History of the sport

[Top Banana]

I attended a poker run last weekend and met some young people who are all excited about getting into the world of offshore. They purchased a good starting boat and they had a great time.

At the lunch stop I asked them if they knew anything about the history of the boat they were in, the designer, the races it had won, the famous drivers who drove for that team. When I started mentioning some of the old names, I was met with a blank stare....nobody registered, they had no knowledge of any of the history of the boats or the people.

So before it is all lost, maybe we can make this section on Serious Offshore, the place to come to for some basic info. I invite any of the old timers to chime in here and make any additions or corrections they see fit. Memory is like a race engine, it is a wonderful thing when you have it all tuned up and it is running correctly.

[Ratickle]

And do it in different threads with a key name. Like if you guys want to discuss the race of ? first. Give it that name and go for it, then on to the next one. Your stories, first hand accounts, are very interesting to the rest of us.

And all of us want to help in any way we can with what you are doing with HORBA to preserve boats and memories..

[Top Banana]

BETTY COOK We can start with ladies first. Betty was living the California life in the 70's when her husband, Paul, decided that he wanted to take a look at offshore racing. He purchased a catamaran from Maurey Fortney that was called ZIPPE'. He painted it and changed the name to KUDU.

Betty wanted to go along to the races and be a little more involved, so they bought an old 32 foot Bertram race boat and converted it so it could be used as a support boat or utility boat for the race committees. Paul also hired Don Pruett (The giant Texan was the riding mechanic on Vincenzo Baelstrieri's Magnum when it sank in Cowes in the 60's and a racer in his own right with great skills) to teach Betty the handling skills she would need to run the Bertram.

Betty started riding along in the Cat and soon decided that she would like to try her hand at some racing alone with the Bertram, now named MONGOOSE. She won her first race in the early 70's and just a couple years later, with John Conners as her throttleman, was World Champion in Key West in 1977.

Here are some shots of Betty in the early days. By the Way....MONGOOSE is sitting in a field in California right now, waiting for someone to rescue it and bring it back to it's former glory.

[Top Banana]

After the Bertram, Betty decided that she wanted something a little more competitive, so the Cook's bought the old 36 foot race boat DANTE'S INFERNO. Back then the number that the boat was registered with stayed with the boat, so Dante Tognoli had #89 and that is what Betty stayed with for her next couple of boats.

That first 36 foot Cigarette started as DANTE'S INFERNO and then went to Betty who named it KAAMA. It was then sold to Eddie Trotta who named it OSMOSIS.

[Top Banana]

RENE & GALE JACOBY Betty wasn't the first woman to compete in the sport. The Jacoby's started back in the 60's. They were a mother a daughter team, sponsored by Harry, and usually drove Prowler boats.....very fast boats in their day.

Because of the extra press they could generate, they were drafted to compete in the Bahamas 500 race with a houseboat. The houseboat was made by Thunderbird. That was the company that bought the first boat company from Don Aronow, Formula. They became Formula Thunderbird and were at that time owned by Merrick Lewis. The company is now owned by the Porter family. I think it took them 22 hours to finish with the houseboat..

[cosmic12]

Please, don't stop now.........

[Top Banana]

MERRICK LEWIS as mentioned above, owned Thunderbird boat co and had Dick Genth running it for him. He also owned a company that was building boats out of aluminum at the time called Maritime.

Here are some shots of the aluminum offshore racers of the day and in one of the photos you can see someone who knew when the leading edge was being pushed and wanted to make sure that he was right there, so he wouldn't get left behind.......in the first photo, in the cockpit with a hat on and his arms folded is..... Carl Kiekhaefer.

The bottom photo, boat #250, is a smaller version of the boats above and was probably set up for European racing. Usually anytime the boats had a three digit number for a race number, it was for international events, like Cowes.

[Top Banana]

JOHN CROUSE Yup, John was an offshore racer at one point in his career and even was on the winning boat for a Miami Nassau race.

John was a cub reporter at a Miami newspaper and was assigned to cover the race. He shows up at the dock and Sam Griffith tells him to jump aboard he is riding with him. John has a portable typewriter and a blue suede jacket.

The race starts and as they clear Government Cut, the weather looks really nasty, pouring rain and the seas are building 6 to 8 feet. As soon as they are in the ocean and clear of land, Sam reaches up and pulls the wires out of the VHF radio. John asks why he did that and Sam replies...."So, they can't call us back because they think the weather is too bad."

When they get to Bimini, Sam pulls up to a dock and some natives roll a 55 gallon drum of fuel on board....no tie downs, no extra lines to hold it. As they are pulling out of the harbor, Sam turns to John and says .."When we get low on fuel, take that hand pump there and hook up the hose and just fill up the regular tank from that drum...until then make sure it doesn't fly overboard.."

They pulled into Nassau...they won, but John had turned purple...the blue suede jacket had colored his skin from the rain and spray as they ran. He said most of the color was gone within a couple of weeks.....but he stayed away from the beach until the final remnants were gone.

Photos are of John in his prime, the boat he and Sam shared that stormy day and John at home a few months ago.

[Top Banana]

WILLIAM HENRY FAUBER

Who?? Well if we are going to be talking about the history of the sport, the least we can do is give credit to the man that actually had the first patent on .....THE STEP.

This patent was taken out in 1908 for a series of steps all equal in power on a dead straight line.

[Top Banana]

CARL KIEKHAEFER

What more can be said about this man? Any form of competition that he decided to pursue, he excelled. We all know about his success in boat racing , but he also dominated NASCAR in the 50's with his Chrysler team.

From Mercury to Kiekhaefer AreoMarine. If you didn't have one of his engines, you were just going for a ride not a win.

[Big Time]

So that is how the name "k-planes" came about....

Good content! Thanks!

[Top Banana]

So that is how the name "k-planes" came about....

Good content! Thanks!

And notice also the K 600 drive for high performance engines.....that is the daddy of the # 6 Mercruiser drive we all run today.

Fred Kiekhaefer was Carl's son, below, and worked with him in the development of some of these drives and tabs etc. Fred is with Mercury today having sold Kiekhaefer Aeromarine to them after Carl's death.

Some of the development of the Champion Maker engines was done by Richie Powers. They were so dedicated to getting as much HP as possible out of their testing they worked right until Christmas Eve....then Carl told Richie he could go home (Florida) for Christmas.

[NNRT]

Don't stop now Charlie - keep it going - !

Phil

[gofish7070]

Wonderfull info Charlie,,,,,,,, Was the turbine boat you showed with Carl K. Repainted yellow and manned by Odell, ( I think renamed Mona Lou) or was that another boat?????????

[Top Banana]

Wonderfull info Charlie,,,,,,,, Was the turbine boat you showed with Carl K. Repainted yellow and manned by Odell, ( I think renamed Mona Lou) or was that another boat?????????

Yes, you are correct..... here it is when Odell was driving it for Mr K.

[Top Banana]

A deck.... is a deck.... is a deck. The development of some boats happened so fast that the tooling couldn't keep up. For instance, when the 38.6 foot Cigarette was developed by Jerry Jacoby as AJAC HAWK, he blocked the 39 foot mold and pulled his 37.6 hull out of the mold.

For a deck, he simply had Don lay up a standard 36 foot race deck, as seen on Yellowdrama # 9 below and then cut off the extra side walkways. They aren't needed on an 8 foot wide boat vs a 9' 6" inch wide boat.

When the boat was made into a production model, later known as the Top Gun, the same deck just had a mold made from it and retained the same flat deck look with a narrow walkway on the sides.

[Top Banana]

There may be some out there that do not know about the book that John Crouse wrote about the sport. It is called SEARACE and is over 600 pages long and weighs over 6 lbs.

The book has been out of print since 1989 and HORBA has agreed to help John Crouse sell the remaining new copies still in existence at the 1989 price of $69.....compared to some recent copies that sold on e-bay for over $300.

The book is brand new, still as packaged from the publisher. It is sealed in plastic and shipped in a cardboard shipping carton. It may be ordered on the HORBA website from the online store.

www.historicraceboats.com

[TEAMBAJA]

Keep going Charlie! Best thread Ive read in a long time!:patriot:

[Top Banana]

The British are coming.....only this time they made a positive effect on our sport !!

For those who think that Cougar only made cats.....here is a sample of some of their deep V offerings.

[THUNDERBOLT]

Charlie
where are you getting all these old photo's from/ some of these never seen before in GB and not in Searace!..keep them coming..
Tell all the guys over there that 2010 is a must in Cowes 50th Anniversary of Cowes Torquay, So sad all the great names now passed on ! but Bounty Hunter is over here for this years race!!

