Celebrating Offshore Racing Great Art Lilly

It is one thing to be remembered for your greatness in a given motorsport. It is quite another to be respected and loved—they don’t always go hand in hand. But offshore powerboat racing legend Art Lilly, a multi-time world and national champion and kilometer speed-record-holding throttleman, was all three.

Yesterday, Lilly finally lost his battle with a longtime debilitating illness at his home in Millersville, Md. He was 77 years old.

In 2013, Art and Brit Lilly competed together at the Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships. Photo by Tim Sharkey copyright Sharkey Images.

Beyond his outstanding performances on the racecourse, Lilly’s greatness affected generations of offshore racers, from his own world-championship-winning son, Brit, to the likes of Fountain Powerboats chief operating officer Jeff Harris and Marc Granet of Miss GEICO fame. They’ll be swapping remembrances of him in the days, weeks and months to come. Such is the process of grieving, such is the measure of individual greatness.

But here’s what a few of them had to say this morning.

Ryan Beckley, veteran offshore racer/owner Kinetic Animation Graphics
“Art was one of the most iconic, hard-charging throttlemen ever. He started showing up in a twin-outboard 22-foot Velocity called Joker in the mid 1980s . His black Fountain that became Heartbeat was iconic and nearly unbeatable. He went on to rig and run a long list of champion raceboats, and even won the coveted US-1 crown in the Open Class racing with Jack Carmody Carlos & Charlie’s/Spirit of Texas Skater.

“After that, Art hitched up with David Woods of Pier 57 in a fleet of boats and went on win in both the cat and V-bottom classes. He was one of the very few top-tier throttlemen, and was a very good set-up guy in both catamarans and V-bottoms.”

(From left) Brit Lilly, Tim Sharkey and Art Lilly shared many fine moments during the years—and Sharkey and the senior Lilly actually competed against one another in the B-class ranks.

Eric Colby, veteran marine industry journalist/speedonthewater.com offshore racing correspondent.
“In 1998, I was in a helicopter above the milling area for the Super V boats at the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix when I was the editor at Powerboat magazine. The boats were idling for an extended time because — as we would learn later —there was a sea turtle in the course.

“When the green flag flew, the V76 Fountain with Art Lilly throttling and Jeff Harris driving appeared to be driving erratically and actually collided with the 40-foot Fountain, Harry’s Hofbrau with owner driver Larry Kramer and throttleman Bob Teague. After the incident, the V76 came to a stop and in a few minutes, Lilly was on the radio to race control, ‘This is V76, where the hell are we?’ Because of the extended milling time and the way the wind was blowing, the team was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after the engines’ exhaust blew back through the blower vents and into the enclosed cockpits. Once Lilly and Harris exited their individual gas chambers and got some fresh air, they idled back to the pits.

A family man to his core Art Lilly adored his granddaughter, Stella Rogue, and his daughter-in-law Amanda Lilly. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“Lilly and Harris would go on to win the American Powerboat Association national championship in Super Vee in 1999 and 2000 and set a new kilo speed record for the class in 2000.”

Steve Curtis, multi-time Class 1 world champion
“Art was what offshore is truly about, a hard-charging, larger-than-life character not only in the boat but in all aspects of his life. He is a legend and always will be. I got to know him more whilst racing with his son Brit, who he was hugely proud of—as I am to call Art my friend.”

Not only did offshore racing legend Steve Curtis know Art Lilly well, he shared the cockpit of the Class 1 Huski Chocolate raceboat with his son, Britt. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Wyatt Fountain, former offshore racer/son of Fountain Powerboats founder Reggie Fountain, Jr.
“Art was a great memory-maker, tough as nails and a fierce competitor. I had the honor of being around Art while racing and I learned a lot just watching him. He was the kind of guy I always enjoyed seeing and talking to because he always brought great energy to every conversation and to everything he did.”

Billy Glueck, V-bottom-class offshore racing veteran/Twisted Metal team
“Although I never got to race with him, Art was certainly always one of the guys I looked up to and loved to watch run. I recall watching him run in a multitude of boats from the old Pier 57 days with David Woods. And I’m sure most will remember the very brief offshore racing career of Jason Priestley when he damn near killed Art in Miami by refusing to turn the boat he was driving.

