Father-And-Son Stancombe Team To Compete Again In Sarasota

Though they earn won’t points for their efforts, Micheal Stancombe and his 77-year-old father, George, will run their 36-foot Peppers Racing/Yardarm Marine Products Skater Powerboats catamaran powered by Mercury Racing 500R outboard engines with the 450R Factory Stock class during the upcoming Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. The team debuted the out-of-spec—at least until the 2025 season—36-footer earlier this month at the Midwest Challenge event in Sheboygan, Wis.

Micheal and George Stancombe will be back in action next month at the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

Stancombe, who is 57 years old, said he and his father also plan to run the cat at the Race World Offshore Clearwater Nationals and the Powerboat P1-produced St. Petersburg Grand Prix, both of which are in Florida and are the final events of the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series.

“Dad did incredible in Sheboygan,” Stancombe said. “He never missed a beat and was driving through rooster-tails like he did in the old days. He wasn’t scared. He was a beast.

“It’s also about spending time with dad,” he added. “He has to be the oldest racer still driving in real races.”

Following the Wisconsin event, the team headed to the home of Mercury Racing and tested the boat with different propeller sets on Lake Winnebago. The team is even looking at another boat, though the deal has not been completed.

Little known fact about the Stancombe men, which includes Micheal’s 17-year-old son, Dominick? All three were born in February.

“Dad was born in 1947, Dom was born in 2007 and I was born in 1967,” said Micheal. “February is worse than Christmas in this family.

“So two and seven are our lucky numbers,” he added. “I am a lucky man, honestly. I’ve been blessed through my entire life.”