Life at Lake X in the '60s

[seeroy]

Looks like it's going to get a little breezy here (Atlantic Beach, FL) for the next 2 days. We have been through a couple of these things before, but it never gets easy. I also remember a couple of times at Lake X when we had to tie everything down....and then nothing happened. However, the last time I drove to the front gate at the Lake, there was still alot of evidence of the 2005 storms in the area. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

[HTRDLNCN]

In a casual conversation with one of my neighbors here it
came out that he was a test driver at Lake X for about 5 years in the mid 60s.
Ill see if I can get more info from him next time we talk.

[seeroy]

In a casual conversation with one of my neighbors here it
came out that he was a test driver at Lake X for about 5 years in the mid 60s.
Ill see if I can get more info from him next time we talk.

What is his name? If you do not want to put it in the forum, you can send me a private message - Steve

[HTRDLNCN]

Steve,
I just talked to him during my daily dog walk.
his name is Murray Sheppard however he goes by Max.
He worked night shift driving the boats around the lake.
Says he worked there roughly 62-64 but he isnt sure on dates.
He remembers working with Bob Gentry,Don Scwebbs and the Tommy
who he says was his boss. Your name didnt ring a bell but he admits his
memory isnt all that great. He said to ask you if you remember the bad lobster
you all ate one day? He doesnt have internet or even a computer so I am going to print out your stories and take them to him. I took him your first page already and he was really having a good time reading it. My uncle/cousins used to go to lake X as well getting the Carrera boats dialed in but that was a lot later than you were there. (mid 80s) Never got to go myself.
[email protected]

[BobbyR]

Looks like it's going to get a little breezy here (Atlantic Beach, FL) for the next 2 days. We have been through a couple of these things before, but it never gets easy. I also remember a couple of times at Lake X when we had to tie everything down....and then nothing happened. However, the last time I drove to the front gate at the Lake, there was still alot of evidence of the 2005 storms in the area. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

A friend called and told me of your writings about Lake X. I spent a few years there along with (like you) a brother of some fame. I have fond memories of Chet and I having a chicken run... I was in a 10' "Fliver" with a 20 hp and Chet was in a 16' Lap line Larson with a 110 mercruiser..We both got a couple of daze off without pay and It took me a few days to recover from the broken ribs....
We had a reunion at the Lake years ago does anyone have pictures..

Thanks again,
Bobby

[seeroy]

Welcome aboard Bobby - Sounds like there is more to that story of the "chicken run". I think Chet does occasionally read some of this. He is living in Bradenton Fl these days. Your story is exactly what folks on this thread like to hear. Was Roy your brother? Please feel free to add details as well as other stories from your days at the Lake. Time seems to take the sting out of the dumb things that we all did and turn them into fun stories. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

[GENE LANHAM]

Hi Bobby: I remember working with you at a Mercury Dealer in Miami, early 60's; some others were Bob H., Bob L., Danny L., Shaffer, Oliver L.,?? Hope you are well----

Gene

[Flat_Out]

Well today we lost another great Mercury Man. I am sad to say that we lost Jim Harkins today. Many old Mercury guys will remember Jim from the lake, the test facilty on Siesta beach and Placida. At Placida (Boca Grande) he would take a boat hull strenghin it, deck it over, and then "Harkinize" the transom with aluminum so that the drivers could go and abuse them. Those boats would see thousands and thousands of hours of endurance. There has been many comments on the yellow boats around Boca Grande. Jim had his hands in almost all of them at some point in there life. Jim was always willing to teach you his secrets for fiberglass work and aluminum welding. I would always hate to be the one that had to go and tell him that I smashed into the seawall comming in to hot.
Jim may there be a bare hull awaiting you in heaven to be "Harkinized" and painted yellow.