Regards

Mike
THUNDERBOLT
1st Winner CT 1961

[Top Banana]

Don Aronow grew up in Brooklyn and always heard stories of the famous rum runner that operated out of Brooklynn in the 30's called....The Cigarette.

When he started racing his own boats many years later, he used the name on three of his race boats.

The first was a 233 Formula, that had a 409 cu in engine in it and he placed third in the 63 Miami to Key West race in it.

The boat is now owned by a HORBA member and has been restored to racing condition again, placing 1st in the single engine historic class, in the Don Aronow Memorial Race from Miami to Bimini and back in June 2008.

[Top Banana]

The second boat he called ...The Cigarette was a 28 foot Magnum.

And once again, he had the name on the transom, as the sides he had to use to both promote his new company...Magnum..... and remind people of his former company...Donzi.

[Top Banana]

The last and probably the most famous raceboat, was the 32 foot Cary that he raced to his last World Championship in 1969.....The Cigarette.

Almost everyone thinks it was a Cigarette boat, it was a Cary. Don only raced once race in his life in a Cigarette made boat, a 36 footer in a fun race in Miami out of the Jockey Club...yes, he won.

The last photo shows Don holding a model of this last Cigarette. Michael's son Michael has authorized a limited edition of only 100 copies of this 32 inch model to be made and sold through HORBA.

If anyone is looking for a nice Christmas present this year, check out the online store on the HORBA website.

[Top Banana]

Charlie
where are you getting all these old photo's from/ some of these never seen before in GB and not in Searace!..keep them coming..
Tell all the guys over there that 2010 is a must in Cowes 50th Anniversary of Cowes Torquay, So sad all the great names now passed on ! but Bounty Hunter is over here for this years race!!

Regards

Mike
THUNDERBOLT
1st Winner CT 1961


Thanks Mike......HORBA has at least 30,000 images, that have been donated by many people, especially the complete photo library of John Crouse. John owned the libraries of Sal Mageuri and Ron Thibedeau also after their deaths. We lack the funding right now to be able to have them all scanned and put up on the sight, we are working a bit at a time as budgets permit.

We are working on a new book called...Blue Water Warriors. The history of offshore racing during the golden era of the deep vee hull...1970 to 1980.
Many of these photos come from the working files we are using.

The book will not be like SEARACE, but more like this thread, great photos and just short comments about them. Should be ready for Christmas shipping.

[Top Banana]

Speaking of decks.......when Billy Martin ordered a new 32 foot Magnum for the next racing season, Don didn't have a deck for it.......so he called his friend Dick Genth down at Thunderbird / Formula and asked if he would make him one from their 32 race boat decks molds....sure no problem.

When Billy in # 51 Magnum, Hustler and Eddie Lacarreau in the #8 Eight Ball, Thunderbird / Formula showed up at the starting line, they both had the same deck, but different bottoms.....the Magnum was better.

[straightpriority]

makes you proud to own one! great stuff

[Top Banana]

BOB NORDSKOG ....sure we all know he was publisher of Powerboat Magazine and a great offshore racer and innovator.....BUT how many have ever seen his personal pleasure boat that was equipped with a convertible top and air conditioning??

This is just an example of the type of person that offshore racing attracted, the person who always believed they had a better way of doing something and then trying to prove it to the world.

[Top Banana]

If you won a race back in the day, no one would accuse you of a walk in the park, you earned it, often over 200 or so miles of open ocean, not to speak of the quality of the competition.

Here is the start of one of the races. Closest to the camera was the 38 foot Larry Smith Scarab of Paul Clauser, SATISFACTION. This is the boat that Bill Elswick with Richie Powers throttling, took the Harmsworth Trophy in England later in the year.

Next out is Sammy James and Vince Fasano in VINCENTIVE. Sammy would run the boat so hard that Vince would often come back to the dock with is face in shreds from banging off the steering wheel. At a drivers meeting in Miami, we gave Vince a birthday cake in the shape of a steering wheel....and Sammy pushed his face in it. The Bertrams only had a 20 degree bottom vs the 24 degree of the other boats....we called it a flat bottom.

Next boat out with the flag is the start boat...it is a Schiada, so this is probably a West Coast race.

Behind the start boat in the far left of the photo is Billy Martin in the lightweight 39 foot Cigarette, BOUNTY HUNTER. He knew he had another 200 miles to go so he probably wasn't concerned with his location at the start.

Next boat, just in front of the start boat was a new guy just coming into the sport with a 37.6 foot Cigarette. His name was Al Copeland and he called his boat POPEYES after his chain of restaurants. In the boat with him was very experiecned throttleman, Bill Sirois and as navigator, Stan Ware who is still racing today in a Skater cat.

Next boat out was a guy who had this crazy idea that he had a better idea for drive systems. Howard Arneson was trying his new invention on his 38 foot Larry Smith Scarab, # 6 SEA SWEEP.


Next boat out was Charlie McCarthy in his 38 foot Banana Boat, #60, RUMS OF PUERTO RICO.
After turning down Bernie Little's offer for sponsorship the previous year, Charlie accepted the sponsorhship of the, Economic Development Office of the Comonwealth of Puerto Rico, to raise the American drinking public's awareness of rums from Puerto Rico.

Next to Charlie was Betty Cook in her 38 foot Larry Smith Scarab, KAAMA. John Conners was both crew chief and throttleman.

Not shown but most certainly there, would have been Joel Halpern in BEEP BEEP, Joey Ippolito in MICHELOB LIGHT, Bob Nordskog and Norm Teague in POWERBOAT MAGAZINE SPECIAL, Rocky Aoki in BENIHANA. Arnold Glass and Mel Riggs in COPPER KETTLE, Bill Elswick in LONGSHOT, Michel Maynard and Bob Idoni in FAYVA SHOES, and Jerry Jacoby with AJAC HAWK, the first ever 37.6 Cigarette that would later be known to the world as the Top Gun........plus a gathering of local racers with third and fourth hand 36 foot Cigarettes.

[seeroy]

MERRICK LEWIS as mentioned above, owned Thunderbird boat co and had Dick Genth running it for him. He also owned a company that was building boats out of aluminum at the time called Maritime.

Here are some shots of the aluminum offshore racers of the day and in one of the photos you can see someone who knew when the leading edge was being pushed and wanted to make sure that he was right there, so he wouldn't get left behind.......in the first photo, in the cockpit with a hat on and his arms folded is..... Carl Kiekhaefer.

The bottom photo, boat #250, is a smaller version of the boats above and was probably set up for European racing. Usually anytime the boats had a three digit number for a race number, it was for international events, like Cowes.

Great Stuff Charlie - In the third shot, I think that is Merrick standing in the middle - Steve Sirois

[seeroy]

Thanks Mike......HORBA has at least 30,000 images, that have been donated by many people, especially the complete photo library of John Crouse. John owned the libraries of Sal Mageuri and Ron Thibedeau also after their deaths. We lack the funding right now to be able to have them all scanned and put up on the sight, we are working a bit at a time as budgets permit.

We are working on a new book called...Blue Water Warriors. The history of offshore racing during the golden era of the deep vee hull...1970 to 1980.
Many of these photos come from the working files we are using.

The book will not be like SEARACE, but more like this thread, great photos and just short comments about them. Should be ready for Christmas shipping.


Charlie - Please let me know as soon as I can buy the new book. Can I buy it now and have it delivered when it goes into print? Tell John I said Hi and hope to see him at OFF2009.

[Ms PatriYacht]

Charlie thanks so much for taking the time to post all this information. It is great that you and the others at HOBRA are taking time out of your personal lives to preserve the
history of offshore, just fascinating stuff. I hope I can help you raise a little funds for
your cause

[Top Banana]

Charlie - Please let me know as soon as I can buy the new book. Can I buy it now and have it delivered when it goes into print? Tell John I said Hi and hope to see him at OFF2009.

Thanks Steve. We are still working with the publisher to try to get the price down....less color shots, smaller shots etc etc.

Once we finally have the price, we can start getting the word out and hopefully that will tell us if there is any interest in this style of book.

We would like to have the first copies available to the public at the races in Key West in November, that should take care of a lot of Christmas shopping for many.

[Top Banana]

Charlie thanks so much for taking the time to post all this information. It is great that you and the others at HOBRA are taking time out of your personal lives to preserve the
history of offshore, just fascinating stuff. I hope I can help you raise a little funds for
your cause


Thanks Donna ............we just hate to see some of this history be lost forever.

