Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[Lake X Kid]

The equalizer race (identical engines & boats) to determine the Champion driver among multiple race Champions. Unlimited Hydroplane Champion, Bill Muncey delivers to boat racing an answer to boat racing.
Who is the Champion of Champions?

This format should be periodically revisited every 3 to 5 years for bragging rights. A nice opportunity for the different champion drivers in multiple classes/sanctions to showcase their skills.
Sportsmanship against each other in a friendly competition. And it might generate major media coverage too.

[2us70]

I seem to recall a South African guy won that race overall.

[GENE LANHAM]

I seem to recall a South African guy won that race overall.

[2us70]

Shows how much I was paying attention at that race. It might have looked ok on TV but in person it was not very impressive. Some of the drivers struggled with the unfamiliar boats while others with the limited power available. The drivers with a lot of closed course experience had a big advantage.

[GENE LANHAM]

Shows how much I was paying attention at that race. It might have looked ok on TV but in person it was not very impressive. Some of the drivers struggled with the unfamiliar boats while others with the limited power available. The drivers with a lot of closed course experience had a big advantage.

Doc refused to get in one of those little boats—I tried to take his place— they turned me down—-said they wanted the REAL CHAMPION —-

They never tried that format again—

[willabee]

Happy New Year!

I have a question ..... I was asked if the aluminum flywheel used on the 650X was the same as the one used on the Twisters. I don't remember, so I checked with Dick Lanpheer (head engineer in charge of that development project) who said he doesn't remember either. Anyone of you guys know for sure?

[Zonkercraft]

Happy New Year!

I have a question ..... I was asked if the aluminum flywheel used on the 650X was the same as the one used on the Twisters. I don't remember, so I checked with Dick Lanpheer (head engineer in charge of that development project) who said he doesn't remember either. Anyone of you guys know for sure?

Happy New Year Willabee. Yes an aluminum flywheel was used on the 650 and 700 x/xs motor but it wasn't the same as the Twister T2/T2X. Seems to me it was an ADI style not a belt drive flywheel

[2us70]

Can anyone tell me why the belt drive ignition belts became so loose in later years? My last couple of 44ci motors had very sloppy belt fit and were difficult to get accurate timing on.

[John Schubert]

Can anyone tell me why the belt drive ignition belts became so loose in later years? My last couple of 44ci motors had very sloppy belt fit and were difficult to get accurate timing on.

Pulley wear on the flywheel pulley & the one on top of the distributor. We had this issue on 30H's & 55H's, so we changed them as needed. The one under the flywheel was removed by hitting with a cold chisel just above the retaining pin. I learned that from Dick O'Dea.

[2us70]

I also was able to fix the problem on my older 50s that way. The problem I had was with a couple of brand new motors. The timing belts just had too much slack. I never ran a 50 with the flywheel ignition but I thought it was a good idea. I understand that the last versions had flywheel ignition and the Tillotson carbs were also replaced. Did the 44xs run this configuration? Most of my racing was done with 44in 500s so I got pretty familiar with them since I couldn't afford to have other people work on my stuff.

[Lake X Kid]

I have two questions regarding this advertisement.
What is an OMC hull?

Were there Scotti hulls being built after Cesare Scotti fatal accident at Paris in 1974? See the new 1975 Scotti hull mention in the advertisement.

[lars strom]

Well..if the new Scotti-Craft was built just before Paris 1974 it could have been a 1975 model year. Outboards changed model year Augusti/September.
The Evinrude engine I raced in Paris 1974 was model year 1975.
Jack Leek designed and had a few tunnel boats built around 1970.. maybe that's the OMC Tunnel.

[Mark75H]

OMC hulls were built under contract by McDonald.

Another possiblity for the '75 Scotti is it was under construction when he was killed and completed by others.

[willabee]

..... What is an OMC hull?

This list is kind of interesting, I wonder how accurate the descriptions really are? It lists three 20' Molinari twin engine hulls. I can only remember OMC having one, Scotti won Havasu with it in 1969. The other Molinari twins I remember them having were Glastron/Molinari's, not wooden Italian Molinari's. Merc had Molinari in exclusive contract in 1970, so I don't see how OMC would have received any new twin hulls from Italy.

Also, the list includes several 16' Scotti's from 1973. Just seems to me that that's a lot of sprint boats to order at a time when horsepower was increasing rapidly. I believe John Schubert said he thinks the Scotti he ran in Paris in 71 might have been a 16', said he thought it was shorter than the others.

The 1970 OMC tunnel may have been this boat .....

but I thought it was shorter than 18'?

Some other OMC boats .....

Obviously not a big deal one way or the other. The list just made me think about the great days of boat racing.

[Lake X Kid]

Hereare some F1 drivers due to race boat accidents that, did not see their life get extended to the leisure life of retirement. In which they left their family, friends, and race fraternity to early.

The thought of remembering these racers was, with the recent passing away of Kobe Bryant. A future hall of fame NBA player, whose basketball career was only with one team the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe died yesterday at age 41 in a helicopter. The Irony for me is that I was at the 1971 Windermere race in northern England, when Bill Shakespeare did not return to the pits. And I do not think his body was found that day.

At Windermere when we heard the news, Tom Percival was consoling his wife Gillian who was crying. And Tom looked at me (and I do not remember what my facial expression was, and I do not think I said anything), but Tom said to me, that Gillian knew Bill and that is why she was grieving.

The irony for me now looking back is that Bill was 41 years of age. Tom will succumb to his own fatal accident at age 41. And Kobe was 41 too. And today I think it is fitting to remember the guys listed below whom impacted the F1 World of Hot Singles. And I knew the five European drivers listed below. Likewise, you knew them too, or know of other race drivers whose lives were cut to short.

Kenny Stevenson (USA) in 1983 accident at age 36.
Cesare Scotti from 1936 to 1974 deceased at age 38.
Tom Percival 1943 to 1984 tragedy at age 41.
Bill Shakespeare from 1930 to 1971 age 41.
John Hill from 1933 to 1993 at age 59.
And another F1 European driver whom passed away too early in life, was Bob Spalding in 1997 at age 56, after complications from his 1985 racing accident.