OPC Racing Days

[tagman]

Greetings,

I just recently joined after finding this forum by searching for an old friend. That old friend was John P Mc Call the pioneer (in my mind) of made to order tunnel hull race boats. In reading threads from the past, I get the impression that we lost John at some point to cancer. Having spent my first summer after graduating High school working for John, I will tell all that he was a truly unique individual. There may be a few of you whom I crossed paths with back in those days. My experience came from crewing for a good friend in St. Petersburg, Florida who purchased a used McCall SE class boat through John and then had John build him a prototype SE boat later on. For all of my High School years I was lucky enough to be a part of a great group of folks from St. Pete that traveled to races together and ran SE, SI, and SJ and meeting the like of John McCall. While attending the OPC Nationals at the Miami Marine Stadium, John asked me if I would like to come to work for him. It is history from there. I enjoy the memories you all write about, keep em comin...

[PARKER RABE]

there is plenty of pictures of mcalls in the randy rabe , and hammer down forumns...a good friend of the familys name TOMMY COOK raced on for years

[Fish]

Greetings,

I just recently joined after finding this forum by searching for an old friend. That old friend was John P Mc Call the pioneer (in my mind) of made to order tunnel hull race boats. In reading threads from the past, I get the impression that we lost John at some point to cancer. Having spent my first summer after graduating High school working for John, I will tell all that he was a truly unique individual. There may be a few of you whom I crossed paths with back in those days. My experience came from crewing for a good friend in St. Petersburg, Florida who purchased a used McCall SE class boat through John and then had John build him a prototype SE boat later on. For all of my High School years I was lucky enough to be a part of a great group of folks from St. Pete that traveled to races together and ran SE, SI, and SJ and meeting the like of John McCall. While attending the OPC Nationals at the Miami Marine Stadium, John asked me if I would like to come to work for him. It is history from there. I enjoy the memories you all write about, keep em comin...

welcome to the site tagman, I am sure you will run into several familiar folks here. By the way, who did you crew for in st. pete?

[tagman]

Hey Fish,

My good friend in those days was Brady Belcher. His first boat was an old McCall SE called "Hiny Buster" made famous by Felix Poppel (spelling?). He and I hung around with the likes of Tom Cook, Fred Van Waggoner and Bill Cartier along with others whose names are escaping me at my old age. We sorta hung around Randy Rabe and that crowd a little too. In fact I believe I see myself in one of the Rabe pictures from Lake Maggiore. Cooky wound up with the second McCall we had. John was building those pickle fork 16 ft boats and Belcher was goin nuts to have one for SE. So he had John build the Hiny Buster II or Too ( don't remember) John never liked that boat. Too short and too unpredictable. In fact after that I don't believe he built any more pickle forks.

[PARKER RABE]

bill cartier , is stilll alive but not doing well , tom cook died in 1983, my dad died last november, fred is still here in town

[tagman]

My memory from those days is pretty much shot. I knew Tom had died and Bill's son built me a fishing motor back in the early 80's. Did the whole motocross thing with Bill and Fred ( there boys ) back in the mid to late seventies. There were alot of folks back then that I can't recall names of. Did spend quite a bit of time at the Rabco Shop on 1st Ave S back then, but heck I was only 17 or 18 I think. It does seem like opld times.

[Fish]

My memory from those days is pretty much shot. I knew Tom had died and Bill's son built me a fishing motor back in the early 80's. Did the whole motocross thing with Bill and Fred ( there boys ) back in the mid to late seventies. There were alot of folks back then that I can't recall names of. Did spend quite a bit of time at the Rabco Shop on 1st Ave S back then, but heck I was only 17 or 18 I think. It does seem like opld times.


I hear ya, BTW, the person who posted just above you is Randy Rabe's son Parker. I did the motocross thing a bit with Little Fred back in the day too. Like Parker said, Fred is still around, Billly is not in the greatest of health. Do the names Ken Olsen, Don Wilson, Jack Staples, Ed Medley, Tom Huber, Bob Van Bomel, Gary King, Gary Peacock, Dave Stoller... ring any bells?

