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TORNADO RACING TEAM
Off Shore Powerboat racing - World Champion 1968 and 1970
Vincenzo Balestrieri Cosimelli 18-Dec-1926 - 31-Mar-2012
In the early to mid sixties offshore powerboat racing was emerging as a worldwide sport. Great Britain, France, Sweden and Italy were holding regular events that, along with the existing US venues, became part of the World Championship Tour.
In 1968, after a four year dominance by Americans, count Vincenzo Balestrieri of Rome, Italy, was able to clinch the world title by winning 5 of the season's races - Sam Griffith Memorial Race in Florida, the Naples Trophy and the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio in Italy, France's Dauphin D'Or and the Swedish GP - and by taking second place at the Wills International race in England.
In 1970, Balestrieri repeated his feat by clinching his second world title.
This site contains photos and facts from those early days of the sport and it's protagonists. Mostly you will find items related to Balestrieri and his Tornado Racing Team. Several of the pictures are previously unpublished and come from the Balestrieri family archives.
Want more Vintage Offshore Powerboat Racing?...
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