Any way you look at it, 2018 was a great year—maybe even the best one yet—for the Offshore Powerboat Association. Not only did the New Jersey-headquartered outfit produce six successful races from Central Missouri to Southwest Florida, as well as events in Maryland, Michigan and New Jersey, it began collaborating with Powerboat P1 on a six-race American Power Boat Association Championship series for 2019. The series will kick off May 17-18 in Cocoa Beach, Fla., before moving to other venues in Florida, Indiana and Michigan—and finally back to Florida.
Allyson Papp was honored with the 2018 Jimmy Welsh Award and shared the stage with OPA stalwart Augie Pensa (click image to enlarge). Photos courtesy/copyright Tim Sharkey/Sharkey Images.
Given all the Extreme, Super Cat, Stock and Super Vee Lite teams reportedly committed to the series, that’s a giant step for OPA—and one that is sure to bring significant changes to the organization. But one thing will never change: OPA is a family, some members associated by blood and others simply by extension—all bonded by their shared passion for offshore racing.
And so the OPA family members celebrated their 2018 season last Saturday night at Martell’s Lobster House and Tiki Bar in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
Read More: Breaking Bread—Inside The OPA Awards Banquet
Check out the slideshow above for more images from the 2018 OPA Awards Banquet.
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