NNRT Offshore Classics

[Pete B]

Shoot2thrill Pix has acquired the rights to NNRT Images. all photos are watermarked and Copyrighted. and will be making prints from the files if you have any question PM. Enjoy

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames_zps61e6eff6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames_zps61e6eff6.jpg.html)

Not sure what year this photo was taken, or where exactly, but Chris and Mark Lavin started running this boat in 1984 I believe. It was a 30' Chris Cat with twin 625HP Mercruisers and set a speed record at 101.257 for their class. Pretty sure they ran this boat two seasons, 1984 and 1985, then built the bigger boat in 1986. In 1984 with this boat they won the US National Championship. Then in 1985 with this boat they won the World Modified and UIM Class II titles and the Key West Championship. (Any corrections?)

85585

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/CopperKettle7_zps3b90fce9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/CopperKettle7_zps3b90fce9.jpg.html)

Again, not sure the year and race, but this 38' Bertram Competition was built for Sandy Satullo and delivered to him in January 1976. According to Sea Race by John Crouse, Sandy thought he was buying a super light Kevlar racing boat, but the factory was so afraid he'd break the prototype they actually added 1200 pounds to the boat. After Satullo sold it he is quoted as saying the boat would last a thousand years. (Page 250, Searace, by John Crouse)

[jetcruzr]

Wow! That's great Pete! We look forward to seeing more pics!

[Ratickle]

That is cool.

[lucky strike]

Congrats! Phil & his brother did an amazing job.

Any pics of the Great Adventure Sutphen?

[Pete B]

we have about 1300 slides to convert we will let you know when we get thru them, hope to be posting about 2 to 3 shots a day

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/PaulPicot_zpse6cfa075.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/PaulPicot_zpse6cfa075.jpg.html)

I believe this shot is from 1989. Before that I think Paul raced his mother's 40' CUV diesel boat with surface drives.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/FinishLineC-5_zps1a40a47e.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/FinishLineC-5_zps1a40a47e.jpg.html)

So far, no idea. Looks as if it's a 30' Chris Cat. Anyone?

[NNRT]

Thanks Steve ! - some how some of these photos bring back memories ! Glad they are being used and seen - Hi to Meta, Oh, let me ask her a question ! haha !


Congrats! Phil & his brother did an amazing job.

Any pics of the Great Adventure Sutphen?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Innovations-15_zpsda289ab4.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Innovations-15_zpsda289ab4.jpg.html)

Innovation, built by Mike Drury in 1983 at his Maelstrom boat company and designed by Mike Peters, 35' long. Originally powered with triple 325 Evinrudes, but changed to 300 Mercs in 1984. In 1983 set a record with Copeland driving in Detroit of 87.4 in Detroit. It also set a World straightaway record in 1984 in New Orleans with triple 425 Evinrudes at 131.1. Gentry broke that record in 1987 averaging 148.2 with his 4 engine, 1100 HP each, 48' Gentry Turbo Eagle. In 1984, again at Detroit, it averaged 93.6 mph for the 171 mile race, with one engine broken less than half way into the race. Information Courtesy Searace by John Crouse

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/RollingthunderP-43_zps89ecc6b1.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/RollingthunderP-43_zps89ecc6b1.jpg.html)

32' Cobra "Rolling Thunder", Vince Rinaldi, sons Vinnie and Pete. Won Pro-Stock at the 208 mile Benihana Grand Prix in 1981. Also won Pro-Stock class in Coral Cables in 1981 and the 1982 Bacardi Trophy race in Florida. Information Courtesy Searace by John Crouse

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Breakaways-44_zpsd5fba6e0.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Breakaways-44_zpsd5fba6e0.jpg.html)

John D'Elia Jr. and Brad Cox in his 24' Skater cat. Won the Stock A Key West World Championship in 1985.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/SpiritofPanama55_zps230c9abd.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/SpiritofPanama55_zps230c9abd.jpg.html)

Well, this was a tough one to find out about. We believe, after research, this was built in 1974, hull #7, of the game changing Cigarette 35 raceboats. It was originally owned by the same people who owned RIO, and later sold to Art Swift and renamed Daddy Cool. I believe it was owned by BYRDMAN on here at one time and was for sale back in 2008.

A picture from the Miami Press way back. Information on the back also.
7947979480

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Flap-Jack1_zps7427f404.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Flap-Jack1_zps7427f404.jpg.html)

Don't know the year and race, the 38 foot Bertram Flap Jack owned and driven by Howard Quam possibly. I think there were three Flap Jack Bertram's total, and have no idea which one this is. Anyone? The first one named Flap Jack was formerly owned by Preston Henn and named Bertram 49er. The second was always Flap Jack? The third Flap Jack was the old Copper Kettle? Help!!

[Ratickle]

Nice shots!!:hurray:

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames3519_zps5ef34301.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames3519_zps5ef34301.jpg.html)

Need T2X here. This is, I believe, the 35' Conquest Cat that was involved in the fatal accident.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/HighRisk24_zps11678816.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/HighRisk24_zps11678816.jpg.html)

Another 24' Skater which won Stock A in New Orleans in 1987 owned by Richard Felsen. Also won the 1987 Suncoast race in Sarasota, the 1987 National Championship, and the 1987 World's in Key West. Information Courtesy Searace by John Crouse

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/SeaSweep_zps829b31ae.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/SeaSweep_zps829b31ae.jpg.html)

Unless we are mistaken, that would be Howard Arneson, Chip Saale, and Lorry Azavedo in the first 38' Larry Smith Kaama with Arneson Surface Drives. It would have to be before 1983, because Walter Ragazzi bought it in 1983 and renamed it Hublot. The Sea Sweep boat (boats) were named that after Howard's Pool Sweep he invented and built. He then sold the company and invented the surface drive. I believe he bought this boat in 1978 when his other boat delaminated. Anyone?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg.html)

There is so much information on this Ajac Hawk boat out there , and I'm sure we'll have more pictures to chat about. Aronow changed the length of the 39' by blocking the mold at 37.6 and pulling Ajac Hawk out of it. This boat was introduced to the public in Argentina at the World Championship in 1978, with Jerry Jacoby driving and Bobby Saccenti throttling. This boat was the beginning of the line that was known as the famous 38 Top Gun series. Information Courtesy Banana Boat Company

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Apache_zpse990f5f9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Apache_zpse990f5f9.jpg.html)

Ahhhh, an interesting boat, a Cigarette named Apache. I'll have to get ahold of Bobby for more first hand information. This should be Bobby Saccenti and Jerry Kilpatrick and ? in the Aronow designed 39' Cigarette Squadron XII.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg.html)

Another mystery so far.

[NNRT]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg.html)

Another mystery so far.

Photo taken in Point Pleasant New Jersey - think 1980 -

[NNRT]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg.html)

There is so much information on this Ajac Hawk boat out there , and I'm sure we'll have more pictures to chat about. Aronow changed the length of the 39' by blocking the mold at 37.6 and pulling Ajac Hawk out of it. This boat was introduced to the public in Argentina at the World Championship in 1978, with Jerry Jacoby driving and Bobby Saccenti throttling. This boat was the beginning of the line that was known as the famous 38 Top Gun series. Information Courtesy Banana Boat Company

This photo of Ajac Hawk had to be taken in California - big swells - mountains in the background - again around 1980 or so

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana_zpsd9699b46.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana_zpsd9699b46.jpg.html)

What a famous boat and driver!

BOAT SPECIFICATIONS: "The Benihana" (number 4) is 37.5 feet long with a 11.6 feet beam. A specially designed tunnel hull catamaran made of Gaboon plywood imported from Holland. Designed by James Beard of England and built by Clive Curtis for Cougar, Inc.
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS: Twin Mercruiser Tornado engines each with a piston displacement of 482 cubic inches capable of 625 horsepower each. Manufactured by Mercury Marine.
http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/1979/05/02/BGY511090078/

DRIVER: Rocky uniquely combined his love of adventure with his love for his restaurants. He gave Benihana the publicity it needed through his many successes and good natured personality. He loved power boat racing and won five US offshore races. He sponsored the “Benihana Grand Prix” in Point Pleasant, New Jersey from 1975-1982. In 1979, he won the race there in a 38foot cougar catamaran. Later that summer, Rocky was seriously injured in a boating accident in the San Francisco Bay when his boat lost its trim, dived into a wave and disintegrated. He suffered a ruptured aorta, a lacerated liver and left leg and right arm were each broken in four places. In 1982, he piloted a 35foot active marine racer in the Kiekhafer St. Augustine Classic in Florida and suffered more injuries to his leg when his boat hit a swell and shattered. Rocky knew he couldn’t continue racing with his injuries so he adventured into Ballooning.
http://rockyhaoki.com/biography.html

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/CopperKettle7_zps3b90fce9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/CopperKettle7_zps3b90fce9.jpg.html)

Again, not sure the year and race, but this 38' Bertram Competition was built for Sandy Satullo and delivered to him in January 1976. According to Sea Race by John Crouse, Sandy thought he was buying a super light Kevlar racing boat, but the factory was so afraid he'd break the prototype they actually added 1200 pounds to the boat. After Satullo sold it he is quoted as saying the boat would last a thousand years. (Page 250, Searace, by John Crouse)

This shot is actually of Arnold Glass racing the boat. Arnold was a big auto dealer in Australia and he would often buy American racing boats that were successful. Notice the Australian flag on the side of the boat. This boat later on was sold to Paul Clauser and he changed the name to Satisfaction. Racing in the boat with Arnold was Mel Riggs.

Arnold would leave some of his boats in the USA and he would fly back and forth from Australia to the race city and then fly back home after the race. I remember one race weekend, we were all sitting around the night before the race and Arnold starts telling us this story of his last trip home. He would fly through Hong Kong sometimes and take a day off there to enjoy the town. He was sitting in this very nice restaurant in Hong Kong when a French couple came in and sat down at a table next to him. The woman was carrying her little dog in her arms and was making a big fuss over it. In France it is quite accepted to bring your dog in to a restaurant and they will even make little meals for the dog from your order if you like. Anyway, the woman is trying to tell the waiter that she wants to have a special meal made for the dog.

Problem here the waiter doesn't really understand either French or the English that she is trying to communicate with. Then Arnold says, it is like a light bulb goes off in his head and he is all smiles and the woman thinks she has gotten her point across. The waiter reaches over and takes the little dog in his arms and with a big flourish and bow, he leaves with the dog.

Yup, different part of the world, so do not start to expect that you know what is going on. Fifteen minutes later out comes the waiter carrying a big silver tray and sitting up on the tray with an apple in his mouth is the little Fifi. The woman went ballistic, screaming and shoving tables and chairs. The waiter thought the woman had just purchased the dog from one of the street vendors and wanted it prepared for her to eat......no problem Ma'm and we even put an apple in his mouth to make it look special.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/SpiritofPanama55_zps230c9abd.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/SpiritofPanama55_zps230c9abd.jpg.html)

Well, this was a tough one to find out about. We believe, after research, this was built in 1974, hull #7, of the game changing Cigarette 35 raceboats. It was originally owned by the same people who owned RIO, and later sold to Art Swift and renamed Daddy Cool. I believe it was owned by BYRDMAN on here at one time and was for sale back in 2008.

A picture from the Miami Press way back. Information on the back also.
7947979480

Roger Munn set up this boat and was throttle man on it. Roger for many years was Billy Martims riding mechanic on the many Bounty Hunters. Roger was also a great driver in his own area of Production boats. The 27 foot Magnum, Jolly Roger was the fastest thing on Barneget Bay for many years.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Flap-Jack1_zps7427f404.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Flap-Jack1_zps7427f404.jpg.html)

Don't know the year and race, the 38 foot Bertram Flap Jack owned and driven by Howard Quam possibly. I think there were three Flap Jack Bertram's total, and have no idea which one this is. Anyone? The first one named Flap Jack was formerly owned by Preston Henn and named Bertram 49er. The second was always Flap Jack? The third Flap Jack was the old Copper Kettle? Help!!

Howard Quam with Keith Hazell throttling. Year was 1979 and the race was either Bushmills in California or Guy Lombardo in NY. Nice shot of this boat running on the video from Needle Nose..... that a short is posted on You tube....Bushmills 1979.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/SeaSweep_zps829b31ae.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/SeaSweep_zps829b31ae.jpg.html)

Unless we are mistaken, that would be Howard Arneson, Chip Saale, and Lorry Azavedo in the first 38' Larry Smith Kaama with Arneson Surface Drives. It would have to be before 1983, because Walter Ragazzi bought it in 1983 and renamed it Hublot. The Sea Sweep boat (boats) were named that after Howard's Pool Sweep he invented and built. He then sold the company and invented the surface drive. I believe he bought this boat in 1978 when his other boat delaminated. Anyone?

