Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[Mark75H]

What ever happened to that company ?? Seems like it didn't make much of a mark in the history books.

Gene is right ... KAM dominated offshore racing in the late 70's and all of the 80's with their motors and drives. Big money on expensive stuff, not consumer stuff so it wasn't a household name.

If you weren't specifically paying attention at that time, you may not have realized Kiekhaefer/KAM and Mercruiser were not the same company.

By the time Mercruiser caught back up with KAM, Carl was old and the company was going thru rough times. Freddie had split with Carl but came back ... ending up revitalizing KAM with trim tabs that became the "must have" tabs for offshore racing and pleasure and then the new better drive just before going back to Brunswick.

[willabee]

Willabee - Wow! Congrats on zooming through 100,000 hits. - Steve

Steve and Bob V.....thanks for the kind words and the congrats. I didn't even consider something like the number of hits it might get when I started, but I'm happy it has lasted this long. There are an awful lot of fun, knowledgeable people that have supported it and I have really enjoyed the chatter with everyone (the Ol Crumudgeon might be the exception ).

Thanks to all that have contributed or just tuned in to see what was going on and thanks for all of the kind PM's, always nice to know someone is enjoying.

[Old fiberglass]

Lanham [/B](the red wing) ran that "wet" all the way around the course. As he went by, fans would holler "SURFACE, SURFACE!!!!! .....guess they thought it was a submarine. Lucky he had Sirois for a co-driver.

Ok, Gene step up to the plate....do tell.

[GENE LANHAM]

Ron says 4th overall, 1st outboard went to Bob Massey, 5th to Don Harper (triple Mercs), 6th to Lonnie Todd, 7th to Bill Olney and 8th to Earnie Threlkeld! I missed that one by a mile. Maybe it was Parker 1967 that had just one outboard in the top ten?

Here are four of the five top finishing outboards from Parker 68 (don't have a picture of Harper).....Lanham (the red wing) ran that "wet" all the way around the course. As he went by, fans would holler "SURFACE, SURFACE!!!!! .....guess they thought it was a submarine. Lucky he had Sirois for a co-driver.

Don't believe that!! But one of those embarrassing moments. Attempting to get on plane with the home made, electically operated-flap control mechanism in the 'DOWN' position!! Being co-driver with Bill Sirois was lucky. Bill could drive and win in any class, and did. Bill was the most versatile and the best driver of all the famous 'Bills'----

[jackie wilson]

Don't believe that!! But one of those embarrassing moments. Attempting to get on plane with the home made, electically operated-flap control mechanism in the 'DOWN' position!! Being co-driver with Bill Sirois was lucky. Bill could drive and win in any class, and did. Bill was the most versatile and the best driver of all the famous 'Bills'----

Have to agree with you Gene------First time i realised what a genius he was, Berlin 1970 he was in the lead [i think] with the 9 carb Doc Morgan lump on an outdated Molinari. He asked if i would have a crack at driving it, just to give him a break. I struggled valliantly with the damn thing but realised i needed a degree in maths and scientific co-ordination to master the damn thing. Managed about 10 laps, but the OMC boys were getting past me, so i brought it back in and Bill did the next couple of hours ,till the thing finally broke.----he was back up with the leaders when it finally died. As a driver in those days, i was not too shabby,[in spite of what Willabee says] but was light years behind Bill. He went on and made the offshore scene his very own. Wonderful man and wonderful driver.

[jackie wilson]

Steve and Bob V.....thanks for the kind words and the congrats. I didn't even consider something like the number of hits it might get when I started, but I'm happy it has lasted this long. There are an awful lot of fun, knowledgeable people that have supported it and I have really enjoyed the chatter with everyone (the Ol Crumudgeon might be the exception ).

Thanks to all that have contributed or just tuned in to see what was going on and thanks for all of the kind PM's, always nice to know someone is enjoying.

100.000 hits -----What's the big deal here ????? Was just a fluke !!!!any dummy can do something once, the clever bit is doing it again !!!!! even better. Your not going to come back down for a week are you Willa ???? Smartarse !!!!!!!!

[willabee]

..... the boat would not turn. Cascadden, who was a very good driver, just continued to go straight for about a mile, made a right hand turn a docked at someone's cottage......

Willabee, did you make it to any of our races here in Canada?

Good story.....

No, I never made it. It was tough enough watching a few of you guys come here a couple of times a year and drive little boats with big horsepower. I sure didn't have a strong enough heart to go there and watch a big bunch of you go at it.

[Old fiberglass]

I looked up to you guys BIG TIME from my start in '71. Most 16 year olds have "issues" with hormones and prom queens. Not me. I was determined to learn from YOU "mentors", and some day beat you. Never happened. Unfortunately, living in Hawaii has it's geographic limits. IOW, 2500+ miles to L.A. and beyond. Cost prohibitive to say the least. Couldn't convince my sponsor, (Amelco) to race Havasu or Parker in '74.
Did get to compete against Ted May, Bob Nordskog and Dick Sherrer at Keehi Marine Stadium in Honolulu in '73. Won the second heat driving a full tunnel Kober Kat with "one" of Sirois high-port stackers circa 1970 Havasu OWC. Ted drove a Cougar with an E Strangler. Bob, a Schulze Hydra Cat with a Stinger GP, we eventually bought. (The Hydra Cat, not the Stinger GP). Dick was driving a former team Merc Twistercraft with a T2. They all finished behind an "obsolete" 13 foot Kober Kat by a quarter mile. One mile course, 5 laps. The highlight of my short career. More so than back to back US-1 titles in 1973-74 for S-OPC Closed Course racing. Helps to have a 12 month racing season in Hawaii too. (LOL)
BTW- Please provide your "real" names. I am very new here. I.E.- "Willabee", etc. Reading about you "ICONS" meant the world to me. (Via P/B Mag among others) Thanks.

