The Quest for the Perfect Season | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

The cliché “you can’t win ‘em all” is used in countless post-race discussions, but it doesn’t ring true for a certain few who know better.  In fact, a couple of South Florida throttle-aces – Gary Ballough and John Tomlinson – rendered the statement null and void years ago.  These multi-titled competitors have set a benchmark for perfection and possess an elite membership to the club of racers that have scored an undefeated season.

The year was 1996 when Open Class contenders Laith Pharaon and John Tomlinson raced their way to a perfect season. Their 46’ Skater with twin Sterling 900-hp engines, appropriately emblazoned Zero Defect, won 10 consecutive races during what Tomlinson described as “a year of experimenting with dry sump drives and three speed gear boxes from Pat Weismann. Running the boat in Open Class for a full season was a first. Everything was new for us in 1996…it was one of the first boats I ever put a tunnel flap on. We did a lot of testing and a lot of learning was going on.”

With each stop along the circuit, it was obvious that their “experimental season” was perfectly dialed in. Tomlinson remembers the rough waters at Galveston, Texas, followed by a “no problem” race in Ft. Myers, Fla., and “running the three speed transmission for the first time at the Sarasota race.” He said their most challenging race was at the legendary World Championship venue of Key West, Fla., where the team campaigned as Nomad. More; The Quest for the Perfect Season | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online