Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[Bob V]

Those two guys both had quite a rough life and deaths. Bill was stabbed to death in prison. Tommy was murdered not long after he got out following a long stretch. Bill claimed that he couldn't swim a stroke," that's what the life jacket is for".

Another "questionable" racer out of Miami was Jan Whitten. I think he hung in the same circle as Bill and Tommy...

[2us70]

Unfortunately there were several racers who fell into that category.Guys like me racing on our own dime vs guys spending big dollars acquired under the table. I wasn't hip to all of it but it was discouraging just the same.

[2us70]

Between the factory wars, the underground dark money and just plain rich guys racing guys like us just couldn't keep up by the mid 70s.

[GENE LANHAM]

[QUOTE=willabee;2944952]

While we're waiting for Gene's story "to be continued", we can take a look at another great 'group' shot ....

..

I agree that they are the same boat. I never understood why it was sent to Florida and then recalled. Maybe that was when drivers were being hired and we were short on boats that didn't have the nose torn off.

"TO BE CONTINUED"

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Dick and I drover the 'hauler' non-stop across the continent. We were both gainfully employed in Miami, and a two day race in Arizona was really a stretch

At Havasu we got to meet Chez-er-ray again. And Renato-and Rasini and about a hundred other people that all had the same idea--compete in the 'WORLD OUTBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

[willabee]

[quote=gene lanham;2946319]

..... at havasu we got to meet chez-er-ray again. And renato-and rasini and about a hundred other people that all had the same idea--compete in the 'world outboard championship .....

First time we saw him was in Miami driving a single Molinari and he won. Things weren't going to turn out much different for him driving a twin Molinari at Havasu.

Gene, this is 1969 and Chez-er-ray gets OMC's first win in the OWC! Prior to this race it had been all Merc's. I think it was Eis - Eis - Cooper - Kitson in the winners circle. After Saturday's 4 hours, the race officials received a number of complaints against Scotti from drivers who were contending that he had cut them off. As I understand it, he was warned by the race officials that if they saw any more of that on Sunday, he would be disqualified. Did you see any of that going on Saturday or Sunday?

Eis ....

Cooper ....

Kitson .....

Scotti ....

[GENE LANHAM]

[QUOTE=willabee;2946548]

after Saturday's 4 hours, the race officials received a number of complaints against Scotti from drivers who were contending that he had cut them off. As I understand it, he was warned by the race officials that if they saw any more of that on Sunday, he would be disqualified. Did you see any of that going on Saturday or Sunday?

I didn't witness any of that--but the first two hours on Saturday were a huge rush. There were so many boats--so much traffic--so many collisions-There would be 6 or 8 8 boats entering a single pin turn!! (Reminded me off my 'open wheel' days)----I collided with Rasini in the NW turn--he was not very happy---

[GENE LANHAM]

[SCT]

It's interesting that two V hulls (Glastron and Checkmate) came in 4th and 5th overall over a bunch of tunnels.

[willabee]

It's interesting that two V hulls (Glastron and Checkmate) came in 4th and 5th overall over a bunch of tunnels.

Gene posted the results of the 1968 Havasu race, not the 69 we were talkin' about (guess people do stuff like that when they get really, really old ). There were not many tunnels at the 68 race. Believe Merc entered four singles and OMC may have had a couple? In any event, you could look at the results that way, or you could say it's interesting that single engine tunnels finished 2nd & 3rd!

This was a race previously dominated by multi engine Style Craft and V bottoms since it's inception in 64. Here comes the first wave of single engine tunnel boats in 1968 and they damn near win the whole shootin' match! If memory serves, at the end of the first two hours on Saturday, Tom Stickle was running first overall - in a single engine Molinari! He was not only ahead of the multi engine V's, but was also in front of a flock of Wing's .....

I've said this before, I think 1968 Havasu OWC was 'the race' that told everyone that the wind of change was upon us. The day of the dominant V hull was over, Hail to the new King .... the Tunnel.

Kalibat .....

Combs .....

[GENE LANHAM]

Gene posted the results of the 1968 Havasu race, not the 69 we were talkin' about (guess people do stuff like that when they get really, really old ). There were not many tunnels at the 68 race. Believe Merc entered four singles and OMC may have had a couple? In any event, you could look at the results that way, or you could say it's interesting that single engine tunnels finished 2nd & 3rd!

I've said this before, I think 1968 Havasu OWC was 'the race' that told everyone that the wind of change was upon us. The day of the dominant V hull was over, Hail to the new King .... the Tunnel.

DUH--I think that is what I was trying to say--

Kenny won in a Wing, in 1968. In 1969, I think there were 13 or 14 Wings entered--

The first Wing to finish in 1969, finished A PATHETIC 14th (who?)

We were all surprised to see how quickly Chez er Ray got around that 4 mile course---and did it with motors that were not
BLACK

The complete result of the 1968 OWC-(below) -I will try to post the top 30 finishers in the 1969 OWC

TO BE CONTINUED---

[GENE LANHAM]

Gene (guess people do stuff like that when they get really, really old ).

[GENE LANHAM]

[QUOTE=GENE LANHAM;2946636-

[/QUOTE]

From 'Yachting'--article written by Mel Crook

[lilabner]

[mn808gade]

1st place U class, two 125hp mercs AND one 110hp merc ?? WOW-th

[willabee]

1st place U class, two 125hp mercs AND one 110hp merc ?? WOW-th

Must have had a good 1100 left from the previous years racing and budget for two new 1250's? It was a good runnin' Glastron, I think this is it in 1968. The top cowl on the center motor appears to be trimmed differently than the other two.