Throttleman, innovator

Powers has been active in offshore powerboat racing for over 50 years, 30 of them at the top of the sport as a paid professional. During that time, he collected 11 national and international titles and 60 victories in Super Boat and Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Open Class competition. Included are four consecutive UIM Open Class world titles (1973-76) and three U.S.-based World Super Boat titles (1989, 1992-93). Powers started his career as a test driver for Kiekhaefer Mercury. With Carl Kiekhaefer and Aeromarine, he invented and developed many of the high-performance accessories used today. A member of the Mercury World Championship OPC team between 1969 and 1970, Powers set two world records in 1994 for the UIM kilo run (158 mph) and Super Boat V-bottom record (126 mph). He has captured several national championships, including North and South America, Europe and Italy, and some of offshore’s biggest events, including the Bahamas 500, Miami-Nassau twice, and Cowes-Torquay three times in five attempts. Inductees Mario Andretti, Jackie Ickx and Roger Penske have raced beside him.