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  1. #1
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    Molinari Tunnel Boat History and Information

    I thought I would start this thread because there seems to be very little actual infomation about Molinari's of the 1960's and 1970's. It is surprising actually. Almost everyone who was a racer or into old race boats of this era knows the name and has seen or raced one. It must be the most copied tunnel boat of the era and a standard that folks tried to meet or beat. Since they were made of wood it appears very few have survived.

    So, I was hoping with this thread folks could help piece together the history and different types of hull designs built. Sooo if folks have pictures or information please chime in.

    When did they use this emblem ?? I have never seen one and most boats pictured do not have them.


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  3. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Old fiberglass View Post
    I thought I would start this thread because there seems to be very little actual infomation about Molinari's of the 1960's and 1970's. It is surprising actually. Almost everyone who was a racer or into old race boats of this era knows the name and has seen or raced one. It must be the most copied tunnel boat of the era and a standard that folks tried to meet or beat. Since they were made of wood it appears very few have survived.

    So, I was hoping with this thread folks could help piece together the history and different types of hull designs built. Sooo if folks have pictures or information please chime in.

    When did they use this emblem ?? I have never seen one and most boats pictured do not have them.

    Just let me start by saying the Molinari was the number one Tunnel, the best, the one I wanted............

  4. #3
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    Subscribed. This should be a great one !
    God, Country, and Fast Boats
    SPECIAL BOAT TEAM 12/ HSB'S SOC NSWU-1

    _____________________________________________

    Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. And when your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that they weep and pray for more time that they may live there life over in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a Hero going home.

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    Quote Originally Posted by J. Sherlock View Post
    Just let me start by saying the Molinari was the number one Tunnel, the best, the one I wanted............
    Spot on John, but the question begs ,like the chicken and the egg, Was Molinari a copy of the Torrigia ????? or Vise Versa????
    I loved all my Molinaris [ four] and they were the best in my time.
    My son Mark thinks the Burgess was then the best---but was overtaken by the Seebold.
    Velden was never in the same league.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jackie wilson View Post
    Spot on John, but the question begs ,like the chicken and the egg, Was Molinari a copy of the Torrigia ????? or Vise Versa????
    I loved all my Molinaris [ four] and they were the best in my time.
    My son Mark thinks the Burgess was then the best---but was overtaken by the Seebold.
    Velden was never in the same league.
    Jackie since you had some seat time in several. Which one of the blunt nose types did you like the best ??

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    Quote Originally Posted by Old fiberglass View Post
    Jackie since you had some seat time in several. Which one of the blunt nose types did you like the best ??
    Had to be the last one----The not quite 16' sprint that Angelo painted black for me and said it was a taboo colour and he would never ever do another one that colour-----It was the one with the 1000 BP stitched to it's bum.
    Most other drivers including Renato were running 17'--that was until they came up against this combination----they did not know whether it was the boat or the motor and i gave all the top guys a very hard time indeed.
    Didn't own it long enough to swop the weight around, and my only comment was it was a bit "nose happy" in wind and sloppy water.
    The "dream machine" was the 17' i lent to Pruett for Paris in 1970----it was a far superior set up than the long arm chair boat Renato and i raced in Paris. But hey!!!!! don't tell the chief how to fight a war---he KNOWS everything-----you must have met 'em along the road at some time in your life.---------- Upshot of all this was, Pruett ran somewhere upfront in 3rd place until he threw a blade on my best prop, and he was hundreds of pounds heavier than Renato or me, and it was his first time in the boat. Could have been a totally different race from the debacle it turned out to be.
    The first one was the yellow 18' "Sit up and beg" that Glastron copied , and Mercury imported every other one that was made at Torriggia.
    The sprint was ahead of it's time and i'm sure Garbrecht knew this when he shipped it over to the states.
    Somewhere in that D&D [deep and devious] mind of Willabee, lies the secret of what happened to that little black Molinari sprint.
    God!!!!! but i do waffle on don't i,----sorry folks.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jackie wilson View Post
    Had to be the last one----The not quite 16' sprint that Angelo painted black for me and said it was a taboo colour and he would never ever do another one that colour-----It was the one with the 1000 BP stitched to it's bum.
    Most other drivers including Renato were running 17'--that was until they came up against this combination----they did not know whether it was the boat or the motor and i gave all the top guys a very hard time indeed.

