IU Southeast professor caught speeding

Next month, business as usual for Paul Pittman will take place on water

By Nicole Roales, Published April 21, 2006

Pittman
Pittman
IU Southeast professor Paul Pittman has been racing boats since he was a child. His enthusiasm for the sport began when his dad began building boats and running them on the waterways where they lived. As Pittman grew, so did his interest in boat racing. His interest has matured into a giant hobby. “The toys kept getting bigger and more involved,” Pittman said.

Now, Pittman, who is on the IU Southeast School of Business faculty, is racing in Formula 2 boat competitions. On the water, the boats reach speeds up to 105 miles per hour. Last season, he raced against 34 fellow powerboat drivers in the Formula 2 division of the APR Powerboat Superleague national racing series and took home a third-place finish. Racing season kicks off in May and already, his team has taken the boat to Florida to test it.

In his 20-year career as a powerboat driver, he has won many awards, including several national championships and the APR Powerboat Superleague Formula 3 title in 2000. He was inducted into the Hall of Champions.

“I enjoy it because it is a complete departure from what I do in the classroom,” Pittman said. “A lot of people who meet me say ‘you don’t really seem like a professor,’ and I take that as a compliment.”

Pittman is not only an active racer, but he was involved with the design that went into creating his current boat, which is 17 feet long. Another company constructed the boat based on Pittman’s vision, and he later personalized it with graphics and rigging. Before purchasing his current boat, Pittman raced a boat he designed and built.

Pittman said he once raced in Formula 3, but he moved up to Formula 2 and hopes to race in Formula 1 in the future. Each class has different requirements for the size of the boats. Pittman said Formula 2 is the most competitive class because there are more people racing boats than any other class. In 2000, when he raced Formula 3, his team won the world championships, the national championships and the North American championship. The team also was inducted in the Hall of Champions.

“It’s just a hobby I can’t quit. I like the people more than anything,” Pittman said. “It’s fun, and we’re all in it because we enjoy one another, and we enjoy the sport. It’s been a lifelong hobby of mine, and I find it less frustrating than golf.”

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