The driver was Tony Garcia. Howard had been injured in some of the previous races and reached an agreement with Tony to drive.

Tony had raced a 30 foot Sutphen called Caliente the year before and had done very well with it.

The year here was 1980 and the race was the Benihana Grand Prix off Pt Pleasant NJ.

Although later on, Wellcraft marketed a line of these 38 foot Larry Smith Scarabs as KAAMA models, the race boats were just known as 38 foot Larry Smith Scarabs, not KAAMAs.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Apache_zpse990f5f9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Apache_zpse990f5f9.jpg.html)

Ahhhh, an interesting boat, a Cigarette named Apache. I'll have to get ahold of Bobby for more first hand information. This should be Bobby Saccenti and Jerry Kilpatrick and ? in the Aronow designed 39' Cigarette Squadron XII.

Actually when Don Aronow sold Cigarette, he was restricted to building no more than 12 deep vee boats as part of his non compete agreement.

So he chose for the name of his new company Squadron XII. This was the first race boat out of it. The owner was Jerry Kilpatrick and Bobby Saccenti was the throttleman.

Later when Hal Halter, who had purchased Cigarette from Don was having trouble selling as many boats as he thought he might, he asked Don to come back as a partner and that was when the two names were merged and some boats were known as Squadron XII Cigarettes.

[Top Banana]

This photo of Ajac Hawk had to be taken in California - big swells - mountains in the background - again around 1980 or so

Phil, your memory is still good. It was the Bushmills race in 1979. I think that your brother Peter ordered some of those swells, just so he could get shots like this.

As you remember the boat was unveiled in Mar del Plata Argentina, just four month before. That wonderful little vacation town 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. To get in to the pits there, we had to get by armed guards as Chile and Argentina were on war alert with each other. No safety boats were allowed on the course, so when Billy Elswick sank, he and his crew had to wait until a passing freighter spotted them and picked them up and gave them a ride back to Buenos Aires.

The other boat that was unveiled there was the American Eagle of Tom Gentry. Super clean rigging job done by Richie Powers and Bob Beich. The wives were talking during the time we had to wait around, until the Italians finally showed up and Tom's wife mentioned that they came through India to get to Argentina from Hawaii. They stopped in India and took a break and went shopping .......and she saw a really nice pair of ruby earrings for only $300,00, but Tom said no.

On behalf of all the other husbands, Thank You Tom!!!!

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Bertram49_zps86871b6b.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Bertram49_zps86871b6b.jpg.html)

So, the boat discussed in Post #13 which became Flap Jack #3. This picture was somewhere around 1977 most likely? Preston Henn won the 1976 San Francisco race in this boat. The boat also won the 1977 Swift Hurricane Classic with Errol Lanier on throttles. They also won the 1977 Bacardi Trophy Race, while spinning the boat out 10 times?

It was built in 1974 and Preston Henn was its first owner as Bertram 49er. It was named Bertram 49er because it was (supposedly) the very first Kevlar race boat ever made and it was made with K49 Grade Kevlar. Preston then sold it to Howard Quam who renamed it Flapjack in 1978. Ted Toleman bought it and named it Toleman Group-Peter Stuyvesant-Carlsberg. Under this last name it raced in 1986 and came 3rd in the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes. Toleman also used it to set a cross channel record with "Smitty" throttling, that crossing was on a tv program hosted by Noel Edmunds. Alan Clark then bought it from Toleman. Credits to Searace and many others, and once again the guys will review and correct if there are errors.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Bertram49_zps86871b6b.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Bertram49_zps86871b6b.jpg.html)

The official race boat of Bertram Yacht Co. The 49er refers to Kevlar 49. Kevlar was a product from DuPont Chemical corp and they had great hopes that it would really take over from fiberglass in the boating industry. One of the problems with working with Kevlar back then, was the layup people could not tell when the Kevlar was saturated with the resin. It always looked dry and no one knew how much more to add or not.

Whittaker was the parent corporation that owned Bertram. Sammy James was the director of racing and was the driver of the race boats campaigned by the factory. Sammy and Jack Stuteville as throttleman, were very successful racing against the other brands of that era.

There was a joke back then if Sammy broke any of the factory boats, he would call up Preston Henn and tell him he had a race boat available for a really reduced rate and Preston would often buy them and fix them up and race them to many wins of his own. Rocky Aoki and the Benihana had the best deal with Bertram though.....a 38 foot hull and deck ready to be rigged $1.00. Bertram knew that Rocky would get them more publicity than they could buy on their own.

[NNRT]

The driver was Tony Garcia. Howard had been injured in some of the previous races and reached an agreement with Tony to drive.

Tony had raced a 30 foot Sutphen called Caliente the year before and had done very well with it.

The year here was 1980 and the race was the Benihana Grand Prix off Pt Pleasant NJ.

Although later on, Wellcraft marketed a line of these 38 foot Larry Smith Scarabs as KAAMA models, the race boats were just known as 38 foot Larry Smith Scarabs, not KAAMAs.

The NUMBER 6, was Sammy James Number, that he used often on various boats

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg.html)

Photo taken in Point Pleasant New Jersey - think 1980 -

Danny Patrona and Seminole Spirit. Back then offshore racing was split up between five different classes. At the top of the pile was Open Class 1 and Open Class 2. These were the big boys who raced the big boats. Class 1 was twin engine boats and class 2 was single engine boats. Maximum cu in for Class 1 was 1,000 and for class 2 was 500 cu in.

Under this Open class was the Production class boats broken in three classes. A letter of P in fromt of the number meant the boat was a stock engine Production class boat. The letter M meant the boat was a Modified boat. You were allowed to modifiy some engine parts and balance and blueprint the engines. A letter of S meant the boat was in the Sportsmen class. This S class was as expensive as the Open boats with smaller engines. All three classes had a limit of 750 cu in. You could run Speedmaster style drives in S class and many things were allowed to the engines as long as the cu inches were kept within the rule.

These guys were very serious. Ken Black who campaigned a S class boat called Little Rhino, had engines made for him by a guy in Michigan who still had not developed a reputation....his name was Jack Roush!

This class system allowed newcomers to try the sport and see if they could handle the ocean at speed. The Open boats ran courses of at least 185 miles and Production class boats ran courses of at least 80 miles. In addition to the National APBA circuit, there were many regional races for Production boats only. This gave a newcomer to try the sport without having to travel far from home or his business.

SORRY, I MEANT TO INCLUDE THE PHOTO OF SEMINOLE SPIRIT WITH MY REPLY!

[Ratickle]

So American Spirit was Seminole Spirit?

According to Searace, Seminole Spirit was a 27' Magnum driven by Dan Patroni and powered by twin 400 HP Chevy's that was the overall Production Class winner in the 1978 Cedar Point Grand National race on Lake Erie. Averaged 75.4 MPH for the 80 mile race.

[Underdog88]

This is a great history lesson. Thanks to you guys for taking the time to post.
Top Banana has an amazing memory. I raced motorcycles for about 20yrs starting in the late 80s and no way I can remember anything like this about my fellow racers. Amazing...
Thanks Guyz

[Serious News]

Here is an email I got the other day from Dick Carlson, he ran throttles for my dad, Danny Patrona, in the Seminole Spirit for years. Bruce Merriman was also in the boat as navigator. I thought this was a great story to share about old school offshore racing, and how crazy they were back in the day. And I know if given the chance, most of us would do it today..... the photo attached goes with the story.

Phill,
This picture of the "Spirit" was taken at the "1979 Bacardi Rum Race" in Miami, it is priceless. The "Spirit" was in the lead when the picture was taken, there were (60) boats behind us and (19) Helicopters in the air. We were heading east out of Government Cut just past the shore line and the high breakers were to our port. The splash in the picture is the "Spirit" coming out of a offshore wave.

We flew the boat and came down on the backside of a wave with the nose of the boat at 45 degrees downward and then proceeded to go through the next wave. We went through the next wave underwater but the boat displaced enough water to keep the boat from taking on water. The water actually had a umbrella effect over the top of us. The deck of the boat had cracked 4 Ft down each side from the water impact. I have never experienced this again or heard from anyone who did.

After coming out the wave and getting our heads straight, we headed to the Bimini turn. The race took over 3 hrs to complete 125 miles, only half of the boats made it to Bimini (30 mi) and only (18) boats finished the race. We ran out of gas just past the finish line inside Government Cut but managed to finish 1st. This race was more survival than speed.

Jimmy (Patrona) and Larry (Arnone) were at this race, Ask Jimmy if he remembers doing shots with José Bacardi and his body guard (Bacardi shots).

Enjoy,
Dick


http://www.seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6752

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Gentry%20_zpszkjrxixq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Gentry%20_zpszkjrxixq.jpg.html)

This has to be the 46' Scarab that was Gentry Turbo Eagle? I only remember it this way.

79491

Help?

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AmericanSpirit_zps9aa2d394.jpg.html)

Another mystery so far.

The crew on this boat were really good guys. Bruce Merriman was really busting me before the race because I had moved up to the Open class and already won the first race of the year in California. I was busting him back and told him he had no idea how much power these Open boats really had and they were like driving a hurricane. He just laughed and said hey all these boats are the same, just the length is different.

So on the return run back from Bimini (The Open boats had to go down to Fowey light and then back to Government Cut and then we went over to Bimini). (Production boats went right straight over to Bimini). So, on the return run back ....lo and behold there is Seminole Spirit ahead of us and I tried to remember which side of the boat Bruce was on.

Closer and closer we got to them and when we were just about to pass them, I cut the wheel over to jump their wake and land on Bruces side at about 90 MPH. We landed about 5 feet away from Bruce. Now you have to remember they could not hear us coming as they were concentrating on their own race.

Bruce came up after the race and said he stopped breathing for about 5 minutes after we passed them. He then actually agreed that the Open boats were indeed a different animal. Great race and great memories.

[ciao]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana_zpsd9699b46.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana_zpsd9699b46.jpg.html)

What a famous boat and driver!


A very famous boat indeed.

Built in 1977, it started life as Yellowdrama III and was the first catamaran to win the Cowes Torquay Cowes race.

The 1977 race was run over 229 nm and the wooden Cougar Cat averaged 75.10 mph.

The cat also took the UIM Class One speed record that year at 92.167 mph.

In November 1977, the boat powered by twin V8 fuel injected Mercruiser's made its racing début in the US. Loaned to Mike Doxford and Tim Powell and branded Limit Up, the Cougar Cat raced at Key West in the UIM World Championship.

It was the boat that was to herald the future dominance of the cats in Offshore Racing.

All information on this boat and many others can be found on Graham Stevens Powerboat Archive.

LINK (http://powerboatarchive2.co.uk/)

[Ratickle]

Hey John, How's things on that side of the pond?

Any chance you're coming over for the Miami boat show, or already here for the APBA meetings this week and weekend?

Paul

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg.html)

I believe the winningest offshore boat of all time. The boat won 27 of the 40 races it entered. But after Peter Aitkin sold it to Nick Cutro, it caught fire and sank 20 miles from the end of the 1987 Port Huron Michigan race. Peter won World titles in the boat in 1983 and 1984. He also won the US Championships in 1982 and 1983. Cutro won the 1986 World Championship and the 1987 US Championship in the boat. Searace

[ciao]

Hey John, How's things on that side of the pond?

Any chance you're coming over for the Miami boat show, or already here for the APBA meetings this week and weekend?

Paul

Hi Paul

No trips planned to the US this year and my Spanish isn't up to Miami ;)

[h2oMag]

The crew on this boat were really good guys. Bruce Merriman was really busting me before the race because I had moved up to the Open class and already won the first race of the year in California. I was busting him back and told him he had no idea how much power these Open boats really had and they were like driving a hurricane. He just laughed and said hey all these boats are the same, just the length is different.

So on the return run back from Bimini (The Open boats had to go down to Fowey light and then back to Government Cut and then we went over to Bimini). (Production boats went right straight over to Bimini). So, on the return run back ....lo and behold there is Seminole Spirit ahead of us and I tried to remember which side of the boat Bruce was on.

Closer and closer we got to them and when we were just about to pass them, I cut the wheel over to jump their wake and land on Bruces side at about 90 MPH. We landed about 5 feet away from Bruce. Now you have to remember they could not hear us coming as they were concentrating on their own race.

Bruce came up after the race and said he stopped breathing for about 5 minutes after we passed them. He then actually agreed that the Open boats were indeed a different animal. Great race and great memories.
Here is a pic of the Spirit race team, Dick, Bruce, & Danny..

