Any notions that the Super Class cat was dying thanks to the rise of Pro Class 1 combined with two noteworthy team Super Cat team departures—M CON Offshore Racing and WHM Motorsports—have been demolished this season. Each of the first two International Hot Rod Association races attracted a half-dozen Super Cat teams. Coming next weekend, the Thunder On Cocoa Beach is a lock for a similar if not greater Super Cat turnout with a trio of teams registered so far.
So much for the demise of the category. It’s alive and well.
One more thing about the class that also remains unchanged? Super Cat is one of the sport’s most competitive and challenging categories in the sport.
Michael Howe and Cade Wilson never thought Super Cat-class offshore racing would be easy. They were right. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
Just ask Michael Howe and Cade Wilson of the Howe2Live Offshore team. Though Howe, a successful inventor, entrepreneur and YouTube star came to the Super Cat pairing with a smidge of offshore racing experience, Wilson, the owner of Sterling Engines, had none. Howe purchased the former CR Racing Skater 388 raceboat from owner Rob Unnerstall, Wilson built engines for it and the duo went racing.
And as both gentlemen expected, there’s been nothing easy about it.
“In our first race (the St. Petersburg Grand Prix) we took a start but didn’t finish,” Wilson said. “In the last race (the New Orleans Grand Prix) we started and finished.”
This weekend, Howe and Cade will take the green flag in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Supply chain disruptions, Wilson explained, will keep them from racing on fresh Sterling power. Still, they have a solid goal established the attitude Super Cat competition demands.
“This one, we want to just outrace at least one competitor,” he added, then chuckled. “Baby steps.”