Hi Gene - Ed also rode with Bill in "Old Yeller" for 1967 Bahama 500. Or maybe it was 1968. Anyway they broke a motor mount..DNF.Quote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
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Hi Gene - Ed also rode with Bill in "Old Yeller" for 1967 Bahama 500. Or maybe it was 1968. Anyway they broke a motor mount..DNF.Quote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
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Man, that thing has big air under it! I'm surprised that a motor mount was the only thing that was broken. :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Way back---in the 60's and 70's---it was called---Offshore Racing--Quote:
Originally Posted by willabee
First place---second place---Key West, 1974
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Wow, looks like bigger air under the Baron! Bet that moment and the next few feel really good, then there's a 'Boom' and their knees start saying "what the hell are you doing to us?" :DQuote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Sammy won it in the BertramQuote:
Originally Posted by willabee
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Hi Steve---You know----a 'hot start' in a gas turbine is a $$$$disaster. I think Mr. Kiekhaefer insisted that Ed be in that boat any time those P&W ST-6's were running---Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
You are certainly right about the $$$ issue. I never burned up a turbine, but I did a pretty good job on a P&W R2800 radial one time. i've always said, "Starting a turbine is a procedure. Starting a radial is an art."Quote:
Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM
Shoulda tried a Cosworth STAVROS-----they WUZ a breeze.
:pBig Air was never a problem on the way up. It was the coming back down part that hurt. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by willabee
Well Hello Jackie!! Isn't it past your bedtime? We are definitely looking forward to seeing you in November!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by jackiewilson
Gene - A turbine needs a great big prop on the front of it instead of a little prop behind it. Maybe it's something about pushing clean cool air through the intake, although starting with flat pitch probably doesn't push much air through.
All the HOT AIR that we all push through S&F would probably get a 747 airborne without even having an engine involved. I know that I contribute my share. :D - Seeroy
Amen to that...... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
---anyone that knows what a 'round' motor is---is OK!!Quote:
Originally Posted by T2x
Attachment 299423
I think Mr. K. involvement in NASCAR racing during the 1950’s, was a precursor to his eventual boat racing endeavors and legacy. In so much as, creating a Lake X proving grounds facility to administer R&D, and have an operation base for the Mercury race division.
It is always an honor to meet industry pioneers, like Mr. K., who impacted the lives of many Mercury employees (and their families including me) in a positive way, at Lake X. I thought it is appropriate to post this photo now, being June is the month of Carl Kiekhaefer’s birth.
No, boat racing came first.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lake X Kid
Merc sold 75 "special" "HD" model racers in 1949. The first official Merc racers were sold to the public in 1952, they started the NASCAR team 2 years later in 1954.
I know back in the day Carl Moesly did a lot of testing at lake X and many of his race boats that were built were tested here as well. I know they many of them ran the Bahamas 500 race back in 1968-1969 in the outboard class.
I would like some help Identifying some of the SeaCraft race boats that were raced AFTER 1968, once the rules changed and you could run non-production boats. The earlier SeaCrafts that were raced were modified 21' production boats, in 1968 they built 10 hulls from a race mold that were around 27 feet. One is the #31 driven by Carl that is pictured in post number 11 above. There was a #31,#202,#25,#505,#123 and then five others. I would love to know what the others were, who drove them and some Pictures would be awesome as well if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I actually have one of them and want to do a full restore. Just trying to find out which hull mine was raced as. Thanks
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This is my boat, It was change to a cc but I am turning it back all original and need some help identifying it.
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Lake X, a central Florida secluded test facility and R&D proving ground
Propellers powered by Mercury Outboards churn-up the water with sound
Where boat jockeys drove, circumnavigating around the clock, night and day
Wakes created by MerCruisers plowing grooves on the lake’s surface as spray
In the 1960’s hey days, the boat racing home of Sirois, Odell, Bakos, and a select few
Also Steinbeck, Ridgell, Strickland and others furthered their racing careers here too
A personal fiefdom where the Old Man, Mr. K, flew in by plane and held court
Cigar in mouth, Carl Kiekhaefer, desired allegiance to the marine company’s sport
Expansion included an offshore shop & slip, and paved airstrip from corporate profits
Administrative men like Collins, Anderson and others occupied the buildings offices
Where as some of the above mention names had their families living next to the lake
Not least of all were Wisconsin and South Florida bachelors in company trailers by the lake
And the security guards preserved the private property, by patrolling the lake’s dirt road perimeter
Driving pickup trucks with a big spot light mounted on the back, keeping out unwanted visitors
Now that Mercury Marine celebrates its 75th Anniversary, the company long ago left Lake X
Reestablishing its new test facility home, in the Florida Panhandle’s Panama City complex
rsr
Attachment 301408
Go to Www.bassfishingarchives.com for some recent video taken at the Lake. JFL does an interview for this bass website. See Lake X Part Two.