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Busch_zpshtyza4rl.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Busch_zpshtyza4rl.jpg.html)

Tim Sheehan's 30' Sutphen. Won the 1980 Bacardi Trophy race off Miami and the first World Production Championships in Key West the same year.Also the 1981 Benihana Modified Class and the 1981 Coral Gables Challenge.

[h2oMag]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg.html)
Black Duck was fast with two OB's had all of us beat with twin IO's, when APBA let them put 3 Merc OB's on, SEE YA!!!!

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Breakaway%20s-44_zps3q25uozd.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Breakaway%20s-44_zps3q25uozd.jpg.html)

John D'Elia Jr.'s 24' Skater that won the 1985 APBA World Stock A Championship in Key West, plus others.

[h2oMag]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1%202%201_zpssg5dngat.jpg.html)

I believe the winningest offshore boat of all time. The boat won 27 of the 40 races it entered. But after Peter Aitkin sold it to Nick Cutro, it caught fire and sank 20 miles from the end of the 1987 Port Huron Michigan race. Peter won World titles in the boat in 1983 and 1984. He also won the US Championships in 1982 and 1983. Cutro won the 1986 World Championship and the 1987 US Championship in the boat. Searace


After the fire @ the Port Huron race our owner of the Magic race team was Bob Kehrig. Bob was friends with Nick & the one who supplied the crains for this race. Bob K & our race team stood by making sure Nicks damage cat was pulled out of the water carefully. This where one of my biggest mistakes took place I introduced Nick to Jim Klem. [Klems Gems,, Aero, Lancer, Awesome] Klem told Nick he would rebuild this cat for him if he could make a new deck cat mold off it. Klem screwed Nick & his boat & it took Nick forever to get it back from Klem. Nick would eventually fix the deck himself paint it yellow & race again with the Pennzoil name. After that I dissolve a 15 year friendship with Klem as I knew he would stop at nothing & Lie, lie, lie. All the bad finally caught up with Klem a few years ago & did us & the boat building world a favor . More can be seen here.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/awesome/283850-jim-k-ex-awesome-owner-final-ride-hell.html

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%201800_zpsvemhxc3a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%201800_zpsvemhxc3a.jpg.html)

[h2oMag]

The KAAMA team like most racers would cut the drive skegs off for speed, a practice APBA would later ban. The clarity & color of these pic's are GREAT.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%201800_zpsvemhxc3a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%201800_zpsvemhxc3a.jpg.html)

OK here is my favorite photo of Betty Cook. Great shot as the boat leaps out of the water, but if you look closer you will notice off to her left is a wake of a boat that is in front of her. Yes, that was my boat out front. This photo was used on a boating magazine cover. I autographed the cover and gave it to her and asked her to hang it in her shop to give both she and John Conner more motivation. John told me later, she never hung it up!

[Top Banana]

The KAAMA team like most racers would cut the drive skegs off for speed, a practice APBA would later ban. The clarity & color of these pic's are GREAT.

And it only added two miles per hour on the top end. But for a while it was Monkey see, monkey do!

[NNRT]

The KAAMA team like most racers would cut the drive skegs off for speed, a practice APBA would later ban. The clarity & color of these pic's are GREAT.

Thank you ! - brother Peter Thanks you as well !

[Ratickle]

Hi Paul

No trips planned to the US this year and my Spanish isn't up to Miami ;)

We'll have translators available......:)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Natural%20Light%201800_zpsjgbxxbwa.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Natural%20Light%201800_zpsjgbxxbwa.jpg.html)

Okay, in Searace, pages 263, 266, and 270 there is conflicting information on Natural Light. A 38' Signature, 38' Bertram, 38' Scarab, or a 36' Cigarette? This looks like, and says, Bertram to me. Were there four different Natural Light's?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Smokey%20and%20the%20Bandit%20P-31%203%201800_zpsehurjwiw.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Smokey%20and%20the%20Bandit%20P-31%203%201800_zpsehurjwiw.jpg.html)

Robert Weinstein's 30' Chris Cat. Won the 1984, 160 mile, New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix's Pro Stock class. The 1984, 160 Mile, Grand Traverse Bay, Northport 200 Michigan Pro Stock class. the Northport 200 again in 1985, and the 1985 Key West World's. Searace

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg.html)

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Natural%20Light%201800_zpsjgbxxbwa.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Natural%20Light%201800_zpsjgbxxbwa.jpg.html)

Okay, in Searace, pages 263, 266, and 270 there is conflicting information on Natural Light. A 38' Signature, 38' Bertram, 38' Scarab, or a 36' Cigarette? This looks like, and says, Bertram to me. Were there four different Natural Light's?

Bernie had been running the hydroplane Miss Budweiser in the Unlimited class for a few years and then in the mid 70's hr decided to take a shot at offshore too. The first boat he sponsored was Tommy Adams in one of his 38 Signatures. Then he was quick to pick up Preston Henn in his 38 foot Bertram who stayed the primary Natural Light boat until 1980. If you also look on P 281 under the top photo, you will see where John states that Bernie would sometimes have two Michelob Lights in the same race. Both Betty Cook amd Tom Gentry were also sponsored by Bernie later in their careers. Joel Halpern who was owner and driver of Beep Beep for many years also accepted Michelob Light sponsorship for his 38 foot Cougar cat that he was killed in.
When I walked up the ramp from my boat after winning the Bushmills race in California, Bernie was at the top of the ramp waiting for me. He told me that Preston was talking about retiring and he would like me to become the next Natural Light sponsored boat. I thanked him but declined. I had spent two long years finishing that boat and now to just repaint it was not the right thing to do. In hindsight, it would have saved me a lot of money of my own. The following year I did not pass up the opportunity and was sponsored by the Economic Development Department of Puerto Rico. The name on the boat was Rums of Puerto Rico.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg.html)


I think one of the guys in this boat was Gino's (Lube Jobs) dad. I sent him a PM to have him check it out.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Jesse%20James%2035%2020_zps7poxihr7.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Jesse%20James%2035%2020_zps7poxihr7.jpg.html)

This would be the 35' Conquest Cat that was modified with the canopies seen in this photo after the tragic loss of Mark Lavin in 1986. This boat actually crashed again in 1988 and both Chris Lavin, Mark's brother, and his throttle-man (?) were fine. Searace

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Gancia%20dei%20Gancia%201800_zpsizmnvmvn.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Gancia%20dei%20Gancia%201800_zpsizmnvmvn.jpg.html)


Probably the most famous boat designed by Fabio Buzzi is CESA 1882. Completely restored in 2006, this glorious monohull is again racing with the dress of Red FPT.
Red FPT won the Cowes - Torquay - Cowes 2008 and 2010 race in 2h 18' 5' at an average speed of 91 mph.

This incredible mono hull was born from a project that went wrong: Nitro, of 1985, was a losing boat for the old same reason: it was too heavy!
With four diesel engines by Iveco and with the first two speed gearboxes of the offshore history, Nitro raced in class 1 of the European Championship with very little success, and was later converted into a comfortable pleasure boat.

For the 1986 racing season the boat was totally rebuilt, and painted red: a much quicker color than the white of project Nitro, and was given four new Iveco engines of 600 Hp (which lasted for few minutes!), without any gearbox. The new boat was very fast, but not very reliable, winning only the Cowes-Torquay with the name Rolly-Go.

The next year (1987) the boat raced with some more luck and the name Groupe Luchiare, powered by the first four Seatek engines: it won the last race of the season and it conquered the third place at the Key West World Championship.

In 1988 the boat got its most celebrated name: CESA 1882, after the sponsor, who was a silver jeweler. During that season it won more than every other boat in the world: 17 consecutive podiums, with 3 second places and 14 first places. It's not only Italian, European and World Champion for the U.I.M., but also, in November, World Champion for the A.P.B.A. in Key West and winner of the Miami-Nassau-Miami.

During 1989 the boat is named Gancia dei Gancia and, driven by Stefano Casiraghi and Romeo Ferraris, in Atlantic City it wins again the World Championship, being the only boat to take it two times in a row.

But in 1990 the U.I.M. decides to penalise diesel engines, and for Gancia dei Gancia is the end. It's sold to the japanese Yoshiro Kitami and compete with the name Tecno in the first Venezia-Montecarlo, winning al the legs but the first one, where it pile up an overwhelming gap of more than six hours.

Then it races in the Superboat class in USA, with the name Super Hawaii.

Then it's the beginning of the dark ages: the boat is lost in some american shipyard, where the english pilot Drew Langdon re-discovers it and decides to bring it back home.

This incredible and winning boat is also on the 31st place of the ranking of the most beautiful boats of every time ("Motor Boat & Yachting" - August 2004) and is still considered the icon of modern offshore.

It's was restored by FB Design in 2006 with the utmost care, exactly as it was, and is now racing again with the name of Red FPT.

With Red FPT Fabio Buzzi won for the third time in UK, the most prestigious world offshore race, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes 2008 of 182 miles.

Red FPT completed the race in 2h 18' 5' at an average speed of 91 mph.

Thanks to: http://www.fbdesign.it/history-racing/cesa1882

[Underdog88]

The wing is working!
Thanks for sharing these amazing shots of history.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg.html)

Wow, the boat that almost did Bobby in; http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/content.php?r=153-Saccenti-on-the-Warpaint-Crash

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Bandit%2018%201800_zps6nz3tvbe.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Bandit%2018%201800_zps6nz3tvbe.jpg.html)

This would be the 39' CUV owned by John Antonelli that started the 1987 season in Marathon with Donald Berezoski at the wheel, and John's son Nick on throttles?, as John was driving his catamaran that race. It was driven by John Antonelli and throttled by Hurley Stepp in the 1987 Miami-Nassau-Miami race. Alos finished 3rd in Port Huron in 1987. Searace


`Bandit` Beats `Apache` On Penalty
February 15, 1987|By CHRIST PROKOS JR., Special to the News/Sun-Sentinel

NORTH MIAMI -- The 1987 Teltec Gold Coast Cup Offshore Powerboat Racing Series is barely underway and already there is controversy. In the Sunday`s on the Bay at Haulover Offshore Powerboat Classic Saturday, the Apache Bandit, driven by Domingo Jimenez, breezed to a two- minute victory, then watched as Bandit, crewed by John and Nic Antonelli of Fort Lauderdale and Tom Bates of Hollywood, took the checkered flag.

Jimenez and his crew missed a mandatory drivers` meeting before the race at Sunday`s and were penalized three minutes by the race committee, which left them in third place. "I was here,`` Jimenez said. ``I was at the dock tying up the boat. I`ll protest the decision, but what good will it do? They won`t take the trophy away from the Bandit. I`m satisfied that we won the race on the water. We started the race at the back of the pack and blew past them.``

Starting with a three-minute advantage in the Sportsman D class, Antonelli sat back and let the Apache Bandit run away with the race. "We stayed with them the first lap,`` Antonelli said. ``Through the middle of the race we slowed down and I watched my watch. On the fourth lap we were two minutes behind. We gunned the engines and kept pace with them until the finish.``

The penalty to Apache Bandit raised Danger Zone from third place to second with an average speed of 86.2 miles per hour.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-02-15/sports/8701100227_1_checkered-flag-race-c-class

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg.html)

Wow, the boat that almost did Bobby in; http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/content.php?r=153-Saccenti-on-the-Warpaint-Crash

A tremendous amount of credit has to go to Doc Magoon for working with Bob on his eye and refusing to give up on that injury. Doc was as tough with that issue as he ever was winning all those rough water races over the years. Thank God for his skills.

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Apache%20Maelstrom%201800_zpsjts79rrh.jpg.html)

Wow, the boat that almost did Bobby in; http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/content.php?r=153-Saccenti-on-the-Warpaint-Crash


A tremendous amount of credit has to go to Doc Magoon for working with Bob on his eye and refusing to give up on that injury. Doc was as tough with that issue as he ever was winning all those rough water races over the years. Thank God for his skills.

This is a boat I've always had a lot of questions about. This was the first Apache Cat built, right? It was a wood boat, designed and built by Malestrom? It was damaged badly in the stuff I've read and did not race the rest of that season, Kramer leased or rented a different boat in its place?

