Skip Talbot Dual Engine Dragster 1967

[Ron Hill]

Triple Merc 110's

[Powercat]

Ron:
What year and what race is that page from?

Someone asked me recently if Skip Talbot ran the
marina in Carlsbad Calif, where they used to
hold races. It was a back bay area just off of the
Coast Highway. Anybody know if he did and what
the name of the place was? I have a lot of photos
taken at races there but don't remember that much
about it.
Danny Leger

[Powercat]

Ok, I think I understand now.
I checked out the Apel site, sure like the craftmanship of
some of his boats.
Danny Leger

Originally posted by Mark75H
From the front to the back, between the sponsons the bottom follows a line something like the line I have drawn on this image in red. It is a heavy exaggeration to get the point across. I turned the image around to make the "S" frontwards instead of backwards.

I think those 4 pointer alkys were all oval course competition boats, I don't remember any kilo boats. I think they were variations working towards having a wider transom without being wider for the full length of the boat. You could email Jim Apel japel1@charter.net and ask. 4 pointers remain a minority

Click here to go to Jim Apel's site

[Ron Hill]

Danny:

It is called Carlsbad Lagoon, you get off on Tamarack Avenue in Carlsbad. You can see the lagoon from the 405 freeway. I don't recall if Skip had a lease there or not. You can still run powerboat in this lagoon..

I won my first trophy there in 1956, third in AU...

[T2x]

The race is Havasu, Arizona....... 1967 I believe. The Vee bottom in the picture ( third from the bottom) was driven by George Linder and is a wooden 18' Eltro....... direct ancestor of the Challenger 21.

Thanks Ron.
T2x

[David_L6]

Raceman , I know it.

Raceman:

Boy, you don't know the half of it. They are quick to point out that it is only the bent six loopers that are compeating for the money right now, and that I have my head stuck in the past with my talk of the old Twisters and such. No respect, thats all. I told one young whipersnapper that if Mercury ever builds a six inline looper I would build a killer stacker engine that would take his fancy 2.5 and....... hey, wait a minuite. Don't Merc make a triple looper right now? The guy across the street has one on his fishin' boat! Didn't Mercury make the first inline six by stacking two engines together? Now if I was to take that 90HP looper shortblock I got in the shop and do a little cutting and welding.....'course I need two blocks.... I wonder if he is gone out for the evening?

I'll talk to you boys later, I gotta get out to the shop........ I got me an IDEA!

George

Originally posted by Raceman
Y'know, they've got a 4 cyl inline looper now that I think's over a hundred inches, but I understand the crank's too weak for any serious performance work and the exhaust side of the block looks like it'd take some serious re workin' to make any real horsepower. It's interesting to think about though.

4 cyls towards the front, 4 cyls towards the rear... over 200 cubic inches. hmmm......

[Ron Hill]

Is this the picture of George you were talking about???

Hey, how come I don't have a Team member LOGO? Do you have to donate more than a dollar?

[Ron Hill]

Cover of the 1967 Havasu Program....

[Ron Hill]

inside..

[Ron Hill]

1966 Recap..

[Mark75H]

It is common knowledge that Schulze was the fastest single outboard and 4th overall in '66, but forgotten that Pete de Lactner was right on his tail with a US designed Mustang, based on the old Hickman Seasled bottom; 5th overall and 2nd fastest single engine ahead of all but 2 dual engine factory rigs. The time difference between them was negligble for 9 hours of competition.

But ... the refinements in tunnel hulls during the next 12 months put the seasled design solidly out of competition and into the history books.

Pete and his son still have the Mustang molds in storage and Pete says everytime he finishes what he says will be the last one (for himself) someone calls and begs him to make them one and he ends up selling "his" boat and building another.

The seasled bottom is sort of like a Carlson semi tunnel or old Switzer Shooting Star from the 50's or 60's.

[Ron Hill]

Actually, Sam, 1966 was two hours SATURDAY and four hours Sunday. All the OMC guys missed drivers meeting on Sunday, time screw up... In those days no one knew me, so I just keep saying "HERE" at roll call....

OMC guys were on California Time or something...or Jack Leek just got the time wrong...but Burt Ross, Paul Kalb, Freddy Miller, Ted May, oh I can't remember but they all showed up when it was over...I told them don't worry...I said "Here" for everyone..

Johnson ad...

[Ron Hill]

This is either, Fred Miller, Mr APBA HALL OF CHAMPIONS or Paul Kalb past APBA President, in a 17' Glasstron in the 1966 race where they finished 4th..I think overall..

[Powercat]

Ron:
I just noticed in looking at the pages from this '67 Havasu race that there was a boat listed U-115 as a Powercat with 4-Chrysler motors on it... I don't suppose there was a photo of that one..
Sure would like to scan some of the stuff you have collected....
Danny Leger

[lilabner]

I was with Skip at Carlsbad a couple times..he said it was his place..cost him a marrige...it was like a scene from Top Gun..lots of people having fun and Skip playing the piano while we drunks were trying to sing..the man is full of talent.....I drove his cat there also..it ran about 88 mph..a sweet boat..unfortunatly he wrecked pretty bad at Sacremento when he hit a ferry cable..around March or April 67...he ran the national drags in June with a badly broken leg...he also raced motorcycles...his pride was a factory Suzuki 100cc 6 speed grand prix bike...
75H should have the pictures of Skip's wreck..I remember seeing them in a magazine..his collection must be incredible...
that S hydro almost looks like a Powercat Hydro..


Butch