Ron Hill
08-25-2018, 01:48 PM
My long time friend,Rich Luhrs, is running for the APBA Board of Directors
APBA Biography
8/23/2018
RICH LUHRS started boat racing 1n 1959 when he entered small outlaw outboard events in the northeast. He first joined APBA in 1964 and competed in the OPC division for the following 15 years. During that time he campaigned successfully in the dual engine classes in such events as the Albany-NY Marathon, Orange Bowl 9 hour, Around Long Island Marathon, OPC Nationals, St Mary’s Marathons, Milwaukee-Chicago-Milwaukee marathons, Havasu Outboard World Championships and many others. Later while competing in the MOD U and S tunnel boat classes, Rich became a member of Team Mercury Canada. His longtime business partner, Don Lostumbo, Champion 7 liter, SK, SS, and GP driver gave him insight and introduction to the Inboard division as well. Because of his longtime involvement in both the USA and Canadian races, Rich was chosen as a Charter member of the North American Championship Commission as an APBA representative.
At the end of his OPC career he, Don, Elbie Kronenberg, and, George Linder created the multi time Offshore World Champion and record holding Shadow Cats for Image Boat company, of which Rich was Managing General Partner. Later Rich, Don, and George, along with Ken Adams formed Conquest Marine and built a series of one off World Champion Offshore Catamarans that are still legendary today. After the tragic death of World Champion racer Mark Lavin in one of the Conquests, Jesse James, Rich and George became founders and Charter members of the Lavin Cockpit Safety Foundation, whose standards were widely adopted in both the APBA and UIM Offshore classes.
From 1982 through 2002 , Rich started a related career as the “Video voice of Offshore Racing” doing live to tape commentary of over 200 races. Later Rich and famed broadcaster, Dick Crippen, formed an announcing tag team for APBA Offshore and appeared on ESPN, ESPN2, Prime, MSG, TNN, Speedvision and The Speed Channel. Rich also was the APBA Offshore Director of Television Broadcasts under Gene Whipp. During this period , Rich also wrote a monthly column “ From My Perch” for “ The Racer’s Edge” boat racing newsletter.
Currently Rich campaigns various boats in APBA Vintage and Historic events, and owns a 1969 Switzer Wing, a 1961 Switzer Wooden Shooting Star, a 1968 original wood Eltro, and a 1961 JJ class PowerCat, among others. He is also on the BOD of the Florida Vintage Race Boat Club.
Rich is a Member of the NPBA Hall of Fame, and holder of the Clayton Antique Boat Museum”s “Legends of Vintage” Award.
During his career, Rich always had a “day job” in Trucking and Logistics. He co-owned a widely respected Transportation Consulting company, and later was Partner/CEO of Titan Express a Nationwide Load to Ride asset based trucking company. He finished his career as Senior VP of The Shevell Transportation Group in the Northeast with full P&L responsibility for three asset based subsidiaries, and later was Chief Development Officer for New Century Transportation.
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APBA Biography
8/23/2018
RICH LUHRS started boat racing 1n 1959 when he entered small outlaw outboard events in the northeast. He first joined APBA in 1964 and competed in the OPC division for the following 15 years. During that time he campaigned successfully in the dual engine classes in such events as the Albany-NY Marathon, Orange Bowl 9 hour, Around Long Island Marathon, OPC Nationals, St Mary’s Marathons, Milwaukee-Chicago-Milwaukee marathons, Havasu Outboard World Championships and many others. Later while competing in the MOD U and S tunnel boat classes, Rich became a member of Team Mercury Canada. His longtime business partner, Don Lostumbo, Champion 7 liter, SK, SS, and GP driver gave him insight and introduction to the Inboard division as well. Because of his longtime involvement in both the USA and Canadian races, Rich was chosen as a Charter member of the North American Championship Commission as an APBA representative.
At the end of his OPC career he, Don, Elbie Kronenberg, and, George Linder created the multi time Offshore World Champion and record holding Shadow Cats for Image Boat company, of which Rich was Managing General Partner. Later Rich, Don, and George, along with Ken Adams formed Conquest Marine and built a series of one off World Champion Offshore Catamarans that are still legendary today. After the tragic death of World Champion racer Mark Lavin in one of the Conquests, Jesse James, Rich and George became founders and Charter members of the Lavin Cockpit Safety Foundation, whose standards were widely adopted in both the APBA and UIM Offshore classes.
From 1982 through 2002 , Rich started a related career as the “Video voice of Offshore Racing” doing live to tape commentary of over 200 races. Later Rich and famed broadcaster, Dick Crippen, formed an announcing tag team for APBA Offshore and appeared on ESPN, ESPN2, Prime, MSG, TNN, Speedvision and The Speed Channel. Rich also was the APBA Offshore Director of Television Broadcasts under Gene Whipp. During this period , Rich also wrote a monthly column “ From My Perch” for “ The Racer’s Edge” boat racing newsletter.
Currently Rich campaigns various boats in APBA Vintage and Historic events, and owns a 1969 Switzer Wing, a 1961 Switzer Wooden Shooting Star, a 1968 original wood Eltro, and a 1961 JJ class PowerCat, among others. He is also on the BOD of the Florida Vintage Race Boat Club.
Rich is a Member of the NPBA Hall of Fame, and holder of the Clayton Antique Boat Museum”s “Legends of Vintage” Award.
During his career, Rich always had a “day job” in Trucking and Logistics. He co-owned a widely respected Transportation Consulting company, and later was Partner/CEO of Titan Express a Nationwide Load to Ride asset based trucking company. He finished his career as Senior VP of The Shevell Transportation Group in the Northeast with full P&L responsibility for three asset based subsidiaries, and later was Chief Development Officer for New Century Transportation.
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