Pro Class 1 Update—Catching Up With Randy Scism
When it comes to offshore powerboat racing, Randy Scism is not an excitable type. The founder of the MTI brand of high-performance catamarans and center consoles, Scism has been around the sport at the highest levels, starting with Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1, since the late 1980s. He has multiple world championships to his credit, and the catamarans from his Wentzville, Mo., company have even more titles than he does. If anyone can say “Been there, done that” when it comes to offshore racing inside and outside of the cockpit, it is Scism. He’s been there before, and he behaves accordingly.
So why is he so excited right now?
Randy Scism believes Pro Class 1 has most of the pieces in place for an excellent racing season. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“The sport has great momentum right now, and we need to maximize it,” said Scism, who is building a boat for Pro Class 1 ranks, during a telephone interview this morning. “A lot the pieces are coming together.”
As previously reported, Pro Class 1 is the name of the category under the American Power Boat Association. The new name was created after the then-Class 1 team owners voted to move away from UIM governance in favor of running under the APBA sanction. The move away from UIM demanded a new name for the class.
So bullish is Scism on Pro Class 1 that he’s not just building a boat for it inaugural full season in 2025. He took on the job of owners’ group representative. The group had its regular group telephone-meeting last night.
“Nothing against UIM at all, but they wanted Class 1 to be exclusive with its own driver meetings and separate series schedule,” Scism said. “We want to be inclusive with all classes represented at all events, because that is where the sport needs to go. That’s how the sport grows.
“Hopefully, we can grow this thing,” he added.
Scism was quick to credit Rick J. Lindsey of XINSURANCE. The company principal doesn’t just donate his A-Star helicopter as the video platform for all races at his own expense. He sponsors teams in multiple classes in addition to fielding a Pro Class 1 campaign of his own. Lindsey is making the footage captured available to all teams and organizers at no charge.
“It’s a win-win,” Scism said. “And the video coverage has never been better.”
Thanks to Rick J. Lindsey at XINSURANCE, Scism says video coverage has never been better.
The only thing missing at the moment, Scism said, is an official schedule for the 2025 season. In addition producing its regular roster of races, Race World Offshore has added Roar Offshore Fort Myers Beach in Southwest Florida and the Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., for 2025. The organization also is working on events in Chicago and Toronto.
Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore has not officially announced its 2025 race-producing plans. Thomas Covington, who heads the group’s stateside operations, said he expects to have a schedule released after the fast-approaching Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
All events are subject to APBA sanction-approval, which cannot happen until the APBA member-organizations submit their 2025 event rosters.
“That’s the biggest thing we’re waiting on, a schedule,” Scism said. “We all have other businesses to run, so having that information really helps us plan.
“I mean Taylor (MTI’s vice president and the Scism’s youngest daughter) already has us scheduled for 12 poker runs next year,” he added, then laughed.
As for the progress of the MTI factory Pro Class 1 raceboat build, Scism is pleased and eager to see it completed so testing can begin.
“The deck is fitted to the hull now,” he said. “I am hoping to have it in the shop by January to start rigging.”
Said Scism, “We want to be inclusive with all classes represented at all events, because that is where the sport needs to go.” Photo by Brad Glidewell copyright Brad Glidewell Photography.
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