Mercury trans atlantic record run???

[53w]

any one know anything about this?

I heard that they where not able to finish this attempt?

For what I was told the jacket came from a team member that worked on this project at Mercury?

302406



The other thing that was not very clear on was whether it was tried by boat or snowmobile?

53w

[jackiewilson]

Remember this one quite well. Was Doc Mc Goon, my eldest daughter Sandra was going to work for him at one time,
Best person to talk to on this subject is WILLABEE, it was a four outboard/Cigarette, travelling mechanic was Rick La Motte, and I don't remember the third member, but Welch will.
Best to let someone who actually knows what went on to tell the tale.

[FUJIMO]

Remember this one quite well...
Best to let someone who actually knows what went on to tell the tale.
Jackie me'lad...this, in medical terms...is called the "yo-yo affect". One moment we know everything, then POOF...its gone...:)

[GENE LANHAM]

Remember this one quite well. Was Doc Mc Goon, my eldest daughter Sandra was going to work for him at one time,
Best person to talk to on this subject is WILLABEE, it was a four outboard/Cigarette, travelling mechanic was Rick La Motte, and I don't remember the third member, but Welch will.
Best to let someone who actually knows what went on to tell the tale.

The year was 1978. The boat was a 36' Cigarette with four 2.4 Mercs. Rick Lamore was the mechanic. After the boat was lifted out of the Atlantic to the deck of a freighter, Doc Magoon decided that a 36' was TOO small to cross the Atlantic. Doc Magoon and Mercury soon started on a new project with a 50' Cigarette and SIX 2.4's---

[jackie wilson]

Its only when something like this raises its head i realise how little i remember and how much i forgot.
Did know it was Rick Lamore but feckin "Spellcheck " decided it knew better.
Used to go down to Poole to SWMF two or three times a week to pick up new Mercs- never had the kind of dough needed for a stocking plan, so as i sold em i did a 200 mile round trip and picked more up.
First met Rick down in Como at the Torriggia factory and was surprised to see him in Poole----he explained what he was up to----first stop was going to be the Azores.
Thats my side of the tale ,I'll let Gene and Bill tell you what happened.

[53w]

Cool hopefully there is enough memory left around S&F to get the whole story back to the light again.

[GENE LANHAM]

Cool hopefully there is enough memory left around S&F to get the whole story back to the light again.

Enough memory??? Jackie at 82, I am 83, Bill is also a question mark???

The 50' Cigarette with six 2.4's was completed and tested at the Lake. Doc Magoon worked closely with GG. The project eventually was abandoned----6 or 7 fuel stops in the middle of the Atlantic???

[jackiewilson]

Gene, your doing great, I couldn't even remember if they reached the Azores, I know Rick spent a lot of time in the water around the motors.

[GENE LANHAM]

I couldn't even remember if they reached the Azores, I know Rick spent a lot of time in the water around the motors.

I think they ran out of fuel before reaching the Azores.

I had raced with Doc for years, but I declined the opportunity to 'Cross the Atlantic' in an outboard. I think GG assigned Rick to that project.

Thanks to John Crouse/Searace I have a picture of the 36' Cigarette.

http://i60.tinypic.com/2rz2v6v.jpg

[jackiewilson]

Gene, Richie Powers was racing in the Cowes Torquay in a triple Merc Cigarette and asked if I wanted a ride from Poole to Cowes. Having raced formula one circuit I was used to 80 mph so I didn't think much about a ride in a 36' Cigarette------------that was 'till I got on board and Rich ran across a 3' chop at 88mph------he tickled the wave tops with the occasional moon bound gut wrenching horrifying leap into the unknown. I was more than a little impressed and had a new found respect for offshore jockeys for ever after that.

[lilabner]

I think the navigator was Dr. Jack Greenberg. He was a sailboat racer, his boat was named Jacknife.

[GENE LANHAM]

I think the navigator was Dr. Jack Greenberg. He was a sailboat racer, his boat was named Jacknife.

Dr. Jack was another ragboat sailor, who tried Offfshore Powerboat Racing---and said "No Mas"

[lilabner]

Dr. Jack was another ragboat sailor, who tried Offfshore Powerboat Racing---and said "No Mas"

I see you said that too for that run.. So would I..