Nice to see video of the secret lake for those who never got to see it
Had an opportunity to go there in the early 90's and couldn't due to work. Still regret not going.
Yesterday I had the privilege of attending this year’s precursor to ICAST, a function known as Tackle-X, held on the hallowed grounds of Mercury Marine’s mysterious Lake-X. An “invite only” event, Tackle-X would bring industry, media and the Kirchman Foundation together for a relaxed day at the lake to talk fishing, meet with old friends and new, and visit a place few have tread on. Here’s the lead-in to the invite:
“If you can’t find Lake X on a map, it’s no accident. The legend and mystery of Lake X are the creation of Carl Kiekhaefer (1906-1983), the founder of Mercury Marine. For nearly 30 years he used the 1,400-acre lake as his private test facility and as part of his marketing efforts. He wanted someplace far from competitors’ prying eyes, and he found it with Lake Conlin, as the lake is officially identified.If you thought I would pass on this invite, you’re sorely mistaken. To go to Lake-X is a dream I’ve had for many years and this would finally allow me to scratch that box off my bucket list.
One of Kiekhaefer’s most famous publicity efforts began on Sept. 11, 1957 when two Mercury Mark 75 outboards began an endurance run that lasted 34 days, 11 hours, 47 minutes and 5.4 seconds. Each of the two boats completed 4,516 laps of the lake course and 25,003.286 miles — slightly more than the circumference of Earth. The engines were refueled and the drivers changed out while the boats were on the run, averaging 30.3 mph for more than a month!”
As part of the media, I looked at this opportunity differently. Yes industry would be there with all their new gadgets and gizmos, normally a writer’s dream. What I was mostly interested in, though, was the mystique of the lake, the former owners and the testing that went on here for more than half a century.
To my knowledge no one has ever videoed Lake-X for the public. On July 15, 2014, I not only had the opportunity to video the lake, I was able to get Elite Series angler Bernie Schultz and former Mercury Marine employee, John Litjens (who worked for Mercury for 45 years and ran Lake-X for a number of years) to do an interview of the lake for us. It’s a pretty cool look into the lake and its mystery for all who have been involved with outboard motors.
To see video & article, go to;
http://bassfishingarchives.com/short...#disqus_thread
Courtesy of Bass Fishing Archives.
I just came across the videos that Roy Ridgell's son speaks of in the previous post. John Litjens speaks of his time there and visits the old/new shop. This video took me back to my time at Lake X in the sixties with very warm memories. There are 2 parts at the following links. - Steve Sirois
http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/mercurys-lake-x-part-one
http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/mercurys-lake-x-part-two
Thanks Guys for sharing this article/videos. It was an amazing day at the lake and I felt blessed to have Bernie and John there to talk about the history of the place.
We'll be posting more racing history on the site in the future including a piece with Earl Bentz and others from the early era of outboard racing.
Thanks again.
Terry Battisti
Bass Fishing Archives
Awesome stuff Terry. BIG THANK YOU!
AMEN to that!!! Thank you for some wonderful memories - Steve SiroisQuote:
Originally Posted by Mark75H
Brings back great memories...... Best boat racing test facility in the world.
No doubt. Rich, hope to see you this coming weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by T2x
Attachment 304470
Roy Ridgell and the twin engine Miss Seattle.
I found this picture in my parent’s photo album. I do not know the back-story regarding this photo, but my guess is the scenery looks to be South Florida. A sign of the times; seeing the Florida state registration number on race boat #36.
