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Yep this is great stuff. Do you remember the early 60's advertisement where the guy is jumping the small outboard over a sandbar? Was that on Lake X? As 12 year olds ('67) we practiced that stunt on a sandbar about 6 miles upriver from the Naval Acadamy. Once my buddy went over the bow when the boat "stuck" on the sandbar. So you see, You guys are an inspiration to generations of river rats!
Keep up the great stories.
Don
Bernie - #49 42' Maritime with Odell Lewis and Mel Riggs on the way to winning 1968 Bahamas 500Quote:
Originally Posted by bernie
http://i38.tinypic.com/20758r5.jpg
Approaching dock at finish line. Boat behind Odell is my brother Bill who finished 4 seconds back.Quote:
Originally Posted by bernie
http://i37.tinypic.com/33cas1h.jpg
Bernie - These pictures were captured from video and therefore are not good quality. Digital Jeff will probably have high quality pics. BTW, Odell's boats were named "Mona Lou" after his wife. Best Regards - Steve Sirois
Odell and Mr Kiekhaefer interviewed after race
http://i38.tinypic.com/b4izo4.jpg
Hi Bernie,
Here is #49 at the lake, probably getting ready to leave for a race.
jeff
I'm going down to the harbor tomorrow, I think the Sheriff boat is still in the water, will try to get a couple pictures. Was out by Mel Rigg's dealership a couple months ago, he hasn't changed in 40 years - still has a tendency to sweeten most sentences with the "f" word.
Hi Gentlemen & Ladies (Mrs Mosely et al.)
was interested in learning if you have any sutphen information and the lake or any info regarding sutphen. I am a younger sutphen owner but enjoy reading the stories you all share of your hardworking developing days making boats go fast.
Kind regards,
Christian
[email protected]
Jeff - Nice picture of #49 in blue travel lift. I think this picture was taken after the 1967 Bahama 500 as it was not painted yellow for the 1967 race. It is possible that this picture was taken just prior to the 1968 race. I know the boat was definately yellow during the 1968 race. Note the yellow travel lift behind. Yes, we had 2 travel lifts, and it was fun learning to operate them. Also note #4 boat of Don Aronow in the background. Additionally, note the pink Chrysler 300 in the background and under the nose of #49. This car was also always at the Lake. I think it had sand tires on it and was used by Mr Kiekhaefer to drive around the property. Rumor was that it was a remnant of his NASCAR racing days. Best Regards - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by digital_jeff
Christian:Quote:
Originally Posted by TOASTY
You will not find much Sutphen info from this era. The only Sutphen boats from that time (1950's-60's) were the small 17-20 footers. Richie didn't start building true offshore boats (30 feet and over) until the mid-late 70's...... and many of the Mercury "icons" on this thread , the Sirois brothers, Gene Lanham, Odell Lewis, Mel Riggs, John Stenbach, etc, etc, etc....had moved on. The original Mercruiser Offshore "team" was probably disbanded in about 1970-71....and the Lake X staff was reduced.
Willabee or Steve can probably provide better insight, but it would be interesting to recount who went where.... I know that Bill Sirois went to Fort Lauderdale and started a rigging shop...Riggs went back to Wisconsin...some guys like Chet STrickland, Don Pruett, and Stenbach went to Europe.....but details might be nice.
T2x
Thank you T2x keep posting pictures and stories, they are great to read!
C
-Well, here she be, at least I am pretty sure it is the Mona Lou #49. Been redecked and other cop stuff added over the years. Now known as the S.E.S. "Mercury". The Boy Scouts (Sea Exploring Scouts) sometimes go out in it also. I know I was glad to see it one time in about 1975 when I ran out of gas at midnight on Winnebago - had just bought a used SeaRay and the guy told me the gas tank held 75 gallons - so I headed out across Winnebago with a quarter tank - should be enough for 10-12 miles. The next morning after they towed me in I refilled my SeaRay - 40 gallon tank! Live and learn.
Bernie,
Any idea what kind of power it has now?
jeff
Pair of Chev V-8 somethings - looks like MCM 2 drives on the transom.
