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power boat racing...

Vintage & Historic

Preserving the Tradition

The V&H category is about more than just racing - it’s about bringing together multiple generations of racers who love the sport and enjoy sharing experiences of the past 100 years of racing with the entire race community. These boats are as beautiful as they are powerful and members are always willing to share the story of their boat, and all the amazing history of the APBA. These owners and drivers bring the APBA’s racing history to life by showing their boats to the public both on shore and on the water. Fans attending a V&H event for the first time will be amazed at how far powerboat racing has come over the years, and equally amazing is the APBA’s dedication to preserving the history that helped shape the motor racing world to what it is today. 

Classes

Vintage Boats: a "Vintage" boat is deginated to have been constructed between 1946 and 1986 and must have been a racing hull at one time in its history

Historic Boats: A "Historic" boat is designated to have been constructed between 1900 & 1945.

Restored
Spirit of Vintage
Vintage Re-creation

Restored

A restored boat is a racing boat that could have participated in APBA sanctioned events at the time of its original construction, with a measurable part of the original hull structure, hardware, engine or appendages still in use. Engine types used in the restoration must resemble one found in the original model. If, due to scarcity of original components, a larger engine is used, the type and approximate power output of the original must be maintained. 

Vintage & Historic Powerboat Racing

Spirit of Vintage

Spirit of Vintage Boats are racing boats built to resemble a boat from the Vintage or Historic Eras. The dimensions and configuraitons of these boats should be similar to the boats that previously participated in APBA events. Engines must resemble those found in the original in type or approximate power outbut.

A Spirit of Vintage boat can be named after the vintage or historic boat that it was built ro resemble on two conditions:

  1. The original boat is not in existence
  2. The Suffix "R" appears after the hull number on the boat

 

Vintage Powerboat Racing

Vintage Re-creation

Recreation boats are complete reproductions or replicas of a racing boat that would have participated in APBA sanctioned events at the time of original construction. To be considered a recreation, several criteria must be met:

  • The original boat that is being recreated must no longer exist.
  • No apparent content or components from the original boat are used, but all dimensions, basic construction technique, engine type, hardware, paint scheme and name accurately replicate the boat that it is patterned (named) after. 
  • The engine type must resemble one found in the original.
  • If, due to scarcity of original components, a later engine is used, the type and approximate power output of the original must be maintained.
Replica Powerboats