“He was definitely a bad-ass as far as I’m concerned, one of the few remaining old school icons from a time in offshore that unfortunately probably won’t return. My heart goes out to his family and he will truly be missed.”

Marc Granet, catamaran-class offshore racing veteran/Miss GEICO team
“I am heartbroken to hear of Art Lilly’s passing. My whole offshore career began with one of his 30-foot Velocity V-bottoms on the Eastern Shore of Maryland at Art’s shop. I remember weekends watching in awe of him and Reggie Fountain, Jr., dialing in The Dealer while we tore around the bay.

“Through my career in offshore he always made time to stop by the pits and say, ‘Great race.’ One time in particular when we were racing in Key West and in the turbine boat, he told me, “Never did I think I would see racing so fast. I loved to see him at races supporting his son Brit keeping the family legacy of offshore greatness alive. God’s speed, Art.”

Speedonthewater.com co-publisher Jason Johnson captured Brit and Art Lilly at the Fountain Powerboats facility In 2018.

Jeff Harris, Fountain Powerboats chief operating officer/former Lilly teammate
“I got to know Art Lilly when he was one of our Fountain Powerboats dealers in the 1980s. I had the good fortune of having Art on the throttles when I started my offshore racing career in the 1990s. He was already a legend.

“Art was a powerhouse in the cockpit. He would will the boat over the roughest waves in order the stay out front, yet he was always mindful of saving the equipment for the duration. He won often. The consummate man’s man, life of the party, and someone everybody wanted to be around. I considered him a great friend and racing mentor. I send my sincere condolences to the family.”

Fred Kiekhaefer, former president of Mercury Racing
“Another great competitor has left us for the ‘Heaven 500.’ Art was always a force to be reckoned with. Rest in peace.”

Watch the video above to learn how Art Lilly inspired his son, Brit, excel in offshore racing.

Rich Luhrs, chairman of the American Power Boat Association Offshore Racing Commission

“I have known and admired Art Lilly from the very beginning of his offshore Racing career. He has been a winner from day one, both on and off the race course. A great competitor, a gentleman and an innovator. He showed the way with the original and unique Fountain Dragon Lady and progressed with a series of Fountain and Skater hulls, which always were a step ahead and a cut above the pack.

“More importantly, he was a very decent human being and his wonderful family is a testament to that. He will be missed by so many.”

Ed Smith, president of the Offshore Powerboat Association
“I met Art way back at our Cambridge, Maryland race a million years ago. As a father who takes great pride in my sons’ racing, I would always see the pride in Art’s eyes for his son, Brit. We could relate to each other in this way.

“As Art’s health confined him to a wheel chair, we would put him up in race control so he could get a birds eye view of Britt racing. I loved watching him clinch on to that chair as if he was in the boat himself. Always a gentleman, and proud Dad is how he will be remembered. Race in peace Art. I know Britt will continue to carry the Lilly torch with pride.”

Kevin Smith, teammate of Brit Lilly/family friend
“Art was a father figure, a mentor and most importantly a friend. He’s been the driving force and motivator so many times to make us want to go out there, win, and make him proud. I hope we did.

It ain’t gonna be the same without him cheering us on or being able to talk to him before or after a race. I love him and gonna miss him.”

Kevin Smith (left with Brit Lilly) said he considered Art Lilly to be a father figure. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Randy Sweers, veteran offshore racer/boat-builder

“Art was a fierce competitor who really understood how to get the most out of a Raceboat. His legacy will live on through the passion and knowledge he has passed down to his son, Brit.”

John Tomlinson, multi-time offshore racing world champion/co-owner TNT Custom Marine
“Art was a really, really good guy. I remember most racing Bacardi Silver against him and David Woods in the Pier 57 boat. Back then it was in Superboat Unlimited class so they were really fast. We were up north somewhere doing a kilo run in the fog and then a race. After testing, Art came up to me and said, ‘John these boats are going way too fast.’ And I remember just agreeing with him because we would run over 180 mph down the straightaway there.”