Steve,
So far this is the best I can do, quality is not very good. I have a feeling i'll dig up more sometime. From the looks of it, this must have been shot the same day as the Race Fleet photos we both posted.
jeff
Jeff - I really like that shot as it shows all of us either before or after the race fleet lineup shot. That is Wayne Vicker and me in the 43 boat. I have a picture somewhere of myself sitting in the boat at Freeport. Thanks for this picture. Hope you saw my PM about Velox and another thread. Best Regards - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by digital_jeff
Here are a couple of shots for the weekend. There are more angles for anyone interested.
jeff
More is always good.
Yeap.... More
OK Digital Jeff, now find me some shots of Doc. Magoon's Atlantic Ocean speed attempt boat - would have been in the '80's - it had 5 or maybe seven 3.4's on it - MGB29 was involved in that one, maybe he'll chime in. Think the reasoning was that if they had engine problems during the trip they would just unbolt the sick motor and deep six it. Don't ever want to know what Mercury spent on that one.
Turn the heat down and the lights off - BJB
Hey Seeroy, Been out a few days @ Ft. Laud boat show,,,,,,,,, Have to ask about post 585,,,, While we are all older than dirt,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Where the toilet???????????????????:cheers:
Jim - It's called the last thing you do before walking to the airplane and the first thing you do after landing! OR If inflight refueling and a veeeerrrry long sortie is anticipated, it's called a condom catheter. Being about the same age as me, you probably know that this eventually becomes a more significant issue. Somewhere early in this thread, I talked about the second Bahama 500 where this issue presented itself. I will try to find that post and repeat it. :D. BTW, I talked to Phil a few weeks ago. Best Regards - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by gofish7070
OK, so I didn't mention it on this thread. However, I did mention it over on OSO. I know it is a delicate subject, but it is reality. What do you do when you are running a 500+ mile offshore race and the beer you consumed the night before asks to be released from its bladder prison?
2nd <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...ry-region alt=</st1:country-region>Bahamas 500 (1968?). I rode with Jim Tebo in a 25’ (Maybe 28’?) Seacraft (#202) with 3 Mercs. I don’t remember speeds or how we finished. I do remember that, while going across the area between Cat Cay and Chub Key, the previous nights beer began talking to me. The cockpit was set up so that we rode in tandem and Jim was driving, so I turned around and attempted to relieve myself on the floor which emptied into the bilge. Now this is no small task at 60+mph in bumpy water. Every time I approached success, we would hit another good bump and I would lose it. Finally I succeeded and felt much better:p. And we only had 400+ miles to go with lots of beer still imprisoned! Shortly thereafter we tripped and stuffed the bow. And then again. And again. Seems the water conditions were such that it just kept happening. Since Jim was in front, he took the full force of the blow. After the 3rd time, Jim was beat up so bad that he gave me the helm and sat on the floor for most of the rest of the day. I don't think I told him what I had just done on that floor. I stuffed it a couple of more times before the conditions changed. At the speeds we were running in those days, stuffing could be very painful but not always catastrophic. I can vividly remember seeing this green wall of water rushing over the bow just before it hit me. It was kind of like somebody hitting me in the chest and head with a very large baseball bat. Fortunately, I was too young and stupid to realize that it really hurt. Center picture is me at 1/2 way fuel stop. Right picture is Jim Tebo. -Steve Sirois
This has nothing to do with boats, but I thought you fighter pilots might enjoy this..It is FANTASTIC
http://www.hulu.com/watch/24197/figh...ation-red-flag
http://www.powercatboat.com/Racers/Morenz/mz_01.html
Steve:
I have started getting the photos from the Morenz family as I mentioned
and have started collecting them at the page above. There is a shot of
the side of Chuck Mersereau's drag boat showing Eddie and Bill as mechanics
on the boat, so their envolvement was related to the motors..
Danny Leger
Austin, Texas
Quote:
Originally Posted by Powercat
Steve
I don't know if you remember me , but I am Mike Ramsey and you better not tell any lies because I am on line Know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
MIKE! How about let's get a bunch of girls and waterski on the Lake behind a 23' Formula this weekend?:D:D:D Man is it ever good to see you show up here. You have got to be kidding with that thing about "I don't know if you remember me". By the way, you built the best home made cribbage board out of plexiglass that I had ever seen. Everybody on this thread (especially me) will appreciate the stories that I know you have hidden in your skull. Also, I will greatly appreciate your correcting some of the obvious lies that I have already told. Truly Happy to See You Here Mike - SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ramsey
http://i33.tinypic.com/ru0bbm.jpg
1968 Bahama 500. Mike, did you ride with Bill in this race?
Yes I did. Where is Odell???????????? or did bill punch him out.
