ARGENTINIAN POWERBOAT RACER AIMS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
PARADISE ISLAND, Nassau, The Bahamas -Fresh off a Super Boat class victory in New York on Sept. 8, Argentinian offshore powerboat racer Daniel Scioli is poised to win a second consecutive national powerboat racing title at the Atlantis Bahamas Super Boat Challege, set for Saturday, Sept. 28.
"For us, it is really important because of the difficulty in coordinating this (racing) effort," said Scioli, 39, an appliance distributor from Buenos Aires. "You have me coming in from Argentina and (throttleman Fabio) Buzzi arriving from Italy.
"It's a lot of travel and to coordinate the maintenance and travel schedule of the boat for United States races requires much effort," said Scioli, who drives with a special prothesesis to replace his right arm lost in a 1989 offshore accident. "We don't work to win (individual) races, we work the whole year to win the championship."
Scioli and Buzzi pilot La Gran Argentina, a fin-tailed, 50-foot-long Superboat equipped with four, 1,100-hp diesel engines. Their mono-hull boat was designed to withstand the pounding of rough water, but has difficulty in competing against faster catamarans on smooth seas.
"Calm water racing has been the weakest part of the boat," said Scioli. "But we've made some efforts to increase horsepower and besides, being the fastest doesn't always mean a win."
Scioli's past track record proves that. Besides last year's first national championship, he has two consecutive world titles to his credit, achieved in 1994 and 1995. Thus far, during the 1996 racing season, La Gran Argentina has two wins, a second and fourth-place finish on its docket.
In his native homeland, Scioli is a sports hero, acknowledged by a major Argentinean daily newspaper as one of the country's top five most-recognized athletes. There are South American television commercials featuring Scioli and his boat for Marlboro. The tobacco company was even persuaded to sponsor a major trophy for competitors for this year's best performer among SBI's Superboat class.
But be certain that the 10-mile race course around Paradise Island will not be an easy cakewalk for Scioli. Among other Super Boat class contenders are Jim Robinson of Miami Beach, Fla., and Bobby Moore of Miramar, Fla., who race in Nuff Respect a quick 46-foot Skater catamaran that beat Scioli in Key West, Fla., this past May.
In the Super Limited class, Ken Silverman of Great Falls, Va., is on top of the national points leaderboard in Riveted, while Airborne, driven by Randy Roberts of Key West leads the Modifed class. Puerto Rico's Juan Santiago has a slight edge in the Pro class in Kamikaze while Texaco Havoline, piloted by Robert McElheny of Anna Maria, Fla., leads the Stock class.
SBI president John Carbonell expects more than 35 boats to line up for the scheduled 1:08 p.m. start in Nassau Harbor. Five classes of boats are to race in a clockwise direction through Nassau Harbor and around Paradise Island. Superboat and Superboat Limited classes are to complete 12 laps.
Last year's inaugural Atlantis Bahamas event marked the return of offshore racing to the island following an eight-year absence. Bahamas tourism officials were delighted with last year's race and wasted no time in confirming the remainder of a three-year commitment to SBI.
Race headquarters are to be situated at Atlantis, Paradise Island, a $125 million, marine-themed resort that is offering special resort packages for the race weekend.
More race details are available from SBI, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (305) 296-6166, or by contacting Atlantis, at 1-800-321-3000, daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In Nassau dial (809) 363-3000.
The Atlantis Bahamas event which is to be broadcast on ESPN on a tape delay basis and live to audiences in Argentina is a prelude to a SBI/American Power Boat Association Key West World Championship, a two-race series slated for Key West, Fla., Nov. 4-9.
Back to the Atlantis Bahamas Super Boat Challenge
Back to the Offshore Powerboat Racing Homepage