Mirage hull designs???

[David_L6]

How many Mirage hull designs are there/have there been? i.e. I see these different model designations such as River Racer, Ski Racer, etc... are those just different decks on the same hull or totally different boats altogether?:confused:

[BK]

Hi David ~

In Texas, Mirage made many different hulls, from 12' to 22'.
The 18' foot hulls are called Jaguars, and there is Ski Racer, Jaguar-Jet, River Racer, Mod-VP and Wildcat. The decks are interchangeable on these hulls, as they are all 18'3' pickle fork hulls.

Each hull is different. For instance, the Wildcat was designed strictly for 1/4 mile Drag racing. The Mod-VP hull was designed strictly for racing the IOGP Mod-VP circuit (Built stout and with better turning capabilities). The River Racer was most often built very light weight for lake racing and the Ski Racer was most often built heavier, and the bottom design was different - to handle heavier loads without interupting the handling.

But sometimes customers would order a custom boat for their own needs - such as a River Racer hull with a Ski Racer bottom, etc.

Throughout the years, the hulls underwent many changes and improvements, especialy the River Racer and Ski Racer hulls.

[David_L6]

I'll soon be starting a restoration on a 1986 model.

[BK]

Hi David ~
The 1986 and prior year models were from the first generation Mirage boats - these were designed by my father in law, Louis Collins and Mike Cullen, and built by David Lee. These Mirage's were actually a totally different hull than the current Mirage's that Brad designed and are now being built by Mike Mullins.

Louis gave the history of the first Mirage about a month ago, here on Scream and Fly --- here is that link:

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=24787

[David_L6]

What does that make the hull most similiar to, a Mod VP?:confused:

[BK]

I don't know which current hull it would be most simliar to, but I know that they were building this boat as an OPC race boat, to compete in the Mod-VP class.

Hope that helps?

[Fl Boy in ILL]

BK

Don't forget the Polecat which I understand there was only a handful (<10) made. The Polecat was a different from the Wildcat with the pad below the sponsons, was the intention as a DRAG only with the polecat also?

We have one built in 93 (Polecat)

Rick

[David_L6]

Originally posted by BK
I don't know which current hull it would be most simliar to, but I know that they were building this boat as an OPC race boat, to compete in the Mod-VP class.

Hope that helps?


Yes, that helps BK. Thanks.

I hope it'll turn right too!:)

[SAMMY CORLEY]

BK


Don't know who gets da credit for building them, but you also have the quarter master an another hull that was 18 or 19 feet that looked like a 3 point hydro. Guy in Lake Murray had one of those.


Sammy

[Rodney Nance]

Rick since BK has not replied yet maybe I can give you some history. I am not sure on the year but it was most likely the winter of 92 when I had a new Wildcat curing in the mold in Texas. The TDBA Tennesee Drag Boat Association rules committee had already ok'd the wildcat for the next year. While my boat was still in the mold they changed the rule's to exclude any hull that the center pad was not even or below the outside sponsons. As you can imagine I went ballistic and started trying to figure out what to do. I called Brad and he told me he had been thinking about trying something different with the center pad and for me not to worry about it. As always Brad did what he said he would do and changed the bottom to meet the new rules. (At no extra cost) The boat ran real well and we had some success running it. When the 1/4 master came along I bought one that Brad had been tinkering with the bottom on it and won a lot of races with it. I have heard my old Polecat is still in East Tn. May try to find it one day. I have some pictures if I can find one I will post it. A Polecat is a Wildcat with a attitude! Brad and BK even let me name the new model. Let a Hillbilly name a boat and you get a Polecat.

[tunnelmike]

Is that where the Lee Craft tie in came about?? I have seen a couple boats that look like the cap of the mirage without the raised sections on the inside edge of the sponson. They had Mirage stickers on them but I was told they were Lee Craft tunnels. Sunshine Tracy in St cloud has one.

[BK]

The first Mirage was made in David Lee's factory in Alabama. Louis Collins and Cullen didn't have a factory of their own, but had drawn plans for a boat they wanted built. They contracted David Lee to build them.

