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Thread: Life at Lake X in the '60s
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07-30-2014, 08:22 PM #1261
Lake X Comes Alive Again
I just came across the videos that Roy Ridgell's son speaks of in the previous post. John Litjens speaks of his time there and visits the old/new shop. This video took me back to my time at Lake X in the sixties with very warm memories. There are 2 parts at the following links. - Steve Sirois
http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/mercurys-lake-x-part-one
http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/mercurys-lake-x-part-two
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07-31-2014, 11:13 AM #1262New Member
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Thanks Guys for sharing this article/videos. It was an amazing day at the lake and I felt blessed to have Bernie and John there to talk about the history of the place.
We'll be posting more racing history on the site in the future including a piece with Earl Bentz and others from the early era of outboard racing.
Thanks again.
Terry Battisti
Bass Fishing Archives
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07-31-2014, 05:51 PM #1263
Awesome stuff Terry. BIG THANK YOU!
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07-31-2014, 06:37 PM #1264
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08-02-2014, 02:09 PM #1265
Brings back great memories...... Best boat racing test facility in the world.
20 Foot Switzer Wing 2 X S3000 (Dust'n the Wind II)
!6 foot Wood Eltro Vee (2X Merc 1500's) (Dust'n the Wind IV)
15 foot Powercat 15C (2 X Merc 1500) (Dust'n the Wind III)
(Single engine boats are lacking something)
15’ Wooden Switzer Shooting Star...
16 foot Lee Craft Merc S 3000-(Gold Dust II)
(The exception proves the rule)
Obsolete and Proud of it
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08-02-2014, 04:16 PM #1266
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08-24-2014, 12:55 PM #12678000 RPM
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Roy Ridgell and the twin engine Miss Seattle.
Last edited by Lake X Kid; 11-09-2023 at 12:31 PM.
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09-14-2014, 05:20 PM #12688000 RPM
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Mercury Lake X alumnus Roy Ridgell, Mercury Marine career ends at bass tournament.
Roy Ridgell in 1992 did indeed have a fatal heart attack in northwest Alabama. He was at a Bass tournament, as Mercury Marine support manager.
If memory serves me correctly, I remember seeing you Mike Ramsey at one of the bass tournaments in Leesburg, Florida talking with dad about the past and present. Dad was full of boat racing stories, and I regret my brother and me only remember a small sampling of the Lake X escapades. Gratitude to Steve Sirois for starting this Lake X thread to preserve in writing a unique marine facility’s era and the people who lived it
Mike did not you and John Stenbeck have identical motorcycles when working at Lake X? They were Triumphs or BSA, which I could always hear you guys coming to and from Lake X. And wasn’t it you Mike who revved-up your motorcycle and laid down a patch of burnt rubber on the paved road, in the front of our house after talking to Roy. We were then living on the east side of the property (next to Odell’s family), not on the lake.
Lake X alumnus Roy Ridgell, Mercury career ends at bass tournament.
Last edited by Lake X Kid; 11-11-2019 at 10:17 PM.
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09-15-2014, 11:43 AM #12695000 RPM
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I don't remember the year, but at a Serice Rep meeting, I think it was in Appleton WI, Roy came down the aisle dragging a Mercury Gnat with a rope noose around it - yes, we were having all kinds of trouble with Gnats!
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Lake X Kid liked this post
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09-15-2014, 12:41 PM #1270
Did you have a "what's the biggest boat tested at Lake X?" question?
Mid 80's I did some plug work for this 55 footer, 60' LOA. Davey Wilson rigged one of them with 4 mercruiser big blocks with stern drives and tested at Lake X. I believe it ran in the 70-75 mph range. I drove up there from Miami to watch but after ringing the bell at the gate for a while, gave up. Never did see it run there or Lake X from the inside.
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09-15-2014, 07:00 PM #1271
GREAT STUFF!!!! Thanks Gary
"12" Super Lite Tunnel (11') "88" 25 Yammy twin carb "BANANA SPLIT"
"77" Hydrostream Viper "87" 140 Rude heavy modded w/15" mid, Bobs nose and lwp "DANGER ZONE"
"72" Checkmate MX-13 "80" 75 Rude w/15"mid and Nitro Lu (to be restored)
"Too much is never enough" Keith Richards " Dreams become reality via hard work and perseverance" G.A.Carbonneau
"This coming from an old man that strapped two bananas together, hung a motor on it and calls it a boat" XstreamVking
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09-16-2014, 08:54 AM #1272The Historic Photo Master
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10-04-2014, 12:59 AM #12738000 RPM
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02-26-2015, 11:18 AM #1274
Sad news. Those of you who raced with and against the Kiekhaefer Navy in the 60s and 70s will remember Chester Leon Strickland. Chet, or "CL" as we knew him, passed away Tuesday night. He was great racer and true friend. He also was a longtime friend of all of us from Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota high school in the same class (1959) as my brother Bill Sirois and Phil Schenk. If you have had the opportunity to read my posts on this thread, you will have noticed that I mentioned him. Farewell to another old friend who has crossed that final finish line. - Steve Sirois
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02-27-2015, 11:13 AM #12757000 RPM
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