SVL Octane, 2012 Countdown Through Biloxi

[Ratickle]

I'm sure some of you have watched some of the Octane story. Since it hapened that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to drive the boat in Biloxi, I thought I'd expand a little bit on the story. The story kind of starts last year, when Jim Simmons decided to buy a SVL and go play in a second class. The double trailer is still an attention grabber no matter where it goes. As we were loading the double stack after the race last week, the crowd watching was just amazed. Here's a couple pics from last year in Biloxi when it made its first appearance with Octane on top....







I hope you enjoy this story. I think it is one of the most amazing accomplishments I can recall......

[Ratickle]

So the story starts something like, (Jim thinking), I think this boat can handle better. After all, it is the very first canopy SVL Phantom built. I wonder what is inside it?????

Let's find out

January 2012













Ummmmm, Jim, Didn't anyone tell you there is a race in April you need to be at with this boat?????

[Ratickle]

February 2012, coming along nicely, right????? After all, April is a long way away.

Oh, did I forget to to send the engine off to Mercury Performance for a complete rebuild? Well heck, let's do that too.....

[Ratickle]

March 2012. Should be no problem, right? After all, I still have like 4 weeks. What could possibly be a problem?









I wonder if I should change anything else with this much spare time on my hands?????

[Ratickle]

April 2012. Lots of time. After all, the race doesn't start until the 28th, does it?????

[Ratickle]

I wonder if we should start the assembly anytime soon? After all, it's only 4/16. We have lots of time, right????

[Ratickle]

4/20. I cannot imagine why anyone else is worried about getting their boats done for the race. After all, they still have 7 or 8 days until they have to hit the road....

[Ratickle]

4/22, 6 days to go? Oh, wait a minute. I have to leave early and tow the boat there, don't I. Oh well, no problem...











Well, close enough. Let's hit the road. After all, all I have to do there is put on the exhaust, cut holes in the transom, finish the gas lines, no big deal....

[Ratickle]

Saturday in the pits, I guess we probably won't be testing today. I wonder if it will start and float????


Oh, I better find a driver or throttleman too. I wonder if Paul will really get some seat time in Bucanneer Pawn today?



Thanks Purrfection for the photo....

[Ratickle]

Well, recruited Paul to drive, I feel like crap still. I think breathing fiberglass dust every day may cause problems.

The boat started on the hose. Gene says should be no problems. I can't think of a single reason we shouldn't have a chance at winning this thing. After all, we have a completely rebult and modified boat. New engine in a new location. New stringers. New balsa hull coring material. New trim tab location and angle. New gas tank location. New throttleman. New driver. The boat has never been floated since all these changes. We don't know what it weighs. But, we started it on the hose. What could possibly keep us from a checkered?????

Oh, did I mention that the driver and throttleman have never been in any boat ever as a team?

Let's hit the course....

[Ratickle]

Let's put this thing on a scale. After all, there are rules...

[Ratickle]

4900???? What do you mean 4900????



I just put 55 gallons of gas in it so it has to have over 60 gallons of fuel. Are you sure your scale is right?????




Damn, nice diet over the winter.....

[Ratickle]

Well, I guess we better stick it back on the trailer and add some weight....

[Ratickle]

5040, that's more like it. We'll see how much fuel we will burn during the race.....


Time to launch....

[Ratickle]

Well, it floats and starts.


The boat did jump into reverse by itself a couple times, but Joe got the adjustment done to correct that issue.

Had a flipped P1 cause some delays so we kind of forgot to get ready to race. Oops, the horn? Time to figure out where Gene hid the Tajoe so we can find our helmets and jackets.....

Let's get them on and go race......



Jim, you coming???? It's still floating.....



Yep, guess so....

[Ratickle]

Well, mill time...

[Ratickle]

Radio works, boat floats, engine started, we have forward gear, lookin good....


What do you mean it won't come up on plane?????





You think it's in Guardian Mode? That's not good.....

[Ratickle]

About this time, one of the guys in the tower tells nme later my wife is having a coronary. She thinks we're doomed.

I don't know why it was so hard to get on plane at the start. We can hear Wil on the radio telling the pace boat he has to pick the pace up because they cannot stay on palne that slow. Well, the pace boat is doing their best to wait for us. Jim gets on the radio as soon as the boat comes on plane and tells them to go, we'll catch up. I'm thinking maybe, maybe not....


But, we're off and on plane. Now, the boat hits its first bump, fiberglass dust everywhere. The tab indicators and the drive indicator are not working correctly. We don't know if it's the indicators or the units themselves. Jim's pushing and pulling on the indicators with one hand, and we're trying to get some feel for the boat. But, we're running.

[Ratickle]

At the start, everyone runs off and leaves us. We kind of thought that may happen. After all, goal #1, finish the race - no flips or breaking of the boat. Goal #2, no spinouts. Goal #3, place on the podium.

[Ratickle]

Now, the farther we progressed into the race, the better the boat ran. I think the motor was breaking in some, we were getting used to each other some, Jim was figuring out the tabs and drive settings (even though it was by feel, not indicators). By lap 3 of the first heat, we were on the limiter about 1/3rd of the way down the straight for the rest of the straight. About 87.4 it would start popping. By the end of the second heat, we were on the limiter about 100 yards out of both corner for the rest of the way. Top spped we saw after an entire straight of popping, 88.3. A bigger prop would have really helped.

The boat ran and handled incredibly well for a first time out.