Mercury Through The Years...

[gt150gtron]

Packed crowd at the Southern 500!

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[John Schubert]

My Current ride with grandson as pilot, says "not fast enough"

[MN4V]

[WaterZebra]

This photo definitely preceeds the James Bond boat jump in the 70s!!

[John Schubert]

My Current ride with grandson as pilot, says "not fast enough"

I want to thnk everybody for the thanks especially willabee. More later why. The boat is an original 1957 Aristograft Sea Flash that I was very familiar with having been involved in it's sale from upstate NY to a friend in Florida who then sold it to Duke Waldrup where it sat for about 15 years. After I bought it 2 years ago in the middle of Covid, I couldn't travel to Florida so I had Bud Gann do the restoration. The motor was something else. 1959 MK35A with a myriad of issues. Although internally still with the factory seal & 125 - 128 Lbs compression, very good for a 40 c.i. motor, everything externally was bad. New external & internal harnesses, all new wiring, rebuilt starter & distributor & rebuilt carbs. Initially ran last year but with cranking issues. This year started fantastically, only to stall out shifting in to gear. I learned that the link connecting the distributor to the vertical lever that controls distributor advance was so far retarded, and no measurement in the service manual. A merc restoration expert in Maryland told me how to set the link to "cheat " advance in neutral, which I did & solved the problem. It now starts & runs better then new. The underway picture above was last weekend.

Now, why a Mercury. I grew up on Greenwood Lake, NJ. An early race supporter Mercury Dealer, who even sponsored Dick O'Dea was where my brother & I hung out, working for free as pre teenagers. I even took out Dick's BSH, Morphew hydro & KG7H without permission. Started racing Stock Outboard in 1953 at 14 years old. Progressed through all stock & alky hydo classes then at a Gulf Oil Hall of Fame breakfast was asked by Lou Eppel of OMC if I wanted to drive for them. Being the first from the East coast to be asked, I jumped at the opportunity, but secretly would have liked to have Merc power. OMC gave me a pretty good job, but again secretly I was having conversations with willabee about a ride & possible job with merc. He did explore the possibilities but the only positions available were test drivers & I was at a higher level, so that didn't happen. I enjoyed racing for OMC having the opportunity to race when the factory wars were great, many 225 milers, Europe, Parker, Havasu & many others. Plus the many friends that I acquired.

I've since restored many Mercury racing motors and as you can see my choice to power my wood boat is a merc. The motor paint was done by a Classic Car restorer in Florida, Bill Tetro.

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[Lake X Kid]

I want to thnk everybody for the thanks especially willabee. More later why...

OMC gave me a pretty good job, but again secretly I was having conversations with willabee about a ride & possible job with merc. He did explore the possibilities but the only positions available were test drivers & I was at a higher level, so that didn't happen. I enjoyed racing for OMC having the opportunity to race when the factory wars were great, many 225 milers, Europe, Parker, Havasu & many others. Plus the many friends that I acquired.

I've since restored many Mercury racing motors and as you can see my choice to power my wood boat is a merc. The motor paint was done by a Classic Car restorer in Florida, Bill Tetro.

I can indirectly attest to your restorations, or more accurately one sentimental favorite of mine and my brother — Boat 888. The first Molinari tunnel to become a part of the Merc's USA factory team. She went to Lake X, and my Dad drove her in the Gold Coast race. Her maiden race in the USA.

After that I think Miss 888's history becomes vague. I do not recall my Dad driving the boat competitive again after the Gold Coast Marathon.

Decades later my Dad's brother in Texas says he knows the where's about of 888. And you Mr. John, let my uncle Robert (Bobby) tow her to Tavares for the fall 2019 gathering. At Tavares, your/our friend Bill Seebold standing next to the hull calls you on the cell phone, and ask you, if he can seat inside the boat. And with Bill in the boat, I saw a photo-op in which to include myself in the photo. Later Rich Luhrs drives the boat in the event.

[John Schubert]

I can indirectly attest to your restorations, or more accurately one sentimental favorite of mine and my brother — Boat 888. The first Molinari tunnel to become a part of the Merc's USA factory team. She went to Lake X, and my Dad drove her in the Gold Coast race. Her maiden race in the USA.

After that I think Miss 888's history becomes vague. I do not recall my Dad driving the boat competitive again after the Gold Coast Marathon.

Decades later my Dad's brother in Texas says he knows the where's about of 888. And you Mr. John, let my uncle Robert (Bobby) tow her to Tavares for the fall 2019 gathering. At Tavares, your/our friend Bill Seebold standing next to the hull calls you on the cell phone, and ask you, if he can seat inside the boat. And with Bill in the boat, I saw a photo-op in which to include myself in the photo. Later Rich Luhrs drives the boat in the event.

It would be nice to take credit for this restoration, but I have to say , it wasn’t me. But, yes Mr. Bill is a good friend