We appreciate that the public still finds it interesting and can see how some of these common innovations were really just wild ideas back in the day.

[Top Banana]

BILL WISHNICK World Champion in 1970. This is really one of the all time good guys that ever was in this sport.

He was a major multi millionaire and often dipped into his own pocket to make up purses or cover overhead for race committees. He was also a major party guy.

All the time he was the head of a major worlwide corporation. The year he won his championship, he did it just by usng his vacation days to travel to the differnet races all over the world.

When his boat broke in Argentina and his mechanic...Bobby Moore, told him that the engine couldn't be fixed, his closest competitor, Vincenzo Balestreri, went out and found a boat that he could use to race. Another time when Bill couldn't make a race, Vincenzo withdrew so he wouldn't have a unfair advantage in the points. It was the age of gentlemen.

The Big Broad Jumper shot below, is Bill in his aluminum Maritime boat....the cockpit looks crowded and it was, because right before the start he noticed the Jacoby girls, Rene and Gale had broken down. He invited them to ride with him and "enjoy the beautiful California coastline".

The other shot is his 36 foot Cigarette carrying the World Champion # 1 on the sides. This boat attracted the attention of someone who thought it would make a nice day boat. He bought it and converted it with a small cabin and used it on San Francisco Bay.......the racing bug must have bitten him hard as Howard Arneson would later become a racer in his own right.

PS Bill was the fist one to use a throttleman in an offshore race boat and that was Bobby Moore.

[smokeybandit]

Keep going. This is the greatest stuff ever. How about some Rocky Aoki stories?

[Top Banana]

HOWARD ARNESON Shown below in Bill Wishnick's old Cigarette....now called Nauti Eve II.

Howard had a boat built by Dan Arena on the west coast, below and challenged in the early races.

He also had a Larry Smith Scarab with his new drive system, but it wasn't until he combined his new surface drive system with the catamaran design that he began to have big success.

[Top Banana]

Keep going. This is the greatest stuff ever. How about some Rocky Aoki stories?

I was very fortunate to be honored with some of the other old racers at the Point Pleasant race a couple of years ago. Rocky, Billy Martin, Bobby Saccenti, John Bochis, Rich Luhrs, Jerry Gilbreath and I'm sorry if I have forgotten anyone else.

Once again, it was another good guy for the sport, John Haggin who put the presentation together for all of us. Anyway Rocky and I were on the two pace boats and we had a good time together, like the old days. Me and Rocky and Bobby below on that weekend.

Rocky started out with a 28 foot Barcone and quickly moved into a 35 Cigarette and then into 38 foot Bertrams that he got for $1.00 from Bertram. They understood he could generate so much publicity, it was a great deal for them.

He was an offshore champion, a backgammon champion, a hot air balloon champion (he was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean in a hot air balloon) and an Olympic wrestler for Japan in the 60's. He started a Men's magazine to challenge Playboy..Genesis.

He loved life and was a great deal of fun at the races.

[Mr. Toad]

Charlie,

Wonderful photos! You have a great recollection for all of this, and it is great you are putting this stuff here for posterity!

I posted this over on offshoreonly, but thought I should repost it here.

Here's a photo I thought you'd enjoy seeing from the Benihana Grand Prix West in San Francisco in 1978.
Rocky only knew one way to run, and that was as hard and as fast as possible. The water was rough that year, and on the way out to the Farallons we broke the boat down the side and across the bottom partway to the keel. I think I have a picture of the damage, somewhere. This was the only race I navigated for Rocky. Actually, it was only half of a race, as I got hurt in the impact and had to get out at the Farallons check boat.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=17754&size=1
Bill Vogel, Rocky Aoki, and Errol Lanier before the 1978 San Francisco race

[cigdaze]

Welcome!!
:)

[Ratickle]

Welcome Bill, great to see you here. Can't wait to hear some of your stories. I was a west coast boy, Portland, Oregon, up until 1987. You're stint in POPBRA was a good one, who says West Coast guys didn't know about East Coast water back then......:sifone:.

Hope everyting is going A-Okay, any chance we'll get to see you in Key West or one off the other events this year?

Rich, Brownie, Charlie, Pepe, etc. probably all have stuff to chat about with you.....

Can't wait.

Again, welcome.:seeya:

[MattBMiller]

Some awesome information in this thread! :)

[RichL]

Some awesome information in this thread! :)

Without a doubt.

[Top Banana]

Charlie,

Wonderful photos! You have a great recollection for all of this, and it is great you are putting this stuff here for posterity!

I posted this over on offshoreonly, but thought I should repost it here.

Here's a photo I thought you'd enjoy seeing from the Benihana Grand Prix West in San Francisco in 1978.
Rocky only knew one way to run, and that was as hard and as fast as possible. The water was rough that year, and on the way out to the Farallons we broke the boat down the side and across the bottom partway to the keel. I think I have a picture of the damage, somewhere. This was the only race I navigated for Rocky. Actually, it was only half of a race, as I got hurt in the impact and had to get out at the Farallons check boat.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=17754&size=1
Bill Vogel, Rocky Aoki, and Errol Lanier before the 1978 San Francisco race


Bill....Welcome.

It's been a long time, nice to hear from you again.

Here are some quick shots of you and Joey on the # 3 Michelob Light Scarab, back in the day. I have some nice color stuff of your 28 Cigarette around here somewhere, I'll dig it out as soon as I can find it.

Charlie

[Top Banana]

We were talking about steps before and I know a lot of people think they were just applied to the designs of offshore boats recently...but......here is a shot from the 1970 Hennessey Grand Prix out of Pt Pleasant, NJ.

The boat is an Alim, the material it is made out of, is paper mache. The boat not only has a beak and steps, but it is a deep vee and a tri hull, it also has an air scoop under the beak to do who knows what, but it is there.

There is a lot of things going on with this design.....no wonder it took a little time to figure out which ones worked and which didn't.

[Davidmnc]

We were talking about steps before and I know a lot of people think they were just applied to the designs of offshore boats recently...but......here is a shot from the 1970 Hennessey Grand Prix out of Pt Pleasant, NJ.

The boat is an Alim, the material it is made out of, is paper mache. The boat not only has a beak and steps, but it is a deep vee and a tri hull, it also has an air scoop under the beak to do who knows what, but it is there.

There is a lot of things going on with this design.....no wonder it took a little time to figure out which ones worked and which didn't.

I think I see Reggie's reflection off the side of the boat. And it looks like he is taking notes! :biggrinjester:

Sorry for the hijack. I normally just read these threads. I could not help my self on this one! Thank you for sharing. This is great stuff!!!

[Top Banana]

ITALIAN DESIGN We usually think of Ferrari's or boats from Lake Como, but a Formula??

Well this pointy nosed design was tried in the 60's and was doing just fine, Dick Genth was driving ....until it sank in one of the Bahamas races.

This boat looks a lot like Surfury, the famous Gardener's brothers boat out of England.

Contrary stories...it sank...or.....it was sinking and picked up by a freightor and was returned to Europe.

If anyone knows of the whereabouts of this boat, please report it to your local authorities.

[Top Banana]

I think I see Reggie's reflection off the side of the boat. And it looks like he is taking notes! :biggrinjester:

Sorry for the hijack. I normally just read these threads. I could not help my self on this one! Thank you for sharing. This is great stuff!!!


Speaking of Mr Fountain. Back in 1979, Gary Garbrecht and Reggie Fountain began a new boat company. They bought a 30 foot Excalibur and added a pad to the bottom. Jean Claude Simon who designed the Excalibur (28 Magnum stretch) for Bill Farmer, claimed that the new boat company owners had to include his name on all advertising.....They promptly added a beak and the rest is history.

Gary and Reggie were very successful tunnel outboard boat racers, Gary ran the program for Mercury, but they wanted to go offshore and took this plunge. Reggie bought out Gary a short time later and continued on his own.

[Mr. Toad]

Bill....Welcome.

It's been a long time, nice to hear from you again.

Here are some quick shots of you and Joey on the # 3 Michelob Light Scarab, back in the day. I have some nice color stuff of your 28 Cigarette around here somewhere, I'll dig it out as soon as I can find it.

Charlie

Cool. I'd love to see any of the stuff you have.

Speaking of those documenting the sport during that period, I don't remember Sal, but Ron Thibedeau was a friend and Phil was doing a great job with Needlenose films.