P.S.- Bob gave me a "lifetime" subscription for buying the Schulze. Little did he know I would have gladly paid for it.

Did you ever bump in Dave Packard, (I think I have the name a little off)......they guy that was alway wheeling and dealing in boat racing stuff in Hawaii ??

Might be going on vacation to the big island this weekend.

[swshawaii]

Did you ever bump in Dave Packard, (I think I have the name a little off)......they guy that was alway wheeling and dealing in boat racing stuff in Hawaii ??

Might be going on vacation to the big island this weekend.

Sadly, we lost Dave in 1996 from a brain tumor. Probably the single most influential person in Hawaii powerboat racing. Many people misunderstood this man. A "wheeler dealer" yes. Certainly a great salesman, and a self made millionaire. I was on his good side, the guy gave me the world. Have to say if Dave had a "weakness", it would have been beautiful women. I remember delivering parts from Sports Marine to his mansion on Poipu Drive in the "ritzy" community of Portlock. It was there I saw his residence "filled" with REAL Playboy Playmates in his huge swimming pool, clothing optional. A high school kids fantasy to say the least. Between Dave, Ken White, and Chuck Garner, these three Hawaii "legends" taught me the "ropes" in my short, yet successful racing career. Very sad story, Dave lost everything due to his long illness. He passed away in his birth town of Rome, New York. Ken White died in Texas several years ago from heart failure. Heartbreaking, the memories of these two mentors will always be with me. Chuck is still very active in all forms of racing in Hawaii, and runs the Corvette Shoppe in Honolulu to this day. He is also the AMSOIL distributor for the state, and has been from day one. IMO, one of the BEST and most versatile drivers behind the wheel of ANY vehicle, land or sea. Chuck taught ME more about driving than any individual. He is also one of the best composite or fiberglass body and finish men ANYWHERE in the world. BTW, Dave's last name was spelled "Packer". He did own a "Packard", among many other cars, boats, and mansions. ; )

Aloha, Steve

P.S.- If you go to the Big Island, make sure you tour the "Hamakua Coast". Very scenic and spectacular. Kona is more of a "tourist trap" to me. Like Waikiki, on Oahu, way too commercial with "Beverly Hills" type shops EVERYWHERE. Not "true Hawaii" IMO.

[peterse90]

Dave Packer showed up for a few of our races here in Canada in 1979, being so close to his home in Rome, NY.
He sure had a history of driving a variety of boats over the years. If I remember from my early 1970's Powerboats he drove both single and twins.
In July 1979 he showed up in Valleyfield with a big Molinari marathon hull (Merc powered) then a few weeks later he should up in Penetang, Ontario with the SST 120 boat that Ken Stevenson built. Beautiful boat that was lightening quick off the beach but didn't have the top end of the other boats he was going up against.
I got to know Dave a little when he was here racing, he seemed like a guy who was very happy just to be racing...winning wasn't everything.

[Old fiberglass]

Thanks for the info...I spelled the name wrong. Here is a link to a small museum that has some of his stuff. Notice how they used the term race wing.....I think they mean a wing of the museum with race stuff in it http://www.when-in-rome.com/romespor...m/exhibit.html

Bob Massey's wife told me Dave used to go by all the boat shops in California.....buying up race boats and parts....then send them to Hawaii.

[Watermark]

Have to say if Dave had a "weakness", it would have been beautiful women.

Now, isn't a picture worth a thousand words ?

(Note: This photo was taken of Dave hamming it up with the love of his life in Pittsburgh, PA at the USF1 Three Rivers Regatta in '86 or '87. It was the last time I saw Dave .. he was a great competitor and a wonderful friend. Gave immensely to the sport as an owner, driver, race organizer and official.

Dave reminded me of of a sober - and much better natured - James Hunt.. He loved the women and they loved him. As Peter said, Dave raced for all of the right reasons. SWSHawaii, thanks for sharing some words about the charming #48 ... Dave will always be remembered for his character and charisma.

[Mark75H]

Steve, he is probably talking about the porn spam that was already deleted before you saw his message

[peterse90]

In July 1979 he showed up in Valleyfield with a big Molinari marathon hull

John; That's the one...the Molinari marathon hull that Dave had in Valleyfield.
Your picture must be from somewhere else, as Jimbo was not at Valleyfield that year. Wonder if Jimbo is telling Dave that if he wants this big hull to go faster either switch the 2.4 Merc for a 3 litre Johnrude or switch to light beer?

Also, great picture of #988; either Dick Summerfeldt or Brian Smith (Cantek Racing). One of the best heat races I saw was you and Brian Smith in St. Jean, Quebec 1973.

[peterse90]

Picton..........

SJ #66...Jerry Rice.
One of the pioneers of the Canadian Boating Federation Sportscraft racing division. Jerry started racing Chrysler o/b's then switched to Merc's in the early 70's.

Keep your 'Canadianna' pictures coming!!!!!