Roy Ridgell in 1992 did indeed have a fatal heart attack :( in northwest Alabama. He was at a Bass tournament, as Mercury Marine support manager.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Ramsey
If memory serves me correctly, I remember seeing you Mike Ramsey at one of the bass tournaments in Leesburg, Florida talking with dad about the past and present. Dad was full of boat racing stories, and I regret my brother and me only remember a small sampling of the Lake X escapades. Gratitude to Steve Sirois for starting this Lake X thread to preserve in writing a unique marine facility’s era and the people who lived it
Mike did not you and John Stenbeck have identical motorcycles when working at Lake X? They were Triumphs or BSA, which I could always hear you guys coming to and from Lake X. And wasn’t it you Mike who revved-up your motorcycle and laid down a patch of burnt rubber on the paved road, in the front of our house after talking to Roy. We were then living on the east side of the property (next to Odell’s family), not on the lake.
Lake X alumnus Roy Ridgell, Mercury career ends at bass tournament.
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I don't remember the year, but at a Serice Rep meeting, I think it was in Appleton WI, Roy came down the aisle dragging a Mercury Gnat with a rope noose around it - yes, we were having all kinds of trouble with Gnats!
Did you have a "what's the biggest boat tested at Lake X?" question?
Mid 80's I did some plug work for this 55 footer, 60' LOA. Davey Wilson rigged one of them with 4 mercruiser big blocks with stern drives and tested at Lake X. I believe it ran in the 70-75 mph range. I drove up there from Miami to watch but after ringing the bell at the gate for a while, gave up. Never did see it run there or Lake X from the inside.
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GREAT STUFF!!!! Thanks Gary
Wonder what ever happened to Leonard, aka "The Whale"? Too bad those molds were never fully utilized. I know Don Smith ended up with one of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mini Max
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A memo of Mr. K, passing away on October 1983.
A man who had a big impact on the career of my dad, Roy Ridgell. and our family.
Sad news. Those of you who raced with and against the Kiekhaefer Navy in the 60s and 70s will remember Chester Leon Strickland. Chet, or "CL" as we knew him, passed away Tuesday night. He was great racer and true friend. He also was a longtime friend of all of us from Sarasota. He graduated from Sarasota high school in the same class (1959) as my brother Bill Sirois and Phil Schenk. If you have had the opportunity to read my posts on this thread, you will have noticed that I mentioned him. Farewell to another old friend who has crossed that final finish line. - Steve Sirois
Steve--there are still a few of us left that remember---Rest in Peace--Chet---Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
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Chet Strickland hard at work at Siesta Key Test Station in mid 1960's.
We were in deep discussion about hi-tech tools i.e..ball peen hammers.
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Roy Ridgell tried to prevent, Hank Bowman fatal accident by his own race boat in Miami (1966?).Quote:
Originally Posted by 2us70
Even though my Dad's noble effort did not bear the intended outcome. I am certain that most race boat drivers would have attempted the same act, of placing his boat, between a competitor's unmanned boat which is heading back towards it's previous driver now in the water.
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The ironic thing about that accident was that Hank Bowman was in what was probably the slowest boat in the race. Even with the my problems coming to grips with my ride I had passed his boat a couple of times before his accident. I have been told that his entry in a factory boat was for the purpose of writing a first person article on the race. When I came up on the scene I saw one of the factory Switzers there so I guess that was the boat Roy was driving. I installed a kill switch in my own SE boat before I put it in the water the next time. The following year they became mandatory.
On the 2nd picture posted, the text of article, is cut off It mentions two other wrecks I think one of those was a Jim Hennington from Bunea Park Ca. Jim was a family friend and had raced boats out of the West Anaheim Marine shop. If I remember correctly he was offered a factory ride with OMC around this time does any remember Jim or can and any information. I do remember my dad telling be he had been hurt shortly after getting the ride.
This race was held as part of the" Orange Bowl Regatta" which was associated with the "Orange Bowl" football game. It was always run during the holidays usually between Christmas and New Years. This particular year it was for south Florida cold with a brisk Northwest wind. This made for pretty rough conditions on the Marine Stadium's long marathon course. About half or a little more of the course was outside the stadium in Biscayne Bay. After the injuries began to pile up and then the fatal accident the race was red flagged and stopped. The race was rerun the following day minus the Mercury Factory boats and a number of others too damaged to continue. Our entry soldiered on to the finish with a slightly different driver lineup and a "riding mechanic". The riding mechanic became needed as stuff began to fail on the boat.