Rest in Peace

[BobbyR]

Welcome aboard Bobby - Sounds like there is more to that story of the "chicken run". I think Chet does occasionally read some of this. He is living in Bradenton Fl these days. Your story is exactly what folks on this thread like to hear. Was Roy your brother? Please feel free to add details as well as other stories from your days at the Lake. Time seems to take the sting out of the dumb things that we all did and turn them into fun stories. Best Regards - Steve Sirois

First----Hi Gene yes I remember you at Bobby Hewes... We had a lot of fun in the day.....If my memory serves me I believe you had a cat that you made famous in the marthons back then.....and Oliver was one hell of a prop man....There are a lot of stories about the Miami group that someone should bring out before there are gone....The sixtys with memo boats and motors and enough crazys to build and pilot them. ....Glad that I had that door opened by my father and brother.......and the good fortune to be in all the right places.....
Steve, Not sure how we kept from running over each other... It sure sounds as if we covered a lot of the same ground at the same time...Worked with the same racing greats.......I have some stories about building the road around the lake that I will share as time allows....Saw pictures of Carl Mosely , He looks great - --I worked with Him at Seacraft in the sixties and also had the pleasure of racing with him..also helped with the sail boat right before the around the world trip....
Anyway thanks for letting me relive some of the best times of my life..
Bobby

[seeroy]

Sad day to have lost Jim. I have posted some of him in this thread. We worked together in the boat shop at the lake and had alot of fun there. I remember him with fondness as both a good guy and a "get it done" guy. Sometimes we mixed batches of resin that were so hot the remainder would smoke as it set up. We didn't paint boats yellow, but we did deck over alot of bare hulls to create both endurance and race boats. We also played many practical jokes on people. Let's just say that a 6' piece of conduit attached to a high pressure air hose and filled with multi-purpose grease makes one hell of a splash on ones chest. Many, many, many laughs we had together. Those at the next level will enjoy his company. Good Memories and Best Regards to Jim and all of those that have gone into the sunset ahead of us - Steve

[BobbyR]

I have many fond memories of Jim, Chet and others in the early days of the Lake... We were rigging and driving marathons, offshore and anything in between...The days of leaving the lake pulling the boats to Miami with anything that would pull a boat.( I used the Jeep yard truck on one trip) These were not yet the days of the long sleek racing boats but boat from all manufactors. No interstate yet.... went south 441 below Yeehaw Junction to pick up the exway.... I believe that on one trip the truck pulled out of the gate on the way to Miami-Nassua race with Jim, tools and parts in the boat still rigging...61 or 62.
We'll miss him........................

[bernie]

I knew Jim when he was at Placida. Always had to harass a person a bit when you went into the boat shop to get dock rope, or need something welded, or cut a piece of plywood, but then would drop whatever he was doing and get whatever it was you needed. A great guy, a ton of stories, and very sorry to hear he has passed.

[velox]

[QUOTE=BobbyR;1440311]First----Hi Gene yes I remember you at Bobby Hewes... We had a lot of fun in the day..............If my memory serves me I believe There are a lot of stories about the Miami group that someone should bring out before there are gone....The sixtys with memo boats and motors and enough crazys to build and pilot them.

Bobby,
Check out the thread in Racing history " Letters from Heaven, Miami in the 60"s"
Please add what you can to the stories. Miami was where it was at back then.
Lake X was always around and we saw Mr K and a lot of the big races. The 9 hour was a national even, with the best guys from all over attending.
Of course the GCM was the real boating Woodstock of its day!!!

[gofish7070]

Sorry to lose Jim Harkins,, Remember him very well, was always helpful to the new guys coming to Lake X,,,,,,,,, If I remember right use to race a center steering Switzer Craft a couple of times,,,,, Boat was a DOG But Jim loved it,,,,,,,,

[seeroy]

Sorry to lose Jim Harkins,, Remember him very well, was always helpful to the new guys coming to Lake X,,,,,,,,, If I remember right use to race a center steering Switzer Craft a couple of times,,,,, Boat was a DOG But Jim loved it,,,,,,,,

Jim - You are correct. The cockpit was in the center of the wing...I think that probably interrupted the airflow over the wing and thus lost lift....By the way the primary color of the boat was BROWN....I think the color jinxed it as well. - Steve