Oct. 2003
Team Donzi added another jewel to its offshore racing crown by capturing the 2003 National Championship in the highly competitive American Powerboat Association Racing League Super Vee classification. Carrying forward the momentum of a wildly successful re-entry into powerboat competition in 2002, the #193 Team Donzi Super Vee, co-sponsored by HK Research, made its intentions for a championship known. By the Marathon, FL race in May, they took the lead in points and would not relinquish that position for the remainder of the season. “We knew two things going into this racing season: Super Vee was going to be a very fast and competitive class and the stresses that are put on a race boat this size are tremendous,” said David Higgins, National Sales Manager for HK Research Corporation. “Donzi gave us the chance to test HK Research gel coats under extremely rough racing conditions this season, and we are excited to help sponsor their successful championship team.”
Success, it turns out, breeds success. Team Donzi paired veteran throttleman Lee Murray with the reigning National Champion driver Doug Valentine. They raced a closed-canopy model 38ZR (produced with HK Research gel coat technology) equipped with twin Mercury 525 racing engines, and specially configured for Super Vee competition. The combination of speed, balance and maneuverability proved to be nearly unstoppable, elevating #193 as many as 110 points above the competition en route to the National title.
While HK Research joins Team Donzi in celebrating the thrill of a championship, the knowledge gained from racing provides valuable insights into gel coat technology. “HK Research produced a gel coat that handled the stresses of offshore racing while maintaining the beauty and luster we build into all our gel coat products. If HK can produce a gel coat suitable for the racing environment, that same gel coat will exceed anything a boat owner could do to their watercraft”, said Higgins. “Everyone wins”. (See Editor’s Note)
For more information about Donzi Marine and Team Donzi Racing, visit www.donzimarine.com. For information about the American Powerboat Association Racing League, visit www.apba-offshore.com.
Editor’s Note: It is with great sadness that we learned of the untimely death of Steve Simon, Team Donzi’s Director of Racing. To view a tribute to his life and work,
please click on the following link: http://www.donzimarine.com/DonziWebsite/Site/simon/stevesimon.html
