Circle A Air Ads ... a banner puller? Usually over powered like an aerobatic plane, right?
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Circle A Air Ads ... a banner puller? Usually over powered like an aerobatic plane, right?
Love CK's marketing ideas! The man had passion, thats for sure. Loved the OMC barbecue stories.
Here are a couple more shots to go along with the picture in post #495.
jeff
a couple more.
jeff
Here are the two wings I mentioned awhile back. This looks to be in front of the motel.
jeff
Thank you, thank you, thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.Quote:
Originally Posted by digital_jeff
Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.
Finally....What happened to them?
Thanks for any help or insight you can provide.
T2x
WOW what a picture:
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...3&d=1224772894
that is so cool :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Jeff - You have hit the Mother-Lode! Post #525 left picture is Ed Leslie in #47 boat. Ed rode with Bill (Sirois) in this boat in 1967 Bahama 500. Right picture is Bill driving and ?Ed?. They broke down in the B500 due to an engine mount failure. However, this particular boat is the only boat that ever beat the turbine Maritime boat in another Sam Griffith Memorial race. Post #526 left picture I think is the only single engine outboard we ran in the B500. If I am correct, then that may be Chet Strickland which conflicts with what I said about the lineup of all of the boats in an earlier post. Right picture in the #48 (Red) boat is Johnny Bakos and probably Phil Schenk. Post #529 blowup of your previous small image...standing under the canopy at the Lake X motel looks like Odell Lewis on the left and definately Mike Ramsey on the right. I don't remember if Odell ever ran one of these boats in a race, but I think he sometimes had "Gulf Wind Marine" on some of his boats. That name is on the #7000 left boat. The #700 boat on the right definately has "Owner Driver Dave Craig" right behind the canopy. Additionally "Miss Skyway" refers to "Dave Craig's Skyway Marine" on 79th Street in Miami. - Steve Sirois
I just further enlarged and lightened the post #529 picture and, am now more convinced that it is Odell standing there with Mike Ramsey. Additionally, that black Chrysler under the canopy was always at the lake. If I failed to mention, all of these pictures were taken at Lake X. - Steve
Rich - When I spent some time working with Ted Jones at MEMCO in Jacksonville, there was a wooden Switzer sitting in the shop. I think that was probably 1966 or 1967. However, like you, only some of my memory cells are still intact. - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by T2x
This is the same boat in both shots.
jeff
Jeff - Definately Gene Wagner at the fuel dock. The other picture appears to be Gene holding the antenna up. Maight be radio guy checking radio - Steve OOps! Other picture...Gene is at the wheel. Might be Dale Thayer holding antenna.
[quote=T2x;1497763]Thank you, thank you, thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.
Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.
I know I have more wing shots - just may take some time to find them.
jeff
Thanks, Jeff! That's the real stuff!
I haven't changed my Desktop in a long time, but Burt Ross going 115mph is now retired ...
Sam - Does that mean you now have a picture of Jackie Wilson on your desktop?:rolleyes: - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by Mark75H
I thought I had heard that the Miss Skyway crashed during one of the last Gold coast marathons
Hi Bruce - Maybe that explains why I saw one at MEMCO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Washburn
One more shot for today.
jeff
Jeff - That's Bill in white jacket in the boat, with Ed Leslie in green coverall and back to camera. Next boat over is Johnny Bakos and it looks like Wayne Vickers bending over - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by digital_jeff
Danny - I spent some time with Phil Schenk recently...He and Bill were in California together during that time. He told me that Bill actually worked for Powercat for the time period that the picture was taken. I think that Bill might have stayed with Eddie's family for awhile. If anyone is in touch with Eddie, perhaps he can add more to this. Phil told me that Bill also worked on boats for Dan Blocker and Jack Elam during that stint. I need to listen to a recording that I made of our recent conversation and maybe I can find out more. Or...I could just call Phil. Best Regards - Steve SiroisQuote:
Originally Posted by Powercat
Danny - I spent some time with Phil Schenk recently...He and Bill were in California together during that time. He told me that Bill actually worked for Powercat for the time period that the picture was taken. OR..maybe your theory about "west coast crazies" is true. I think that Bill might have stayed with Eddie's family for awhile. If anyone is in touch with Eddie, perhaps he can add more to this. Phil told me that Bill also worked on boats for Dan Blocker and Jack Elam during that stint. I need to listen to a recording that I made of our recent conversation and maybe I can find out more. Or...I could just call Phil. Best Regards - Steve SiroisQuote:
Originally Posted by Powercat
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...9&d=1210355876
Gene Lanham recently sent me this picture of Bill in "Redbird" which was Gene's red Switzer. One can clearly see that it is Bill in the boat. The name "Hot Toddy" is a little confusing to me. Maybe it had something to do with Lonnie Todd. I don't know when or where the picture was taken, but the scenery makes me think out West. Perhaps Gene will see this post and help me....OR I could just call him. It's sometimes kind of strange to me to see all of us posting and swapping e-mails when phone calls would be easier. But then everyone else couldn't have the fun of also pitching in. I guess it really is more fun this way. Best Regards to All - Steve Sirois
thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.
Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.
Dave Craig had two different wooden wings. The first one was similar to the fiberglass wings and was sold to a guy named Rees Schmidt's of Miami.
The second was smaller and the sponsons formed a V in the front.
Dave was in the Gold Coast Marathon when he had a problem, damaging the boat. The damage was repairable.
Both boats were in the GCM several times and also in the 1963 6 hour Grand national marathon held at Pelican Harbor. Butch Stokes got to test drive both of them, but I never got to drive either. I did drive the Powercat Drag Hydro shown in post 543. Mr K got pissed when I finished ahead of Bill S in the GSM in it!
BTW the wood Wings were faster than the FG ones by a good margin.
Charlie..Glad you are here. Check this out sent to me today by Jeff. Note the Mercury inline 6 powerhead. There is a radiator in the cowling under the powerhead. - Steve
I am sorry for confusing this issue with my question. I know about Dave's wooden wings... He actually had 3.... the original open cockpit with twin 800's....the "V" front...and the Miss Skyway shown in the picture at Lake X. My question is ...who drove 7000...and in what races?Quote:
Originally Posted by velox
I am also aware that the wood hulls were faster..... that is also true of the early wood versus glass tunnel hulls....... Sadly the wooden Wing variants seem to have all disappeared.
T2x
Rich - Earlier I commented on the "Gulf Wind Marine" signage on the side of the #7000 boat. Odell Lewis often had that on his boats. I believe that is him holding onto the canopy post in the post #529 picture. However, I don't know if he ever raced that boat. I do know that he has a ?nephew? that reads this thread on occasion and tells Odell about it. I will send Odell's phone # to you in a PM. Perhaps he can provide some info to you. Best Regards - Steve P.S. Surely there worse pictures of you than the one I posted:D:D
Post #529 is just vintage Lake X, Thanks Digital Jeff, Your photos are simply awesome, so full of so many awesome memories,,,,,,, Again Steve Your thread is just kick a##,,,,,, With regards to the Imperial in the photo,I arrived at the Lake in 1964, in the fall of that year Mr. K gave me the keys to a new light blue Imperial and asked me to deliver the car to his wife Freida,who lived in Cypress Gardens, I think on Lake Eloise, Upon that delivery I picked up the black 2-door Imperial in the photo, I remember it had awesome taillights that mounted on the top of the fins.... That car stayed at the Lake for a long time and was used very little......... Yes they actually paid us to do that stuff, I think it was the healthy sum of $1.60 per hour, About the same as I'm making now but without the fun,,,,,,,,,,,, Hope everyone is following Miami Marine Stadium stuff,,, Looks like we may all go back their for a beer soon.......... Thanks
Jim - I think I made less than $1.60 an hour. AND I was happy with it. But I did get a 10 cent raise when I moved off of the property. - Steve:smiletest:
[quote=seeroy;1498277]Gene Lanham recently sent me this picture of Bill in "Redbird" which was Gene's red Switzer. One can clearly see that it is Bill in the boat. The name "Hot Toddy" is a little confusing to me. Maybe it had something to do with Lonnie Todd. I don't know when or where the picture was taken, but the scenery makes me think out West. Perhaps Gene will see this post and help me
Steve---Parker 1968. You are right, Lonnie Todd. Lonnie had 4 boats at that time--all 'Hot Toddy--'. Lonnie was in an offshore race in Florida that day, Bill and I drove the 9 hour at Parker. The record book says Lonnie Todd finished 6th overall at Parker that day.