Did it ever race again? I have never been able to figure out for positive if it did.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Fish%20Peddler%201800_zpsqbn1ivdk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Fish%20Peddler%201800_zpsqbn1ivdk.jpg.html)

Gary Gordon in Fish Peddler, a 30' Sutphen owned by his father Mike Gordon who used to race in the early days of offshore. Read Brownie's story about Mike racing in the 1963 Miami-Nassau-Miami first race on page 40 in Searace. Gary and Craig Maudslay won the P Class 1981 Bacardi race and the 1982 New Orleans race in this boat. Searace

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg.html)

Sometime in 1976 Rocky Aoki switched from his 35' Cigarette Benihana to this 38' Bertram Benihana. From what we've been able to determine, it was most likely the 1976 Key West race where Rocky first piloted this boat. It's first win was with Rocky and Harold "Smitty" Smith in the 1977, 178 mile, San Diego Mission Bay Race. Finishing second in that race was Billy Martin in Bounty Hunter. Searace

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg.html)

I'm at a loss here. I'll shoot an email off to John. This boat obviously has the Superboat logo on the side, but I thought the only "Extractor" Superboat was the Catamaran they built? Anyone?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Flap%20Jack%2045%201800_zpsnp3v8zkx.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Flap%20Jack%2045%201800_zpsnp3v8zkx.jpg.html)

Howard Quam in the 38' Active Cat Flap-Jack. Third overall in the Key West Conch Republic race in April of 1984. According to Searace, this boat became Benihana, but the years don't seem to add up. Was there more than one? Charlie?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Rums%20of%20puerto%20rico%202%201800%201_zpsuudxux5r.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Rums%20of%20puerto%20rico%202%201800%201_zpsuudxux5r.jpg.html)

This has to be Charlie, as he stated earlier in the Kaama photo post, in the Coyote 38' previously known as Top Banana.

The design started out as a 44 foot MSV boat called La Tortuga. JC Simon modified the design and built Joel Halpern's 38 foot race boat called Beep Beep. He then further modified the design and created this boat. He originally had a deck design by Paolo Caliri that was similar to Beep Beep. Banana Boat Co. made design modifications and this was the final result. Charlie McCarthy bought the 24 Cigarette molds from Don Aronow and built up the Banana Boat company for three years with the idea to sell it as Aronow had done with so many of his boat companies. The boat company was sold in 1979, just a few months after this boat ran and won it's first race in California. The molds were then used by JC Simon to make and sell a boat he called Coyote. After a few of these were made, the molds were sold to Sonic and became the basis of their 41 foot deep V.

Accurate?

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg.html)


I think one of the guys in this boat was Gino's (Lube Jobs) dad. I sent him a PM to have him check it out.

I received an email from Gino, it is his father. Nice catch Charlie!!:hurray:

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg.html)

Ahhh, Bill Elswick in the 28' Magnum which won the Production Class at the 1977 98 mile Benihana Grand Prix in Point Pleasant. There were 45 boats in the Production Class at that race. Searace

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Rums%20of%20puerto%20rico%202%201800%201_zpsuudxux5r.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Rums%20of%20puerto%20rico%202%201800%201_zpsuudxux5r.jpg.html)

This has to be Charlie, as he stated earlier in the Kaama photo post, in the Coyote 38' previously known as Top Banana.

The design started out as a 44 foot MSV boat called La Tortuga. JC Simon modified the design and built Joel Halpern's 38 foot race boat called Beep Beep. He then further modified the design and created this boat. He originally had a deck design by Paolo Caliri that was similar to Beep Beep. Banana Boat Co. made design modifications and this was the final result. Charlie McCarthy bought the 24 Cigarette molds from Don Aronow and built up the Banana Boat company for three years with the idea to sell it as Aronow had done with so many of his boat companies. The boat company was sold in 1979, just a few months after this boat ran and won it's first race in California. The molds were then used by JC Simon to make and sell a boat he called Coyote. After a few of these were made, the molds were sold to Sonic and became the basis of their 41 foot deep V.

Accurate?

Yes, thanks Pete! In 1980 I was not going to race as I had started a new company and was going to focus on building that up...International Oil Brokerage. But best laid plans etc, I received a phone call after the first race had been run and I was asked if I would consider coming back and racing in 1980. Since I had no plans to do so, I thought if I just keep asking for certain terms at some point they will say NO!

I had no idea who I was talking to, so I just kept upping my demands. Finally got to first class tickets to every race, new uniforms, helmets, new paint job for the truck, trailer and boat, 2 helicopters at each race, hotel suites....plus $25,000 per race for the ten remaining races and they paid the refresh costs for the boat after every race. Well, I thought that would be the end of that and I could get back to work.

No....a week later I get a call to come down to NYC and meet at a certain address on a certain floor, very mysterious. So I go and when the elevator doors open on that floor, lo and behold......Economic Development Office for the Government of Puerto Rico. They explain that when a bottle of rum is purchased in America, made in PR, the cost includes a federal excise tax. However, because PR is a Commonwealth, not a state, so all of those federal excise taxes have to be given back to PR.

The sponsorship is trying to educate the American drinking public that they can have many rum drinks, not just rum and Coke. They will, in addition to meeting all my demands, have a big party at each race with an open bar and all drinks will be made with rum. Rum martini, rum with anything they want. They hoped the people would remember and keep purchasing rum after they went home. I asked how much they had returned the year before. They answered $350 million. I laughed and said .....well can you just double whatever I asked for? They laughed. The name on the boat had to represent all the rum manufacturers, not any single one, like Bacardi......Rums of Puerto Rico .....did that.

The first race I drove for them was the Bahamas 200. The course was actually 205 miles through the islands in the Bahamas. The last 5 miles, I am locked into a rubrail to rubrail battle with Ajac Hawk. We keep trimming up and start to pull them a bit and finally get a boat length lead and then another........Murphy's Law....one of my engines starts to tighten up and then a bit more and just enough to lose the lead as we cross the finsh line 30 seconds after Ajac Hawk. That was the first ever victory for a Cigarette Top Gun.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg.html)

Ahhh, Bill Elswick in the 28' Magnum which won the Production Class at the 1977 98 mile Benihana Grand Prix in Point Pleasant. There were 45 boats in the Production Class at that race. Searace

I was one of those 45 and had a much more spectacular finish than Billy. Sure he won the class, but I came across the finsh with one engine on fire and flames shooting up through the vents on the hatch.......right over to a safety boat we go and they squirt the engine room down and we get towed in, still floating and a bit sooty looking but already planning for the next race.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Fish%20Peddler%201800_zpsqbn1ivdk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Fish%20Peddler%201800_zpsqbn1ivdk.jpg.html)

Gary Gordon in Fish Peddler, a 30' Sutphen owned by his father Mike Gordon who used to race in the early days of offshore. Read Brownie's story about Mike racing in the 1963 Miami-Nassau-Miami first race on page 40 in Searace. Gary and Craig Maudslay won the P Class 1981 Bacardi race and the 1982 New Orleans race in this boat. Searace

You were. not considered a real boat racer in Miami ....unless you had a picture of your boat racing and autographed to Mike hanging on the wall of his restaurant. Mike also ran a 18 foot Rayson Craft with a big side oiler 428 Ford engine. He raced in the Orange Bowl regatta and the Gold Coast marathon and the 9 hour races. I was fortunate to be part of the pit crew on that purple Rayson Craft. Jack Stuteville became Mike's driver in that Rayson Craft later on as well as throttleman for Sammy James and Joey Ipolitto.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg.html)

Sometime in 1976 Rocky Aoki switched from his 35' Cigarette Benihana to this 38' Bertram Benihana. From what we've been able to determine, it was most likely the 1976 Key West race where Rocky first piloted this boat. It's first win was with Rocky and Harold "Smitty" Smith in the 1977, 178 mile, San Diego Mission Bay Race. Finishing second in that race was Billy Martin in Bounty Hunter. Searace


The first Bertram Rocky ran was a red one. He had a deal with Bertram where they would give Rocky a boat for $1.00 and he would pay the rigging costs and operating costs. This was the first one they built him special with those colors.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/LIL%20Rhino%20S-254%202%201800_zpsyxb3ajof.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/LIL%20Rhino%20S-254%202%201800_zpsyxb3ajof.jpg.html)

Information has conflicts. I'll try. Lil Rhino was raced by Sandy Black, wife of Ken Black who raced Rhino, a Magnum. However, some information has the Magnum and the Mirage both being named Lil Rhino. This Lil Rhino was a 31' Mirage with twin 351 Ford Clevelands. In 1977 it won the Production Class overall at the Swift Hurricane Classic in St. Petersburg. Sandy and Ken were out of Warren, MI. H20 needs to give some input here to straighten me out.

[Ratickle]

I was one of those 45 and had a much more spectacular finish than Billy. Sure he won the class, but I came across the finsh with one engine on fire and flames shooting up through the vents on the hatch.......right over to a safety boat we go and they squirt the engine room down and we get towed in, still floating and a bit sooty looking but already planning for the next race.

What place did you finish in on fire?????:)

[Top Banana]

What place did you finish in on fire?????:)

I think sixth in the Modified class and maybe 10 th overall behind some Sports class boats".

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Evil%20Ways%20M-14%202%201800_zpsiyryiwa5.jpg.html)

Ahhh, Bill Elswick in the 28' Magnum which won the Production Class at the 1977 98 mile Benihana Grand Prix in Point Pleasant. There were 45 boats in the Production Class at that race. Searace


I was one of those 45 and had a much more spectacular finish than Billy. Sure he won the class, but I came across the finsh with one engine on fire and flames shooting up through the vents on the hatch.......right over to a safety boat we go and they squirt the engine room down and we get towed in, still floating and a bit sooty looking but already planning for the next race.

Didn't you and Bill have some other classic battles when you both moved up a class or two?

[baronmarine]

hey pete. fantastic to see you ended up with this great collection. i want to get some of the cig pic's for what sheri calls the wall of shame at the cottage, where do i go to get them? also great history lessen by top banana (thanks). i remember about 80 - 85% of these boats. wow i fell like a teenager but i must be older then that.

todd

[Pete B]

Hey Todd, I am in Qatar be back next week , and ill will fill you in on the details

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg.html)

I'm at a loss here. I'll shoot an email off to John. This boat obviously has the Superboat logo on the side, but I thought the only "Extractor" Superboat was the Catamaran they built? Anyone?

I'm still waiting to hear from John, and have not heard from anyone else yet on this boat. (Or found anything out myself yet). Anyone?

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%204%201800_zpsqxnvv0hs.jpg.html)

Sometime in 1976 Rocky Aoki switched from his 35' Cigarette Benihana to this 38' Bertram Benihana. From what we've been able to determine, it was most likely the 1976 Key West race where Rocky first piloted this boat. It's first win was with Rocky and Harold "Smitty" Smith in the 1977, 178 mile, San Diego Mission Bay Race. Finishing second in that race was Billy Martin in Bounty Hunter. Searace


The first Bertram Rocky ran was a red one. He had a deal with Bertram where they would give Rocky a boat for $1.00 and he would pay the rigging costs and operating costs. This was the first one they built him special with those colors.

I'm gonna have to do some digging on that one. Any idea how many there were total?

[Ratickle]

Spent quite a bit of time chatting with Charlie today at the boat show. We ran into a whole bunch of guys who either remember him racing, remember racing against him, or recall their fathers racing against him.

[Top Banana]

Spent quite a bit of time chatting with Charlie today at the boat show. We ran into a whole bunch of guys who either remember him racing, remember racing against him, or recall their fathers racing against him.

The best part about getting old is......."The older I get..... the faster I was!"

Just wanted to .....Thank the Rat.... for helping me up a few flights of stairs and introducing me to the next generation of high performance boaters.

Waited forever to get an autograph from that Curtis kid, the line was just too long....maybe next year.

[Ratickle]

Too funny Charlie.......

Last night Billy Moore was running around with "that Curtis Kid" and had a chancer to chat with him about Tommy's Apache and other stuff. His Dad is doing well. We'll be chatting some more when we have time. Too bad you weren't still here, you and he may still be discussing past races!!!!!

[Pete B]

Sorry Folks about the lack of updates, as you can tell between boat show and poker run I have had my hands full of photos, glad to say we Got Gino some photos of his Dad;s Boat and I hope to start catching up, as well I am now accepting credit cards, to help the burden of payment! so back to the pics and the history lesson.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Smokey%20and%20the%20Bandit%20P-31%202%201800_zps04qc80di.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Smokey%20and%20the%20Bandit%20P-31%202%201800_zps04qc80di.jpg.html)

Robert Weinstein's 30' Chris Cat once again.

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/The%20Executioner%201800_zpsvqunlyuy.jpg.html)


I think one of the guys in this boat was Gino's (Lube Jobs) dad. I sent him a PM to have him check it out.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/AQ5T5310_zpsufvyrdhl.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/AQ5T5310_zpsufvyrdhl.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg.html)

41' Team Apache "Red Banner Boat". Raced by Ben Kramer & Bob Saccenti.

Currently owned by Paul Lasassa and is now "Warpaint"?

