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Welcome aboard Bobby - Sounds like there is more to that story of the "chicken run". I think Chet does occasionally read some of this. He is living in Bradenton Fl these days. Your story is exactly what folks on this thread like to hear. Was Roy your brother? Please feel free to add details as well as other stories from your days at the Lake. Time seems to take the sting out of the dumb things that we all did and turn them into fun stories. Best Regards - Steve Sirois:cheers:
Hi Bobby: I remember working with you at a Mercury Dealer in Miami, early 60's; some others were Bob H., Bob L., Danny L., Shaffer, Oliver L.,?? Hope you are well:)----
Gene
Well today we lost another great Mercury Man. I am sad to say that we lost Jim Harkins today. Many old Mercury guys will remember Jim from the lake, the test facilty on Siesta beach and Placida. At Placida (Boca Grande) he would take a boat hull strenghin it, deck it over, and then "Harkinize" the transom with aluminum so that the drivers could go and abuse them. Those boats would see thousands and thousands of hours of endurance. There has been many comments on the yellow boats around Boca Grande. Jim had his hands in almost all of them at some point in there life. Jim was always willing to teach you his secrets for fiberglass work and aluminum welding. I would always hate to be the one that had to go and tell him that I smashed into the seawall comming in to hot.
Jim may there be a bare hull awaiting you in heaven to be "Harkinized" and painted yellow.
Rest in Peace
First----Hi Gene yes I remember you at Bobby Hewes... We had a lot of fun in the day.....If my memory serves me I believe you had a cat that you made famous in the marthons back then.....and Oliver was one hell of a prop man....There are a lot of stories about the Miami group that someone should bring out before there are gone....The sixtys with memo boats and motors and enough crazys to build and pilot them. ....Glad that I had that door opened by my father and brother.......and the good fortune to be in all the right places.....Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Steve, Not sure how we kept from running over each other... It sure sounds as if we covered a lot of the same ground at the same time...Worked with the same racing greats.......I have some stories about building the road around the lake that I will share as time allows....Saw pictures of Carl Mosely , He looks great - --I worked with Him at Seacraft in the sixties and also had the pleasure of racing with him..also helped with the sail boat right before the around the world trip....
Anyway thanks for letting me relive some of the best times of my life..
Bobby:cheers:
Sad day to have lost Jim. I have posted some of him in this thread. We worked together in the boat shop at the lake and had alot of fun there. I remember him with fondness as both a good guy and a "get it done" guy. Sometimes we mixed batches of resin that were so hot the remainder would smoke as it set up. We didn't paint boats yellow, but we did deck over alot of bare hulls to create both endurance and race boats. We also played many practical jokes on people. Let's just say that a 6' piece of conduit attached to a high pressure air hose and filled with multi-purpose grease makes one hell of a splash on ones chest. Many, many, many laughs we had together. Those at the next level will enjoy his company. Good Memories and Best Regards to Jim and all of those that have gone into the sunset ahead of us - Steve
I have many fond memories of Jim, Chet and others in the early days of the Lake... We were rigging and driving marathons, offshore and anything in between...The days of leaving the lake pulling the boats to Miami with anything that would pull a boat.( I used the Jeep yard truck on one trip) These were not yet the days of the long sleek racing boats but boat from all manufactors. No interstate yet.... went south 441 below Yeehaw Junction to pick up the exway.... I believe that on one trip the truck pulled out of the gate on the way to Miami-Nassua race with Jim, tools and parts in the boat still rigging...61 or 62.
We'll miss him........................
I knew Jim when he was at Placida. Always had to harass a person a bit when you went into the boat shop to get dock rope, or need something welded, or cut a piece of plywood, but then would drop whatever he was doing and get whatever it was you needed. A great guy, a ton of stories, and very sorry to hear he has passed.
[QUOTE=BobbyR;1440311]First----Hi Gene yes I remember you at Bobby Hewes... We had a lot of fun in the day..............If my memory serves me I believe There are a lot of stories about the Miami group that someone should bring out before there are gone....The sixtys with memo boats and motors and enough crazys to build and pilot them.
Bobby,
Check out the thread in Racing history " Letters from Heaven, Miami in the 60"s"
Please add what you can to the stories. Miami was where it was at back then.
Lake X was always around and we saw Mr K and a lot of the big races. The 9 hour was a national even, with the best guys from all over attending.
Of course the GCM was the real boating Woodstock of its day!!!
