Boat Racing in South Florida before The Dolfins

[GENE LANHAM]

[2us70]

I wonder where I am in that picture? I am guessing down at the bottom.

[GENE LANHAM]

Before the DOLPHINS??

Before the STADIUM??

A lot of these boats built by Sam Holton

[lilabner]

Before the DOLPHINS??

Before the STADIUM??

A lot of these boats built by Sam Holton

and Art Ribikee

[lilabner]

I wonder where I am in that picture? I am guessing down at the bottom.

As in sunk?

[2us70]

No, just way back in the pack. I looked at a blowup of that picture and I think I may have found myself in there.

[GENE LANHAM]

I looked at a blowup of that picture and I think I may have found myself in there.

[Bob V]

To win the Miami three hour race is huge, but to make the front page of the New York Times sports section for winning it is priceless - Go Gene

[seeroy]

Thank you sir. Those were fun days. Steve Sirois

[seeroy]

Rudy Ramos?

[2us70]

Factory Gold Coast boat. The Bennetts at FiberCraft used to do the same thing. They would build and rig a bunch of boats for different classes in the Gold Coast Marathon. Mostly driven by family members.

Thank you sir. Those were fun days. Steve Sirois

[2us70]

I always heard that Mr. Kiekhaefer was partial to the Gold Coast Marathon. Mercury seemed to put forth a big effort every year for this race.

[GENE LANHAM]

Rudy Ramos?

The name---Bob Patterson comes to mind--

[John Schubert]

and Art Ribikee

I see at least 3 in the foreground that are Sid-Crafts!!

[FUJIMO]

Rudy Ramos?

Yes. And his dad Raymond. Rudy, the "son"...in "Rayson Craft". Ray owned a successful aluminum casting business in California. Rudy built the boats in the back of the very large plant. Cream Puff was built in 1961, a 20' V-hull, and entered many races in California, as well as the Florida Gold Coast Marathon. Allison V-12 power with a Casale V-drive, was about 10 m.p.h. faster than all the other marathon boats of the day.