[T2x]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Extractor%20P-10%201800_zpsfllti0ak.jpg.html)

I'm at a loss here. I'll shoot an email off to John. This boat obviously has the Superboat logo on the side, but I thought the only "Extractor" Superboat was the Catamaran they built? Anyone?

That was Jim Laznovski's earlier race boat. He did have race boats before the cat.......

[Ratickle]

Thanks Rich. I was finding nothing. I am waiting for John to get back to me.....:toetap05:

:)

Racing under the name EXTRACTOR in three different Superboats over the past 18 years, Jim Laznovsky understands the meaning of the word perseverance. One of the oldest and most successful racing teams on the circuit, the EXTRACTOR has endured every fathomable scenario from never having had a sponsor to sucking in a crab trap float in Key West which cost them a world championship.

In 1979 Jim Laznovsky drove his first race boat, a 24-foot Superboat, to victory with another young novice boat racer, Artie Swanson. In 1980 Laznovsky's thirst for power was again quenched with a 30-foot Superboat rigged with triple 200 Mercury outboards, and over the course of the next four years, he acquired numerous titles all over the country including the three time NPBA championship, second and third place national championships in the APBA and second at the world's for three years. OFFSHORE RACING MAGAZINE, Spring 1997

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Cristex%2024%201800_zpsnuadiqz7.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Cristex%2024%201800_zpsnuadiqz7.jpg.html)

Cristex with George and Gerard Christensen, (Father and Son), was the former Streaker (Second One ?) of Preston Henn and later became Mr. Goodwrench (possibly?).

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Jolly%20Rancher%201800_zpsxcoppav9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Jolly%20Rancher%201800_zpsxcoppav9.jpg.html)

Do not know when this picture was taken, the only reference to this boat in Searace is: "New Orleans driver Mike Drury, race director for the Popeyes offshore race in New Orleans and an offshore commissioner, and his 36' Jim Caldwell designed Innovation cat Jolly Rancher with twin 550 hp Innovation engines, pulled the upset of the day by winning the Modified class." at the 1987 Trump's Castle Grand Prix. Searace Page 501

[c12]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Jolly%20Rancher%201800_zpsxcoppav9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Jolly%20Rancher%201800_zpsxcoppav9.jpg.html)

35' wood Caldwell/Innovation with Innovation motors

[Ratickle]

Thanks, gave us a starting point to look but not much out there. You know anything more about it?

[c12]

Thanks, gave us a starting point to look but not much out there. You know anything more about it?

Sorry I don't , I got that info from Ryan Beckley. Possibly someone at Innovation might know more about it.

[Top Banana]

Mike Drury had a boat company that was named Innovation.

That was totally different from Innovation Marine that makes engines.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg.html)

[jetcruzr]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg.html)

41' Team Apache "Red Banner Boat". Raced by Ben Kramer & Bob Saccenti.

Currently owned by Paul Lasassa and is now "Warpaint"?

Paul, I believe the boat is actually still owned by Bob Vesper. Marc Jacob has the boat listed for sale.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg.html)

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg.html)

Joel Halpern and Joey Ipolitto in the Bushmills California race in 1979. They were doing well and running up front with a pack.....but then....Nordskog decided to stand his 38 Scarab on it's tail and when itcame back down, it spun and rolled up on one side. Both of these guys stopped to help. They found the navigator in the bow of the boat. The mechanic who was Bob Teagues brother, Norm, was in the water, but hurt and Nordskog was knocked out...but he was still breathing. So they tied him with a rope to the tie bar and took off again to race. The two hurt racers spent a night or so in the hospital, but came out OK.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg.html)

Cougar cat made of wood. Betty won World Championship with this boat in Venice Italy in 1979. This boat was last seen outside a shop in Massachusetts rotting away a few years ago. No word of it since then.

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20%20Michelob%20Light%201800_zps5d3kgrlk.jpg.html)


Joel Halpern and Joey Ipolitto in the Bushmills California race in 1979. They were doing well and running up front with a pack.....but then....Nordskog decided to stand his 38 Scarab on it's tail and when itcame back down, it spun and rolled up on one side. Both of these guys stopped to help. They found the navigator in the bow of the boat. The mechanic who was Bob Teagues brother, Norm, was in the water, but hurt and Nordskog was knocked out...but he was still breathing. So they tied him with a rope to the tie bar and took off again to race. The two hurt racers spent a night or so in the hospital, but came out OK.

A race which you won I believe.....

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/KAAMA%2032%201800_zps2u0p2kre.jpg.html)


Cougar cat made of wood. Betty won World Championship with this boat in Venice Italy in 1979. This boat was last seen outside a shop in Massachusetts rotting away a few years ago. No word of it since then.

That is not the same cat that her husband started racing with, is it?

[Top Banana]

That is not the same cat that her husband started racing with, is it?

No He bought a cat that was formerly called Zippe and owned by Maury Fortney. This cat was built special for Betty for the 1979 season. Joel Halpern also ran two boats in 1979 as well as Rocky Aoki.

I spoke to Betty after the Bacardi race in May of 1979 and asked her not to bring the two boats. I said it was doubling the costs for anyone who wanted to compete. She disagreed and said it was a better way to be competitive. I said the cats were so fragile that the owners would start to complain to APBA, that they couldn't use their boats at rough race locations and the APBA would cave ......and pretty soon we would have Offshore races in bays and coves and small lakes and that would kill what we all loved about the sport. She disagreed as did Joel and Rocky and pretty soon we were racing in calm waters and a number of racers dropped out. Sandy Satullo, Preston Henn and I went over to IMSA and raced sports cars in endurance races like Daytona and Sebring and Road America.

Next they upped the ante again and approved Superboats. Same result with an exodus of racers. So, now we have the modern version of offshore where we have one or two boats race in a class all year and declare a championship. The Open class back in the day, would have up to 25 boats racing with at least 75% of them capable of a win.

[NNRT]

Bingo Charlie ! - You are so right ! Key West this last November, could be watched from the Harbor, No Sand Key, ! Lake racing soon ! might as well drop the name Ocean or Offshore Racing !

[Ratickle]

A lot of the races are currently lakes, rivers, and inshore protected areas.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Eberhard%201800_zpsy1xwuv0a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Eberhard%201800_zpsy1xwuv0a.jpg.html)
Tough one!! Most likely shot in 1986, Phil may be able to nail that down.

There are some differences of heritage on this boat. It is a 38' CUV designed by Don Shead. Some think it was a 1977 hull that started out as Alitalia Due, some think it is a 1982 hull that started out as Rothman's Ego. If you go with the 1977 theory, it would go like this: 1977 Alitalia Due, 1979 Dry Martini 2, 1981 Ego, 1982 Rothman's Ego (650 Merc's), 1984 Cinzano (repowered with 750 Lamborghini's), 1986 Eberhard & Co. (800 Lamborghini's), 1987 French purchase and abandoned by Marseille after a couple years, 2008 British purchase by Tim Grimshaw and restoration started, purchased and finished by Markus Hendricks (repowered with Ilmors), began racing again in 2009 and won Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.

Experts?

[FLYING FISH]

79793
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Eberhard%201800_zpsy1xwuv0a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Eberhard%201800_zpsy1xwuv0a.jpg.html)
Tough one!! Most likely shot in 1986, Phil may be able to nail that down.

There are some differences of heritage on this boat. It is a 38' CUV designed by Don Shead. Some think it was a 1977 hull that started out as Alitalia Due, some think it is a 1982 hull that started out as Rothman's Ego. If you go with the 1977 theory, it would go like this: 1977 Alitalia Due, 1979 Dry Martini 2, 1981 Ego, 1982 Rothman's Ego (650 Merc's), 1984 Cinzano (repowered with 750 Lamborghini's), 1986 Eberhard & Co. (800 Lamborghini's), 1987 French purchase and abandoned by Marseille after a couple years, 2008 British purchase by Tim Grimshaw and restoration started, purchased and finished by Markus Hendricks (repowered with Ilmors), began racing again in 2009 and won Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.

Experts?

Marco Bertini and myself have spent some time sorting the CUV minefield out,and the Eberhard boat was built in 1984 as Ego Lamborghini (CUV 38FT) for the 1984 Round Britain race.It then became one of the Cinzano Bianco boats,then in 1986 became Eberhard.After that, one of the Pinot di Pinot boats,then GB Pedrini where it won the 1990 Venice-Monte Carlo race,then joined the P1 circus as Dino Bianchi,where it finished racing in 2004

While in history mode can anyone in the U.S. throw any light on the attached Bounty Hunter pic dated 1981 we think.It has a Union Jack on it,presumably hired out,but the 35ft ciggy Bounty Hunter II became Satisfaction for 1978/79.So this is where the confusion starts.

We thought it may have been the 37.5ft Limit Up,but that was 1979,and the 35ft Limir Up was ex-Jumpin Jack in 1976.

[Serious News]

You believe it was retired in 2004 and is not this boat with the history in the story?

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1xxkf/RaceboatInternationa/resources/7.htm

[Top Banana]

79793

Marco Bertini and myself have spent some time sorting the CUV minefield out,and the Eberhard boat was built in 1984 as Ego Lamborghini (CUV 38FT) for the 1984 Round Britain race.It then became one of the Cinzano Bianco boats,then in 1986 became Eberhard.After that, one of the Pinot di Pinot boats,then GB Pedrini where it won the 1990 Venice-Monte Carlo race,then joined the P1 circus as Dino Bianchi,where it finished racing in 2004

While in history mode can anyone in the U.S. throw any light on the attached Bounty Hunter pic dated 1981 we think.It has a Union Jack on it,presumably hired out,but the 35ft ciggy Bounty Hunter II became Satisfaction for 1978/79.So this is where the confusion starts.

We thought it may have been the 37.5ft Limit Up,but that was 1979,and the 35ft Limir Up was ex-Jumpin Jack in 1976.

The photo of Bounty Hunter with Don was taken in Bobby's Apache shop that was right next to the Marina. That is the 39 foot Cigarette that first raced in 1979 at the Bacardi race and then was sold to Fayva shoes for the 1980 season. So if you are trying to pin don a time frame that the boat still has Bounty Hunter on the side it has to be in the 1979 season. and before the 1980 season started.

Another hint is the box up on the shelf behind the boat that has the Squadron XII logo on it.

[FLYING FISH]

The photo of Bounty Hunter with Don was taken in Bobby's Apache shop that was right next to the Marina. That is the 39 foot Cigarette that first raced in 1979 at the Bacardi race and then was sold to Fayva shoes for the 1980 season. So if you are trying to pin don a time frame that the boat still has Bounty Hunter on the side it has to be in the 1979 season. and before the 1980 season started.

Another hint is the box up on the shelf behind the boat that has the Squadron XII logo on it.

Thanks for coming back on that Charlie.

I can understand the squadron reference,but surely the boat details you refer to was the bubbldeck 39 that went to Meynard in the year you stated.The aft deck arrgt with that black box affair and hatch design I can`t liken to anything normally cigarette like,or is this an actual squadron hull.

But who was the Brit who raced it under the UK flag and what race.

[FLYING FISH]

You believe it was retired in 2004 and is not this boat with the history in the story?

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1xxkf/RaceboatInternationa/resources/7.htm

The boat refered to in the article is Della Valle`s second CUV 38 which did not have lambos.This why it`s a minefield collating this.Marco really knows his stuff re the CUV history,being Italian and has been an enormous help in sorting the true history out.Forget the journos nonsense,they never get the true facts straight,much to Marco`s and myself`s frustration.

[Top Banana]

Thanks for coming back on that Charlie.

I can understand the squadron reference,but surely the boat details you refer to was the bubbldeck 39 that went to Meynard in the year you stated.The aft deck arrgt with that black box affair and hatch design I can`t liken to anything normally cigarette like,or is this an actual squadron hull.

But who was the Brit who raced it under the UK flag and what race.

Who else would the mystery driver be but of course..........the infamous CIAO

The boat never ran that well .....and that is the basis for his charming personality, eh?

[Top Banana]

Seriously! I think you may be correct. That may be a Squadron XII after all just using the name.

BTW. Where did that pink bottom color come from?

[FLYING FISH]

7979479795
Who else would the mystery driver be but of course..........the infamous CIAO

The boat never ran that well .....and that is the basis for his charming personality, eh?

Controversial !!!!!!!!!

Attached are some more views of the boat shed.

I am coming to the conclusion it is a squadron.Look at that aft deck arrgt.Also there is a Beep Beep hull in view.What on earth were they doing knocking out hulls that never ran.Both Martin and Halpern seem to have been sold dummies.I have a suspicion that Bounty Hunter hull was hired by Doxford (he carried the race no 17 sometimes),so if it was,even he caught a cold.

