750HP Cobras, 43 Nortech w/1075HP Mercs, ”For My Girls”
Paul Kohloff 25 SeaBird Stiletto w/LS6 & Merc #3, 28 Cigarette, 27 Excalibur, 40 Fountain w/twin BIG Blower motors and ‘Merc Speedies’
Tommy Abraham 38 Cigarette Top Gun, 42 Cigarette “Endangered Species”, 36 Cigarette Gladiator, 45 Cigarette Maximus, 46 Cigarette (red yellow black), 46 Cigarette(yellow purple) 36 MTI, 42 MTI.
Tom Masotta “Time Out”, 32 Scorpion​

Hall of Fame Boat Videos

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