Salton Sea 1967

[GENE LANHAM]

When those problems were eliminated that thing was just about bullet-proof. Seems like you could do about anything you wanted to with it and, like a good Timex, it just kept on ticking. Kitson's 1250's were converted to stackers and had well over 100 hours on them when he won Havasu in 1968. For something that started out so badly, it sure turned into a damn good motor.

I couldn't match Kenny's 100 hours---but I was still running the 1250 Stackers at the end of '69---I thought Gary was mad at me because everyone else was running the SBP with the adapter to the SSM-

You are right, the 1250 stackers were bulletproof---

[STEVERINO]

All I can say is that if someone won a 24 hour race in 1968 with a 1250 BP, they must have either changed lower units every 6 hours or were in first place when the event was cancelled because they ran out of daylight! I don't remember ever meeting a BP that could hold it's bottom end together for 24 long, long hours!

The hull in the picture looks like it would have been a handful in rough water. Kind of looks like one of those needle nose Souter's.

Hi Willa the boat in the picture was a Levi 16 mkii a good hull in its day but as power went up the more times you managed to stuff it I did this twice that was enough with a full field of boats behind you.Back to the Chasewater 24 hr race I spoke about` the circuit was oval about 1.2 miles round not too rough the winning hull with the 1250bp was exactly the same as mine only red we all had 3 drivers per boat and we followed this boat around for 22hrs when my 1250 Mercury threw a rod. The winning Levi hull with the 1250bp had maybe 2 to 3 mph on my outfit but ran non stop all the way to the end.

[willabee]

Hi Willa the boat in the picture was a Levi 16 mkii a good hull in its day but as power went up the more times you managed to stuff it I did this twice that was enough with a full field of boats behind you.
followed this boat around for 22hrs when my 1250 Mercury threw a rod. The winning Levi hull with the 1250bp had maybe 2 to 3 mph on my outfit but ran non stop all the way to the end.

Looking at that Levi, I am firmly convinced a person would have to be a tad crazy to strap a 1250 on it's arse ..... voluntarily go race it surrounded by a bunch of other loonies with similar equipment ..... in the dark!

I should know this, but am not sure anymore ..... the pinstripe decals on the top cowl, wasn't that 1250 SBP (1969)?

[STEVERINO]

Looking at that Levi, I am firmly convinced a person would have to be a tad crazy to strap a 1250 on it's arse ..... voluntarily go race it surrounded by a bunch of other loonies with similar equipment ..... in the dark!

I should know this, but am not sure anymore ..... the pinstripe decals on the top cowl, wasn't that 1250 SBP (1969)?

. Well spotted the no 12 post was 1968 with a 1250 Mercury and the two pictures in post 17 were from the 1969 Amsterdam 3 hr race the IU class boat pictured on the turn was Cees Veldon driving a Lievens wing boat and my outfit did have a 1250SBP in 1969.

[Tom Smyth]

----A few months later, Parker '68, the problems continued. Mr. Kiekhaefer was still in charge, and not very happy with Jan. The rest of us were running the new engine---even Kenny was running the 1250, no stacks---and not the BP.----

so Jan was running 1100's at Salton sea in 67? how long did he hold out before he went to 1250's? I know he had a bad wreck in 68 that made him quit using 1250's on a wing

[GENE LANHAM]

so Jan was running 1100's at Salton sea in 67? how long did he hold out before he went to 1250's? I know he had a bad wreck in 68 that made him quit using 1250's on a wing

Jan at Pelican Harbor, July 1967

[jackiewilson]

Strange there is so little mention of the 1000 BP's in U.S. Boating folklore. Any reason Willa ?

[Tom Smyth]

Jan at Pelican Harbor, July 1967

thanks I have this pic. Cool to think the motor I have is[robably one of these in this pic....

[lilabner]

That's not the boat or motors Jan ran in Oct 67 at Salton Sea..How many did he have then?

[willabee]

so Jan was running 1100's at Salton sea in 67? how long did he hold out before he went to 1250's? I know he had a bad wreck in 68 that made him quit using 1250's on a wing

I think the 1968 Parker 9 Hour was his last run with the 1100's. The Dutchman Wing didn't perform as expected and his NOA kilo record of 102 had been broken. Believe it was the 1250 he put on the black Switzer to get that record back at 106. As you said, he was running the 1250 when he blew over trying to best Kitson's run of 113. Also think that flip was the end of his boat racing.

[willabee]

That's not the boat or motors Jan ran in Oct 67 at Salton Sea..How many did he have then?

Good question ..... So it appears that Jan ran the black Switzer with 1100 stackers in Florida July of 67. He set the NOA kilo mark at 102 with it that summer. Then he ran the red Switzer at Salton Sea in Oct. of 67. Your pics look like he is running stackers there also, but maybe you remember that he didn't? Then he runs his Dutchman Wing, with the 1100 stackers, at Parker in March of 68. A few months later he sets a new kilo record in NOA at 106 using the black wing and 1250's ( I think they were 1250's).

I think I remember old fiberglass saying that he talked with Jan about the red wing and knows why he had it and where it went after Salton Sea. Hopefully he will jump in here with that info.

[GENE LANHAM]

The end of U-4---The engines look like 1250 Stackers---stock DSH's---SSM's---

????


????I don't know???? What did 'Tinypic' do with the picture?????

[lilabner]

They were definitely stacked at Salton.

[Tom Smyth]

so I know this is a fine point but what was the date in Oct 67 for salton? my motor was documented at plant 6 on Oct 22 of 1967. Wondering if this was freshened up prior to salton or not?

[lilabner]

usually held in Oct or early Nov.