Life at Lake X in the '60s

[jackie wilson]

don't know if Pruett EVER did a landing anywhere !!!!!!!! he just happened. He arrived-------maybe a couple of bounces along the way, He took 'em up and he brought em down------Landed, well, that's debatable . Pruett did actually take me to the lake in a little Cessna, so i know he was a regular visitor via airplane.

[seeroy]

Well then Jackie, you and Rich are SURVIVORS. I never flew in the same airframe with Don, but I did fly in close formation with him. At the 1971 Havasu race Don arranged with the McCulloch folks for us to fly with them in their J-2 gyrocopters. We took off in formation then split up. Flew in the local area for about an hour at extremely low altitude chasing every form of widlife we could find (including some bikinis). Just another one of those moments in life that I will never forget. -Steve

[gofish7070]

A little story with regards to the runway @ Lake X,,,,,,,,,,,, With Mr. K periodically showing up their we were all aware of his love for fancy and and Hi-Performance cars One day a Yellow extremely beautiful and fast Lamborghini showed up (Remember this was the mid "60s) Some reason or another Mr. K and I were together in the car, We were off down the runway,,,,,,,,,,As we got to the end he turned around,,,,,,,,, looked at me with a glint in his eye and said he wanted to make sure the runway didn't have any animals (alligators) crossing, with that were off like rocket ship,,,,,,,,,Am not sure how fast a LAMBO can accelerate to and stop on in 5000 feet,but am sure we had hit the maximum speed attainable,(around 170 I think) As we stopped I looked over and the he had the biggest grin I had ever seen,,,,,,,,,, He than went on to explain that Lamborghini had worked for Ferrarii and they had a argument and now hes building his own car,,,,,,,,,,,Hell I was just a kid from the mid-west,,,,,,, Learning this stuff,,,,,,,, He was quite a MAN,,,,,,,,,,,, Seeroy love your photos, This thread is Rockin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[T2x]

A little story with regards to the runway @ Lake X,,,,,,,,,,,, With Mr. K periodically showing up their we were all aware of his love for fancy and and Hi-Performance cars One day a Yellow extremely beautiful and fast Lamborghini showed up (Remember this was the mid "60s) Some reason or another Mr. K and I were together in the car, We were off down the runway,,,,,,,,,,As we got to the end he turned around,,,,,,,,, looked at me with a glint in his eye and said he wanted to make sure the runway didn't have any animals (alligators) crossing, with that were off like rocket ship,,,,,,,,,Am not sure how fast a LAMBO can accelerate to and stop on in 5000 feet,but am sure we had hit the maximum speed attainable,(around 170 I think) As we stopped I looked over and the he had the biggest grin I had ever seen,,,,,,,,,, He than went on to explain that Lamborghini had worked for Ferrarii and they had a argument and now hes building his own car,,,,,,,,,,,Hell I was just a kid from the mid-west,,,,,,, Learning this stuff,,,,,,,, He was quite a MAN,,,,,,,,,,,, Seeroy love your photos, This thread is Rockin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Multiple memories around this thread.......

1. In the early 80's the late Dave Albert of Myco Trailer/Speedy Doris Offshore fame came to the New York Boat show and disappeared with one of our Shadow employee's under-aged nieces ( she looked a LOT older than her age). This obviously caused a bit of stress and a multitude of bad jokes for years.

One night a few years later we were preparing for an offshore race with one of our Conquests at the Lake when Dave arrived in his yellow Ferrari 312 leaving his keys inside. I waited until he walked a few feet away and jumped in and said in a stage whisper "Let's see what this thing will do!"...( I had a flat 12 Ferrari Boxer myself at that time, so this thing was kind of a toy version.). I took off and ran up and down the runway at about 150 or so...and came back. Dave was trying not to act as nervous as he obviously was....... and simply gave me a stare to which I replied..."She seems a little under-aged to me."

Dave left a short while later to go back to his hotel. After he left, Mark Beyer took me aside and said he didn't like the sound of Dave's car so he checked the oil. It was nearly empty........ I breathed a sigh of relief and hoped he made it to where ever he was going


2. Billy Don Pruett and flying in formation....

After Mark Lavin was killed at Key West, his dad wondered out loud if somehow a military style tribute could be done at the funeral. Pruett made some calls but was turned away because Mark had not served in the Armed Forces.