But it's still possible those 1st geneation Mirage's you saw are "Brad-built" too, since young Brad was working at the David Lee plant at the time; to help David build them.

[BK]

Heya Rodney ~

I actually listed the Polecat at first, but since there were so few made, I erased it from the list. I thought there were maybe only 2 or 3 ever made? I'll have to check with Brad for the total.

Rick - You have a very rare boat there!

Sammy - As for the 1/4 master, it's a 16'7 hull, so that's why I didn't put it in the 18' list. As far as a 3-point hydro looking boat? I'm not sure what that would be.... we never built a hydro. Only true tunnels or Modified-Vee tunnel

If it was 12' or 12'3, then that would have been a true tunnel called the Tom Cat. If it was 14'6, then that would be the tunnel boat Cheetah. (Sometimes built with a center pod for drag racing)

The Tom Cat was the boat I bought and raced (and how I eventually met Brad). :D
When Brad first built one, he came to Arizona and whooped all the SC stars and took our prize money - we all said "Who the heck was that guy??" But he was pretty cute.......

Brad won 12 of 13 races he entered that year in the largest OPC class there was, plus won both Nationals in the boat he built himself -- yet he never made the APBA Hall of Champions :( What a shame.

Here's a Tom Cat: (PS - this one is for sale Mirage Tomcat. Nice Custom Trailer: $2,500. Paul Brewer. Located in Indiana. [email protected] or 574-834-3432. more at: http://www.sportc.com/trader.htm)

http://www.sportc.com/images/rinker19.jpg

[tunnelmike]

Those of us with an intrest in Mirages thank you for your insite !!!

[Fl Boy in ILL]

BK, Rodney

Thanks, I bought the boat this past summer for my son to race, the boat came from Tenn as Ray Neudecker had it with one of his BAD ASS yammi motors on it (which I didn't buy, I'm a BLACK motor guy) and it is a consistant winner with most anybody driving it, I hope to uphold that tradition. The boat was sold to MPB Inc in Louisville Ky in June of 93, and it looks like Burleigh Mears of Norcross Ga. had it in 95. I even have the original MSO and warning sticker for the boat. We plan on having it painted (very bright and neat color combo) and race ready in the next month or two.


Rick
"Conklin Racing"

[MirageBts]

Only one correction so far. The 1/4 Master is 17'6" not 16'7".

Sincerely,

Brad Collins

[BK]

oops.


Thanks, sweetie. :)

[David_L6]

Brad,

What's your opinion of an '86 model for pleasure boat use?

[MirageBts]

David,

I think you will have a good time with your boat. Those boats tend to like to fly high. As long as you know you have older technology and realize that there have been improvments over the last 15+ years then you'll have a good time.

Enjoy!!!!

Brad Collins

[T-N-T RACING]

hi brad i remeber those boat from david lee dad ran the first ones,they did run high. how is the family. i bought a quater master it was the baker marine boat. I miss the sportc & sst 60 days.





travis

[Steve Zuckerman]

Travis,
Great move on the Qmaster. You're going to love it. I hope we get
to see you guys again next summer.
Rick,
I remember when Willy Attwood bought that boat. He ran an alcohol 2.5EFI on it. I remember he ran Pro Fuel/TDBA here at our
last race on Old Hickory. He got beat (not by much) by David Pou
when David was still running an Allison. Since then David has seen
the light and runs a Qmaster :D ...........
You guys are going to have a big time too. What motor are you
going to run?
Best Regards,
Steve;)

[T-N-T RACING]

hi steve hopeyou had a good holiday we are ready to finish up the quater master. were going to have all new paint job flames are something still working on that. we hope to run the 9's or better. I saw you you did pretty good at jasper in the finial race.

[Steve Zuckerman]

Travis,
You'll be able to dial in 9.0s no problems. Jasper was a test to see if we are in the U/O hunt. Looks like we are:) .
We are reworking several systems and trying to lose some weight, which was raised to 1300 with N20, as you have seen on other threads. That will close down the weight differential that
we gave up this year.
Looking forward to seeing your QMaster run!
Give you Dad a hello for me. He's a great guy and I always enjoy
talking with him.
Best Regards,
Steve

;)