Powerboat Racer Nordskog, 79, Dies of Cerebral Hemorrhage

Robert A. Nordskog, a Tarzana industrialist who became legendary for his achievements in offshore powerboat racing, died Wednesday after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 79.

Nordskog, who in 1951 founded Nordskog Industries, Inc., which consists of nearly a dozen operating companies, took up boat racing in 1945 as a means of relaxation.

As his business grew, so did his list of victories on the water. Nordskog was regarded as the world’s top powerboat racer, setting more than 45 national and international speed and endurance records.

The one-time associate of Howard Hughes presided over the American Power Boat Assn. and Pacific Offshore Power Boat Racing Assn., and was involved in several innovations associated with the sport.

But it was the challenge associated with the actual racing that Nordskog loved.

On his 70th birthday, Nordskog covered the 600 miles from San Felipe to La Paz in 10 hours 34 minutes, breaking the previous record by two hours. Nordskog also broke former President Ronald Reagan’s son Michael’s record time of 8 hours 34 minutes from Long Beach to San Francisco, covering the distance in 6:49.21.

In 1974, with a broken arm, collarbone and ribs, a shattered elbow, a punctured lung, a ruptured kidney and in a cast from an accident the previous week, Nordskog set a world record for powerboats in the world speed trials at Marina del Rey.

“The fact that I’m 78 doesn’t mean I learned a damned thing,” he told The Times last March. “I still go out and take a lot of punishment.”

Nordskog, who won his final offshore race June 6 at Marina del Rey, was hospitalized earlier this week after suffering a massive stroke.

He is survived by his wife, Elly, his son Gerald and daughter Carla.