Sorry to lose Jim Harkins,, Remember him very well, was always helpful to the new guys coming to Lake X,,,,,,,,, If I remember right use to race a center steering Switzer Craft a couple of times,,,,, Boat was a DOG But Jim loved it,,,,,,,,
Jim - You are correct. The cockpit was in the center of the wing...I think that probably interrupted the airflow over the wing and thus lost lift....By the way the primary color of the boat was BROWN....I think the color jinxed it as well. - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by gofish7070
Help,
Callling on all the ole marthoners out there... Lee Richter 92 years young - ran all the big marthons in the mid west and maybe a few in the east. The old ship channel derby and other local races (Texas that is). He came to the Lake on a couple of ocasions and knew Odell, Johnny, Roy, Bill and a lot of the others. His mine is still sharp and remembers everything... I know he would love to hear from you.
His daughters e-mail address is "Ken & Leah Griffin" <[email protected]> Little Joe you're on - do a fill in of some of his history and shake the bushes.
Thanks he is a good friend of mine,
Bobby
Hi all,
I'll be getting back to my postings soon - been pretty busy here.
Very sad to hear about Jim, he was always a big help to me.
jeff
Enjoy all your photos. How was the Oskosh EAA convention?
Gary Larson
Hiya Bobby, Remember you got posted to Como along with your family, My kids and yours would play for hours in the water. My daughter Tracy [ Boo ] and your boy got into a tussle outside the molinari factory, Just as the blood was beginning to flow Angelo came out and spoiled the fun. Boo was coming up all of ten years old. That had to be around 1969/70. Garbrecht posted brother Roy as head watcher over Renato, which as we all knew was a hopeless and thankless impossible task. Didn't you all live in that wonderful villa next door to the factory. ? We had some great times down by the seaplane hangers in Como town, Como Clara and Lilo Lil----------enough of all that stuff Wilson , get off the puter and give 'em all a break---- THIS ISSSSSS THE LAKE X WEBSITE. SORRY FOLKS. I'LL TRY TO BEHAVE.
Hi Jackie - Your witticism is appreciatied....and since I started this thread with little understanding where it would go, evreyone has been welcome....even you. How's that for a witty shot? Truthfully...you are welcome to talk about other than Lake X on this thread and I have always enjoyed your "comments" on other threads. Best Regards - Steve SiroisQuote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
Steve, I don't know if i ever did meet you, or if that wicked old bastard with the hood and the scythe has affected the MEMOIRE glands. [ i do reside in France ]. But me and the dubious old git keep crossing paths and i keep telling him to "clutter off", i told him --when i need you, i'll call. Back to --you--me--and a bro called Bill----and a thing called Pruett. Don got well pissed with me when i called my dog Pruett, he should have been well pleased as he was a pure bred yellow labrador and lived for 15 years on the farm , his last act on the day he died was to put next doors Afghan hound up the spout, causing untold trouble after he was gone. [DOES THE TALE REMIND YOU OF ANYONE]. B.D.P. Flew to Lake X on one of these occasions [ -72/3 ] after his Havasu antics and the replacement hip, but they couldn't do a damn thing about his head, said there was negative equity or something ----------- and they didn't mean his wallet. !!!!!!! Well, he somehow put the machine down at the third attempt and he took me on a grand tour of 'the lake'. The amazing thing was, he knew everyone, and their kids and their mom and dad. and the cousin down in Wichitaw who ran off with Gerry Gilbraiths stepmother, and they all seemed to like him. WHY ????? What in Gods name in heaven was there to LIKE about Pruett. I told him at the time he was not fit for human consumption, so why did i keep going back for more. 77 yrs young and i still haven't figured it out, except ,some of the best memories of my life concern that S.O.B. PRUETT. SIROIS!!!!!!!!!!!! I first met Bill at Phil Rolla's house on lake Lugano. he was with a girl named Carol at the time that would be 68/69 and we talked boats,props, food , people until 5 am. Rolla had a cellar built into the side of a mountain, and would lean back on his chair, open the cellar door and grab ANOTHER bottle of Barbera, and then carve huge chunks of Italian sausage and slice tomatoes until the body yelled enough Rolla and i became good friends and remain so to this day, Bill and i stayed friends and i visited him and his wife on a couple of occasions, with THE THANG . I still have the original press release photos of the full Mercury race team A very happy smiling Bill Sirois, Peacock, Petty. Seebold, Stickle, Hering. Downard, Sherrer, `Merton, Molinari. and me somewhere amongst it all. I keep promising to send the whole shebang to Willabee, but it's a hell of a walk to the Poste. [every bit of 250metres].
Maybe you weren't at the lake the day i arrived, but it is great to be able to turn round when anyone mentions Lake X and to say with great pride, I WAS THERE !!!!!
Hellooo Jackie,
Good hearing from you. Roy and his family lived in the Villa, my son and I lioved at a hotel in a small towne northeast of the Molinari shop.