I don't remember how he finished in the offshore race, but I do remember that Bob Donahue was his navigator. Unfortunately, Lonnie had a financial 'reversal' that year, and ended up as the bartender for Bob Donahue at his bar up on Biscayne Boulevard. Thanks to Bill (and a few others) I ended up with the Wing. I have lots of good 'Bill-Lonnie--Bob' stories----later
Gene
Gene - I am sure we both have many Bob Donahue stories. Bob died within the last couple of years as a result of smoke inhalation during a fire. He was staying in a unit of an apartment building that Vida owns in Miami Beach. She had warned him many times not to use a portable heater. He did it anyway...left some clothing too close and went to sleep. according to someone that was with him at the end, his last words were, "Vida is really going to be pissed at me". - Steve
The photo would be even more dramatic if we could determine whether Imperial is the twin to Strang's grey one ... the 2 that were prepped for the Kiekhaefer entries for the "Road America" race that was never run.
Steve:
Well Eddie is no longer with us either.. Just recently was contacted by a family member
of his and he indicated he had a lot of the Morenz family photos and all collected from
those years.. Waiting to see what turns up..
I knew that Chuck Mersereau was somehow on the payroll with us but never knew that
Bill was. The Morenz family were close friends of my parents all the way back to the late
40's when they worked together in the San Pedro ship yards during WWII. Eddie was
copilot with my dad in the Mississippi River Race when he was only 16 years old.. which
would have been around 1958. Yep, there were a lot of the hollywood people that would
frequent the SoCal plant. Never figured how these SoCal boys made it to Florida to work
for Mercury. I guess the lure of boat racing was all it took.
Danny Leger
Austin, Texas
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Here's one for the weekend. I really like this shot but you can tell they are really holding back on the throttles probably for the sake of the photographer on the deck.
jeff
His left hand looks pretty far down to me :eek:
This looks like the "Fast will last" ad set up.
I am sure the inline 6 had plenty of power for a gyro copter.Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
A group of fast outboards is getting together at River Ranch in a couple of weeks. I will be going over for at least one day.
All of you old racers in Florida should try and make it. Maybe we can get a group of greyhairs together. Steve, Gene, Butch and company lets get'er done!!
Charlie
BTW River Ranch is just west of Yehaw Junction
What are the dates for river ranch????????? Also when talking about number of Switzer Wings don"t forget the original U-4, With none other than Bobby Switzer driving and brother Dave Switzer on board started wing history while winning the Winnegoland Marathon, ( Year Unknown Help) The first time you ever see a masterpiece like a wooden Switzer,,,,, You think aliens have landed...........
More like a nose bleed..Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Washburn
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...esWings001.jpg
Dave told me the 7000 boat was wrecked when Mr. Kiekhaefer asked him to turn it as tight as he could at Lake X..He went through the side of it..He called it Johnny Bakos' boat, and John was pissed at him because there was a race that weekend..He doesn't remember what happened to the boat either..I think it was the best looking on them all, with the slender nose and no spray rails on the front..Dave said he ran 120 in it at the Lake with stackers, but I guess unless there are sheets to prove it, we will never know for sure..Quote:
Originally Posted by T2x
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...bsa/6jpg-1.jpg
Butch, I thought that was Switzer's original Wing, not Miss Skyway #7000 with the canopy?Quote:
Originally Posted by lilabner
River Ranch is Nov 13 through 16. I would suggest we try and get together on Friday or Saturday the 14 or 15 th.Quote:
Originally Posted by gofish7070
They have a nice restaurant right where the boat ramp is and we can see the
boats at the docks and before they go in the water. For the ole guys like me the new boats are amazing. Everyone should post back what day works for them.
As far as the Switzers go, they are still to this day the neatest boats to ever hit the water. A couple of years ago I found Bob Switzer's phone number and called him. He was nice as hell. I told him how much I appreciated what he had done. The Switzers were geniuses! The boats were great looking, the workmanship was incredible and performance out of this world. Maybe the Switzers were aliens sent here to humble mankind!