[PARKER RABE]

Heres One

[PARKER RABE]

Another

[tagman]

OK Ken Olsen I remember. Had a shop on US27 around Winter Haven or just north of Dundee. And I definitely remember Tom Huber. Jim Hunt was friend back then. If anyone still talks to him, ask him if he remembers when John Mc Call , himself and a few others, me included, attempted to start up a boat racing club. It was in '72 I think, and the name we came up with escapes me. Heck, I think Jim was Pres. John VP. Back in those days, I think Jim was driving a Carslon boat in the U class.

[tagman]

The picture of the McCall there with the 1250 and the super BP brings back memories cuz I was there...

[rnelems]

John McCall was a great guy,and an absolute genuis. Spent a week with him in 1974 to get our new SJ boat dialed in. He was a true perfectionist and a true craftsman.I still have the Christmas card he sent years ago,always his latest boat with a photo of a beautiful young lady(I believe a friend of John's wife). It was a Christmas tradition for him.He also introduced me to stone crabs,and every time I order them,even 35 years later,I think of John.Thanks for bringing back the good memories.

[tagman]

Ah yes the infamous Christmas cards. I only met the girl once. If you new John you new it was right or it just didn't happen. I remember vividly him chewing me out for not sanding and sealing 5 times on every single inch of the boat. That's why they looked like wood under glass.

[tagman]

Oh and I can add a little to the flying boat at Lake X stuff too.

[rnelems]

Please do. I could not get John to talk about it much,but always thought there was an untold story.

[Mark75H]

Oh and I can add a little to the flying boat at Lake X stuff too.

Please, do. That stuff is very mysterious

[tagman]

OK if I didn't know any better I would say that picture is Tom Cook in his SI ( am I right?) 100 hp boat. probably at Maggorie. Close?

[tagman]

Well unfortunately, It is still a mystery. BUT I do know that every weekend when I wnt back to St Pete for the weekend, John would go to Lake X. When I came in on Sunday nite, I would ask OK what's going on. He would aleays say, "nothing". Later he told me that he was working on a boat that would basically run on a cushion of air, just off the surface. He never told me specifics other than they were working on making it turn ( apparently it wouldn't) and I believe ( not positive ) it had a capsule cockpit for driver safety. ( Ha!
Go Figure!

[Mark75H]

OK, that's fuzzy whether it was the Lippisch Flying Boat or Switzer Wing ... both could meet that description

[PARKER RABE]

TAGMAN , have a look thru my galleries , randy rabe rabco boats , theres lots of pictures of lake maggorie races. really good old shots

[PARKER RABE]

heres some more

[PARKER RABE]

more...........

[PARKER RABE]

....................

[seeroy]

Well unfortunately, It is still a mystery. BUT I do know that every weekend when I wnt back to St Pete for the weekend, John would go to Lake X. When I came in on Sunday nite, I would ask OK what's going on. He would aleays say, "nothing". Later he told me that he was working on a boat that would basically run on a cushion of air, just off the surface. He never told me specifics other than they were working on making it turn ( apparently it wouldn't) and I believe ( not positive ) it had a capsule cockpit for driver safety. ( Ha!
Go Figure!

Lippisch Flying Boat
http://i35.tinypic.com/v4szh2.jpg

[PARKER RABE]

wtf............

[seeroy]

wtf............
Parker - It is the Lippisch Flying boat that John McCall was purportedly and secretly running at Lake X. I never met John, but I have heard that he was the one that tested this boat. I also heard that it crashed and went Tango Uniform. Notice that it has active aerodynamic rudders and elevators. That probably says alot about why it would not turn as a surface effect machine. BTW, WTF is one of my favorite acronyms. It says alot. Hopefully you know what Tango Uniform means. - Steve

[2us70]

There are several old McCall drivers on this forum. I had two McCall SE boats the second one John built to order for me. A picture of that boat is my desktop wallpaper on this computer. I met Felix at my first boat race and he sold me the motor I won Nationals with. I also remember fishing Brady out of the water at Tavares with that Bell Star helmet full of water. When I lifted him up his helmet flushed like a toilet. You will also find most of us are great admirers of John's work.

