User:Bonefish37/OPA - Offshore Powerboat Association

OPA - Offshore Powerboat Association

The Offshore Powerboat Association - OPA - was formed in 2001 by Ed Smith of Brick NJ who serves as the President. Board Members include Augie Pensa and Louie (the Rigger) Giancontieri. Over the past few years OPA has grown dramatically due to its high level of competition and camaraderie between the teams. OPA is also the home of the "Jersey Boyz" Racing Teams. The Jersey Boyz have become synonymous with OPA most notably for their Race Pits parties and on water racing accomplishments.

OPA was founded as a home for smaller teams on a budget with a race schedule between Maryland and Michigan. All races could be driven to within 12 hours by all teams. OPA's base of racers comes from the Speed Bracket Classes that allows for any boat new or old to race in a class based on the boats top speed. These six classes range from 65 miles per hour to 115 miles per hour. OPA can provide a place to race for virtually almost any boat.

In 2006 OPA began to offer classes for larger boats running gas engine of any displacement and even turbine engines. As of 2010, OPA offers all classes both for Spec and Bracket Speed boats.

In 2008, OPA hosted the Geico Triple Crown races. This minor sponsorship has turned into a full sponsorship of the 2010 OPA Racing Season. For 2010, the series will be known as the Geico Racing Series, sanctioned by OPA. Along with sponsorship of the series comes a television package that will have all 2010 televised nationally. The Miss Geico Racing Team will be highly visible at all 2010 OPA Racing events. For more info about Miss Geico see Wiki.

The 2010 OPA Schedule is as follows:

'''Ocean City MD – May 28 – 30

Sunny Isles Beach, FL – June 11 – 13

Harrison Township, MI – July 16 – 18

St Clair, MI July 23 – 25

Patchogue Long Island August 20-22

Atlantic City, NJ – Sept 10-12

Cambridge Maryland – Sept 24-26

Orange Beach, Alabama on October 19-24''' - Two Race World Championship Format

OPA in the news

Miss Geico in the news

Miss Geico Promo Video