[mbd29]

I was actually on that project. My job was to organize the electronics that were to go on board the boat. Something I knew little about, at the time, but working for the demanding GG I learned real quick. I was also responsible for refueling the boat when it reached the island of Flores, the last island in the Azores. I had to mix 900 gallons of fuel and oil (no oil injection) prior to their arrival. Needless to say it didn't make it. Got to rough. The boat was picked up by a freighter and dropped off in San Miguel, the first island in the Azores. Marty Bossinger and I spent 3 weeks getting the vessel ready to get shipped back to the States. Pretty much used all hand tools to fabricate the crates.
I guess my old age is getting worse. I also handled getting all the uniforms embroidered for Racing and Hi-Performance, at that time, but for the life of me can't remember getting that one done. Because of the "question marks" on the back I suspect it was done, again knowing GG with a little humor, after the first attempt and before the second attempt which was cancelled the next year. I would guess if it is an XL jacket it was for Rick Lamore

[Greg G]

Wow, this thread is pretty amazing with all the details. Btw, I believe Doc Magoon is still kicking in Aspen? In his 80's also? I may be mistaken as I'm half his age.

[willabee]

I was actually on that project. ........

How many spare powerheads did they carry on board? I remember running into LaMore somewhere shortly before the attempt and he told me about this upcoming project. I asked what the hell he was doing on board an offshore race boat trying to cross the ocean and he just grinned and said that he knew how to change powerheads! He went on to say his job wasn't to fix them, but to change them. If something went wrong, he said he would just throw the problem powerhead into the ocean and mount a new one in it's place!

Here is Rick having a little fun with Merten and his retirement from racing. Rick and Jerry Kohnke rigged our yard forklift with a transom and a pair of outboards and put Mert's #187 on it. They presented it to Mert, saying that it gave him an opportunity to continue piloting twin outboards, but this time "safely". :D

[GENE LANHAM]

I was actually on that project.
I guess my old age is getting worse. I also handled getting all the uniforms embroidered for Racing and Hi-Performance, at that time, but for the life of me can't remember getting that one done. Because of the "question marks" on the back I suspect it was done, again knowing GG with a little humor, after the first attempt and before the second attempt which was cancelled the next year. I would guess if it is an XL jacket it was for Rick Lamore


Mike---thanks for that story---did'nt you also work on the 50 foot//six engine boat? After Mercury cancelled that project----thanks to John Stenbeck, Roger Penske, Howard Arneson, Doc Magoon, I found myself back in a raceboat again----:nonod:

[mbd29]

Gene: Yes I was involved in the second attempt too. Same responsibilities as the first round. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately it didn't happen. I remember there was a press conference at the Pioneer Inn and it was to be announced that the Fountainebleau Hotel was going to be a major sponsor so I had to get our sign writer to do the graphics on the boat so photos could be taken. I had to stay with him in the shop all night so he could get it done. Then, a short time, may have been just a couple of days, later everything was scrapped. John Stenbeck, Marty and I were just talking about him a few weeks ago.

[GENE LANHAM]

Gene: Yes I was involved in the second , later everything was scrapped. John Stenbeck, Marty and I were just talking about him a few weeks ago.


Mike---I did get to visit with John and Marty a couple yearsago. After Merc dropped the project---John converted the scrap to this---Detroit, Arneson, etc.----

http://i58.tinypic.com/2wez606.jpg

[powerabout]

didnt Merc sponsor a guy in a RIB with a single outboard years later that did it?

[GENE LANHAM]

didnt Merc sponsor a guy in a RIB with a single outboard years later that did it?

Richard Branson (VIRGIN) broke the transatlantic record in 1986---The boat was 72 '---no outboards around----

Three years later, Tom Gentry broke the record again---The boat was 112' with 11,500 horsepower---the only substitute for cubic inches is cubic dollars----

http://i59.tinypic.com/1zptp5e.jpg

[powerabout]

They were going for the blue riband, there are other records.

[53w]

Thanks to all that helped fill in info on these attempts. I did look in the jacket the size tag is missing. I do have to give it back to the current owner.
We just thought it was cool jacket and we wanted to know what it was all about.
thanks
53-W

[willabee]

---the only substitute for cubic inches is cubic dollars----


In Oshkosh - "the only thing that beats cubic inches is rectangular dollars" - that's how us Wisconsin boys were taught to say it. :D

[Da Bull]

With 11,500 hp in the Gentry Eagle you would think the entire boat would be the fuel tank.

[PARKER RABE]

check out the thread on offshore only where someone found 3 semi trailes full of all gentrys stuff, his wife had it in storage , had all the stuff trucked to california , 20 new motors all sorts of drives , i mean everything

[GENE LANHAM]

With 11,500 hp in the Gentry Eagle you would think the entire boat would be the fuel tank.

Gentry Eagle carried 120 thousand pounds of fuel---and had to be refueled mid Atlantic---

[GENE LANHAM]

In Oshkosh - "the only thing that beats cubic inches is rectangular dollars" - that's how us Wisconsin boys were taught to say it. :D

How about 'Wheelbarrows full of hundred dollar bills'??:)

[T2x]

How about 'Wheelbarrows full of hundred dollar bills'??:)

In Wisconsin they call them "Cheesebarrows"