My memory goes back to the time you picked me up at the London Airport and drove me to Horsham. On that trip you taught me all about "Bird Watching".
I enjoyed my time in Eroupe. We had a good family of works drivers there.
I have a picture of the Milan three hour when Renato's pit crew jumped on the boat to refuel and sunk the boat in the pits. When I learn how to post pictures I will start going over the few I have left and share them with you.
thanks Steve this is kinda, sorta Lake "X" since we came from there.
BobbyR
Marko
Great videos, but tell me could a 75H do 10,000 rpm as the voiceover stated?
Powerabout
No, only about 7,000
Hi Steve,
I do enjoy your thread. Don’t know if this is what you’re looking for in stories but as the name implies, I grew up on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...laceType w:st=Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">X. </st1:PlaceName>I am the second son of the late Roy A. Ridgell Jr. and my Uncle is Robert Ridgell (aka BobbyR). My dad was hired in the summer of ‘59 (six months after I was born) by Mr Kiekhaefer. We initially went to <st1:City w:st="on">Sarasota</st1:City> and then to <ST1:pL<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">ake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">X</st1:PlaceName> in 1960. Living on the <ST1:plake was fantastic. We were the third trailer from the Goose’s pad.
I remember:<O:p</O:p
- Mr Bill Sirois and many others<O:p</O:p
- Izzy and the Goose <O:p</O:p
- Santa getting off the plane and handing me an Etch-A-Sketch, and I sat right down and started playing with it.<O:p</O:p
- I loved watching all the activity around the shop.<O:p</O:p
- The fire in the slip.<O:p</O:p
- Our dog was swimming in and around us kids and the alligator grabbing her and killing her and my dad finding the alligator and killing it under the floating boat slips.<O:p</O:p
- Robin Bakos, daughter of Johnny Bakos<O:p</O:p
- Rosie was our babysitter<O:p</O:p
- My Granddaddy Kinard catching the biggest bass on the lake.<O:p</O:p
- Mr K and his Chryslers. My dad took me to <st1:City w:st="on">Orlando </st1:City>and we picked up a Barracuda for Mr K.
- <ST1:p<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">St. Cloud</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType> was built by Mr. K to ensure his drivers got first rate attention. My dad and I went and got semi trailer load of sod for the Hospital grounds.
- Learned how to swim, fish, drive a boat and ski on <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">X</st1:PlaceName> (for most of my years – I thought everyone’s childhood consisted of what I got to do at the lake.
- Being the last family to move off the lake, to a 3 acre corner of Mr K’s property, living next to Odell Lewis’ family.<O:p</O:p
My mother tells of the time I was playing with a bunch of kids and we were all muddy when Mr K. pulled up and asked me if I wanted a ride (we were about 100 yards from our trailer). I got in the car and then I asked Mr K. if the others could come too. Mr K. piled us all in and when my mother saw how dirty I was, she was embarrassed.
Just wanted to introduce myself.
Grewup - Your user name infers that you did. With a childhood like yours, who would want to grow up? I can't think of a more ideal childhood. When I first came to the Lake, I think your family had already moved to the area near Odell, but I could be wrong. I definately remember The Lewis & Ridgell trailers at the very Southwest corner of the property. The stories that you can tell about the people and events that you saw as you grew up are exactly appropriate for this thread and I heartily welcome you aboard. I knew your Dad "back in the day" and he always impressed me by his friendly, energetic and smiling mannerisms. There were alot of really good people there, but your Dad definately stood out in that category. While I knew of your Uncle, I do not specifically remember meeting him. Old age has a way of removing some of ones memory. Bobby's posting on this thread have been a big plus and I look forward to yours as well.
All - I had a very pleasant 36 minute telephone conversation with Gene Lanham the other day. Whenever I talk to someone like Gene, I hear the most wonderful stories about people, boats, events, and even airplanes. The problem is that, while my long term memory is sometimes good, my short term memory sometimes is not. Gene is living the good life in Avon Colorado and sees Bob Magoon, who lives nearby, on a regular basis.
