OUTBOARD SERVICES AND MARINE RACE TEAM
OSM BOATS Wins F1 Rib World Championship for 2007
The Formula 1 Offshore RIB racing team, Outboard Services.co.uk have won the BIBOA (British Inflatable Boat Owners Association) RIB World Cup 2007, in Zeebrugge, Belgium. Former BIBOA RIB World Cup winner in 2005, the Outboard Services.co.uk team won both the BIBOA National Championships and the BIBOA World Cup in 2007.
The Outboard Services.co.uk team consists of driver Richard Strawford and navigator Bruce Grant. Their RIB is powered by the Evinrude 200 H.O. E-TEC outboard engine. The Evinrude E-TEC is ideally suited for this type of competition thanks to the low weight design of the engine coupled with its torque, enabling racers to get onto the plane quickly.
“All year we have had the smallest engine (if you can call an Evinrude E-TEC 200. H.O. small!) of any of the fleets racing. We have raced against the larger engines with no problems and our engine has performed all season better than we could have hoped for, given the rough seas we have battled through,” says Richard Strawford.
“On behalf of my navigator, Bruce Grant and myself I would like to give a big vote of thanks to our sponsors – Outboard Services & Marine, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, for all their help and encouragement this season,” adds Richard.
Outboard services.co.uk is sponsored by Evinrude E-TEC dealer, Outboard Services & Marine Ltd, based in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The company is headed by former national and world champion powerboat racer, Steve Kent. Steve comments,
“What an achievement! To win both the National and World titles is absolutely superb and just goes to show the attention to detail and dedication of all the team has really paid off – well done!”
OSM BOATS Wins F1 Rib World Championship for 2005
2005 - OSM RIB RACERS WIN WORLD CUP WITH EVINRUDE ENGINE Formula One RIB racing team, Outboard Services.co.uk, took the title in the prestigious BIBOA RIB World Cup this year. The team, whose RIB is powered by the new Evinrude 200HO E-TEC outboard engine, have had a very successful season, achieving four wins and a second place out of seven races.
The Outboard Services.co.uk team consists of driver Richard Strawford and navigator Jo Grant, who are both from Cornwall. “It has been a fantastic season,” commented Richard.
“Our E-TEC 200hp has certainly proved to the rest of the racing world that Evinrude are a force to be reckoned with,” he continued. “We have had tremendous support from our sponsors all season, and I am proud to be able to justify their faith in us by winning the World Cup. Many thanks go to Outboard Services, Jets Marivent and BRP.”
The World Cup, organised by the British Inflatable Boat Owners Association (BIBOA), is awarded to the winning boat over a series of three heats. The final heat is traditionally run during the Cowes Classic Powerboat week, which took place this year between the 25th and 29th August. The heats cover a “Round the Island” race, a race from Poole to the Hamble and a return race from Hamble to Poole.
The RIB Formula One class is highly challenging and not for the faint hearted. RIBs in this class are typically 8 Metres in length, and the average race speed this season was between 68 and 75mph. The World Cup challenges both the speed of the craft and the endurance of the team members.
As well as his success in this competition, Richard also came second in the RYA National RIB Formula One Championship.
Date: October 2006
Driver, Richard’s comments: "In a season of seven races, the team has seen Four wins, a second place, a fifth place and one retirement.
Our 200 HO certainly has proved to the rest of the racing world that Evinrude are a serious force to be reckoned with.
We have had tremendous back up all season from our sponsors and I am very proud to be able to justify their faith in us by winning the world cup.
Thank you – Outboard Services (Lostwithiel)".
The Offshore RIB Racing Team of Richard Strawford of Pentewan and Jo Grant from St Eval will campaign the 2005 race season with new sponsors, Outboard Services & Marine Limited of Lostwithiel, the premier boat and outboard motor specialist in the South-West. OSM have provided the very latest high-tech Evinrude 200HP outboard motor for their boat.
Steve Kent, Managing Director of OSM Ltd., himself a former national and world champion powerboat racer, is pictured congratulating Richard and Jo after winning the first round of the National Championships held at Torquay over the Bank Holiday weekend - so look out for boat number R13 "outboardservices.co.uk".