Also, motorsports artist George Bartell and I became good friends. I went to George's studio near Palos Verde and watched him paint. It was an interesting process. He'd project his slides from the event onto a canvas in a darkened studio, and use it as a template for his sketching and painting. You couldn't tell the true colors of the paint due to the colored light. After he was completely finished he'd turn the lights on and the resulting painting was always a surprise, even to him. George did a lot of auto paintings that appeared regularly in Sports Illustrated, but he was a genuine fan of offshore racing. His work is certainly collectable now. I have a few of his originals and sketches, including a picture of my wife and me that was a wedding present. :)

However, right boat but wrong navigator. The time I navigated for Joey, the #3 boat was named "Outrageous".

[DonziGirl]

Great stuff guys, keep it commin. Id love to hear more on the 28 Super Toad.

[Top Banana]

Cool. I'd love to see any of the stuff you have.

Speaking of those documenting the sport during that period, I don't remember Sal, but Ron Thibedeau was a friend and Phil was doing a great job with Needlenose films.

Also, motorsports artist George Bartell and I became good friends. I went to George's studio near Palos Verde and watched him paint. It was an interesting process. He'd project his slides from the event onto a canvas in a darkened studio, and use it as a template for his sketching and painting. You couldn't tell the true colors of the paint due to the colored light. After he was completely finished he'd turn the lights on and the resulting painting was always a surprise, even to him. George did a lot of auto paintings that appeared regularly in Sports Illustrated, but he was a genuine fan of offshore racing. His work is certainly collectable now. I have a few of his originals and sketches, including a picture of my wife and me that was a wedding present. :)

However, right boat but wrong navigator. The time I navigated for Joey, the #3 boat was named "Outrageous".

Sal was of the era right before the 70's. He was killed in a light plane crash while shooting the race at Key West. He was the guy who took all the great black and white stuff of the early Bertrams, Donzi's and Cigarettes. Ron and then the Lewis brothers certainly added the ultimate professional touch to the sport and brought it to a whole new level.


Bill......Outrageous. Yes, we have that photo of you guys in Newport Beach.......see photo below........and we even have the photo of Outrageous, the 27 foot Signature that Joey started with in New Jersey in our files somewhere.

George Bartell. John Crouse commissioned George to do all of the individual paintings that he used of the racers in his book SEARACE. Ses the Al Copeland one here.

John has donated the George Bartell originals to HORBA and we are planning on doing some type of posters for sale on the web site in the future.

What happened to the rest of the west coast people.....Jeff Brown and Paula Atkin...photo below, both good racers and fun people. Paula was the Betty Cook of Production class.

[Mr. Toad]

What happened to the rest of the west coast people.....Jeff Brown and Paula Atkin...photo below, both good racers and fun people. Paula was the Betty Cook of Production class.

Don't know about Paula, haven't heard news of her and husband Ron since the day.

Lou Gantz of Long Beach is another early Production guy I remember well, I suppose he may be gone now.

I ran into Karl Koster at a boat show in Long Beach just a couple of years ago. If I recall our conversation correctly, he is still involved in the boat business and in Offshore.

Dan Blocker and his two sons raced a 24' Campbell in POPBRA for a couple of years, it was a family affair like the Vogels. You'll remember Dan, he played "Hoss Cartwright" on Bonanza for many years.

Jeff Brown was doing well the last time I saw him. He's the owner of Jackson Hole Aviation in Wyoming. I visited with him in 2001(?) when we passed through there while flying around the country with my family in our Bonanza. [I have a fun flying story involving myself, Jeff and John Connor, but since it really doesn't have anything to do with boat racing I'll save it for another time and place.]

The kiwi brothers Brett and Craig Archer were active in US Offshore for quite awhile - I'd like to think I had at least a little to do with that. After the 1980 Melbourne Worlds, Bob & I were invited to visit New Zealand by local racer Roger Wood. We spent three weeks there and experienced wonderful hospitality: I was invited to drive Roger's cat in a local New Zealand offshore race which was a real treat (esp. since we won!), as I remember it was cold and the water was rough; we stayed with the Archer family for a little; Roger took us trout fishing at Lake Taupo, where we stayed at a resort with one of the top 10 game restaurants in the world; and spent plenty of time touring the islands with Roger and hanging out at his large sheep 'farm', attending the weekly stock auction in the nearby town, and watching the amazing sheep dogs do their work. He also raised deer which was very interesting - they had very tall fences around those pastures! Anyway, Brett and Craig came over to visit us the next year. They must have liked it, because they returned and stayed, first with us, then working for KAAMA Racing, and finally on their own. I spoke with Brett maybe ten or fifteen years ago, but have lost touch with him since. I understand that Roger passed away years ago; we were priviledged to know him.

There were many others - like Tommy ?, the personable Spectra guy. I'm seeing faces but it may take me a while to dredge up the names :sheepish: Help me out here!

[Mr. Toad]

Great stuff guys, keep it commin. Id love to hear more on the 28 Super Toad.

I posted some pictures of Super Toad here: http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/2941003-post19.html

In 1972 we decided to move up to a boat we could campaign nationally in APBA Class III (UIM II). Dad arranged to buy one of the relatively new 28' Cigarettes from Don Aronow. Don had designed the 28 as a pleasure boat, with a large cockpit, big glass windscreen, etc. He agreed to build us one with a stronger race layup, leave out the console, and with stringers for a single big Mercruiser instead of the typical side-by-side small blocks.

Bob and I drove our pickup (orange, of course!) to Florida during school vacation to finalize the arrangements with Don. While there I remember making the final decision on the color, boot stripes, etc. While they were building the hull, I found a trailer builder to make us a California-style (float-off) rig. This was harder than it sounds, as everyone uses cranes in Florida and no one there had ever built a trailer for ramp launching an offshore boat. We'd hang out with the guys from the Cigarette factory, go to lunch with them at Tony Romas, all pretty cool stuff for a couple of kids from California.

When the hull and deck was finished, I wrote Don a check and Bob and I towed it home to California. The three of us rigged it ourselves from scratch. We put in a 482 Mercruiser (carbureted!) with #3 super speedmaster, fabricated a windscreen, Jake welded up the tanks which we foamed in, built a frame for the bolster and had it upholstered, and we built a full-width cockpit insert/console out of plywood and fiberglass to take up the extra space in the cockpit. It bolted into the cockpit, which was a good thing as later on we needed the access when we installed additional tankage forward for the Miami-Nassau Race - you can see the fills on the front deck in one of the photos. You can also see the little spoiler we added at the top of the windscreen - the original design put all the wind right in our face - ugh! The little lip was just enough to direct the blast over the tops of our helmets.

I was maybe 18 at the time...

[Dangerous Dave]

Thanks for sharing that cool story! Any idea where Super Toad is now?

[Brownie]

In 1965, I was at Donzi with Aronow. We built lots of experimental boats. One of them was the 14' Donzi "Peanuts". We built the first one with a racing Volvo on a model 100 Volvo drive. Don was driving everyone to finish the boat in time for the famous 9 hour race at the Miami Marine Stadium. He had sold it to a French Canadian. We finished it at 11:00 at night, after a lot of beer drinking. We launched the boat in a driving rain, and Don immediately jumped in, and roared off down the canal, wide open in the dark, pouring rain. We heard the noise fade away, and sat around and drank a few more brewskis. Soon, we heard the unmistakeable exhaust note of the little Volvo, and Aronow flashed by at about 50 mph. He idled to the floating dock, and said "Brownie, this is the best f**king boat I have ever built. It is fast, and turns on a dime. Give it a try"! Reluctantly, got in and squinted my eyes into the rain. I didn't intend to go very far in the dark, but when I gave it some throttle, I was surprised how zippy it was. When I got to the end of the canal at wide open throttle (which I could barely see) I cranked the steering wheel hard over. The boat hooked immediately, and threw my ass about 50 feet down the bay! Fortunately I had hooked the deadman switch, and it shut the boat down, but I couldn't see it in the dark. I thought to myself, "S**t! Aronow is going to shoot me"! I had visions of the boat in the rocks, etc. Finally, my heart slowed down a bit. I swam in a circle and located the boat, floating happily, about 100 feet away. I swam over and climbed aboard. It started up immediately and I gingerly ran back down the canal at about 30mph, and idled over to the dock. I said, "I tried a hard left turn, and threw me right out"! With a huge grin, Aronow turned around and showed me his ripped shirt. "Me too"!

[Ratickle]

Now that's funny...:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Nice guy...........:sifone:

[Dude! Sweet!]

