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  1. #1
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    Region 4 OPC Early 80's

    Anyone around who ran Region 4 OPC in the early 80's, specifically 1982-83? I ran EP class very briefly, running a GP setup in 82 with a 14 Allison and 850xs. Work/life got in the way very quickly and only ran the opening race in Denton Maryland in 83 in my new 13 Critchfield with a new 75 OMC.

    I wasnt very good as I had a hard time getting the hang of it once the wakes and backwash started to rock the boat from side to side while I tried to stay in the seat. The real fun for me was getting to know the other racers as there were some real characters.

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  3. #2
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    Beale and Bill Edwards and Raynor Blair are active on Facebook. There is a vintage event at Leonardtown every summer around the end of July-1st of August. There will be a lot of familiar faces there for you.

  4. #3
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    I think OPC only ran one year at Denton.

  5. #4
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    OPC ran in Denton at least 2 years as I ran there in 82 and 83. I remember both well. It was my second race in 82 after the first in a big reservoir in Bristol Tn. Here was this narrow river with a one pin turn down by a bridge. I had no prop for this type of course. I lucked out and found one in the pits that worked well and bought it for $125. I was a bit of an odd duck as I was running a GP boat (14 Allison/850XS). They combined EP/GP that year and I had to weigh 920lbs vs the 840 for the EP boats. I ran there in 83 in my new Critchield/Johnson. We had the more boats than usual so it was quite crowded. I went down past the bridge by myself and started well before the others. I was almost at full speed while they were just starting to get going and nailed the start. It was the first time I had been in front and there was no way I was gonna lower the rpms so I went way wide in the first turn. I was almost in the lilly pads and I think I had the officals in the starters stand a bit worried that I was gonna wet them down when I went by... LOL.

    Names I remember from then are Bill Fleck, he helped me a lot as well as Ray Lumpkin who was local to me.
    Ray helped me too but he passed a few years ago. Others were John Beers from Pa who ran EP with me and
    the Baltimore gang - Roger Meekins, Dick Fischer, Bill Slivey, Mike Herrmann, Scott Clafferty, Brian M (not gonna try and spell his name), Chris Johnson (bought his Viper for the river), Scott ? (ran EP in the
    blue Allison and had a red truck), Eddie Dietrich and quite a few others whose names I cant remember but I
    can probably tell you what boat they ran. Cant for get Herb Gaskins who is one of the nicest guys I ever met. He would tell my girlfriend (my wife now) what was going on since she wouldnt watch.

    I enjoyed hanging around these guys as much as if not more than the racing.

  6. #5
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    Bill Fleck is still around, pretty sure Herb is as well. Ray has passed. I really liked Ray, first spoke to him in 1977 I think.

  7. #6
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    Herb and his wife Katie are doing fine . I speak with Herb every couple of weeks . He will be 90 in august and can out run any one of us ! Life long friend .

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  9. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark75H View Post
    I think OPC only ran one year at Denton.
    Ran my first ever boat race at Denton, A Stock hydro, 1967 when I was stationed at the Pentagon. Ran with Ray Gemmill from Silver Spring MD.

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  11. #8
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    My first race too. D Mod runabout DeSilva with a slightly modded 55H.

    I wish we could get back into that bull ring. The last rig I raced there was a 13' Pugh with a full house 6 cylinder 60ci mod. Oversized turn fin, zero rake 10" pitch Dewald, like riding on rails, 40 to 75 in about 3 seconds. Drop the throttle, yank the wheel, squeeze the throttle, REPEAT! WATCH OUT FOR THE LILLY PADS!

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  13. #9
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    Went to Denton to watch Sam...... Fun racing......But a poor kid in a or j..... slammed the dock.....too tight of a turn....

  14. #10
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    I forgot that the hydros ran there also. I think they set up across the river from us mear the starters stand. Our class was relatively small and our boats and speeds were so it didnt seem to bad after the start. It was definitely interesting watching the bigger and faster classes funnel into the one pin turn. The only thing more fun was getting on the bay bridge Memorial weekend going from abou 8 toll booths to 2 lanes.

  15. #11
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    Hyrdros raced there every Mother's Day for 49 years. It was one of the longest running race sites in APBA history

  16. #12
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    Despite the tightness I liked Denton. I only raced here twice. It was the last place I raced my second year at it as work just made it to difficult to travel to the races. Know what else...I really miss the smell of a 2 stoke outboard.

  17. #13
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    Tideten, keep a watch on here. The Leonardtown race will be posted. You should check it out. We always welcome new participants!
    Last edited by 99fxst99; 02-09-2021 at 02:58 PM.
    18 Talon/2.4 carb SOLD
    26 Deck Boat/250 Merc

  18. #14
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    Next Southern Maryland vintage event Oct 2-3, 2021 at Piney Point MD.
    18 Talon/2.4 carb SOLD
    26 Deck Boat/250 Merc

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