Life at Lake X in the '60s

[oldskier]

Mr. Kiekhaefer would often "roast" the competition(s) motors when he had his dealers in Fond du Lac for events and meetings.
About a year ago in the woods on the ledge, the original tripod used for these roasts was located - 50 years later. Thought this item would be of interest to the readers of S&F. It recently was set up for a local boating event in Fond du Lac - but I guess no one had a "Fat 50" to roast.

So roast a Tohatsu....I think Mr. K would be pleased...

Cool piece of history!

[JP Love]

So roast a Tohatsu....I think Mr. K would be pleased...

Cool piece of history!

Yeah look like a Tohatsu...

[AirRide]

Quote from 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', "Who Are Those Guys?'

(L)Brett May...(C)Race Boat Groupie(KlingOn)...(R)Butch Stokes ----Guess who bought the drinks?

[jackie wilson]

You don't change much Brett !!!!!!!!! except round the waistline??? where's that trim young fella that ran THE COSSIE with me at Havasu in 78, or was it 79, i forget exactly.
Have you forgiven your old man for giving the inboard trophy to Jack D' Eath . ???
How is the lovely Karen these days ???
Still remember you showing me round the "APACHE" facility and how clinical the set up was-----just like the COSWORTH factory.
See you at the OFFY.

[T2x]

(L)Brett May...(C)Race Boat Groupie(KlingOn)...(R)Butch Stokes ----Guess who bought the drinks?

Do you have some kind of problem with me....or is this just a joke I don't get?

Also, who are you?

T2x

[gofish7070]

What a distinguished looking group,,,,,,,,,,, Round up everyone,, remember OFF ,,,,,,,,,, Blowin downwind,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, See you guys, in Jupiter @ at the Mother of all parties,,,,,,,,,,, J

[lilabner]

I love you man

[Mark Poole ModVP]

I have a Merc history question, this seems to be the place to get the answer.....

Carl sold to Brunswick in '60 or '61?....When he sold he also signed a 10 year non compete clause. This is why the Aeromarine engines did not hit the scene until '70-'71.

So, did Carl have a 10 year contract to keep working with Mercury and run the racing division at Lake X? Is this also why Merc motors had the "K" emblem on them up until 1971?

[jackie wilson]

Mr. K . was at Paris in '63 and '64 so he was still heavily involved around that time.

[nianticgary]

From what I've read, Carl sold on Sept 30, 1961. The Kiekhaefer operation became a separate subsidiary of Brunswick with Carl as president and chief exec but there was no specific term. Carl also bought the Siesta Key test facility and Lake X which he leased back to Brunswick. He had a non compete until 1971. Carl resigned from the Kiekhaefer Mercury Div in 1970 so I imagine the Kiekhaefer name remained on the engines until he left. After he left was when he began Kiekhaefer Aeromarine Motors in Feb 1970
Gary Larson, from the book The Legend of Mercury by Jeffrey Rodengen

[Mark75H]

Kiekhaefer Aeromarine was Carl's holding company that owned Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards from some time in the early 1950's or earlier and was actually the entity that sold Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards to Brunswick.

Carl remained president of Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards under Brunswick ownership and was a senior vice president of Brunswick ... one of dozens and dozens of Brunswick senior vice presidents and practically the only one making money for Brunswick in the 1960's. Kiekhaefer hoped that the fact that his fiefdom was making money would exempt it from direct meddling from Brunswick corporate ... but the reverse eventually happened and Carl became greatly disillusioned.

When the no compete time expired, Carl simply opened the bloom of the existing KAM flower ... with its mature, deep and strong roots

[Mark Poole ModVP]

I see now. I did not know that KAM went that far back. The shares that Brunswick handed him at the sale fell sharply shortly after which must have really soured his relationship with them.

Thanks!

[Mark75H]

Probably did from day one.

Early on, Carl retailed stuff from KAM under the name "KAMINC"

There was a whole line of stuff along side the official "Quicksilver" line made by Merc

Some KAMINC stuff from way back:

[nianticgary]

Read the book a little closer and found that KAM was formed in 1946. As Carl approached his 64th birthday, the doors of the reborn Kiekhaefer Aeromarine Motors officially opened on Feb 1, 1970, but he could not compete with Brunswick and Mercury products until Sept 1, 1971.
In 1973 is when the Mercury Marine name appeared on the Brunswick/Mercury Marine products and the Kiekhaefer name was on Carls products only.
Gary

[velox]

Karl for all his "being in control" took a long time to decide who to sell to. If I remember correctly the Stock was worth about $30 per share when he did the deal and resulted in a few million dollars. That does not sound like a lot today, but was a fortune back then. Within a short time the stock went to about $3 per share, whiping out his fortune.
He had ruled Mercury with an Iron fist and lots of bluster. Once with Brunswick, he became just another guy in a corporate structure. Whie he probably made money, the rest of the Brunswick politicians simply continued to take his power away from him until he threw in the towel. Not only did he lose his company, he lost his money and power.
He did do stuff later, but never recovered completely to the glory days.