Thanks guys. This is very enjoyable. Also very nice to hear some west coast history. Seems like there is very little of it around anymore.

I found this when I did a quick search related to Archer Marine...

http://www.nigelhook.com/raceteam/raceteam-craig.htm

I always thought that the Archer's stilled owned it. Anyhow here's the contact info for those guys.

Team Archer Marine
936 Sunset Dr. #B
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Tel: (949) 646-9778
Fax: (949) 646-0844

[Brownie]

That same year, 1965, we (Teleflex, who bought the company and me in April) gave the 35' "Big Bad Donzi" to Aronow in return for him screwing us on his non-compete agreement. Most of you know that the 35' magically turned into the 35' Magnum. The BBD had a pair of 427 Holman Moodys on Casale V drives and ran about 50 mph. Don was looking for more speed (I had beaten him and the boat twice already that year) and he asked (told) me to launch my 18' Donzi with a 289 Phony Cobra on an Eaton C (piece of ......) drive. It would run 60 mph, and the plan was for me to observe and photograph the running surfaces of the 35' while Don ran along. We could get under the chines of the boat and got some great pix of the propeller shafts breaking the water, etc. I was overseeing and shooting, and the boat was being driven by Gene Schoell, my glass foreman. Gene was Harry's brother. I gave Gene hand signals, to move in, out, up, back, etc. It was going extremely well, when Gene let out "S**********************t"! When I looked up, I could see that Aronow had turned into our canal, and taken us right to the end. In those days, there was no Magnum or Hi-Lift Marine, just a rough dredged beach at the end of the canal. Aronow pulled back the throttles on the BBD, and lightly beached the boat. By the time Gene got it together and pulled back, the unit trailed out, and we went 50 feet into the weeds.

[Ratickle]

That's the trouble with engineers. So busy trying to improve on where they've been, they sometimes forget to look where they're going.....:sifone: :rofl: :sifone:


Will we see you in Key West this year Brownie????

[Brownie]

Yup. I have a place in Key Largo, and I will come down for the day on the weekend.

[Buoy]

Brownie, this is great stuff!
Thank you for sharing this.

[Brownie]

Around the same time, Don gave Harry Schoell some ideas for a 20' or 21' vee bottom hull. He had Harry build it, and we rigged it at Donzi. It had a lot of deadrise, and a lot of strakes, and was a little wild. I came to work at Donzi on a Monday, and Don called me on the telephone and asked me to go to the Castaways Docks, and find the charterboat named, I think, "Will Do" or something like that. He said that he had "bumped into it" over the weekend. I went over there, and saw that the charterboat was being repaired in its own slip. I identified myself, and said that I was there to settle up. They showed me the damage. Don had hit the transom, near the center, hit ON TOP of the house, next to the bridge, landed on the foredeck and slid the full length of the deck and went off through the bow rail, back into the water.

I thought that might slow him down, but following week, on Monday, he asked me to send a guy with a trailer to a place on 79th Street, call "Fun Fair", and pick up the boat. I said that I did not recall that they had a dock there. He said, "They don't. It is next to the street". He had slid a hundred feet across the lawn, and almost got hit by a car.

[PARADOX]

Brownie.. Great stuff.

What the hell was the scoop with the Donzi's circa early - mid 80's with the rounded bottom? (keel).
I was racing a 25 -26 (+-) donzi with a single bulldog and Cobra drive. Rounded bottom. The hull wanted to go everywhere but straight. It was "slippery", no grab what so ever. We were in the lake Michigen once, and hit a rouge barge wave, flow a mile (at least seemed that way :) ) bounced a couple of times and I swear we were going sideways on the rounded bottom.
Strange feeling for sure. Kinda' like a flat bottom air boat.

[Airpacker]

Book Brownie, we NEED a BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[Top Banana]

Bobby Sheer was one of the top production racers of the day.

First in a Magnum and then in one of Brownies production numbers as shown here.......SHEER TERROR.

[h2oMag]

Bobby Sheer was one of the top production racers of the day.

First in a Magnum and then in one of Brownies production numbers as shown here.......SHEER TERROR.

I just helped Bob find a Maltese here in Michigan, Watch for him running her down in Florida.:driving: He look's good back at the wheel of this classic Magnum,, And dose he have some GREAT OFFSHORE stories..:rofl:

[Ratickle]

Will he be at our Pioneers Party with Charlie and the Guys?????

[FastDonzi]

I just helped Bob find a Maltese here in Michigan, Watch for him running her down in Florida.:driving: He look's good back at the wheel of this classic Magnum,, And dose he have some GREAT OFFSHORE stories..:rofl:


Is that pics of the boat you found him? That looks nice. as a Kid I got to ride with Bob in "Lil Rebel" down in the keys. Pretty exciting for a young kid...

[h2oMag]

Is that pics of the boat you found him? That looks nice. as a Kid I got to ride with Bob in "Lil Rebel" down in the keys. Pretty exciting for a young kid...

Yes that's his new Maltese, she was just restored & has only 20hrs on her.

[Lee]

I just helped Bob find a Maltese here in Michigan, Watch for him running her down in Florida.:driving: He look's good back at the wheel of this classic Magnum,, And dose he have some GREAT OFFSHORE stories..:rofl:

"Great offshore stories" is an understatement, when somebody once said to him that it looks like he lost weight, he replied yeah about 15,000lbs :eek::eek::D:

[chris sunsation]

Yes that's his new Maltese, she was just restored & has only 20hrs on her.

Damn! That thing is clean!

[Dude! Sweet!]

I just helped Bob find a Maltese here in Michigan, Watch for him running her down in Florida.:driving: He look's good back at the wheel of this classic Magnum,, And dose he have some GREAT OFFSHORE stories..:rofl:

That thing is a KNOCKOUT! Very very nice. Man, I can't help but think I've seen that hull somplace before...:sifone:

[Top Banana]

Just had an opportunity over the weekend, to ride in a little Old School wagon. A beautifully restored 47 foot Apache, powered with twin 1200 HP Sterlings, with # 6 drives spinning Herring props. Very impressive ride.

As compared to another 47 that I throttled a few years ago, with old school technology triples from Keith Eickert....both boats had a lot of punch and handled whatever water they were in with no problem.

On Saturday at the Fairhaven Ma poker run of Billy Frenz, in the new 47 below on the left, we ran right up front with a 46 foot Skater trubine cat and some other Skater cats with sterndrives. The water was not Apache water and I'm sure the turbine could have taken off, but we all ran in the low 100's and the boat felt great.....brought back some old memories.

[Dude! Sweet!]

Love this photo!

How did you guys deal with start up (since the injectors don't have squirters) and any backfire issues?

Thanks for the history and stories Charlie, you're doing a great job passing the tradition to future generations!

[7xchamp]

Love this photo!

How did you guys deal with start up (since the injectors don't have squirters) and any backfire issues?

Thanks for the history and stories Charlie, you're doing a great job passing the tradition to future generations!

Not Charlie: But one of the guys who developed the Lucas/kinsler injection back in the early seventies with ECK. The sytem was high pressure 150 psi similar to the race cars back then, we used an auxilliary electric primer pump to build the pressure, on initial startup we used to hold throttle wide open with ignition off, fuel pump on, one person spinning motor over, another watching for all injectors to squirt without air, then throttle to idle, ignition on fire her up. I actually worked with Jim Kinsler setting up the first fuel injected Merc. 482`s while working for Kiekhaefer as an engine Tech/builder. Everything had to be mocked up, the belt driven Hi-press. pump, the thunderbolt ignition box etc. The stuff worked great, took the latest single carb 482 race motor from 550 hp to 600hp, I have a book to write about all that transpired in those days.

[Top Banana]

I just sent some photos off to the guy that is doing the resto on LONGSHOT. I remember that when Bill Elswick first moved up to a 39 footer, his boat was white and only later that year did he change it to black.....I'm sure many have seen the black boat, but here is a shot of the white boat at the start of the Bushmills in '79.

Richie's earlier post about the record run in the Scarab at CTC, was with Bill at the wheel in Paul Clauser's Scarab.

[Dude! Sweet!]

Not Charlie: But one of the guys who developed the Lucas/kinsler injection back in the early seventies with ECK. The sytem was high pressure 150 psi similar to the race cars back then, we used an auxilliary electric primer pump to build the pressure, on initial startup we used to hold throttle wide open with ignition off, fuel pump on, one person spinning motor over, another watching for all injectors to squirt without air, then throttle to idle, ignition on fire her up. I actually worked with Jim Kinsler setting up the first fuel injected Merc. 482`s while working for Kiekhaefer as an engine Tech/builder. Everything had to be mocked up, the belt driven Hi-press. pump, the thunderbolt ignition box etc. The stuff worked great, took the latest single carb 482 race motor from 550 hp to 600hp, I have a book to write about all that transpired in those days.

