!987 MVP race St Louis

**CUDA** · 03-25-2023, 08:53 PM

**Jim Speros** · 03-25-2023, 10:12 PM

Very cool. Looks like fun. Thanks for sharing

**mr fun** · 03-26-2023, 07:44 AM

thanks Cuda , Al Stoker pulled from last place to 2nd , Very impressive

**BLisBack!** · 04-06-2023, 12:49 PM

Thats a great vid.

Perhaps Al can share with us what the problem was? He must have had at least 50+ hp over the competition.

-BL

**CUDA** · 04-06-2023, 04:12 PM

Same day Champ boats

https://youtu.be/Igtua5t2lv4

**donmac** · 04-07-2023, 04:29 AM

not sure where Ted Gryguc [rip] finished in that mod race ,but during the commentary said he was running 7th. those must have been some pretty fast boats ahead,never seen him run that far back, maybe engine issues!

been a long time but isn't St. Louis where the river runs into the side of the course just before the finish line! pretty sure it was one of our boats from Championship stable that blew over from wind coming down the river across the course, ejected the driver flipped back upright and crossed the finish line without the driver! maybe 85,86 Randy Wyatt [rip] He was fine, boat stv conventional, very little damage! had a good laugh couple days later when back to the shop,told him if he'd just hung on to the wheel would have won!

**racer** · 04-17-2023, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the kind words. The issues off the dock with the old 2.7 were mainly due to heat soak and running carbs with stock compression against EFI with heads. They seemed to know the time window we had starting issues, longer or shorter not nearly as bad but still could not start at more than 1/2 throttle. Even had the primer connected right to the recirc fitting in the boost port which helped but did not eliminate the problem. Due to basic stock rules at the time not much else we could do. We did not have any more power could just run the boat a lot deeper into the corners and maintain higher corner speeds. Those were some really fun days making Merc sweet.

**CUDA** · 04-18-2023, 04:40 PM

So why could you not add compression but Merc's could?

You always had your own style, taking the outside, with others fighting for the inside

I loved what you just accomplished, first overall at 2022 Parker enduro in a outboard, si that a first?

and you looked so smooth, some how you always keep the bow down

I was backing in the water for my heat and I was told I had to remove my tonneau cover because it was a aerodynamic advantage,

Talking to Tommy Dunn I was pissed how it was handled, Tommy said take It as a complement, Darris Allison was the one who complained.

You have him worried.

**donmac** · 04-19-2023, 06:57 AM

racer- if you were running stock compression that's an even bigger accomplishment, I doubt anybody else was other than the vp crate motor guys!
must have been looking at 2.7 vs 2.4 when rules were written!

**racer** · 04-19-2023, 08:35 AM

The MODVP rules changed thru the years from stock to full mod engines back to stock. In 87 the merc's got to run tight heads to make up for the displacement difference. Both side got to run light factory flywheels, glass reeds and no rpm limiter. Merc were allowed to also cross drill the intake. Mid sections were 20 inch with any tuner. Lowers were no bottom pick up but nose cones ok, later bottom pick ups allowed.

Cuda have won overall before at Parker as has John Hadden but rules were different then and not nearly by the margin as this past year.

**BPM727RC** · 04-19-2023, 06:35 PM

Al, you probably don't remember me, Billy Powell, but I did the engines on Rusty,s boat. We had some great times with you and your Dad. You were by far our toughest competition when we were racing Mod VP. Regards Billy

**racer** · 04-21-2023, 09:46 AM

Billy I remember you. Can you believe that Roark and I worked together on Greg Foster's F1 boat?

**BPM727RC** · 04-21-2023, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by racer

Billy I remember you. Can you believe that Roark and I worked together on Greg Foster's F1 boat?

That is pretty neat. Undoubtedly two of the BEST at knowing how to make a boat go fast.

**WaterZebra** · 04-21-2023, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by racer

Thanks for the kind words. The issues off the dock with the old 2.7 were mainly due to heat soak and running carbs with stock compression against EFI with heads. They seemed to know the time window we had starting issues, longer or shorter not nearly as bad but still could not start at more than 1/2 throttle. Even had the primer connected right to the recirc fitting in the boost port which helped but did not eliminate the problem. Due to basic stock rules at the time not much else we could do. We did not have any more power could just run the boat a lot deeper into the corners and maintain higher corner speeds. Those were some really fun days making Merc sweet.

Am I understanding what you described as a beach dock start "time window" correctly? The IOGP officials could "delay" the start (flag drop being another variable) which would throw the Evinrude off its game via heat soak issues? Really?! inversely, on the V8 race series tour, it was rumored that the octane rating for the OMC V8 engines was lowered bv 2 pts. The V8s would run just fine but those running the Merc Champ engines would detonate pistons.

**racer** · 04-23-2023, 08:59 AM

Waterzebra yes it sure seemed that way but in reality mostly due to the time needed to line everyone up at the dock. If everyone got lined up quickly or took an overly long time we could get off the dock better. As time went by we did manage to get it much better, in 89 and 90 when we won we were consistently in the top 5 or 6 on the first lap. We also needed to run a larger prop due to rpm the engine would spin which also slows a beach start. Back in 87 most of the front running Merc's were in the 84 to 8500 range and we were 75 to 77 with what at the time were stock ported engines.