[PARKER RABE]

i have plenty of pictures of mcall comming up in our newest galleries from greg

[mbd29]

I attended the Antique Airplane Association's Flyin this past Labor Day, for the first time, and was quite suprised to see one of Alexander Lippisch's, Mercury powered flying boats on display. It also had a photo, dated 1968, of the crew which included Mercury employees. The only one I recognized was Jim Kubasta.

[seeroy]

I attended the Antique Airplane Association's Flyin this past Labor Day, for the first time, and was quite suprised to see one of Alexander Lippisch's, Mercury powered flying boats on display. It also had a photo, dated 1968, of the crew which included Mercury employees. The only one I recognized was Jim Kubasta.
Do you have any idea who owns it or who had it on display? I would love to find out where it is and see any pictures. - Steve Sirois

[transomstand]

Do you have any idea who owns it or who had it on display? I would love to find out where it is and see any pictures. - Steve Sirois

I came across a web site last year that would tell you ownership of an aircraft if you knew the N number, I'll see if I can dig it up.

[transomstand]

Here's one
http://www.landings.com/evird.acgi$pass*113287808!_h-www.landings.com/_landings/pages/search/search_nnr.html

[Mark75H]

I think he's talking about the boat, not an airplane.

I'd be interested, too

[seeroy]

I think he's talking about the boat, not an airplane.

I'd be interested, too
Sam - Affimative, I was definately talking about the boat. - Steve

[transomstand]

OOPS:o

[mbd29]

Steve: I guess I could have explalined it a little better. It is on display in the Antique Airplane Assoc. Museum in Blakesburg Iowa. I feel a little stupid not taking a picture but when I saw it I didn't have my camera and never got back to the museum before I left. I was so impressed with all the antique airplanes that I forgot about it until I was on the road back to Oshkosh.

It looked the same as the photo you posted but smaller. It only had a 50 hp mounted in it. I have been going to call Bob Taylor, founder and owner of AAA, to email a photo but just haven't got around to it. I have been trying to get to their flyin for years and now that I have I will be returning again next year.

[oldschoolltv]

I just saw this post and I think there are a ton of us that were kids in the 70-80's that are on here that were in the pits at that time and that is why we like this site so much, Miami marine stadium, eufala al, lake magorie, lake alfred, lake holingsworth, rim ditch canal, stuart causeway, etc... it all brings back memories of great times at the races, Matt

[seeroy]

Steve: I guess I could have explalined it a little better. It is on display in the Antique Airplane Assoc. Museum in Blakesburg Iowa. I feel a little stupid not taking a picture but when I saw it I didn't have my camera and never got back to the museum before I left. I was so impressed with all the antique airplanes that I forgot about it until I was on the road back to Oshkosh.

It looked the same as the photo you posted but smaller. It only had a 50 hp mounted in it. I have been going to call Bob Taylor, founder and owner of AAA, to email a photo but just haven't got around to it. I have been trying to get to their flyin for years and now that I have I will be returning again next year.
Hi mbd29, Thank you for the info - I just talked with Brent Taylor at Antique Airfield. He will try to take some pics of the Lippisch boat and e-mail them to me. I followed up with an e-mail request and attached the picture that I posted on this site. He said it may take him awhile, but when I get pics, I will post them. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

[Fish]

I just saw this post and I think there are a ton of us that were kids in the 70-80's that are on here that were in the pits at that time and that is why we like this site so much, Miami marine stadium, eufala al, lake magorie, lake alfred, lake holingsworth, rim ditch canal, stuart causeway, etc... it all brings back memories of great times at the races, Matt
:iagree::iagree:

[mbd29]

Steve: I know your an ex fighter joc but if you ever have the urge to see antiques Blakesburg is the place. They have a lot of old aircraft and "stuff" including a lot of WWII equipment.

