Rollin Transport Out For Ozarks, In For Chicago, Michigan City, Sheboygan And Key West

Turning 45 years old today, Super Cat-class Rollin Transport team owner/throttleman Vinnie Diorio of Wisconsin wanted to start his limited offshore racing season this month at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. At least that was his hope until last Wednesday when Diorio, his wife, Danielle, their 13-year-old daughter, Francesca, and seven-year-old son Vincenzo, were involved in a serious automobile accident.

Now Diorio and new driver Sean Conner will have to wait until July 28-August 2 for the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., to begin their year in the team’s 39-foot Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats catamaran.

All four escaped serious injury, but Diorio’s truck was not so fortunate.

“LOTO was the plan, but a guy blew through a red light at 45 to 50 mph and T-boned us last Wednesday,” he said. “My back is still all jacked up but I am working through it, and Danielle’s neck is hurting still. Fran and Vin were OK, thank god.”

Diorio paused, the sighed. “The truck had 4,000 miles on it,” he added.

Dubbed XINSURANCE Offshore for its title backer and sanctioned by the new World Powerboat Racing Association, the Lake of the Ozarks event also was slated to be the first time Diorio would compete alongside Conner, who formerly shared the cockpit of the Super Stock-class S2 Powerboats catamaran with throttleman Shaun Torrente.

As it happens, Diorio’s former driver Matt Jamniczky is now driving alongside Torrente in the High-Teck Deck Super Stock cat.

Following the Michigan City event, the Rollin Transport team will compete in the third annual Midwest Challenge August 8-10 in Sheboygan, Wisc. and inaugural Chicago Grand Prix August 29-31. Diorio and Conner also plan to compete in the Race World Offshore Key West Offshore World Championships November 2-9.