Off Shore Powerboat Racing
More photos contributed by M. Bertini
Grazie, A.B.
Off Shore Powerboat Racing More photos contributed by M. Bertini Grazie, A.B. |
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In 1969 the Yellow Tornado becomes the Red Tornado. Balestrieri will run this boat for much of the '69 season, winning the first race, the Wills Trophy in English waters. |
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To the left, one more image of Balestrieri on the Red Tornado. To the right, Viareggio 1969, Balestrieri races the Blu Tornado which will make a couple of appearances that season in Mediterranean waters. |
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Left, at Viareggio, and right, possibly at the Cowes-Torquay, a couple of images of Tornado Racing Team member Francesco Cosentino on the White Tornado. |
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Left photo, Cosentino on the White Tornado comes in second, behind Balestrieri, at the 1969 Wills Trophy. Right photo, in 1970 Cosentino pilots the Red Tornado to victory in the first race of the season in Cape Town, South Africa. |
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All in all, 1969 was a strong season for Balestrieri but he cannot defend his title. The championship will once again return to the American Don Aronow and his The Cigarette. Balestrieri, impressed by Aronow's boat, purchased it for the 1970 season and promptly named her Black Tornado. This purchase will prove to be a winning move. |
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To the left, another image of Balestrieri on the Black Tornado. To the right, at the 1970 Trofeo Napoli the Tornado Racing Team entered 2 Blacks: Balestrieri's N.4 and Cosentino's N.89 |
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Balestrieri's closest adversary in 1970 was Tommy Sopwith on Miss Enfield II (left photo) and Avenger seen in the middle, between boat designer Don Shead and co-pilot Charles de Selingcourt. |
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The championship was close till the end. At the Miami-Nassau-Miami Sopwith was disqualified for running non conforming angine specs. In the photo to the left, the two contenders are "fighting" for the race trophy. The race, and later the championship, went to Balestrieri. |
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Balestrieri's Black Tornado at the Trofeo Napoli. At the start Balestrieri is sandwiched between Carlo Bonomi's Andy Pandi and Bill Wishnick's Boss O'Nova II; Wishnick will go on to win this race.. |
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To the left, the cover of the race program for the 1971 Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio. To the Right, a nice cloose-up of Balestrieri's modified Cigarette Black Tornado. |
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To the left, another image of the Black Tornado at the 1971 Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio. This "modified" boat could not handle the heavy seas and fell apart forcing it back to the dry-dock for repairs. To the Right, Balestrieri moves to the new Cigarette '36 Black Tornado. |
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The title for 1971 is all but assured to Bill Wishnick (right photo) but Balestrieri finds a win at the Baleares; seen here racing with Mondadori's Nicopao IX catamaran. |
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The Black Tornado flying in American waters and then docked in Key West, 1972. Balestrieri will use 3 boats for the '72 season: A Cigarette '36 for American races as well as a 36' and a 32' Cigarettes for the European tour. |
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Balestrieri and Bobby Rautbord. Bobby and his Fino will go on to win the 1972 championship. |
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At the 1972 edition of the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio Balestrieri shows that he has still much to say about Off Shore Powerboat racing; he wins the race once again. |
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