As we gathered at the grave site in Connecticut, Don held a radio in his hand. As the minister finished his sermon a bugler began to play taps....... and out of the northern sky the two Chris Craft corporate jets came in side by side, fast and low....... as they reached the graveyard...one of them angled and shot up and out of sight.

I don't think I've ever been more moved....or grateful to "uncle" Billy Don.

T2x

[seeroy]

Jim - Good Morning. Glad to see you're out of bed. And who might this handsome Dude be?

Jim Hauser spent much time in the service of Kiekhaefer Corp (As did his Dad, Armand Hauser)...But he also spent time in the service of his country helping to preserve the freedom that allows all of us to have the fun of posting our memories of the "good times". Thank you for that and your friendship. Best Regards and now you can go back to bed - Steve

[jackie wilson]

Well then Jackie, you and Rich are SURVIVORS. I never flew in the same airframe with Don, but I did fly in close formation with him. At the 1971 Havasu race Don arranged with the McCulloch folks for us to fly with them in their J-2 gyrocopters. We took off in formation then split up. Flew in the local area for about an hour at extremely low altitude chasing every form of widlife we could find (including some bikinis). Just another one of those moments in life that I will never forget. -Steve

I was there !!!!!!!!! That crazy mother came over the launch ramp at zero minus feet + 75mph, zoomed up and hurled the thing in a huge arc and came straight back at the ramp , flared like a loony and dropped it in front of Garbrecht, [who i know had brown trousers by now]. "How ja like them apples baby". Garbrecht had given Pruett strict orders NOT to fly the contraption, but as always he was a law onto himself.

[digital_jeff]

Hi Everybody,
Here is a shot from 1969.

jeff

[GENE LANHAM]

Smith - Indeed Lake X had (has) a 5000' paved runway. Not sure exactly when it was built, but it was there when I first arrived in 1962. I don't know if Pruett ever did low pass or landed there, but I did - Steve Sirois

Steve and Butch: Great pictures; great memories!!!
I had the privilege and pleasure of flying in and out of there in a variety of single engine aircraft, and a couple of memorable incidents, one involving a night takeoff, no runway lights, and a deer-----I also have some pictures from the reunion I am going to try to post---using Sam's hints---

Gene

[Sheldon Tobey]

hey steve were you there when izzie landed on the runway with the goose no gear down? Mr k said put it in the water, then changed his mind

[seeroy]

hey steve were you there when izzie landed on the runway with the goose no gear down? Mr k said put it in the water, then changed his mind

Sheldon - I was not at the lake that day as it was Christmas Day. I understand Mr K had his family onboard. The keel on the goose made a perfect groove in the runway. As a I remember, the airplane was not damaged. I did fly with Izzy a couple of times....What a kick. Gotta sign off for awhile. - Steve

[seeroy]

Hi Everybody,
Here is a shot from 1969.

jeff

Jeff - This construction shot is looking along the channel into the "new slip and building". In he background you can see the canopy which covered part of the slip. Additionally, you can even see a few of the round windows of the "new" building. The channel into the "new" slip was actually there in your earlier (1958?) shots. When I first came to the Lake there was a small ramp at the head of that channel that was sometimes used to launch small boats, but the channel itself had not been maintained. There was also a small boat ramp directly adjacent to the South end of the Motel. In some of the movies of the 75,000 mile run you can see that there was a small dock with a small shed just to the South of that ramp. Jeff - once again you have helped us "old farts" to regenerate some grey matter. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

[AwesomeBullet]

Sheldon - I was not at the lake that day as it was Christmas Day. I understand Mr K had his family onboard. The keel on the goose made a perfect groove in the runway. As a I remember, the airplane was not damaged. I did fly with Izzy a couple of times....What a kick. Gotta sign off for awhile. - Steve

My grandad has told us that story multiple times...lol Also has many stories of flying in the Goose...

[digital_jeff]

Steve - All I can say is, there's an awful lot of concrete in and around the whole facility. Rumor has it that part, if not all, of the slip floor is concrete. I'll post a shot tomorrow that may give a few clues.

jeff

[digital_jeff]

Good Morning,
Here is the shot I mentioned before.

jeff

[gofish7070]

Hey Steve,,,,,,,,,, Thanks for the kind words, Love the photo, Think the lime green T-Shirt is a bit UPTOWN Everyone on this thread has certainly, "Paid Their dues" Am really proud to have all S & Fers as friends,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, A group HUG anyone???????????????????