I saw Odell in June at "Old Farts Reunion" in Sunny Isles Beach. He lives in Kentucky (or is it Tennessee). He was as always, having a good time and laughing with old friends. Here he is with Carl and Jeane Moesly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ramsey
http://i35.tinypic.com/2jabyix.jpg
Odell with Gene Lanham and talking with Charlie Wolff
http://i33.tinypic.com/2d6s1sp.jpg
Mike - hHere is Odell with Phil Schenk. Hopefully you have some pictures from "Back in the Day". If you do, I can help you to post them on this thread. Best Regards - Steve
http://i35.tinypic.com/2j1psgh.jpg
Just curious MR Sirois and Odel , what old are you now ??? J-P :thumbsup:
Mike - Go to page #36, Post #529 to see that picture of you and Odell with the 2 wood Switzers.Quote:
Originally Posted by JP Love
JP - Good question. I am definately in the "Old Fart Category" at 65 years of age. Odell is older than me, but I don't know by how much...probably 10+ years. He told me he has a ?nephew? that monitors this thread. I don't know who that is but perhaps he will identify himself. Here I am this past June. Left to Right, Me, Rich Luhrs, Dale Thayer, Doug Janisch. I am definately the best looking of the group.:D
http://i36.tinypic.com/dwrue0.jpg
Thank's SEEROY.. Keep on stories,, boat racing is forever for all of you "Old Racers".. I read all the threads... Interesting.. Good day... J-P
" Gentleman start your engine now* I think lot party in these years ??? :cheers:
All - What Mike is referring to here is this. Mike rode with my brother (Bill Sirois) in the #90 Bertram in the 1968 Bahama 500. Odell Lewis and Mel Riggs ran the (piston powered) #49 Maritime in that race. Apparently they were supposed to finish side by side, but Odell layed the hammers down at the last minute and beat Bill by 4 seconds. I am told that Bill was angry about this. As I have said before, I never knew of such arrangements, but it does not surprise me that they may have existed. I don't remember if the following occurred before or after the aformentioned race. In a Sam Griffith Memorial race Bill was driving the #47 "Old Yellar" Formula and Odell was driving the turbine powered #49 Maritime. Apparently, either Odell was supposed to win or they were supposed to finish side by side. Bill ran ahead and won the race. This was the only defeat for the turbine boat. I have read stories that say Odell was angry about this. Bill and Odell were both fierce competitors on the race course. Both were also incredibly talented and I know from experience that each was capable of anger. Each of them was also a master of innovation. In those days innovation was a big part of the game and there were few rules. In later days, and in all types of racing, the rules became so restrictive that innovation has almost become a dirty word. I guess such is so in order to provide a close race and thus exciting event for spectators. Quite frankly, early offshore racing was not meant to be a spactator sport. It was meant to be a severe test of men (and a few ladies) and machines in the extreme environment of the open ocean. I do not mean to take anything away from the current offshore racers or the sport itself. It takes very large cahones to run at the incredible speeds they are doing and to make close tight turns at speed. But Offshore Racing from "Back in the Day" and that of today are just different sports. Respectfully - Steve SiroisQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ramsey
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
And I have the best legs......:D
Rich is wearing his hat that way to make us think he is actually looking at the camera:rolleyes:
Hi Steve,
good news - I dug deep and found a couple of shots for you. However, there is a question, the boats look identical except for the name. Any thoughts? In a previous post, I showed the same boat with the 'Hurricane' name at the lake. These two shots were not at the lake, looks like big water to me.
jeff
JEFF - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Right picture with "Hurricane" name is most assuradly 1967 Bahama 500. Wayne Vicker with white jacket and me with brown jacket. Yes, the 1st Bahama 500 was definately big water and many boats were destroyed. It was also a large fleet of 63 starters. The other picture driver looks very much like Roy Ridgell. I think Terri Ann was either his wife or a daughter. Way in the back of my grey matter, I think I recall the boat running in a later race and it would not surprise me if Roy ran it in Europe. I also believe the 3 engine #45 boat was run in Europe (with #3H-44h on it) by both Roy and my brother in different races. Hopefully BobbyRidgell came through the Texas hurricane OK and will eventually show up here again and can confirm that Roy ran the #43 boat. Thanks again Jeff - Steve