Episode 75- Powerboat Talk with Bob Wartinger World Record Holder and Safety Expert
Bob Wartinger: 148 Records, Outboard Racing History, and the Science of Speed
In this episode of Powerboat Talk, we visit with Bob Wartinger, one of the most decorated powerboat racers of all time. With 148 world and national records to his credit, Wartinger has spent more than 60 years in outboard racing, setting his first record in 1971 and his most recent in November 2025 at the age of 80 during Coniston Power Boat Record Week in Coniston, Cumbria, UK.
From Engineering to Powerboat Racing
Wartinger studied engineering at the University of Washington, where he earned a master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He later applied that engineering background throughout a long career at Boeing, while also becoming one of the most respected names in powerboat racing.
The World Outboard Speed Record
Wartinger is perhaps best known for his historic accomplishment on the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona, on November 30, 1989. After more than two years of testing and development and four days of record attempts over a one-kilometer course, Wartinger set the world outboard speed record at 176.556 mph, a mark that still stands today.
The story began when boat builder Ed Karelsen, who built the 20-foot Karelsen hydroplane used for the straightaway attempt, connected Wartinger with Bedford Davie. Davie wanted to set the outboard speed record with a turbocharged Mercury. Early testing was plagued by engine trouble, and Wartinger eventually stepped away from the project. Davie then recruited Bob Hering to continue the effort, and after switching to a new Evinrude racing V-8, the team set the record in 1986 at 169.50 mph.
When Davie and team manager Gary Garbrecht, the former Mercury Racing chief and owner of Second Effort, approached Wartinger again, it was with the same V-8-equipped boat. This time, however, the boat had been fitted with the sport’s first enclosed canopy, and the goal was to reach 200 mph.
To find more power, OMC engineers Les Cahoon and Jack Romanovsk fitted the engine with a twin fuel-injection system that mixed methanol with 8 percent nitro-methane. They also added a computer-controlled nitrous oxide system to help boost the boat’s speed through the traps. The engine was estimated to produce 600 hp. Although the team fell short of the 200 mph goal, the boat made several runs over 180 mph during the record attempts, ultimately producing one of the most significant speed marks in outboard racing history.
A Career Built on Records, Endurance, and Safety
While the Parker record was likely the pinnacle of Wartinger’s driving career, his impact on powerboat racing continued for decades. In the 37 years since that record run, Wartinger has continued winning races, setting records, and becoming one of the sport’s leading advocates for racing safety.
In addition to his remarkable record-setting achievements, Wartinger won the 24 Hours of Rouen in France in 1998, captured the 24 Hours World Endurance Championship in Russia from 2004 to 2007, and has been inducted into the American Power Boat Association Hall of Champions six times.
Bob Wartinger’s Lasting Impact on Boat Racing Safety
Wartinger, a past chairman of the APBA Safety Commission, has served as president of the UIM International Medical and Safety Commission, COMINSAFE, since 1990. He is also a contributing member of the International Congress of Motorsport Sciences, and in 2025, he was honored with the Charles D. Strang Ultimate Service Award for his exceptional dedication and lasting impact on the APBA.
Wartinger has also authored two books on powerboat racing safety, A Driver’s Guide to Boat Racing Safety and Safe Champions.
Today, Wartinger runs his own consulting company, Creative Fine Tuning, which provides business development and consulting services. His story connects engineering, outboard racing, world speed records, safety innovation, and a lifelong passion for advancing the sport of powerboat racing.
You can follow Bob Wartinger on Facebook @Bob Wartinger or online @ www.bobwartinger.com
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