Mario Maraldo - Power Boat Racing
While attempting to set a world speed record, Mario Maraldo flipped his one-ton hydroplane boat at 135 miles per hour. The accident sent the upended, 24-foot-long vessel cart-wheeling across the lake’s surface, destroying it and laying the fledgling racer in the hospital for a week.
At that point, some people might have begun having second thoughts about a sport that pushes the limits and tempts fate. Not Mario. It’s not that he’s a daredevil. It’s just that, at age 69, Mario has been around the block; he knows a thing or two about life, especially how important it is to do the things about which you’re passionate.
Since purchasing his first boat in 1959, Mario has logged nearly a half century of racing power boats. He currently is the world’s oldest person racing Grand Prix class boats. During his power boating tenure, the Detroit native has achieved the sport’s highest honor-the title of National Champion of the American Power Boat Association.
When he first began racing, Mario competed in an average of eight races a year. After demolishing his boat during his attempt to set the world speed record at the Flying Mile competition, Mario started over. This time, he embarked on building his first hydroplane. It took him four long years to complete, but, at last, he was ready to return to racing.
Back in the early days, his boat’s tow vehicle was a station wagon. His crew was his wife and children. He eventually upgraded his tow vehicle to a pickup camper and, later, to a class C motor home. All during this time, Mario held a fulltime job, raised a family and built a home for his family.
Despite various setbacks of one nature or another over the years, Mario won several major regional races, including the prestigious Eastern Division championship. The retired General Motors auto mechanic says that, despite his age, he has no plans for putting his passion in dry dock.
“Combined with long drive times to and from events (some are 800 miles one way) and the heat and humidity during the event (I wear a triple-layered fire suit), this can be a grueling sport,” Mario admits. “I believe that Mannatech products, along with a healthy diet and exercise, are the main reasons I am still able to continue my passion for the sport at my age.”
Posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
