whatever happened to "the Toy" hydro

[runwhatchabrung]

what ever happened to the hydro that was on Land-n-Sea's back cover called "The Toy"? Any pic's and info around?

[warrior74z]

Hi guys, I'm Barron Cooley the original pilot of the Toy in 1985 and set the unlimited OB ADBA record of 133.92 in 8.51 secs in the standing quarter mile. The Toy went through several owners but I now have it back for display only. Can't cheat death too many times!:eek: Would love to hear from anyone that saw me run that year. I also ran The Sting unlimited OB for serveral years afterwards.

[Rusrog]

Hi guys, I'm Barron Cooley the original pilot of the Toy in 1985 and set the unlimited OB ADBA record of 133.92 in 8.51 secs in the standing quarter mile. The Toy went through several owners but I now have it back for display only. Can't cheat death too many times!:eek: Would love to hear from anyone that saw me run that year. I also ran The Sting unlimited OB for serveral years afterwards.

WEll don't just sit there.... Post some pics! Can't wait to se them...

[RBT]

I remember seeing it run when I was a kid!. That was awesome!

RT

[MERC SCREAMER]

I saw Bob Stanton drive it when we were drag racing in Trenton, NJ
back around 1990 or so. I was sitting with a couple of boats at the end of the quarter and just had to watch and listen.

Wow! No sooner than you heard him get on it and it was over! That was when John owned it. Have some pics of it on the trailer. A note on the rear of the trailer:

"Caution! Horses! FIVE HUNDRED OF THEM"!

Awesome boat!

Dave

[Tony Montana]

Welcome to S&F Barron, that is one amazing machine!!! I would love to see some pics or video.

[warrior74z]

Hi guys here is the pic from the Land & Sea catalog. This is my first pic posted so hope it's ok. Barron

[tinker060]

Barron, Good to see you are alive and kicking. Put a capsule in that thing and come on back. Heck if I can still climb (or be put in with a crane) in one it should be duck soup for you.

Jon Wright

[rock]

Wow. Barron Cooley and Jon Wright on the same thread. I have watched both of you guys run those little hydros and it is amazing. Good to hear your both alive and kicking. I think I still have a tee shirt from the Toy. It probably won't fit anymore, but I still have it.
Back in the early eighties I remember seeing the Toy alot. I was still in a Hydrostream and back then anyone running a clamp on was a bit out of the norm. The guy I remember buying the Toy used to race a Laser before he bought the hydro. Don't think he made all that many passes with it. I still remember him bringing it to Pekin boat club race but the water wasn't calm enough and that was the last I seen or heard of it. Again it is good to hear you guys are still around.
Rock

[warrior74z]

Thanks Rock, glad you enjoyed seeing The Toy at the drags. In 1985 I remember running St Louis twice that year as well as Dayton, High Point, Flint Michigan, London, Ontario Canada, Liberty Tx, Augusta Ga, Pheonix, Gadsen Al and some more regional races in the Southeast. The Toy was undefeated that season. Anyone else out there at those races and remember The Toy? Thanks again Rock for the compliments!!:)

[tinker060]

Well said Barron. Ditto for me.

Jon

[delawarerick]

Bring them hydros to the Rumble. There is another member who runs a 17pugh with a v-6 at the rumble I think he is from Tn. Would love to see some more pictures. In my opion it takes a skilled driver to run an outboard hydro in the drags that said the rumble is the end of August. Rick

[RBT]

in 85' I saw it in London ont canada..... that and the coors light silver bullet driven by steve wagner were my favorites....... I was 11 and still remeber it like yesterday.

RT

[LakeRacer99]

Barron...here is a pic I took of the Toy back in 1988 in Evansville, IL, that was a race put on by the St. Louis Drag Boat Assoc. Is this the same boat you have? You should post some pics of it as it looks today.
My dad was running a Baker back then.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t172/JasPax/TheToy.jpg

[Fish]

Barron...here is a pic I took of the Toy back in 1988 in Evansville, IL, that was a race put on by the St. Louis Drag Boat Assoc. Is this the same boat you have? You should post some pics of it today.
My dad was running a Baker back then.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t172/JasPax/TheToy.jpg

cool pic!

[LakeRacer99]

Thanks, that is a cool boat.

[MODVP22]

I think I have that Catalog somewhere.

Warrior74z, Do you have any photos of it now that you own it again that you'd share with us?

[Freddie Webb]

Barron, did you say you still own the boat?

