Hey Kelly, 1982 Eliminator 19 went over 100 mph

[David]

The 19' Eliminator tunnel was the first Mod VP that Powerboat saw go 100 mph. It was radar back then. Modified 235 crossflow.

[JBS]

I remember those days.That was about the beginning of the Mod VP. Boats running in the 90s was fast back then. Boats and motors changed quickly.unfortunatly so did the rules.

[bigbore]

Good running boats/whole rig full on gas was probably 800lbs./with driver/takes some driving lap after lap staying on top of everything chop/wind/tilt n trim.

[JBS]

Yeah,I remember the boats were super light. There was several blow overs. The recent tragedy with Hellkat Rey brought back memories of builders and new owners that crashed while testing hulls and engines

[David]

A lot of the boats were 400 lb, about 1/2 the weight of my SS2000. Perhaps those boats lasted one season of racing?

[BarryStrawn]

Less than a season in many cases. Making a new hull and selling the race used to a local was a common business practice. Fans paid good money to have someone's race hull.

[CUDA]

They did not fall apart like many believe, just don't load it up with 4 people and go over waves

I was living in Saint Pete and took a crew over to Sarasota to watch the races, under the Sunshine Skyway bridge we hit some big waves and a loud crack, a knee brace pushed thru the deck a little
That was a 400 lb boat.

[rock]

I owned one of the first STV roundy round boats. To say some were light is an understatement. Certainly why many did not last long.

Rock