Mercury trans atlantic record run???

**willabee** · 08-05-2014, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by mbd29

I was actually on that project. ........

How many spare powerheads did they carry on board? I remember running into LaMore somewhere shortly before the attempt and he told me about this upcoming project. I asked what the hell he was doing on board an offshore race boat trying to cross the ocean and he just grinned and said that he knew how to change powerheads! He went on to say his job wasn't to fix them, but to change them. If something went wrong, he said he would just throw the problem powerhead into the ocean and mount a new one in it's place!

Here is Rick having a little fun with Merten and his retirement from racing. Rick and Jerry Kohnke rigged our yard forklift with a transom and a pair of outboards and put Mert's #187 on it. They presented it to Mert, saying that it gave him an opportunity to continue piloting twin outboards, but this time "safely".

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-11-2014, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by mbd29

I was actually on that project.
I guess my old age is getting worse. I also handled getting all the uniforms embroidered for Racing and Hi-Performance, at that time, but for the life of me can't remember getting that one done. Because of the "question marks" on the back I suspect it was done, again knowing GG with a little humor, after the first attempt and before the second attempt which was cancelled the next year. I would guess if it is an XL jacket it was for Rick Lamore

Mike---thanks for that story---did'nt you also work on the 50 foot//six engine boat? After Mercury cancelled that project----thanks to John Stenbeck, Roger Penske, Howard Arneson, Doc Magoon, I found myself back in a raceboat again----

**mbd29** · 08-20-2014, 05:13 AM

Gene: Yes I was involved in the second attempt too. Same responsibilities as the first round. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately it didn't happen. I remember there was a press conference at the Pioneer Inn and it was to be announced that the Fountainebleau Hotel was going to be a major sponsor so I had to get our sign writer to do the graphics on the boat so photos could be taken. I had to stay with him in the shop all night so he could get it done. Then, a short time, may have been just a couple of days, later everything was scrapped. John Stenbeck, Marty and I were just talking about him a few weeks ago.

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-21-2014, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by mbd29

Gene: Yes I was involved in the second , later everything was scrapped. John Stenbeck, Marty and I were just talking about him a few weeks ago.

Mike---I did get to visit with John and Marty a couple yearsago. After Merc dropped the project---John converted the scrap to this---Detroit, Arneson, etc.----

**powerabout** · 09-10-2014, 02:47 AM

didnt Merc sponsor a guy in a RIB with a single outboard years later that did it?

**GENE LANHAM** · 09-10-2014, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by powerabout

didnt Merc sponsor a guy in a RIB with a single outboard years later that did it?

Richard Branson (VIRGIN) broke the transatlantic record in 1986---The boat was 72 '---no outboards around----

Three years later, Tom Gentry broke the record again---The boat was 112' with 11,500 horsepower---the only substitute for cubic inches is cubic dollars----

**powerabout** · 09-10-2014, 07:59 PM

They were going for the blue riband, there are other records.

**53w** · 10-10-2014, 05:37 PM

Thanks to all that helped fill in info on these attempts. I did look in the jacket the size tag is missing. I do have to give it back to the current owner.
We just thought it was cool jacket and we wanted to know what it was all about.
thanks
53-W

**willabee** · 10-13-2014, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

---the only substitute for cubic inches is cubic dollars----

In Oshkosh - "the only thing that beats cubic inches is rectangular dollars" - that's how us Wisconsin boys were taught to say it.

**Da Bull** · 10-13-2014, 10:31 AM

With 11,500 hp in the Gentry Eagle you would think the entire boat would be the fuel tank.

**PARKER RABE** · 10-13-2014, 04:55 PM

check out the thread on offshore only where someone found 3 semi trailes full of all gentrys stuff, his wife had it in storage , had all the stuff trucked to california , 20 new motors all sorts of drives , i mean everything