If we could get Bob Hetzel to start talking he could offer lots on the Lippisch project. All I know about it came from Bob and Jim Kubasta.

In case your interested I fly a J-3 on floats and am restoring a 1930 New Standard biplane. Sorry, I'm sort of getting off on what this site was intended for.

On another note. I always enjoyed talking to Bill on racing. He was a wealth of information. Always had the answers.

[Jeff_G]

Mike, while your post may be getting a tad off line, it is interesting and does tie into boats and motors. Besides most of us here like all kinds of old things why do you think we put up with Rich L. ?

[tagman]

Ah yes, I was there at Taveres that day. I'm sure we must have met ...2us70.

[2us70]

I ran a v-bottom named Witchcraft.

[T2x]

. Besides most of us here like all kinds of old things why do you think we put up with Rich L. ?

Listen...that story about me and that old lady at Lake St Mary's was a tad exagerated........ she wasn't 75...she was barely 70......:D

T2x

[tagman]

Well low and behold one of you old John Mc Call fans had posted this photo from one of John's brochures some time back. It means a lot to me because that is me driving the boat. ( the one with the helmet, not in the bikini ). We built that boat as a new model Mc Call and I remember sanding on it for about three weeks. I'm pretty sure it had one of the new 3 cylinder 65's on it. That boat would do about 70 mph on good water. John took all the photo's which allowed for me to be the pilot. Not bad for a poor kid that just happened to meet and become good friends with John. I have tried for years to recapture those memories and thanks to you all they are slowly starting to come back. I know we delivered one of these to a guy up in Lima, Ohio. Can't remember his name, but he had nice parents and we spent about a week with them up there. :thumbsup:

[northcorn]

Try www.faa.gov or www.flightaware.com

[Mark75H]

Try www.faa.gov or www.flightaware.com

For what?

[tagman]

Parker, I knew your Dad a little bit. He always made comments about me working for John Mc Call. It was my only claim to fame back then.

[northcorn]

Transomstand wrote: "I came across a web site last year that would tell you ownership of an aircraft if you knew the N number, I'll see if I can dig it up.

The two websites I gave will look up ownership of an aircraft liek he said. Just trying to be helpful. After all, if the boat actually did fly, the FAA would get involved.

[Mark75H]

There are pictures, but the boats have no N numbers, so the FAA search won't go anywhere

[bernie]

I attended the Antique Airplane Association's Flyin this past Labor Day, for the first time, and was quite suprised to see one of Alexander Lippisch's, Mercury powered flying boats on display. It also had a photo, dated 1968, of the crew which included Mercury employees. The only one I recognized was Jim Kubasta.

Mike - get ahold of Hugh G - seems to me he spent like two years working on that thing.

[tagman]

The original vee bottom Mc Call named "Hiny Buster" was built for Felix Popel by John. It was later purchased from Felix through John, by my buddy at the time,
Brady Belcher. We learned to drive that boat and raced it around Florida in the early 70's. Then Brady was so enamoured with John's "Pickle Forks" that he had him build one for SE. John did not want to build it but he did and it also was called Hiny Buster I think. That was the most evil boat on the face of this earth, talk about dumping you over the side in a turn, that thing was wicked. It finished third at Lake Maggorie one time, but I think the field was pretty weak. Parker may know, but I think Tom Cook wound up with that boat, however I seem to remember hearing that he put a deck on the nose. But, the vee bottom was the original...

[T2x]

I realize this thread has been dormant for awhile, but i actually saw the hiny buster this past weekend. I don't remember anyone mentioning the hiny buster was a vee bottom. It still has a 50 horse power mercury engine but now has a seat and foot throttle. The guy who ownes it will not part with it as he has a grandson who he intends on running it soon.

Jim:

The first time I saw that boat (the vee) was in the Hudson River Marathon in 1966 as we passed it (I was in a dual Glastron). The question I have often asked myself since we saw very little of it before, during and after that race was how did they get two people in it.... (I think the rules required seats as well)...... or was there an earlier larger version? The boat was in SE I think, but it might have been FE.

T2x