    The first one was the yellow 18' "Sit up and beg" that Glastron copied , and Mercury imported every other one that was made at Torriggia.

    but i do waffle on don't i,----sorry folks.
    Jackie with all the racing yoou have done....you must have some pitures like your good buddy Willabee. can explain the "Sit up and beg" comment ???

    I like waffles....nothing to be sorry about : - )

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    Velden boats

    Quote Originally Posted by jackie wilson View Post
    Spot on John, but the question begs ,like the chicken and the egg, Was Molinari a copy of the Torrigia ????? or Vise Versa????
    I loved all my Molinaris [ four] and they were the best in my time.
    My son Mark thinks the Burgess was then the best---but was overtaken by the Seebold.
    Velden was never in the same league.
    I would agree Molinari boats were the best but i don`t agree Veldon boats were never in the same league` Cees built his own boat first one in 1975 and he raced it in South Africa and won with it ` he had now gone from Mercury back to OMC engines he raced his first sprint boat at Cardiff in 1975 and won the World Championship beating both Molinari 2nd and Hering 3rd with Mercury engines.1976/77 Molinari/Hering/Anderson left Mercury for OMC with Molinari now supplying boats to OMC in 1977.I do know Cees had Chris Hodges over in Holland helping with build quality issues and at the end of 1976/77 Garbrecht had Cees back in the Mercury camp to build boats for Mercury in Europe.The first boats for mercury didn`t run good enough and i was told Bill Seebold sent someone over to sort out the problems`now this is my opinion only that some of Cees boats were the same as Bill Seebolds and some ran with Seebold back cowls when Bill came over to race them it made sense for Garbrecht moneywise.1978/79 when the T4 Mercury engines came out i think bill used his own boats and Cees went back to OMC engines again and his boat design changed again from the Seebolds.

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    Quote Originally Posted by STEVERINO View Post
    I would agree Molinari boats were the best but i don`t agree Veldon boats were never in the same league` Cees built his own boat first one in 1975 and he raced it in South Africa and won with it ` he had now gone from Mercury back to OMC engines he raced his first sprint boat at Cardiff in 1975 and won the World Championship beating both Molinari 2nd and Hering 3rd with Mercury engines.1976/77 Molinari/Hering/Anderson left Mercury for OMC with Molinari now supplying boats to OMC in 1977.I do know Cees had Chris Hodges over in Holland helping with build quality issues and at the end of 1976/77 Garbrecht had Cees back in the Mercury camp to build boats for Mercury in Europe.The first boats for mercury didn`t run good enough and i was told Bill Seebold sent someone over to sort out the problems`now this is my opinion only that some of Cees boats were the same as Bill Seebolds and some ran with Seebold back cowls when Bill came over to race them it made sense for Garbrecht moneywise.1978/79 when the T4 Mercury engines came out i think bill used his own boats and Cees went back to OMC engines again and his boat design changed again from the Seebolds.
    Willabee can tell you the correct tale of the Veldens and the Seebolds !!!!!!!!!!
    Cees did the initial building for GG but they were falling to bits too easily .
    Seebold was given the task of building team boats.
    Leo would be a good guy to tell the story--------he worked with Cees and Billy.
    Tons of lies, double dealings and skullduggery surround that period of Boat racing history !!!!!!!

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by jackie wilson View Post
    Tons of lies, double dealings and skullduggery surround that period of Boat racing history !!!!!!!
    Lol, seems like the boat industry has that going on most of the time in one from or another.

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    There is a book available on Amazon - Nautical Quarterly 1983 book #24 that has a very good section on the Molinari family and their place in boat racing history.

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    This one was restored by Bud Clark in Canada I believe. Don't know much about it, but it sure is pretty. Anyone ever run one with a T1 ??
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails MolinariT1.jpg  

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    HQ in Italy
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails como.jpg  

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    Hq .....

    Quote Originally Posted by Powercat View Post
    HQ in Italy
    That is a very interesting shot of the shop on post #6. I've been there several times and where they are launching the boat, have never seen that section of the wall removed. Molinari launched to the left on the corner where you see another opening. The floor was rolled to the right of where you see it and the boats were hoisted down to the water. I'm guessing that photo is from the Torrigia days and that Molinari closed that wall up after they moved in.
    Last edited by willabee; 01-27-2013 at 01:16 PM.

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    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	307043lake Como

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