Best Regards to "Grewup", Gene Lanham and everybody that reads and posts on this thread. While some of my stories of the past may be mildly entertaining to you, your stories are incredibly entertaining to me.- Steve Sirois :thumbsup:
Greetings to GrewUp,,,,,,,,,,,, You indeed have witness to a fasinating time in boat racing growth,,,,,,,,, Came to X in 64 where your trailer was down with Odell and his family,,,,,,, Remember your father well,,,,,, as everyone was most helpfull and seememd to always have a smile on his face..........Later on into the 70,s was Zone sales mgr. for Merc,,,,, and Roy was my service manager, How lucky could I be,, at the time I was living in Memphis and Roy I think was in Jackson Tenn., Was than transferred to South Florida. and lost track of him from their,,,,,,,,, Seeroy. What do you think over 55,000 hits on this thread,, Great Job Everyone,,,,,,,,,:cheers:
Really have a good souvenirs.. Nice storie. Surely many more.. Good day J-P LoveQuote:
Originally Posted by GrewuponLakeX
I have some pictures of your SJ boat that were taken around the '74-'76. Hope your doing well. Will try to post what pictures I have when I learn how.Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Sherlock
Have a picture of me with George Thompson at Nassua '61
My nephew Tim (Roy's boy)(Growuponlakex)
Retired from the Navy from duty on a "Boomer" That's the big Nuclear Submarine.......Grauduated fron The Citidel with a degree in electrical engineering.......Sooo it's easy to see that water is in the Ridgell family.. most of us stayed on top of the water (when we could). I'm proud and I know Roy would have been.
BobbyR
Bobby & Tim - Sierra Hotel Tim! There were a few submarines on Lake X....They just didn't stay submerged for very long...maybe 1/2 second. Bobby is right though, Roy would be very proud. Best Regards - Steve
Thank you to all who are sharing in this EXCELLENT thread.
Bobby - Hope you figure out how to post pics soon, I want to see the pic of you and George@ 61 Nassau. Also looking forward to some pics of Roy from you and Tim. Didn't Roy work the bass fishing circuit in latter years..seems I saw a pic of him doing that somewhere. - Steve
You have a boat that it's roots are deeply buried in racing. The WelCraft V-20 was the Alim V-20. Welcraft bought the molds and rights to build the Alim line from George Blomberg. I ran a cut down model of the V-20 (without all the flare) in the Around the (Miami) Beach race around '64. It had a 409 (chevy) Mercuriser with a NO.2 drive. Did well until the engine blew all the oil out of the crankcase, we didn't give it enough fresh air. It was a good racing hull, but with all the flare it would float and stand stright up on it's transom. But that same flare is what makes the boat such a dry ride. The 16 footer went from Miami to New York and set a single engine that may still stand today.Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOW-1
Good boat --- Have fun
BobbyR
Well this maybe my last post for a while. Ike is bearing down on the area as I type.
My only hope is that Ike will deploy his forces elsewhere...
Watch the TV I may have my 15 minutes of fame yet….
I live on San Antonio Bay at 28o23'38"N – 96o42'84"W that's center of the place. This is the forecast:
"FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
INITIAL 10/0900Z 23.5N 84.9W 75 KT
12HR VT 10/1800Z 24.0N 86.0W 80 KT
24HR VT 11/0600Z 24.7N 87.7W 90 KT
36HR VT 11/1800Z 25.2N 89.7W 100 KT
48HR VT 12/0600Z 25.8N 92.0W 105 KT
72HR VT 13/0600Z 27.5N 96.5W 105 KT....landfall hmmmmmmmmm
96HR VT 14/0600Z 31.5N 98.0W 40 KT...INLAND
120HR VT 15/0600Z 34.5N 97.0W 25 KT...EXTRATROPICAL
will post when i can......packing ole racing picts.......will scan later....
BobbyR
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Good Luck Bobby. We will all be thinking about you and yours. - Steve
I was fortunate to have worked with Roy Ridgell and Jim Harkin. It was rare to catch them together.
Just Like Roy, Jim gave me so much. Friendship and knowledge are at the top of the list. I miss them both.
Pic - Well, the last time I saw Roy or Jim would have been at least 38 years ago. I don't know when your pictures were taken, but except for the glasses, Roy looks and is dressed much the same. Jim however is a different story. Back in the day he had a short "flat top" haircut and was clean shaven. The jutting lower jaw though is definately Jim Harkins. The 2 pictures you posted have great sentimental value to anyone that knew these two great guys.
Thank You and Best Regards - Steve Sirois
Hi Gang,
I came across some interesting shots that Steve had made mention about awhile back. I believe this is the Thunderbird houseboat that made the journey down the St.Lawrence, down the Mississippi, and across the gulf toward Sarasota. Most of these pics show only the hull with the deck and cabin removed for rigging and testing. Some of you out there may be able to share your thoughts and memories of this. Also, please try to place names with the faces when they are close enough to the camera.
enjoy,
jeff
oops, my pictures are not quite ready - stand by...
sorry, my computer farted - again
note - the large boathouse was still not built.
in the slings over the slip
lots of fuel
I think this is John B. at the controls
is the Carl at the controls?