Ray Bulman who took the photos can`t remember the story,but I`ll jog his memory about the squadron shop when I see him shortly.

Off course 1981 fits in nicely with the first squadron raceboat.

[Top Banana]

7979479795

Controversial !!!!!!!!!

Attached are some more views of the boat shed.

I am coming to the conclusion it is a squadron.Look at that aft deck arrgt.Also there is a Beep Beep hull in view.What on earth were they doing knocking out hulls that never ran.Both Martin and Halpern seem to have been sold dummies.I have a suspicion that Bounty Hunter hull was hired by Doxford (he carried the race no 17 sometimes),so if it was,even he caught a cold.

Ray Bulman who took the photos can`t remember the story,but I`ll jog his memory about the squadron shop when I see him shortly.

Off course 1981 fits in nicely with the first squadron raceboat.

Sorry about the mid paragraph response, it wouldn't let me scroll down to here.

OK that sheds a different light on things...no pun intended. That Bounty Hunter was not the 39 footer that was raced in 79 and not the Fayva Shoes of 1980. Left photo shows a 41 Cigarette that Don used diesels and #3 drives. Beep Beep in the photo was not the MSV hull blocked down to make a 38 foot Cobra like Halpern raced. It is a Cigarette, as is the other boat in the photo. They appear to have a deck line of a 35 flat deck Mistress, not a 37.6 like Ajac Hawk was built in December of 1978. Doxford rented on of the MSV Cobras from Halpern to race in the Benihana one summer and had Willy Meyers as part of the crew then.

So there now have we solved it or made more questions to addle our ancient minds?


Also the Bounty Hunter shown in these photos is not a race boat, but a pleasure boat as evidenced by the hatches.

The Black Knight and the boat behind it are both the 41 Cigarettes Don was making.

[FLYING FISH]

Sorry about the mid paragraph response, it wouldn't let me scroll down to here.

OK that sheds a different light on things...no pun intended. That Bounty Hunter was not the 39 footer that was raced in 79 and not the Fayva Shoes of 1980. Left photo shows a 41 Cigarette that Don used diesels and #3 drives. Beep Beep in the photo was not the MSV hull blocked down to make a 38 foot Cobra like Halpern raced. It is a Cigarette, as is the other boat in the photo. They appear to have a deck line of a 35 flat deck Mistress, not a 37.6 like Ajac Hawk was built in December of 1978. Doxford rented on of the MSV Cobras from Halpern to race in the Benihana one summer and had Willy Meyers as part of the crew then.

So there now have we solved it or made more questions to addle our ancient minds?


Also the Bounty Hunter shown in these photos is not a race boat, but a pleasure boat as evidenced by the hatches.

The Black Knight and the boat behind it are both the 41 Cigarettes Don was making.

I know the Limit Up cobra that was hired you speak of.

The pleasure boat scenario appears credible as I noticed the lack of induction boxes on the hatches.I suppose the air for smaller engines could be sucked in through the hatch coamings.Nevertheless Doxford or whoever still must have thought they would race it at some point,judging by the race number.Better not hijack this thread anymore.

[NNRT]

Photo of #558 - Eberhard & Co., was taken in Auckland New Zealand - UIM Gold Gorp World Championships - December 1986

Phil

[Ratickle]

Better not hijack this thread anymore.

No problem. We need all the help we can possibly get to make sure we have accurate information. And a perusal of a picture out there that is missing information, or has possible bad information, is exactly what we want to correct. Bring it!!!!!

[Ratickle]

Photo of #558 - Eberhard & Co., was taken in Auckland New Zealand - UIM Gold Gorp World Championships - December 1986

Phil

Thanks Phil.

Next!!!!!:)

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Team%20Apache%2069%204%201800_zpsmtd8g0k9.jpg.html)

41' Team Apache "Red Banner Boat". Raced by Ben Kramer & Bob Saccenti.

Currently owned by Paul Lasassa and is now "Warpaint"?


Paul, I believe the boat is actually still owned by Bob Vesper. Marc Jacob has the boat listed for sale.

It is currently Warpaint though?

[jetcruzr]

Yes, Paul. The boat is now called "Warpaint"

[Shoot 2 Thrill Pix]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%20cat%201800_zpssu3snyh9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Benihana%20cat%201800_zpssu3snyh9.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

I wonder if Phil recalls that one? It would be interesting to know where and when. One of the most famous offshore drivers and boats there has ever been.

[NNRT]

If its the Wooden Cougar of Benihana, yes- I recall it - it caught fire off of Fire Island - think back in 1979, (not sure) - we stayed with the boat as Rocky went for a swim, until other boats arrived.

[Ratickle]

If that is the wooden boat, I think it was rebuilt after the fire and sold, becoming Satisfaction?

[Serious News]

http://youtu.be/Azywo0BukZ0

[c12]

Come on Pete post a picture of Satisfaction , I know you have one ...

[Ratickle]

He's slacking!!!:toetap05:

[Shoot 2 Thrill Pix]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1_zps47f1j22z.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Black%20Duck%20P-1_zps47f1j22z.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

That boat had to be a blast to drive!

[Serious News]

The Original Black Duck!

At times, fishing boats were successfully used as rum-running craft, a layer of fish covering the contraband in the hold, and one Bay rum-runner is reported to have designed a submersible vehicle to hold his cargo. It was towed behind his fishing boat, which then gave the appearance of a dragger pulling a net through the water. One local shellfish dealer reportedly did very well in disguising his stocks of liquor bottles by hiding them in barrels under thick layers of quahaugs.

One of the most successful rum-running boats in Narragansett Bay was the Black Duck. On December 28, 1929, Boatswain Alexander C. Cornell left the Coast Guard base at New London, and tied up at dusk to The Dumplings bell buoy. He turned off his lights and waited. Offshore, the Black Duck, loaded with 383 sacks of liquor from a British vessel, approached the entrance to the Bay.

As the rum-runner neared the patrol boat, Cornell turned on his searchlight and ordered it to stop with his Klaxon horn. No one was visible on the Black Duck, but it increased its speed. Cornell ordered a crewman to fire his machine gun across the stern of the rum-runner just as the Black Duck swerved sharply to port. Bullets raked the pilot house of the rum-runner as it disappeared into the night. Minutes later, the Coast Guardsmen heard the craft returning, and it suddenly loomed up alongside piloted by a man with a bullet hole through one hand. The other three crew members had been killed instantly.

The Black Duck became a familiar sight to many Rhode Islanders from that time on. It was repainted and joined the Coast Guard as patrol boat CG 808.

http://www.providenceri.com/narragansettbay/rum_runners.html

In 1927 Charlie bought the 'Black Duck' out of Gloucester, MA. Outfitted with two V-12 Liberty aircraft engines producing 300 horsepower each, and capable of 500 under a skilled hand, the Duck was able to reach 32 knots. Faster than anything the Coast Guard had in their inventory of, surf rescue boats, tug boats and old destroyers at the time. Nespaper accounts would later prove that Jacob Weissman, using the alias 'Jack Williams' bought the engines for Charlie from a Fall River emgine dealer.

The Black Duck was successful as a rum boat for two years. During that time the Coast Guard had suspicions that she was running liquor, or operating as a 'black ship' as they were known for the tendency to paint them in colors that would blend into the night. Although she was documented as being boarded 5 times, alcohol was never to be found on her.

Charlie was tutored in the business of rum running well. The Black Duck, although owned and operated by Charlie Travers, was registered under the name of Jacob Weissman of Providence, RI. This act of subterfuge was used in the event of that a boat might be pursued, but have to be abandoned somewhere, at a with or without it's cargo. The owner would usually happen to be no where's near the boat when it was found, establishing a solid alibi for theft and misuse of his vessel.

http://home.comcast.net/~nokatay/rumrunners/CHARLIE_TRAVERS.htm



Black Duck, 1930

(CG-808)

Length: 45'

Beam: 10' 9"

Draft: 2'

Acquired : Seized

Commissioned: 27 March1930

Cutter History: One of the faster and more notorious rumrunners, Black Duck was captured by CG-290 after machine-gun fire had killed three of her crew. She was taken into the Coast Guard 27 March1930 and stationed at New London, CT.

Sources: Donald Canney. U.S. Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters, 1790-1935. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1995.

[Black Tornado]

Who else would the mystery driver be but of course..........the infamous CIAO

The boat never ran that well .....and that is the basis for his charming personality, eh?


Who were you referring Charlie?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Budweiser%202%201985%201800_zps06xtioxe.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Budweiser%202%201985%201800_zps06xtioxe.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

That is becoming a tough boat to find out about. I'm surprised.....

[FLYING FISH]

That is becoming a tough boat to find out about. I'm surprised.....

Just received a reply from Bobby Saccenti who kindly asked Billy Martin re Bounty Hunter with the `pink` bottom.

BM`s reply was as follows -

He never owned that boat or seen it before.He said there was a marina in France that ordered several pleasure boats from Don with similar graphics and names of raceboats that were originals owned by the offshore stars of the time.If you notice in the picture,you will see that the cabin hatch is open,which will tell you it`s a pleasure deck,not a raceboat.

Oh,hum!

[Ratickle]

Sweet Phil. Thanks a ton!!:hurray:

What do you know about the Budweiser boat above? I know Bernie Little tried to buy winning offshore teams as soon as they got to the top, but I'm not figuring out which boat, and what team, that one is.

And what are you doing up at 3:25AM? Is that when Bobby called you back?:eek:

[FLYING FISH]

Sweet Phil. Thanks a ton!!:hurray:

What do you know about the Budweiser boat above? I know Bernie Little tried to buy winning offshore teams as soon as they got to the top, but I'm not figuring out which boat, and what team, that one is.

And what are you doing up at 3:25AM? Is that when Bobby called you back?:eek:


So,has NNRT changed nationality and become a Brit.I don`t think so.

[Ratickle]

Crap Graham, Sorry!!!!!

I guess that's what happens when I do too many things at the same time. (Or, I'm just getting old).:banghead:

But you would be happy if Phil was a Brit I think!!

So;

Thanks Graham, and I guess we know why it showed 3:25AM our time!!

And sorry once again!! :leaving:

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Budweiser%202%201985%201800_zps06xtioxe.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Budweiser%202%201985%201800_zps06xtioxe.jpg.html)

And does anyone know any facts about this particular boat?

[FLYING FISH]

79875
And does anyone know any facts about this particular boat?

From the archives, Gentry raced this in 1984/5 and then had it converted to Gentry Turbo Eagle for 1991/2.

It was listed as a 48ft Cougar then 50ft when converted,but that could be journo reporting. Powered by 4 x Gentry engines totalling 4400hp which would make it the most powerful cougar superboat built.

[Ratickle]

Thanks, gives me a much better start. Had no idea it became the Gentry Turbo Eagle....

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20cat%201978%201800_zpsfp1lisn5.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20cat%201978%201800_zpsfp1lisn5.jpg.html)

[Bobcat]

Cool shot with the Hatch gone !

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20cat%201978%201800_zpsfp1lisn5.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Beep%20Beep%20cat%201978%201800_zpsfp1lisn5.jpg.html)

This must be the wooden 35' Cougar?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Scorpio%201981%201800_zpscgoabwwd.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Scorpio%201981%201800_zpscgoabwwd.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg.html)

A picture with a date! Cool.

So this would have to be during the Key West World's in 1982?

[c12]

Just let me know which ones you want the dates of and i'll get them for you, all the slides have dates on them.

I would have to agree 11-13-82 would be the Worlds in Key West

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Rocky%201988%201800_zpsand0pjts.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Rocky%201988%201800_zpsand0pjts.jpg.html)

This is the 39' Conquest cat driven by Frenchman Jean Pierre Fruitier. It had Lamborghini engines and finished second in the 1987 Villanueva in Spain, behind the 1986 Sam Griffith Trophy winner Italy's Antonio Gioffredi.
Courtesy Searace

[lucky strike]

Awesome stuff!
Thanks

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/41%201800_zpsojjqkwhl.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/41%201800_zpsojjqkwhl.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

A picture with a date! Cool.

So this would have to be during the Key West World's in 1982?


Just let me know which ones you want the dates of and i'll get them for you, all the slides have dates on them.

