Originally Posted by
willabee
When I came upon this picture, my memory bank immediately pulled an old story out of the rafters. I'd like to share it with you.
A long, long time ago in Oshkosh, Wisconsin a young lad by the name of Bob Hetzel was getting ready to start his work day for Mercury at Plt.#5 on the Fox river. The day's assignment included taking a small fishing boat powered by a 5 hp Merc to the course buoys and running some fuel flow tests. When Bob arrived at the course, he found there was a dude anchored right next to the lead buoy and was doing some casting. Bob carefully idled up the the boat, introduced himself and explained to the fisherman what he was assigned to do that day. Bob asked if the fisherman would mind moving off of the course for a short period of time. The fisherman explained that he was there first and had no intention of moving until he was damn good and ready. Bob went back to the plant and explained what had happened to his supervisor Carl Frazier. Carl told Bob to let it go for the day, but to get to the course early the next day so the tests could be completed.
Bright and early the next morning Bob went to the course and began his tests. As he is running the course he sees a fishing boat heading his way. Sure enough, it's the same fisherman from yesterday and he proceeds to anchor his boat right next to the lead buoy again. Bob idles over to him and explains that he is in the middle of running his tests and asks the fisherman to move. The fisherman refused again, but this time Bob said "Hey, you were here first yesterday, so I left. I am here first today so you should leave. I need to run my tests today".
Bob drove away and positioned his boat for the course, the fisherman didn't move. As Bob approached the buoy he heard a loud 'knock' in his boat. Soon he heard another and realized the fisherman had tied a large lead weight to his line and was casting it at Bob! Not wanting to get his head cracked open, Bob went back to the plant and told Carl what had just happened. Carl smiled and said he had a plan.
They got everything ready and about 30 minutes later Bob was on his way back to the fisherman on the course. He approached him carefully and then explained that he was going to run the course. He told the fisherman "I am going to drive back near the bridge and then turn around to start my run. If you are still here when I make my turn, those two guys are going to run the course in front of me". Bob pointed to the Wisconsin street bridge as two very Big, very Loud Offshore Raceboats, like the 818 in the picture, came out from under the bridge opening and started to rev their engines. Bob said it was a very impressive mixture of sight and sound.
Bob drove away, made his turn and looked..... he had the whole river all to himself, not a fisherman boat in sight! Don't you just love it when a good plan works. :D