VIDEO - The Bill Muncey Wide World Marine Invitational

[jackie wilson]

There was a proposal to use Mercury SE Class engines (dogs in SE compare to OMC's in '75) the following year at the "Bill Muncey Wide World Marine Invitational". The deal was that Johnson would supply the engines the year after that. I can see why Mercury balked.

Mark that "DOG" SE, Merc won the world championship for both John Hill and then Michael Werner, took OMC a few years to get their motor up and running, but when they did it was an excellent piece of kit.
All "invitationals" are just that-----------an invite for a select few, Angelo Vassena was a great guy but was never a top flite runner, Andre Dierx had been out of the frame for years--------how the hell they could Vie for 'THE WORLD'S BEST DRIVER" without a single Merc driver is nothing short of pisspotical.

[mark benson]

I knew this was coming! Your list of Mercury drivers that weren't invited to this shin dig -
1 Billy Seebold (over 900 Checkered Flags since he was a kid!)
2 Renato Molinari (hundreds upon hundreds of wins since he started out as a teenager)
3 Bob Herring
4 Reggie Fountain
5 Berghauer Bros.
6 Earl Bentz
7 Bob Spalding
8 Tom Percival
The list goes on & on!

[T2x]

it's Bent Z

[Old fiberglass]

So, I guess OMC was really running the show not Bill Muncey. Cost to set something up like that must have been high.....boats motors and so forth. Not giving the drivers any seat time prior to the race wasn't a good idea....seemed like they might have avoided some of the early on accidents.

[Jeff_G]

They had a full day of test time. I was there. It was a joint effort of Bill Muncey and OMC. Seebold was the only one that could produce what they needed as far as boats. He was still building SE and Mod 50 boats at that time. After the races were over they sold the boats, I believe OMC was doing the selling. I know of one that ended up in Miami, the rest went elsewhere.
The race was heavily promoted but I think for the time it was a little too expensive for the results. The next time the small OPC boats would be on National TV was 1982.

[jackie wilson]

it's Bent Z

You'll have to forgive him he's just a kid------but he means well------Yeah it's still Bentz with a zee.

[mark benson]

T-2X & Jackie- You two must be getting desperate to criticize my postings when all you can come up with is a one letter spelling mistake! You're clutching at straws. Billy Schumacher of Unlimited Hydroplane Fame eventually won the Bill Muncey Invitational. He weighed 218 lbs. His bulk caused all the other drivers to carry handicap weight in the form of water in the extra tank (50lbs) plus sand bags. I guess when you drive hydroplanes, with all that horsepower, it doesn't matter how much you weigh. But, it does matter when you race single outboards. Look at the builds of Molinari, Herring, Fountain, Bentz, etc. - light & strong! I seriously doubt Schumacher would have won if there was no weight handi-cap system!

[jackie wilson]

Are you desperate T2X ??? i got all i can handle for now and i gave up straws when i discovered beer and whisky and wild wild women, MB is getting a tad techy don't you think, and a wee bit irrational with the old "invitational". Better mend your ways tonight or with us you will ride Mark, etc------ Wasn't OUR idea to put a ZEE in Bentz ya know, funnily enough--he was born with it.

[Old fiberglass]

Mark Benzon ??

[jackie wilson]

Mark Benzon ??

And Billy Zhumaker And Bill Munzey.

[mark benson]

Jackie- I don't think you should be drinking so much before you do your postings, or should I say criticisms!

[jackie wilson]

Mark--If i didn't drink i wouldn't post----- i was just joshing with a friend. When i do criticise i promise------you will know.

[mark benson]

Jackie- Or should I say "Hard Hearted Jacko" What time is it over on your estate in France? It's midnight here in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I've got some footage of 1968 Paris 6 Hour Enduro. Weren't you in that race when you were starting out your illustrious career of both Outboard & IB/OB Tunnel Hull Racing in the late 60's & 70's?

[jackie wilson]

Jackie- Or should I say "Hard Hearted Jacko" What time is it over on your estate in France? It's midnight here in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I've got some footage of 1968 Paris 6 Hour Enduro. Weren't you in that race when you were starting out your illustrious career of both Outboard & IB/OB Tunnel Hull Racing in the late 60's & 70's?

Hiya Mark, NO-NO-NO- Was driving a Molinari in '68. The Cosworth era did not start until 1974. The first tunnel boat i bought was a Torriggia in 1964. Then a Schultze -------Then i built my own [just the one]. Then raced a Rossinari with Don Ross.

[mark benson]

Jackie- What the hell is a "Rossinari"? Sounds like a cousin to Molinari! What kind of power did you have on that "Bad Boy", what was your racing number, & how did you guys do in '68 at the Paris 6 Hour? By the way, who won that year?