[warrior74z]

Freddie
I have owned it since about '94. That is the first time I owned it, because when I set records in it in '85 it was owned by Don Stegall. I was just the meat in the seat! It is now in a small museum with mostly woodie inboards. Chris Crafts, Centurys ect. I actually put it there for lack of a better place as I leased out my boat yard and the new guy wanted the room on the wall where I had it hanging. I ran across a picture the other day from the early 90's and the boat still is the same. I'll try to post it tonight.
Thanks for asking, and why do you ask?
Barron

[Freddie Webb]

I have one that could pass as the twin.

[warrior74z]

Do you know who built it? Post a pic.

[warrior74z]

Here is The Toy in 1990 at a race in Spring City TN. The Toy looks the same today as it does in this photo. The previous owner had built up the rear cowling as an attempt to improve aerodynamics, but it really changed the lines of the boat and made it too boxy looking to me. The boat builder had told me that the Merc racing hood was as aerodynamic as anything, and it did not need any faring in front of the engine. I hope one day to return it to it's original form and paint scheme.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x258/warrior74z/Image1-108_edited-1.jpg

[warrior74z]

November 1985...Firebird Raceway, Phoenix Arizona. Setting the IHBA record of 129 Mph.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x258/warrior74z/Image1-113_edited-1.jpg

[warrior74z]

1990...Florence Alabama, This is how it looked when we got it back.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x258/warrior74z/Image1-104_edited-1.jpg

[warrior74z]

Good photo in post 14 on this thread of The Toy with the original boat cowling but the new paint scheme.

[Freddie Webb]

Barron, here is mine. It is a pugh 16'4"

[MODVP22]

Barron, here is mine. It is a pugh 16'4"

What power is that?

[warrior74z]

Nice ride Freddie
Where do you race it? What mid does that engine have. Sure looks cool being that short. And what engine is it? Nitrous?
Share some info on that bad boy.

When I raced The Sting, unlimited O/B drag from '87 to '90 Jon Wright ran a Pugh. Thats me in black, Jon in Clemson orange.LOL Waiting in the rain to go to the starting line.

Barron

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x258/warrior74z/Image1-103_edited-1.jpg

[Freddie Webb]

It is a v4 evinrude on a 6" midsection. The first time I had it at a race it ran 11.3 at kdba. That was with no nos. I made a bunch of changes and added nos and only ran a 10.9. I was real disappointed. I made too many changes at once. I think I may have stumbled my way through them, but I may be done racing this year. I am buried with work and finances are low right now. Oh yeah the best mph so far is 107! I hope to improve on all these numbers.

[Freddie Webb]

I am blessed to have a wife who loves her digital camera. I have a lot of pictures of my boat.

[MODVP22]

Freddie Webb,
What engine are you running on your boat?

[warrior74z]

Freddie, that sure is one sharp looking ride. Your first numbers are not bad for a V-4 four off the bottle. I agree you probably made too many changes at once. Keep at it and you'll get it dialed in. I'll bet nines are attainable now with the right set up.
Post some more Pics!
Barron
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x258/warrior74z/Image1-96_edited-1.jpg

[Freddie Webb]

Barron, thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Modvp22, it is a v4 evinrude on a 6" mid.

[Rusrog]

We met several years ago at the ODBA races. Glad to see you are still at it. Nice ride!

Russ Rogers

[Freddie Webb]

Russ, I remember you well. Thanks for the compliments. The f1 v8 is in timeout for now. Finances forced the sell of the boat, but thank the Lord I was able to hang on to the motor. I thought about putting the v8 on the little pugh hydro, but I don't think it would float.

[Freddie Webb]

Barron, did I read the land and sea numbers right? 8.06sec that's smokin! Was that with a 2.4 or 2.5? What size jets were you using in your nos?

[warrior74z]

Freddie, in 1984 in Oak Ridge TN (Knoxville) at an American Drag Boat Association race I ran an 8.06, but it was not in The Toy. It was in another OB drag hydro named "In A Hurry". It was built in 1968 and was originally a kneel down boat with a rounded canvas covered bow. In 1976 it was modified to a sit down pickle fork wood bow configuration. I won that race and beat at the time, the current and previous record holders, Blake Justice at 128 MPH and Larry Boyd 126 MPH. Even though my top speed was 120.32 the boat was so fast on the first half of the course that the ET's were killer. My boat owner, who shall remain nameless, switched his stories around to say that The Toy ran the 8.06 but the best The Toy ran during the 1985 season was 8.51. So there, after twenty two years the truth is out.:D

[Freddie Webb]

Barron, thank you for your time and your honesty.