I would have to agree 11-13-82 would be the Worlds in Key West


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Popeyes%201982%202%201800_zps2dwwhtpq.jpg.html)

That was one of the oddest Key West Worlds there ever was. It was officially not the worlds because the world championship had already been decided in Cowes and the Italian Renato Della Valle was the Sam Griffith Trophy winner. Copeland finished second in Key West in '82, behind Tony Garcia and Sammy James.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Arneson%20%20Apache%201800_zpslnmfdr1i.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Arneson%20%20Apache%201800_zpslnmfdr1i.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Ferrari%201800_zpsrd2udasr.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Ferrari%201800_zpsrd2udasr.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/41%201800_zpsojjqkwhl.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/41%201800_zpsojjqkwhl.jpg.html)

So far I've been unable to find anything out on this boat. But I'm not done digging yet. Maybe Graham knows something?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Maxon%201984%202%201800_zps5czw36hp.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Maxon%201984%202%201800_zps5czw36hp.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Arneson%20%20Apache%201800_zpslnmfdr1i.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Arneson%20%20Apache%201800_zpslnmfdr1i.jpg.html)

Best guess:
1981,Tony Garcia and Terry Laughlin in the 38' Cougar "Arneson Drives" and Jerry Kilpatrick with Bobby Saccenti in the '39 Squadron XII "Apache". There were a few races that year both boats were in. Anyone recognize the background?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Popeyes%20Cigarette%201980%206%201800_zps04ilyyq6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Popeyes%20Cigarette%201980%206%201800_zps04ilyyq6.jpg.html)

[c12]

Best guess:
1981,Tony Garcia and Terry Laughlin in the 38' Cougar "Arneson Drives" and Jerry Kilpatrick with Bobby Saccenti in the '39 Squadron XII "Apache". There were a few races that year both boats were in. Anyone recognize the background?

I'm pretty sure its Point Pleasant NJ

[Top Banana]

Best guess:
1981,Tony Garcia and Terry Laughlin in the 38' Cougar "Arneson Drives" and Jerry Kilpatrick with Bobby Saccenti in the '39 Squadron XII "Apache". There were a few races that year both boats were in. Anyone recognize the background?

Benihana race at Point Pleasant NJ

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Popeyes%20Cigarette%201980%206%201800_zps04ilyyq6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Popeyes%20Cigarette%201980%206%201800_zps04ilyyq6.jpg.html)


1980 with Al Copeland and Billy Sirois and Stan Ware. This was the first boat, a Cigarette, that Al competed in the Open class. He first raced back in 1979, but this was the start of an all out effort with serious equipment and crew.

[Top Banana]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg.html)

The 30 foot Sutphen was the class of the field in the P and M classes. Occasionally the S class would also produce a Sutphen winner. Stan Pike and Gene Whipp, in INFERNO, grabbed the S class championship in 1978. They displaced the Magnum and Cigarettes of the early 70's as the size of the boat started to increase from 28 to 30 feet. They just never made the jump to Open and were competitive. Richie and Chris ran ....She Devil.... in the Open class and that was the closest a Sutphen ever came to success in the Open class.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Reporter%201_zpstvgzezfv.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Reporter%201_zpstvgzezfv.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Outrageous%201981%201800_zpsj0iy1i6v.jpg.html)


The 30 foot Sutphen was the class of the field in the P and M classes. Occasionally the S class would also produce a Sutphen winner. Stan Pike and Gene Whipp, in INFERNO, grabbed the S class championship in 1978. They displaced the Magnum and Cigarettes of the early 70's as the size of the boat started to increase from 28 to 30 feet. They just never made the jump to Open and were competitive. Richie and Chris ran ....She Devil.... in the Open class and that was the closest a Sutphen ever came to success in the Open class.

So this would be either 1981 or 1982 with Billy Frenz, currently of the National Powerboat Association, on the sticks. In 1983 he switched to the 33' boat. http://www.nationalpowerboat.com/index.htm

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg.html)

[c12]

So this would be either 1981 or 1982 with Billy Frenz, currently of the National Powerboat Association, on the sticks. In 1983 he switched to the 33' boat. http://www.nationalpowerboat.com/index.htm

July 1981

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Special%20Edition%201982%201800_zpsdmjan58s.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Special%20Edition%201982%201800_zpsdmjan58s.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Burn%20Baby%20Burn%201978%201800_zpswlft3qel.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Burn%20Baby%20Burn%201978%201800_zpswlft3qel.jpg.html)

[NNRT]

Taken at :Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Think 1989 - memory is fading



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Reporter%201_zpstvgzezfv.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Reporter%201_zpstvgzezfv.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

Taken at :Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Think 1989 - memory is fading

Chris said most of the slides have dates.

Chris??????

[FLYING FISH]

Taken at :Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Think 1989 - memory is fading

1989 Guernsey Worlds.

This is the old grey Seahawk Cat from 1985 that used to carry race No U1,then painted black with race No 25,then Reporter,then Ferrari Shipyard racing in Europe.

[FLYING FISH]

1989 Guernsey Worlds.

This is the old grey Seahawk Cat from 1985 that used to carry race No U1,then painted black with race No 25,then Reporter,then Ferrari Shipyard racing in Europe.

Had another check.The boat carried race No 2 in 1989,and the background looks more like Guernsey,but it didn`t do Guernsey,so it must be Cowes.

[NNRT]

bingo -

[c12]

Chris said most of the slides have dates.

Chris??????

August 1989

Phil's memory is still good !

[Ratickle]

I don't feel so bad about missing the 1966 question now.......:)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Special%20Edition%201982%201800_zpsdmjan58s.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Special%20Edition%201982%201800_zpsdmjan58s.jpg.html)

Another 30' Shadow Cat. John D'Elia was a constant threat in Pro-Stock during the '80's.

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg.html)


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg.html)

Definitely another one we need some help on. Searace has only one reference to a Scarab Lamborghini, on page 496, not two boats. Finished second in the 1987 Suncoast Regatta with Gus Anastasi in the Open Class, fourth overall.

Anyone?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Popeyes%20Scarab%201982%202%201800%201_zpserxnkq0d.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Popeyes%20Scarab%201982%202%201800%201_zpserxnkq0d.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Outrageous%201982%201800_zpse6iicx6x.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Outrageous%201982%201800_zpse6iicx6x.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Gone%20Again%201990%201800%201_zpsyym8mten.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Gone%20Again%201990%201800%201_zpsyym8mten.jpg.html)

[Bobcat]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Gone%20Again%201990%201800%201_zpsyym8mten.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Gone%20Again%201990%201800%201_zpsyym8mten.jpg.html)

Captain America before ?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Gentry%204%201985%201800_zpsmpfyuhtq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Gentry%204%201985%201800_zpsmpfyuhtq.jpg.html)

[c12]

Captain America before ?

Yes

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Outrageous%201982%201800_zpse6iicx6x.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Outrageous%201982%201800_zpse6iicx6x.jpg.html)

Another great shot of Billy Frenz in the 33' Sutphen. Anyone recognize the beach in the background?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Apache%208%201985%201800%203_zpsmwfu77er.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Apache%208%201985%201800%203_zpsmwfu77er.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg.html)

So far we can find nothing on any boat named Chrysler Laser. However, it is our opinion that this is a rename, of Bob Kaiser's Gallagher-Kaiser Systems. That boat, a 38' Cougar, was running in the 1985 Michigan Northport "200" when it rolled. To quote John Crouse in Searace, "running hard at 110 mph in a two foot chop with 15-20 mph headwinds, inexplicably barrel rolled and cartwheeled. Miraculously, none of its three man crew was injured." Searace, page 438

[FLYING FISH]

So far we can find nothing on any boat named Chrysler Laser. However, it is our opinion that this is a rename, of Bob Kaiser's Gallagher-Kaiser Systems. That boat, a 38' Cougar, was running in the 1985 Michigan Northport "200" when it rolled. To quote John Crouse in Searace, "running hard at 110 mph in a two foot chop with 15-20 mph headwinds, inexplicably barrel rolled and cartwheeled. Miraculously, none of its three man crew was injured." Searace, page 438


http://powerboatarchive2.co.uk/picture.php?/18125/category/24

Courtesy of the UK Branch of the Serious Offshore Historic Association.

`Cop that` as we say in slangville.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Annabella%201989%201800_zpsqzdlgvxr.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Annabella%201989%201800_zpsqzdlgvxr.jpg.html)

[Ratickle]

http://powerboatarchive2.co.uk/picture.php?/18125/category/24

Courtesy of the UK Branch of the Serious Offshore Historic Association.

`Cop that` as we say in slangville.

That is way cool. Now we know it raced in 1983 in those colors. Any chance you've found any history on the boat to go with your photo?

[FLYING FISH]

That is way cool. Now we know it raced in 1983 in those colors. Any chance you've found any history on the boat to go with your photo?

Chrysler Laser raced in 84 as well.

During this period results were hard to come by,being as the U.S. powerboat rags had reduced their coverage of offshore (Nordskog had fallen out with the East Coast)

These are recorded.

1983 (B.Kaiser) Chrysler 200 position unknown

1984 (R.Crain) Conch Republic - ret,Lee County -3rd,New Orleans - ret,Strohs River - ret,Northport 200 - ret,
Key West World Cup - 4th overall

[FLYING FISH]

Chrysler Laser raced in 84 as well.

During this period results were hard to come by,being as the U.S. powerboat rags had reduced their coverage of offshore (Nordskog had fallen out with the East Coast)

These are recorded.

1983 (B.Kaiser) Chrysler 200 position unknown

1984 (R.Crain) Conch Republic - ret,Lee County -3rd,New Orleans - ret,Strohs River - ret,Northport 200 - ret,
Key West World Cup - 4th overall

That Active cat (Cougar Design),probably the 2nd one built,was one of,if not the first plastic OP 1.Not sure if Shadow can claim this for although about the same time,cannot be sure they were plastic.

Skater didn`t appear until almost 10 years later.

The original cougars were timber and later tin.Chris Hodges their ace Joiner did all the timber scantlings in the early days,and nearly all the boats worked well out of the box.

[Ratickle]

Do you think it was built in 1983?

[FLYING FISH]

Do you think it was built in 1983?

If you care to look at a previous post which indicates it was previously `Benihana`racing in 1982.

`Wolverine` raced in 1981.

Building can start the previous year,so unless you have access to the build programme,one cannot be absolutely sure.

Did `Shadow` even build an OP1,if not `Active` could have been the first producer of plastic OP1`s

[Ratickle]

I must be getting old Graham. I haven't spotted that Benihana post yet, but am reading.

I shot Rich Luhrs an email about the Shadows.

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Chrysler%20Laser%201984%201800_zpsnohzqjsf.jpg.html)

Found a reference in Searace for the boat that is not in the index. On page 396, there is a photo of the boat from the 1983 Chrysler "200". Bob Kaiser was the driver of the boat, and Lee Iacocca dropped the green flag for the race. It does not say where the boat finished in that race, but we are still digging.

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Popeyes%20Scarab%201982%202%201800%201_zpserxnkq0d.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Popeyes%20Scarab%201982%202%201800%201_zpserxnkq0d.jpg.html)

Must be some swells hidden in that glassy water!!

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Special%20Edition%204%201987%201800_zpsbosde4f6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Special%20Edition%204%201987%201800_zpsbosde4f6.jpg.html)

[Anchored]

Chrysler Laser Active Cat.
Owned by the Apostle of Speed Red Crain. Powered by Hemis. H20 knows all about it as this boat's home was lake St. Clair. It also raced as Daddy Cool II and Celutel. It became known as Red's renta racer. Formerly Benihana.

Jeff

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg.html)

[Skater 36]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Special%20Edition%204%201987%201800_zpsbosde4f6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Special%20Edition%204%201987%201800_zpsbosde4f6.jpg.html)

picture is from 1987

From Rich Luhrs on FB
"Direct copy of the original JJ 30' Chris Cat. That Lake X setup and Mercruiser small block power were unbeatable for about 6 consecutive years. "

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Popeyes%20V%202%201800_zpss50cjjt7.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Popeyes%20V%202%201800_zpss50cjjt7.jpg.html)

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Chairman%20of%20the%20Board%201800%202_zpscnvs4dfi.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Chairman%20of%20the%20Board%201800%202_zpscnvs4dfi.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Chairman%20of%20the%20Board%201800%202_zpscnvs4dfi.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Chairman%20of%20the%20Board%201800%202_zpscnvs4dfi.jpg.html)

Chairman of the Board, 38' Cougar out of Rochester, New York. Became the Turkish Express boat later on. It had V12 Lambo's at one time. Ran as Chairman in 1989 and 1990?

