Mercury Through The Years...

**FUJIMO** · 02-03-2023, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I am guessing "Around Miami Beach" race. Maybe 1963 or 64.

...yeah, think so...

**Onetime** · 02-03-2023, 05:33 PM

Not this picture!
Know the boat well it’s around 1991-1992.
Was just curious if you had the source of the picture to know which race it was at.

**FUJIMO** · 02-03-2023, 06:10 PM

...older than '92. was involved with b-class in '92. don't think that boat would be competitive in '92. the faster b-class v-bottoms in '92 were going low to mid 90 m.p.h. you know this boat & can tell us more please...

**Onetime** · 02-03-2023, 07:07 PM

It was primarily campaigned on the west coast with POPBRA. Boat ran right around 90 mph.

That’s me in the navigator seat, was crew chief and navigator. I raced with Rick 1991-1992. Went to Saratoga Florida with it in 1992 and raced two races there. Maybe Fourth of July weekend?

My only regret at the Florida race was not having enough time to stop at Lake X. Rick wanted to but I had to get back due to work responsibilities.

Boat was very competitive on the West Coast and did well in Florida that year. Rick was/is an excellent driver.
Top speed of boats does not equal speeds in race conditions.

Still curious which race the photo is from. Do you know the source for the photo?

**Jim Speros** · 02-03-2023, 07:29 PM

Engines look like '88 ish cowlings maybe Bridgeports. B Class was pretty popular and looked like that in late 80's and early 90's.

**Jim Speros** · 02-03-2023, 07:32 PM

I was a few posts late.

**Onetime** · 02-03-2023, 08:10 PM

In 91 they were 2.4 Bridgeport EFI’s. In 92 when 2.5’s came out, 2.5 long blocks were fitted with all the 2.4 bolt ons and still fit under the Bridgeport cowls.

**WaterZebra** · 02-04-2023, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Speros

Engines look like '88 ish cowlings maybe Bridgeports. B Class was pretty popular and looked like that in late 80's and early 90's.

Interesting myth about the 88 vintage cowlings. When they first came out as the new rage style cowls after years of the "boxes" with louvered strips. The swept duct contours were supposed to be air inlets? If they were, they never did work. Air inlet ended up being a raised faceplate over a hole on the nose. I don't recall ever seeing a cowl with functional inlets. I think the problem was how to shed water spray? Problem with water spray draining was finally solved with the "alien" cowls.