Thank you! That is very useful information!

We're going to drop this off at Enderle's next week for a refresh, conversion to gas and new airhorns.

[THUNDERBOLT]

Question
were any of you guys racing when Tommy Sopwith brought over 007 for the Miami Nassau and ended up being disqualified by Red Crise, the nearest a Brit got to winning a world championship in those true offshore days.
If that boat was still around now that would be some classic.

Mike

[Geronimo36]

great stories guys. thanks for sharing!

[Top Banana]

Question
were any of you guys racing when Tommy Sopwith brought over 007 for the Miami Nassau and ended up being disqualified by Red Crise, the nearest a Brit got to winning a world championship in those true offshore days.
If that boat was still around now that would be some classic.

Mike


The so called.."problem" was a dry exhaust system on the boat.

Red felt it was too dangerous as compared to the water jacketed systems that we all have now as standard.

Tommy, to prove a point, ran the boat at the next race which was Key West and.....it caught on fire.

Then again, Tommy was one to prove a point on a regular basis.....he wanted to show how the main rotor on a helicopter wasn't really that close to everyone's head, so he stuck his finger up .......and promptly cut it off. He wore a leather glove on the hand the finger was missing on after that.

He was a good competitor and the descendant of the famous Sopwith Camel family of WW1 fighter fame.

He was one of the first to run a catamaran in offshore racing....here he is shown with designer, Walt Walters (on the sponson) of his outboard powered cat.

[Ratickle]

That was a coffee spitter too. :rofl: Dang you guys, you sure you can't make this stuff up?????:sifone:

[Top Banana]

Vincenzo Balestrieri an Italian, used to buy the old race boats of Aronow and used them very successfully in European races.

Here is a photo of one of Don's 28 foot Magnums that sunk during a Cowes race in the late 60's.

This boat was found just a couple of years ago and is being restored over in England.

The last photo shows Vincenzo and the giant Texan...Don Pruett, who was his riding mechanic....don't forget drivers drove and throttled back then.

[Geronimo36]

Tommy, to prove a point, ran the boat at the next race which was Key West and.....it caught on fire.

Then again, Tommy was one to prove a point on a regular basis.....he wanted to show how the main rotor on a helicopter wasn't really that close to everyone's head, so he stuck his finger up .......and promptly cut it off. He wore a leather glove on the hand the finger was missing on after that.


That was a coffee spitter too. :rofl: Dang you guys, you sure you can't make this stuff up?????:sifone:

Now that's comedy!!!!:rofl::rofl:

It's like a Bugs Bunny episode with Elmer Fud huntin for wabbits or Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner!:willy_nilly:

The sad part is if that happened nowadays he could probably sue the helicopter company! LOL

[THUNDERBOLT]

What happened in 1966 is even better, Jim Wynn is driving Ghost Rider on the way to Torquay in really bad weather and 6 foot seas they hit a rogue wave Bob Sherbert breaks both or was it one ankle insists Wynn carries on,Bob jams himself in the corner of the very small uncomfortable cockpit. Wynn does not know who is leading until they get to the SKERRIES BUOY ,opens the thottles when he spots Spirit of Ecstacy a 40ft cruiser catching him up, powers into Torquay harbour where Sherbert is lifted out and taken to hospital in ambulance. Wynn has won the only race that had eluded him.
Mike

[Top Banana]

What happened in 1966 is even better, Jim Wynn is driving Ghost Rider on the way to Torquay in really bad weather and 6 foot seas they hit a rogue wave Bob Sherbert breaks both or was it one ankle insists Wynn carries on,Bob jams himself in the corner of the very small uncomfortable cockpit. Wynn does not know who is leading until they get to the SKERRIES BUOY ,opens the thottles when he spots Spirit of Ecstacy a 40ft cruiser catching him up, powers into Torquay harbour where Sherbert is lifted out and taken to hospital in ambulance. Wynn has won the only race that had eluded him.
Mike

Bob Sherbert bravely told Wynne to carry on with BOTH ankles broken.

Here is a shot of them running and you can just see Bob's arm waving from the back of the cockpit. (Can you believe that we have actual photos like this of some of the greatest events in the sport? HORBA archives)

Color shots are of the recently restored boat, you can see the cockpit had no bolster set up at all. The little blue gauge is the speedometer and as you can see real cabins were required under the rules of some racng organizations.

Last photo is Barry Cohen and me at the HORBA display at the boat show. Barry who has lovingly kept this boat for more than 40 years now, recently restored it and offered it to the NJ race people. He thought they might want to use it in their parade for the 40th anninversay of the race.

BTW....this boat was made of wood !!!!!

[THUNDERBOLT]

We are sincerely hoping Barry will bring her over to Cowes for the 50th celebrations
Mike

[Black Tornado]

Vincenzo Balestrieri an Italian, used to buy the old race boats of Aronow and used them very successfully in European races.

Here is a photo of one of Don's 28 foot Magnums that sunk during a Cowes race in the late 60's.

This boat was found just a couple of years ago and is being restored over in England.

The last photo shows Vincenzo and the giant Texan...Don Pruett, who was his riding mechanic....don't forget drivers drove and throttled back then.

Charlie....some 'little' specifications:

to speak of the offshore career of Balestrieri as you have described above it seems to me a little reduced.
Balestrieri bought two second-hand boats from Aronow: the Tornado 28'Magnum and the Black Tornado 32'Cary-a second 32'Cary was bought for Cosentino.
All the other boats including two 36' Cigarette and one 34' Cig were new boats built for him.
With them he has not won only in Europe but it was the first driver not-USA to beat the Americans in their holes.
1968 - Sam Griffith Mem. Race
1970 - Miami-Nassau
Thanks to the valid contribution of Don Pruett in 1968 and of Jack Stuteville in the 1970 Balestrieri won the World Titles in that respective years.
Besides Balestrieri was the only driver of the offshore history that for seven years consecutive runs both in Europe and in Usa and in any other place where was a race valid for the World Championship always honoring its presence with performances of high-level.
It was one of the few gentleman-driver able to maintain the role of driver that of T-man.
In the history of the offshore surely there was been better drivers of him but as many as surely Balestrieri has given a lot for this fascinating sport to make it legendary.

BT

[Ratickle]

Welcome Marco, been waiting for you. Your knowledge of the European history has been missed.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Marco, Thanks for your additions to the thread. I look forward to reading more of your stories.. I am fascinated by the early days.

Thank you.

[Black Tornado]

Many Thanks for welcome!
It's difficult to me follow several forums with few times to spend about(sic!).
But I will try to insert me how much more possible.

Marco

[Ratickle]

Many Thanks for welcome!
It's difficult to me follow several forums with few times to spend about(sic!).
But I will try to insert me how much more possible.

Marco

We have a thread here on a boat, Bertram 38, we are trying to find for a member. His Dad owned it. I'll get you the link.

Any chance at all you can make our Key West get together with HORBA????

[Ratickle]

http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10037


Here it is, start with post 15. Thanks.

[FastDonzi]

Many Thanks for welcome!
It's difficult to me follow several forums with few times to spend about(sic!).
But I will try to insert me how much more possible.

Marco

No Problem....Just Concentrate on "this One" and we'll all be Happy! We Love Reading/Learning about the History of the Sport. All Knowledge is Welcome, and So are Photos and Videos:)

[Brownie]

Bill Wishnick bought Odell Lewis's 31 Bertram with the first ever pair of #3 speedmasters. No power steering. He and Bobby Gene raced in the Houston Channel Derby in, I think, 1969. The race started at the San Jacinto Yacht Club. When we squeezed through the narrow opering into the river to go to Galveston Bay, Bill was driving, and Bobby was facing aft in the bolster, praying. No s**t. Smitty and I were next in Super Nova. When they got to the Texas City Dike, they were in front, but they went around the turn boat four times. Bill wasn't strong enough to pull the wheel out of the turn while pulling back the throttles at the same time. Bobby said "Why don't you steer, and let me throttle and trim"?

