Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[Bob V]

I really liked the Cowbell, wish Merc would have decided on them instead of the Silo.

Willabee - I need a little technical help here. I always thought that the Cowbell, Twister and Twister 1 were all "silo" engines. I always assumed that the name "silo" was from the extended exhaust chest. On the Cowbell, the silo was shorter because the exhaust exited through the two cowbells at the bottom of the silo. The Twister and Twister 1 had a longer silo because the exhaust had to be routed back into the mid.

Like you, I really loved the sound of a Cowbell. It had a unique sound to it unlike the stackers. Back about 1970 there was a cowbell that ran here in the Clearwater Fun 'n Sun Regatta - possibly Jim Hunt (Olegator). There was a real two day battle between the Cowbell powered tunnel and young Duff Daily, who ran a GN flatbottom powered by a Chrysler hemi named "Oh Mona." In the end, the Cowbell out drove the hemi and won...If that was Olegator, I hope he will add a few details.

[willabee]

Willabee - I need a little technical help here. I always thought that the Cowbell, Twister and Twister 1 were all "silo" engines. I always assumed that the name "silo" was from the extended exhaust chest. On the Cowbell, the silo was shorter because the exhaust exited through the two cowbells at the bottom of the silo. The Twister and Twister 1 had a longer silo because the exhaust had to be routed back into the mid.

You don't need any technical help, you've got it right. On a side note, the picture above shows the 'bells' to be two different lengths. The longer bell is under the shorter side of the silo log and the shorter bell is under the taller side. The result is two equal length exhaust cavities.

At Merc Racing, we rarely used the term silo. Those motors were referred to by what they were, Twister or TI or Cowbell.

[FMP]

So who's put a C6 front on it , done correctly all mains to crank, and how'd it run?

[Bob V]

bob, there is NO i in OLEGATOR. there was not much of a battle between duff and i. he blew 2 k/b hemi's trying to keep up. one each day. one day only lasted 3 or 4 laps. other day just a few more. looked at my parts list i got with my t1, dated march 5, 1971, engine model; merc 1350sl. hope this helps.

Hi OLEGATOR (with an "E") - If you were running a T1, then it was not you that I was thinking of. Whoever it was had a Cowbell. I am thinking it was 1970.

[Lake X Kid]

Like you, I really loved the sound of a Cowbell. It had a unique sound to it unlike the stackers. Back about 1970 there was a cowbell that ran here in the Clearwater Fun 'n Sun Regatta - possibly Jim Hunt (Olegator). There was a real two day battle between the Cowbell powered tunnel and young Duff Daily, who ran a GN flatbottom powered by a Chrysler hemi named "Oh Mona." In the end, the Cowbell out drove the hemi and won...If that was Olegator, I hope he will add a few details.

Talking about Duff Daily.
Here is Duff and his K- Boat 999, and I shaking his hand about 5 years ago.

A lot guys my age like the comfort of their Lazy Boy recliners to seat in, but Duff still today (2021) is racing K Boats.

[2us70]

Duff's parents raced inboard F Service Runabouts in the 1960s. Duff and his Dad were hurt in the 1966 Gold Coast Marathon. They hit a big cruiser wake and broke the boat. I think Duff was about 14 at the time. That incident ended the Miami to West Palm Beach format of that race.

[RogerH]

Duff attended two of the Tavares FL Vintage events with K-999 in 2015 and Super Cinders in 2016. 2016 didn't go so well as he caught a wake in the corner and barrel-rolled.

[Lake X Kid]

Remembering the men, women, and children who ventured out on the high seas, for the opportunity of a better life.

The slow boats to America - 17th to 19th century.

[Mark Poole ModVP]

Question. On a silo Twister (not cowbell, full length chamber) what was under the cover plate? Did the exhaust channel continue down and turn back into the leg or just exhaust out the bottom of the silo?

[Bob V]

Question. On a silo Twister (not cowbell, full length chamber) what was under the cover plate? Did the exhaust channel continue down and turn back into the leg or just exhaust out the bottom of the silo?

The exhaust travels down to the bottom of the silo and then is routed back into the midsection where it exits through a large oval opening on the bottom rear side of the mid.

[Mark75H]

The exhaust travels down to the bottom of the silo and then is routed back into the midsection where it exits through a large oval opening on the bottom rear side of the mid.

Or for use in Europe, the exhaust exited thru the normal SSM outlet below the cav plate, no large oval outlet.

[Tom Watkins]

Great History. I raced Parker in 1972 too. I had a single engine, Ron Jones lookalike tunnel. Boat #617. Very good looking. I knew Ham Hamburger from Mercury sales training...he Never forgot a name..This was right before he got canned for announving the 300hp outboard before it was ready for sale. Evidently, Ham was at the race down at Windmill resort, and Mercury was taking pictures. They got a few great pictures of my boat, # 617, (Terry's Outboard, Farmington,NM) on the cowling. We ran good till breaking a drive shaft caused by the lower unit coming loose. Got it fixed, finished race in 31st place. If you have access to those pictures, I would dearly love to have them.

[Tom Smyth]

Question. On a silo Twister (not cowbell, full length chamber) what was under the cover plate? Did the exhaust channel continue down and turn back into the leg or just exhaust out the bottom of the silo?

if you email me at Tsmyth@cfl.rr.com I have detailed pics showing the innards of the silo set up. Tom

[Tom Watkins]

I knew Johnny back in 72-76. He came down from Denver to win the race at Navajo Lake, outside Farmington,NM. He saw all the Roadrunner trailers we had under our boats at Terry's Outboard. He asked if we would buy trailers from them ( McCune's) and we did. Dick Sherrer came all the from Seal Beach to run our race too. Bill Seebold was scheduled to come, but his business was being flooded out. I race a 16ft tunnel that was a Ron Jones looking boat with more rocker like a Molonari. Ran good with 3rd generation Mercury equipment. My take on equipment war, Factory=1sr gen, wealthy independents like Dick Sherrer, then US poor boys. I got my stuff when Dick was done with it. Any mavhine work was sent to my friend Ron Brown in Ft. Collins. I'm still looking for any pictures of my boat #617, from the 1972 Parker Race. I love reading all the 'in crowd' facts and s tories. Thanks, Tom Watkins, Farmington,Nm

[peterse90]

Willabee, hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy & Happy New Year.

Here's hoping HOT SINGLES (my all-time favourite thread) has a great 2022 !!

Peter Wilson