Wayne Weeks' Original Vector?

[Scream And Fly]

This may have been brought up here before, but is it known what happened to Wayne Weeks' original Vector that ran 110 MPH, or if it even exists at all today?

I would also be curious to know the fate of the engine as well, although I'm betting that the original engine doesn't exist, at least in original form.

Thanks!
Greg

[patchesII]

His son is on FB. I'll see if I can track him down and ask

[BUZZIN' DOZEN]

From Da Bull,
I don`t know about the RS but i do know where the boat is and it`s whole story about how it got there.

I had the opertunity to buy the boat from Wayne in 1982 for $1,500 boat and trailor but passed because i thought (stupidly cuz i was young) that it was to heavy. Lionel Jenkins in Alexandria, La bought it instead and put a modified 2.4 Merc on it and ran it for a few years. He did well with it untill he blew it over on Lake Buhlow while competing in an SORA event. I was there and saw it all. The 6 inch set back plate that he had just installed gave it more lift than he needed i suppose. The accident Left Lionel with a dissabled arm and broken boat so he sold it with minor damage to Mel Smith and John Paul Jones. With a few good panel part`s from my old comp Vector that i had blown over and destroyed, Southern Comfort was up and running again. Paul kept the boat for many years untill he sold it to Mitch Ludwig around Lake Darbone but i don`t know if he ever raced it in compitition. To my knowledge he still own`s it.

DB

[Freddie Webb]

Ryan Weeks is a member on here. I had the powerhead at one time. Roger Hinsdale ended up with it. I now have just the bare block. I have some of Wayne's props (mod-vp and drag) but not the kilo prop.

[Da Bull]

I`ll call Mitch and see if he still has the boat and if can be bought. That boat has a very deep history. We ran a 2`000ft course back then and we left from a dead start. Wayne would stand the boat up out of the hole and that was your only chance to get out in front because believe me that old RS was a commin. I saw him get beat once and he told me that it was because he had not had the chance to change from the kilo carbs to the drag carbs. He asked the guy for a rematch in one week and the guy said ok. Wayne went home and put the OMC small venture (from an 85hp X-flow) on and did the rematch. It was ugly. That's when I started to understand how carbs worked.

DB

[Freddie Webb]

Wilbur said that boat weighed 345lbs.

[CUDA]

So does Raceman need another artifact for his collection, at that weight he can hang it from the rafters

[Da Bull]

Wilbur said that boat weighed 345lbs.

Actually Southern Comfort (Waynes record boat) weighed in at over 500lbs as it was one of the early heavier Comp Vectors. Mr Wilburs last blue Vector did weigh in the 340lb range. I bought it`s sister boat (yellow) from Jerry Cain and it weighed about the same.

DB

[texasvector]

bull ...you got pic of the yellow comp?? (and what year model?)


i love reading these stories.....

[Freddie Webb]

Bobby thanks for keeping me straight. I need all the help I can get.

[Da Bull]

It was a 1981 I think. I have some pics but would have to scan somehow. I have a bud that can help with that I think. I know that it was way to light for closed course racing and it tried to kill me. It was bullet quick in the drag racing and did well as long as I could afford to keep buying pistons for the X-flow.
My Mother said that even tho I was hurt (legs banged up) she was glad that damn yellow boat was beyond repair. She hated it. Sometimes good things come from bad things tho. The next boat to follow the Stream was our "Bull" pictured in my avatar. We were sponsored by Schlitz Malt Liquor hence the name "The Bull". Best boat we ever had. OH, It`s under a current restore as we speak and I hope to have it on the water this summer. Maybe even at one of those vintage races.

[Da Bull]

I been corresponding with Freddie Webb via PMs and as I said to him all this talk about Waynes old boat reminds me of a few things. His Unlimited Outboard record in Southern Comfort is legend status mainly because he had the stones to hold on to a Vector at 110mph for 5/8ths of a mile with a quickie lower unit no less. This is no small feat. Something else comes to mind tho. While talk about his Vector is all good nobody is talking about his Mod-VP record in the big ole Baker. I don`t remember the speed but it was fast for that type of boat. Jerry Cain asked my Dad if he would make them a jack plate that would adjust 3/8ths of an inch at a time for the effort so he did. I know where most all of the Weeks/Cain team boats wound up except for the Blue Baker. I know it was sold to a guy in Alexandria La but where it went from there I don`t know.

DB

[texasvector]

368918

Friend of mine in Louisiana....88 (I think) comp vector shooting for 110+ this year......ran right at 110 last year and just freshened up motor

[CUDA]

So were they chop gun like the rest, or hand laid?

[outasite]

So were they chop gun like the rest, or hand laid?
My 81 comp Viking is about 75% chop 445# when new.It was built as a heavy drag,The extra weight was in the bottom.Top deck you could read the newspaper through:D

[pappa pete]

Bull , I remember all the racing in SORA, the races at Larto Lake where held at our house and launch, Wayne Wiley, Billy Paulk,Johnny Deville, that was the life, the most boats I've ever seen at a race,

[Da Bull]

So where are those guys now? I remember Larto Lake to. 55 gallon drums for turn bouy`s.

[XstreamVking]

Southern Comfort at 110, shows that a 500# Vector is not an over weight boat....A boat that's too light might be more of a problem than a benefit. jm2cts.

[pappa pete]

Billy lives in Jena, he raced mod vp for a couple yrs,don't think he even owns a boat of anykind, Johnny still live on the lake,Uncle Wayne passed away few yrs ago,, I still like going fast. Lol that was the good ole days