[gofish7070]

For some reason I think thats the boat that Mel Riggs and I discussed when I saw him in April,,, It seems to me that the whole thing sold for $26k Both Odell and Mel will be at OFF, can confirm that price,,,,,,,,,Propeelors today are over that,,,,,,,,,

[Sean Stinson]

I took these this afternoon on atrip down memory lane that was as close as I could get but lets see how many of you, who I know have been to this place, can name it!!!!

[DAREDEVIL]

I took these this afternoon on atrip down memory lane that was as close as I could get but lets see how many of you, who I know have been to this place, can name it!!!!

Your X wifes home ??? LOL:sifone:

[Sean Stinson]

Not hardly......you guys couldn't handle either one of my ex-wives!!!!!! I know the pics are hard to see but no one can fathom a guess????

[Sean Stinson]

Here is the address at the gate house!!!!! And there were always deer on the runway!!!!!

[smokeybandit]

Lake X?

[DAREDEVIL]

mmmmhhhhhh,,,,,could be.

[Sean Stinson]

Lake X?

Very good.....I was in the neighbohood yesterday and had to go check it out!!!! It was the first time I had been there since 1992-93!!! Drove by the old HoJo which is now an Econo Lodge...and the whole area has developed vastly since the old days!!!!! Someone is obviously taking care of the grounds at the Lake but I have no idea what the current situation with the property is!!!!!

[Sean Stinson]

I rang the bell but no one answered it but it does look like someone has been keeping the property pretty well maintained!!!!

[7xchamp]

I rang the bell but no one answered it but it does look like someone has been keeping the property pretty well maintained!!!!

My old home where I grew up. Lived there in 1966 during race boat building and setup times. Drove endurance there, best endurance boat I ran was a Switzer wing with a pair of 1350 stackers, ran close to 100 mph. For those who may not know 1350 was designation for basic 135 hp merc outboard. I can write an entire book on the episodes of Lake X. When I started there Schwebbie had just moved there from Wisconsin, and was the prop. guy, and the best there ever was, then came Odell, Lynwood, etc etc etc. I miss those days. When I used to go and test the Offshore rigs I was associated with, they would always let me take some laps in the test boats, I would love to do it again. By the way Sean, what are you up to. Any jobs out there, I need some work. email me richie@powersyachts.com .

[Sean Stinson]

My old home where I grew up. Lived there in 1966 during race boat building and setup times. Drove endurance there, best endurance boat I ran was a Switzer wing with a pair of 1350 stackers, ran close to 100 mph. For those who may not know 1350 was designation for basic 135 hp merc outboard. I can write an entire book on the episodes of Lake X. When I started there Schwebbie had just moved there from Wisconsin, and was the prop. guy, and the best there ever was, then came Odell, Lynwood, etc etc etc. I miss those days. When I used to go and test the Offshore rigs I was associated with, they would always let me take some laps in the test boats, I would love to do it again. By the way Sean, what are you up to. Any jobs out there, I need some work. email me richie@powersyachts.com .

Richie

Out of all the shops I have been in lately I see alot of tumbleweeds blowing through them!!!! Very sad state of affairs in the marine industry!!!! I will send you an email my friend lets catch up!!!!

Sean

[h2oMag]

I rang the bell but no one answered it but it does look like someone has been keeping the property pretty well maintained!!!!

When we tested there back in the early 90's there was a home at one end of the lake. Schwebbie said don't get to close to that house, because he owned the lake & leased [Lake X] it to them. Back then I was also told he was in the credit card business. This guy was a big game hunter [wild pigs] and would show the guys in the shop his kill of the day hanging on the front of his Jeep....... I wonder if he still is the owner of the lake ????????

[Sean Stinson]

When we tested there back in the early 90's there was a home at one end of the lake. Schwebbie said don't get to close to that house, because he owned the lake & leased [Lake X] it to them. Back then I was also told he was in the credit card business. This guy was a big game hunter [wild pigs] and would show the guys in the shop his kill of the day hanging on the front of his Jeep....... I wonder if he still is the owner of the lake ????????

I know of the home you're talking about....I wonder if he actually had some of his family or guests actually use it as a guest home.....

The gate house looks like it has been recently built so someone is obviously maintaining the property and I did see a big truck parked with a trailer behind it where we used to park the haulers and trailers!!!!!

[FastDonzi]

I was there with Brownie once and a squirrel came into the Shop, it was the size of a small dog, it took us a minute to figure out what the heck it was. also Got to feed the alligator potato chips.

[Sean Stinson]

I was there with Brownie once and a squirrel came into the Shop, it was the size of a small dog, it took us a minute to figure out what the heck it was. also Got to feed the alligator potato chips.

All I know is that I had a very intimate meeting with Elvis when I was putting some props on the boat while it was in the water under the over hang.....suffice it to say that it became breaktime at that very moment when his head popped up looking at me!!!!!

Sean

[KSims1868]

In 1965, I was at Donzi with Aronow. We built lots of experimental boats. One of them was the 14' Donzi "Peanuts". We built the first one with a racing Volvo on a model 100 Volvo drive. Don was driving everyone to finish the boat in time for the famous 9 hour race at the Miami Marine Stadium. He had sold it to a French Canadian. We finished it at 11:00 at night, after a lot of beer drinking. We launched the boat in a driving rain, and Don immediately jumped in, and roared off down the canal, wide open in the dark, pouring rain. We heard the noise fade away, and sat around and drank a few more brewskis. Soon, we heard the unmistakeable exhaust note of the little Volvo, and Aronow flashed by at about 50 mph. He idled to the floating dock, and said "Brownie, this is the best f**king boat I have ever built. It is fast, and turns on a dime. Give it a try"! Reluctantly, got in and squinted my eyes into the rain. I didn't intend to go very far in the dark, but when I gave it some throttle, I was surprised how zippy it was. When I got to the end of the canal at wide open throttle (which I could barely see) I cranked the steering wheel hard over. The boat hooked immediately, and threw my ass about 50 feet down the bay! Fortunately I had hooked the deadman switch, and it shut the boat down, but I couldn't see it in the dark. I thought to myself, "S**t! Aronow is going to shoot me"! I had visions of the boat in the rocks, etc. Finally, my heart slowed down a bit. I swam in a circle and located the boat, floating happily, about 100 feet away. I swam over and climbed aboard. It started up immediately and I gingerly ran back down the canal at about 30mph, and idled over to the dock. I said, "I tried a hard left turn, and threw me right out"! With a huge grin, Aronow turned around and showed me his ripped shirt. "Me too"!

This is my favorite story so far. Freaking hilariuos. I will say I saw that coming, but sure as heck fun to read regardless.

I'm VERY new to the sport. I don't race, and truth be told...probably never will. But I sure as heck love reading these stories, love cruising the local lake/bay, and can't wait to get back out there on the water.

[T2x]

My old home where I grew up. Lived there in 1966 during race boat building and setup times. Drove endurance there, best endurance boat I ran was a Switzer wing with a pair of 1350 stackers, ran close to 100 mph. For those who may not know 1350 was designation for basic 135 hp merc outboard. I can write an entire book on the episodes of Lake X. When I started there Schwebbie had just moved there from Wisconsin, and was the prop. guy, and the best there ever was, then came Odell, Lynwood, etc etc etc. I miss those days. When I used to go and test the Offshore rigs I was associated with, they would always let me take some laps in the test boats, I would love to do it again. By the way Sean, what are you up to. Any jobs out there, I need some work. email me richie@powersyachts.com .

Richie:

It was great seeing you at the NYC event and I look forward to visiting with you again at OFF in a few weeks. It's always good to catch up with an old friend.

I finally got to drive our (Darren's) Switzer "wing" for an extended period at the Grand Island Antique Race Boat Regatta a few weeks ago. I can finally understand how those hulls did so well in the multi hour/multi day marathons of our "youth".. It was very driver friendly and smooth...... although with the power we have you don't want to be lulled into "lift off" and turning is a challenge on a short (1 mile) course.......

I loved it..... and look forward to more seat time.

Regarding "The Lake", it was the only place on earth where so much technology resided from both Offshore and OPC racing. The thing that amazes me to this day is that, until we raised the "X" dimension on the early Shadow Cats to OPC levels (over Schwebbe's objections), the Offshore setups were way too deep! You would think with all the prop surfacing we were doing in OPC rigs going back to the early 60's that some of this would have crossed over from one building to another at Lake X. When we did it Schwebbe was convinced that bringing the prop shaft up close to or above the surface would not allow a true Offshore race boat to plane properly...and would not be responsive in the rough stuff......

Live and learn I guess.........

