Lee Davies, of Anmore, B.C., started racing power boats in 1960, and has enjoyed a successful racing career for over 45 years.

He started competing in local races in class A and B hydros. Lee raced those classes until 1965 when he switched to V-bottom 100 hp boats. He raced these into the 1970s, and from 1960 to the early 1970s he was class champion and American Power Boat Association (APBA) Region Outboard High Point Champion many times.

Lee began to race tunnel hull outboard hydros in the 1970s, and has been racing that type of boat for 35 years, in Canada and the US. In 1976 he was inducted into the Evinrude 100 mph club.

Lee continued his winning ways into the 1980s. In 1984 and 1986, he set national records for the APBA Outboard Class 5 mile record in Modified Unlimited.

In the 1990s Lee was even more successful. In 1992 he was the APBA Champion. In the years 1993, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96 and ‘98 Lee was North American APBA High Point Class Champion in Champ Boat class. He was also North American APBA High Point Champion in Class SST in 1995, '96, '97 and 1998.

LEE DAVIES - Inducted 2006

Pioneer - Power Boat Racing

Lee Davies at work

By Larry Braine, from information supplied by John Carlson, 2006

Lee Davies

At the Kelowna, BC 1997 Molson Thunderfest, which Lee helped organize, he was again a winner. A story in Power Boating Canada reads: “In the tunnel boat final, 10 boats flashed across the line at 135 mph. As is always the case in tunnel boat racing, the action was furious and position changes occurred on every lap. Entries from the Canadian prairies and southern U.S. states all poked their noses into contention, but on the final lap Lee Davies of Vancouver, BC pulled-up on the outside to take the win” .

Lee had many accomplishments in the year 1998:

· Three records set in one weekend

· Two World Records: Modified Unlimited - 104.330 mph 5 mile 3 lap record

· Modified R - 101.363 mph 5 mile 4 lap record

· APBA National High Point Champion in 2 classes: SST 140, and Modified R Modified U Class Regional High Point Champion

· George Babcock Award for overall best results in 4 events

· Won the Big Bud Shootout in a 3 race series

Lee was inducted into the APBA Hall of Fame in 1998, following all of his successes.

As a point of interest he takes two boats to each race and competes in two classes on the same day. Lee says he loves to drive and compete and this way he gets twice the seat time.

Lee operates his own business in Port Moody, Lee’s Marine Ltd. and even builds engines for his racing competitors. It goes without saying that Lee has had a phenomenal career, he continues to race over 45 years after starting in the sport.