Several powerhouse performance boaters are stepping outside of the poker run ring and teaming up with PowerHouse Recycling to compete in the Super Cat Class for the APBA/P1 UIM 2023 Offshore Racing season. This pairing of recycling and racing follows the greening of the marine industry as evidenced by electric- and solar-powered boats and various recycling efforts in the industry.
While powerboat racing has never been seen as “green,” Jason Ventura of Brand X Hi-Performance Marine and longtime performance boater Bill Pyburn will race a 388 Skater owned by Beau and Tiffiney Renfroe with HRE Super Cat spec V8 sterndrives. The sponsorship of Powerhouse Recycling brings a new element of environmental awareness to the racing circuit.
PowerHouse Recycling, owned by boating enthusiasts Chris and Mike Kennedy, learned of the new race team and inspired by their own passion for boating, being on the water and marine life, they investigated dipping their toes in racing waters. “The leadership team of the company looked to racing as a way to experience their love for boating first-hand and to expose the company to new, untapped audiences,” says Brett Henderson, PowerHouse VP, who is eager to check out the racing scene first-hand himself. “We are interested in meeting people in the marine industry who can use our services beyond the major companies we currently work with like airlines, health care providers and home improvement companies. We all use a lot of electronics that should not go into the trash—especially considering the private data that could be left on them,” he adds.
The privately held North Carolina-based firm is a certified electronics recycling, secure data destruction and IT asset buybacks company that simplifies electronic recycling for major companies countrywide. PowerHouse, as an industry leader, not only accepts large quantities of discarded computers for recycling, but the company also cleanses the data and can even accept quantities of other electronic equipment for resale to other markets. The company recycles over 75 million pounds of electrical equipment annually throughout the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, maintaining the data security of its customers.
As the marine industry moves to recycle more of its products like engine covers, shrink wrap and boating components, this sponsorship in racing brings an environmental awareness to racers, their sponsors, fans and the race sanctioning bodies, as well as to the entire marine industry.
Ventura, a lifelong performance professional, built his reputation as a service manager with Outerlimits Powerboats for many years as they built high performance boats in Bristol, RI. He was also crew chief during the company’s racing efforts in the U.S. and in Europe under Powerboat P1, before establishing his performance rigging, mechanics, painting and all-service concierge business in Pompano Beach, Florida. He raced part of the 2021 and all of 2022 season as crew chief and alternate driver with friend Jimmy McIntyre in a 388 Skater, under Chariots of Fire/Liquor Split Racing, achieving several podium finishes. Ventura will drive and also act as crew chief in the 388 Skater with Pyburn, a long-time customer and performance boat aficionado at throttles.
The PowerHouse Recycling team comprises team coordinator, Michelle Andre, mechanics Andy Carracino and Bobby Adams and Celeste Segredo as logistics coordinator. The Skater team is appropriately named Dirty Money Racing after the owners fleet of boats named after the Renfroe’s mining and grading company. The couple got involved in last year’s 2022 Key West Worlds and were instantly “hooked.” The Renfroes decided to expand their recreational Skater fan club and entrusting Ventura to build a race team and bring the excitement.
“This is what I know I do every day,” says Ventura, “I am surrounded by speed enthusiasts who are putting me in the position to take them racing and bring in some wins and visibility. We know this boat can do it and we are psyched to bring a new sponsor and owner to the field to share the excitement.” Ventura also mentioned that some other co-sponsors may be considered that are consistent with the theme of PowerHouse Recycling. “We would welcome the participation of other like companies who share our concern for the environment and want to get their message out to the audience that loves the water and loves speed. We are all in businesses looking to do the right thing to dispose of all the materials we use and discard. We thank Powerhouse Recycling and are ready to go racing!”
Brand X High Performance Marine was started by Jason Ventura in 2008 to serve the high-performance boat market. The company grew from rigging and mechanical work to include custom fiberglass, paint, set up, and new boat consulting. A concierge service grew out of the need to handle the logistics of getting boats to and from various Poker Runs, races and other events, and to assist the owners in preparing and running their boats on site. Brand X High Performance can be reached at 954 388 1800 and is located at 2005 Hammondville Rd, Pompano Beach, FL 33069.
PowerHouse Recycling Inc. is a certified electronics recycler, secure data destruction, and IT Asset buyback company servicing universities, school districts, corporations, government agencies, health-care systems, and financial institutes nationwide. PHR can be reached at: info@powerhouserecycling.com, (855) MYECYCL or powerhouserecycling.com.