T2x

[Ghost Rider]

We are sincerely hoping Barry will bring her over to Cowes for the 50th celebrations
Mike

Well Mike, we have been anticipating the 12roundBritian as a last Hurrah, but we are open to changes...I forgot about the 50th of the Cowes........I am in Germany most of the time these days working on a new Medical Robotic Surgical System, so I am in the neighborhood and could plan a visit to you for some planning. Great work Horba, as usual keeping the wake running strong,Thanks for your work Charlie!!
Barry

[THUNDERBOLT]

Barry
Please let me know if you are able to drop in to London....
You do realise that we have the only 2 working survivors from the first 10 years of the Cowes Torquay.
THUNDERBOLT..restoration nearly complete will be at 50th
TRAMONTANA...abandoned hulk in Anzio Italy
A'SPERANZILLA...in process of full resto
SURFRIDER...vanished
BRAVE MOPPIE ....sunk
GHOST RIDER...RESTORED AND FUNCTIONAL!!
SURFURY...in museum..needing much attention
TELSTAR..sold now in Australia
CIGARETTE.....in Australia still surviving?
MISS ENFIELD 2....in need of total restoration

you have to be there...it is your duty!!!
Mike
COPOC
TOMMYSTBOLT@AOL.COM

[Ghost Rider]

Hi Mike,
First off Ghost Rider has a new set of Daytona Green look alike 482 cu. in. engines. The boat looks the same as in 1965 before racing in 1966. I need to visit London shortly and if you send me your cell# I will be glad to call for more details. We could leave her in the UK for the next roundBritian. bfc@barryfcohen.com

[THUNDERBOLT]

Barry
let me know we can have lunch and maybe ask Maxwell Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook) if he would like to come along as well then there would be some more arm twisting to attend 2010.
mobile no 07734 114380..
Best Regards

Mike

[Top Banana]

Just back from Key West 09. Had a great time and met some old friends from back in the day. Steve Curtis who is on board the Quatar sponsored cat now is a many time champion in his own right, but how many remember his dad...Clive Curtis?

Clive was a partner with James Beard in a new company called Cougar in England. But before that, he was also the local navigator for an American racing team at the 1969 Cowes race.....some wild guys out of Miami by the names of Knocky House and Don Aronow in a 32 foot Cary called.....The Cigarette.

[FastDonzi]

Just back from Key West 09. Had a great time and met some old friends from back in the day. Steve Curtis who is on board the Quatar sponsored cat now is a many time champion in his own right, but how many remember his dad...Clive Curtis?

Clive was a partner with James Beard in a new company called Cougar in England. But before that, he was also the local navigator for an American racing team at the 1969 Cowes race.....some wild guys out of Miami by the names of Knocky House and Don Aronow in a 32 foot Cary called.....The Cigarette.


Was Clive in Key West? I Know Pete C Said he was Going. I Got to know Clive, Steve, Pete, Ann-The whole Family and Crew when I worked at Cougar in Miami. Great People, Always fun to be around, The only person I ever saw more successful at Picking up chiks than Steve Curtis, was Brownie, That may be where Steve learned his skills. I remember being in Rum Runners and Steve telling Brownie (in his British accent) I Bet I can pick up that Girl, Brownie Coming back with-Yeah, Well I'll pick up Both Her friends, and Viola there Goes all the chicks out the door with Brownie and Steve.

[Top Banana]

Was Clive in Key West? I Know Pete C Said he was Going. I Got to know Clive, Steve, Pete, Ann-The whole Family and Crew when I worked at Cougar in Miami. Great People, Always fun to be around, The only person I ever saw more successful at Picking up chiks than Steve Curtis, was Brownie, That may be where Steve learned his skills. I remember being in Rum Runners and Steve telling Brownie (in his British accent) I Bet I can pick up that Girl, Brownie Coming back with-Yeah, Well I'll pick up Both Her friends, and Viola there Goes all the chicks out the door with Brownie and Steve.

No Clive wasn't there.

Picking up chicks on a bet......only one master. When it came to being competitive and winning the bet it was Aronow. He would make the bet....who could pick up a chick and leave the quickest. He would go in and get the ugliest girl in the joint and be out the door before the other guys had even started selecting....he got the money all the time.

[Black Tornado]

Thanks Steve. We are still working with the publisher to try to get the price down....less color shots, smaller shots etc etc.

Once we finally have the price, we can start getting the word out and hopefully that will tell us if there is any interest in this style of book.

We would like to have the first copies available to the public at the races in Key West in November, that should take care of a lot of Christmas shopping for many.

No news about the book?

BTW however I would prefer a more expensive book but with more photos, greater, color....

[coldfront]

Brownie and Charlie keep it coming love reading all your stories and history about Don , sounds like you guys hade some fun.Great history too . Mark ..

[Top Banana]

Brownie and Charlie keep it coming love reading all your stories and history about Don , sounds like you guys hade some fun.Great history too . Mark ..

Next HORBA chapter to be written is the upcoming Sept 18th Don Aronow Memorial Around Long Island Race. The first time this race has been run in many, many years.

It is open to all...it is 271 miles long and we put in provisions for those who have to stop and refuel along the way.

The current record stands at just over three hours.

We need both racers and support vessels.

Contact billy Frenz at his NPBA headquarters.

[cadillacboats@me.com]

I have a few of the old girls at my place in Stuart, FL (772) 285-2266.
1. 30' 1987 Velocity "Still Crazy"
2. 31' 1965 Bertram Moppie Competition
3. 38' 1970? Bertram Competition
Also about 15 more 1960's-70's fiberglass speedboats "projects".
Hope to see you guys in Oct. at the O.F.F. event.

Saluti, Cadillac

[nthdegree]

I have a few of the old girls at my place in Stuart, FL (772) 285-2266.
1. 30' 1987 Velocity "Still Crazy"
2. 31' 1965 Bertram Moppie Competition
3. 38' 1970? Bertram Competition
Also about 15 more 1960's-70's fiberglass speedboats "projects".
Hope to see you guys in Oct. at the O.F.F. event.

Saluti, Cadillac

Could you post some pics of the 31 Bertram you have???
Thanks...

[bertsboat]

May be done by then if I can get the bugs out of it. You know how it goes restoring a boat.

[Ratickle]

May be done by then if I can get the bugs out of it. You know how it goes restoring a boat.

That is sweet looking. How big of a project was it????

[Bobcat]

Welcome to SOS bertsboat !:seeya:

[seeroy]

Here is photo of Cadillac's Bertram

http://i35.tinypic.com/dfd2ti.jpg

[Ratickle]

Here is photo of Cadillac's Bertram

http://i35.tinypic.com/dfd2ti.jpg

That is really sweet......

[Black Tornado]

That is really sweet......

On some forums I read that could be the last of the saga of Mona Lou of Odell Lewis and that Mel Riggs took second place with a hair from the Aronow's bow in the Bahamas 500 1969.

Anyway do not listen on the side stern is written on. All wrong.

[littlenige]

Cadillac/steve - any pics of the Betram 38? Please? Pretty please?!!

[Dirty Pearl]

Can you give us some more info on Bobby Moore? He throttled our boat when it was Slap Shot. He has told me some great stories and I would like to know more.

[lucky strike]

Here is photo of Cadillac's Bertram

That boat is awesome

[Donskihp]

Whats the deal on the book? Has it been published yet? I want one

[Top Banana]

Whats the deal on the book? Has it been published yet? I want one

Check out the website www.historicraceboats.com in the online section and order yours today.......the book can be seen at the OFF reunion in Florida this weekend.

[rchevelle71]

Check out the website www.historicraceboats.com in the online section and order yours today.......the book can be seen at the OFF reunion in Florida this weekend.


See ya tonight:cheers2:

[BUIZILLA]

we'll be there tonight and tomorrow..

Jim

DONZI MARINE RESTORATION SOCIETY - Co-FOUNDER

[rchevelle71]

we'll be there tonight and tomorrow..

Jim

DONZI MARINE RESTORATION SOCIETY - Co-FOUNDER

I should be hangin' with the Formula Hydroplane, which reminds me I need to call Trent and see if he is gonna be there or around the AMF group somehwere. Look for the guy in the black shirt spilling beers(inside joke from last year, but I will be wearing a black shirt, and probably spill a few beers):cheers2:

[Top Banana]

I thought maybe this thread should come up again, as we close in on another Key West event where more memories will be made.

Sad to see some of the racers in some photos have passed their last finish line and are no longer among us....RIP boys and girls.

[Ratickle]

It is very tough. The last few years have not been good to us in many personal friends ways.