[Ratickle]

I believe that boat was for sale a couple years ago in some field somewhere? Anyone recall?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Nick%20the%20Greek%201800_zpsc8q0llel.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Nick%20the%20Greek%201800_zpsc8q0llel.jpg.html)

[Hellbent]

Shoot2thrill Pix has acquired the rights to NNRT Images. all photos are watermarked and Copyrighted. and will be making prints from the files if you have any question PM. Enjoy

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames_zps61e6eff6.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/JesseJames_zps61e6eff6.jpg.html)

Not sure what year this photo was taken, or where exactly, but Chris and Mark Lavin started running this boat in 1984 I believe. It was a 30' Chris Cat with twin 625HP Mercruisers and set a speed record at 101.257 for their class. Pretty sure they ran this boat two seasons, 1984 and 1985, then built the bigger boat in 1986. In 1984 with this boat they won the US National Championship. Then in 1985 with this boat they won the World Modified and UIM Class II titles and the Key West Championship. (Any corrections?)


Love seeing all the Chris Cat pics. Of course I'm a bit biased. I'd love to learn if my hull has any racing history. I'm gathering from all the pics that I need to get me some drive extensions. I'm guessing that helped with the porpoising that plagues me when running on anything smaller than 2 footers.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Cabrera%202%201984%201800_zpswhkbdndx.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Cabrera%202%201984%201800_zpswhkbdndx.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

Only reference to the boat in Searace. Chris or Phil will have to tell us when the shot was taken.

APBA's Michelob Light World Cup, Key West, November 4-10, 1984

"The German driver Don Ehrich in the 38' Cougar cat Cabrera... Joel Halpern's former Michelob Light death boat...went into the final day tied in points with Kramer after taking a second and a first but did not finish."

John Crouse, Searace

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Maxon%201985%202%201800_zpsfkihuxuc.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Maxon%201985%202%201800_zpsfkihuxuc.jpg.html)

[Skater 36]

Only reference to the boat in Searace. Chris or Phil will have to tell us when the shot was taken.

APBA's Michelob Light World Cup, Key West, November 4-10, 1984

"The German driver Don Ehrich in the 38' Cougar cat Cabrera... Joel Halpern's former Michelob Light death boat...went into the final day tied in points with Kramer after taking a second and a first but did not finish."

John Crouse, Searace

picture was from Nov. 1984 , so it must be Key West

[Team Archer]

That's is Catalina Island in the back ground that's the 79 race out of Newport Beach CA

[Team Archer]

Yes its the same boat just a different paint job and new drives it was the first race boat to win a championship with the Keikhaefer Stern Drives. We are in the process of restoring it for a customer here in CA.

[Team Archer]

the red boat was built for Mercury in 86 as a test platform for the Lambo power it was destroyed in an accident and the white boat was built in 87 as a race boat.

[Ratickle]

That's is Catalina Island in the back ground that's the 79 race out of Newport Beach CA


Yes its the same boat just a different paint job and new drives it was the first race boat to win a championship with the Keikhaefer Stern Drives. We are in the process of restoring it for a customer here in CA.


the red boat was built for Mercury in 86 as a test platform for the Lambo power it was destroyed in an accident and the white boat was built in 87 as a race boat.

Are you talking about the Chairman of the Board boat above? And if so, do you mean the 89 race out of Newport Beach?

[NNRT]

I dont have a clue as to what photo, what boat, Team Archer is talking about - !!!!!

[Team Archer]

It didn't post the quote's sorry. The first one is the picture of the Cigarette hawk flying that's Catalina in the back ground from the 79 race. the second was the picture of the Gentry Eagle white and red its the same boat that Don Johnson raced in 1988 that had the white and gold paint job, And last are the two Lambo powered 43 Scarabs the red one and a white one that Don Johnson also raced. Sorry Dan

[Serious News]

I'll do my best to get this right.

It didn't post the quote's sorry. The first one is the picture of the Cigarette hawk flying that's Catalina in the back ground from the 79 race. the second was the picture of the Gentry Eagle white and red its the same boat that Don Johnson raced in 1988 that had the white and gold paint job, And last are the two Lambo powered 43 Scarabs the red one and a white one that Don Johnson also raced. Sorry Dan



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/AjacHawk_zps3889ac0a.jpg.html)

The first one is the picture of the Cigarette hawk flying that's Catalina in the back ground from the 79 race.
That's is Catalina Island in the back ground that's the 79 race out of Newport Beach CA



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Gentry%20_zpszkjrxixq.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Gentry%20_zpszkjrxixq.jpg.html)
79491

the second was the picture of the Gentry Eagle white and red its the same boat that Don Johnson raced in 1988 that had the white and gold paint job
Yes its the same boat just a different paint job and new drives it was the first race boat to win a championship with the Keikhaefer Stern Drives. We are in the process of restoring it for a customer here in CA.




http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Scarab%201987%201800_zpsbftmtdqk.jpg.html)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Scarab%20red%203%201987%201800_zpsvhrq3ur9.jpg.html)

And last are the two Lambo powered 43 Scarabs the red one and a white one that Don Johnson also raced.
the red boat was built for Mercury in 86 as a test platform for the Lambo power it was destroyed in an accident and the white boat was built in 87 as a race boat.

[Serious News]

And thanks for taking the time. I hope I got them correct. I don't know why the quotes didn't work?:huh:

Sorry

[Hellbent]

Thanks for straightening that up guys. Great stuff...

[Team Archer]

I'll do my best to get this right.





You got it perfect thanks Dan

[Serious News]

I know what it is:

If you quote a quote, the picture will not show up. It will only show in the original quote.

[Ratickle]

Yes its the same boat just a different paint job and new drives it was the first race boat to win a championship with the Keikhaefer Stern Drives. We are in the process of restoring it for a customer here in CA.

Which paint scheme are you restoring it to, red or black?

And with Gentry engines?

[Team Archer]

80172We are restoring it to the paint scheme it run in the 1988 worlds, White with Gold lower and big Gentry on the sides and yes 3 twin turbo original Gentry race motors.

[Hellbent]

Very cool. It would be neat to see a thread dedicated to that resto...

[Team Archer]

its on that other website sorry

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg.html)

Bob Idoni ran the Canada Homes boat with Lorne Liebel.

[Ratickle]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Classic%20Offshore/Swiftsure%20%20Canada%20Homes%201800%201_zps0cl5chv9.jpg.html)

Swiftsure has the US-1 number, says World Record Holder, but I cannot find anything on the boat under the Swiftsure name.

Anyone???

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Velocity%201981%201800_zpstzikznec.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Velocity%201981%201800_zpstzikznec.jpg.html)

[Skater 36]

Swiftsure has the US-1 number, says World Record Holder, but I cannot find anything on the boat under the Swiftsure name.

Anyone???

its Bob Kaiser's - Systems just different name , throttled by Errol Lanier - 1988

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg.html)

[Hellbent]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg.html)

What's the story on this boat?

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Long%20Shot%201979%201800_zpsjx3nodun.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Long%20Shot%201979%201800_zpsjx3nodun.jpg.html)

[Skater 36]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Maxon%201985%203%201800%203_zpsquexb8bi.jpg.html)


What's the story on this boat?

This is not the 30 this is the 37. There is a picture of the 30 in this thread post #159

Here is some info on the 37 from Rich Luhrs
"It was the plug for the 37' Chris Cat that we built at Conquest. It was made for a few test runs and not for racing . It was very fast and competitive with a light bow ( not built to race) . Chris Craft had financial and political issues at that point and abandoned the project."

[Serious News]

Chris said the photo of the 37 was from Sept. 86

So, in September 1986:

September 7 - Guernsey, England Peter Stuyvesant
September 10 - Rochester, New York Coca Cola Race. The one where Bobby Saccenti got hurt so bad.
September 20 - Portofino, Italy grand Prix
September 23 - San Francisco, California
September 27 - Miami, Florida Apache Offshore Grand Prix
September 28 - Shodo-Shima, Japan

None of those races mention the boat in Searace.

[FLYING FISH]

Chris said the photo of the 37 was from Sept. 86

So, in September 1986:

September 7 - Guernsey, England Peter Stuyvesant
September 10 - Rochester, New York Coca Cola Race. The one where Bobby Saccenti got hurt so bad.
September 20 - Portofino, Italy grand Prix
September 23 - San Francisco, California
September 27 - Miami, Florida Apache Offshore Grand Prix
September 28 - Shodo-Shima, Japan

None of those races mention the boat in Searace.


http://powerboatarchive2.co.uk/galleries/Library/Boat-Builders/USA/Conquest_photos.pdf

The 1987 pic looks like Key West.

From the archives in 1987 Ciasulli raced the Conquest cat in South West Florida Regatta - Ret,New Orleans - 3rd,Suncoast - 3rdTrumps GP - 3rd,Key West Worlds - 3rd no record of his boat in this race but photos indicates it was the Conquest)

Chris Craft and Conquest are a bit difficult to track their history.Some years ago I posted a question to Rich Luhrs on the subject,thinking he was the expert on such matters,but no reply was forthcoming.

Searace is a good source of history,but there are mistakes a plenty.It`s very difficult to know every detail at every race,and once in print,your there to be shot at.Have the `T` shirt on that.

[Pete B]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Bengal%20Bay%20Club%201989%201800_zps6mgpuvfo.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Bengal%20Bay%20Club%201989%201800_zps6mgpuvfo.jpg.html)

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Bengal%20Bay%20Club%201989%201800_zps6mgpuvfo.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Bengal%20Bay%20Club%201989%201800_zps6mgpuvfo.jpg.html)

Searace, Page 455:

"Masakazu Kobayashi, ......, won both of Japan's top offshore races in the big ex-Morales' cat now renamed Bengal, ....., at record speeds."

This boat?

[Serious News]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/pete454/Long%20Shot%201979%201800_zpsjx3nodun.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/user/pete454/media/Long%20Shot%201979%201800_zpsjx3nodun.jpg.html)

One of the best boats ever. Charlie in Top Banana beat Bill Elswick in his 39' Cigarette Long Shot in the 1979 Bushmills, but Bill was always a very tough competitor and he had won the World Championship in 1971. That was in his old boat, the 32' Cigarette Boss O' Nova.

Not sure what the date is of this photo. Chris?

[Skater 36]

One of the best boats ever. Charlie in Top Banana beat Bill Elswick in his 39' Cigarette Long Shot in the 1979 Bushmills, but Bill was always a very tough competitor and he had won the World Championship in 1971. That was in his old boat, the 32' Cigarette Boss O' Nova.

Not sure what the date is of this photo. Chris?

1979

[Ratickle]

So maybe the photo is from the Bushmills.....

Charlie?

[Top Banana]

So maybe the photo is from the Bushmills.....

Charlie?

Hey guys, sorry I have been MIA for a bit.

Yes, this was the first turn at Dana Point in the 1979 Bushmills race. I turned first, Jerry Jacoby second with Bobby Saccenti throttling and Betty was right behind him. Then Elswick right after her.

I love this shot as it shows a nice lead after 50 miles or so, but still everyone was still close enough for a race.

It was the only race that Bill Elswick ran his new 39 Cigarette in White livery. He painted it Black after this and campaigned hard for the rest of the year and next.

He did win the USA # 1 the following year 1980, as well as the Harmsworth Trophy by winning both the Benihana race and the Cowes race in England.

He never won a World Championship. The other Bill you are thinking of was Bill Wishnick....the first official Billionaire in our sport.

[Ratickle]

Thanks Charlie. I hate it when I screw up like that.

Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick ................:banghead:

[Top Banana]

Thanks Charlie. I hate it when I screw up like that.

Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick .
Bill Wishnick is not Bill Elswick ................:banghead:

Both were very colorful characters. Bill Wishnick was Chairman of the Board of a company called Witco. It owned a bunch of companies in the chemical and oil business. Bill loved speed both land and water and he recognized a real talent very early on in drag racing.

If anyone out there remembers seeing the Swamp Rat Don Garlits, run his dragster in NHRA, then they will remember Kendall Motor Oil as The main Garlits sponsor. Kendall was one of the oil companies Bill owned, another was Amalie which he used to sponsor some offshore races back in the 60's.

Bill used his money to benefit others in many fun ways. One of his favorite was to walk along the boardwalks in some places that we raced, like Point Pleasant, NJ. He would go into an ice cream shop there and quietly close the doors behind him, then he would ask loudly for the owner or manager of the place. When someone of authOrity identified himself, Bill would say something like.......All of these people here are friends of mine and we heard you have some great ice cream, so whatever they order, it is OK, just give me the bill when they are done. The people would go crazy and start ordering hot fudge sundaes and big dishes...he would just laugh and pay the bill at the end.

The year he won the World Championship, he only used his vacation days to travel. He was the Chairman of a publicly held company so he knew he was responsible to his stockholders and he didn't want to abuse his position. Pretty cool guy, it was an honor to be his friend.

[fund razor]

Did I read along the way that Bill Wishnick was a partner in Nova Marine in the late 60s?