Help Needed! - ID This Old OB Race Boat

[Greg G]

Now, given Brownie was at the helm of the first 19' Donzi Hornet ever built at the November Miami Key West race and it was 1964, the "Marina Seven" boat could not have been his specific boat re-rigged with twin outboards ALSO in 1964. Donzi was not even launched by Don A until July, 1964. Anyone know what specific date was the 1964 Miami Key West race? Had to be late.

[GENE LANHAM]

Anyone know what specific date was the 1964 Miami Key West race? Had to be late.

Always in November----'Searace' shows November 6, 1964----

[GENE LANHAM]

Narrowing down to 'Donzi'??

[Greg G]

Narrowing down to 'Donzi'??

Yes, I believe so.

Between the faint letters and, more importantly, the visual lines of the hull, I think that the "Marina Seven" boat is a Donzi. It can't be a 1964 hull though as there was only one factory hull built by November '64 and that was being campaigned by Alan Brown in the November (same month every year as you say Gene) 1964 Miami-to-Key West race.

The boat has to be a bit later I would think..........but probably not by much

[FUJIMO]

Want a little hint, as to what/where/who, this boat is...exactly?

[Greg G]

Want a little hint, as to what/where/who, this boat is...exactly?

I found a big piece of info late last night so I think I know that answer. Right now though, it's off to church!

[Greg G]

Want a little hint, as to what/where/who, this boat is...exactly?

Ok, ok to keep your hint very small and have some fun ............. is the single letter " X " involved in the identification of the race boat in some form/fashion?

[Greg G]

If I take the great high res picture of Jerry Langer's Donzi 19 Hornet and kindergarten reverse it using MS Paint, you can see that the "Marina Seven" hull is the same model hull.
Langer was working with a bare bones Donzi factory 19' hull in 1965. He improvised and fashioned a canvas deck instead of carrying the weight of the Hornet's glass deck.
Smart move by the competitive/creative Langer and Davey Wilson as I bet that saved them 400lbs?

98% positive that they are both Donzi Hornet 19's and that neither were built in 1964.

[lilabner]

Greg,

Since you aren't from around the Miami area, 1960's era, you shouldn't be making assumptions that something had to be built by the rules, and documented as such. We had so many boat companies popping and building, for race boats, drug boats, CIA boats, etc. Since Aronow owned Donzi from the get go, and he liked to fill his trunk with Bennies, no telling how many he built and when. If a boat was brought to market, usually at a big boat show, it had been well tested. Usually a boat that small may have had a couple test hulls made. In Aronow's book is a picture of Brownie and Skip Carrol running in the 64 Miami-Key West race in a 19' Hornet. That means they were probably first built in late 63 early 64. The race was on Nov 6, 1964. There were five Donzi prototypes running. The Hornet was one of them.
My point being you can't look at a boat and tell when it was built.

[T2x]

Bingo, T2x ......... Thibodeaux was the name that Sam mentioned. And yes, he said that Charlie McCarthy had somehow become the final custodian of a tremendous number of vintage race photographs from a wide variety of sources and had taken very good care of all of them over the years. It sounds like this guy Charlie might have the single largest stash of old race boat photos on earth even though he was not old enough to be racing in 1964 as you say. Good to see that someone is caring for that old stuff. Maybe somewhere in the 1,000's of photos he has is something that would ID the "Marina Seven" race boat.

On a side note, he should digitize them as film won't last forever, but I digress.

Charlie is certainly old enough to have raced in '64, but I believe that he was still racing OPC boats in New England at that time.

[T2x]

Another CIA boat model..

I believe Hank was killed in January 1966 (not '63) at the Orange Bowl Regatta. My oldest son's middle name is Bowman in honor of Hank.

[GENE LANHAM]

I believe Hank was killed in January 1966 (not '63) at the Orange Bowl Regatta. My oldest son's middle name is Bowman in honor of Hank.

Rich, I believe you are right

Researching the '66 issue of 'Boating', I found this---lots of familiar names in the 1965 Miami/KW race--- including Knocky driving an 18' Crosby with 2 90 Johnrudes----??

[Greg G]

In Aronow's book is a picture of Brownie and Skip Carrol running in the 1964 Miami-Key West race in a 19' Hornet. That means they were probably first built in late 63 early 64. The race was on Nov 6, 1964.

Post up the picture with AB and Skip Carrol you have from November, 1964.

[lilabner]

Post up the picture with AB and Skip Carrol you have from November, 1964.

Here it is..You have started a great thread. Us old farts can't find squat..

[Greg G]

Here it is..You have started a great thread. Us old farts can't find squat..

Great hi res picture, thanks.