Life at Lake X in the '60s

[T2x]

Here are the two wings I mentioned awhile back. This looks to be in front of the motel.

jeff

Thank you, thank you, thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.

Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.

Finally....What happened to them?

Thanks for any help or insight you can provide.
T2x

[blkmtrfan]

WOW what a picture:



that is so cool

[seeroy]

Jeff - You have hit the Mother-Lode! Post #525 left picture is Ed Leslie in #47 boat. Ed rode with Bill (Sirois) in this boat in 1967 Bahama 500. Right picture is Bill driving and ?Ed?. They broke down in the B500 due to an engine mount failure. However, this particular boat is the only boat that ever beat the turbine Maritime boat in another Sam Griffith Memorial race. Post #526 left picture I think is the only single engine outboard we ran in the B500. If I am correct, then that may be Chet Strickland which conflicts with what I said about the lineup of all of the boats in an earlier post. Right picture in the #48 (Red) boat is Johnny Bakos and probably Phil Schenk. Post #529 blowup of your previous small image...standing under the canopy at the Lake X motel looks like Odell Lewis on the left and definately Mike Ramsey on the right. I don't remember if Odell ever ran one of these boats in a race, but I think he sometimes had "Gulf Wind Marine" on some of his boats. That name is on the #7000 left boat. The #700 boat on the right definately has "Owner Driver Dave Craig" right behind the canopy. Additionally "Miss Skyway" refers to "Dave Craig's Skyway Marine" on 79th Street in Miami. - Steve Sirois

[seeroy]

I just further enlarged and lightened the post #529 picture and, am now more convinced that it is Odell standing there with Mike Ramsey. Additionally, that black Chrysler under the canopy was always at the lake. If I failed to mention, all of these pictures were taken at Lake X. - Steve

[seeroy]

Thank you, thank you, thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.

Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.

Finally....What happened to them?

Thanks for any help or insight you can provide.
T2x

Rich - When I spent some time working with Ted Jones at MEMCO in Jacksonville, there was a wooden Switzer sitting in the shop. I think that was probably 1966 or 1967. However, like you, only some of my memory cells are still intact. - Steve

[digital_jeff]

This is the same boat in both shots.

jeff

[seeroy]

Jeff - Definately Gene Wagner at the fuel dock. The other picture appears to be Gene holding the antenna up. Maight be radio guy checking radio - Steve OOps! Other picture...Gene is at the wheel. Might be Dale Thayer holding antenna.

[digital_jeff]

[quote=T2x;1497763]Thank you, thank you, thank you....I knew there were two canopied wooden wings, but Dave Switzer referred to only one in an "Extreme Boats" interview 2 years ago. This picture proves my memory cells are still ( a little) intact.

Next question......what year was that picture taken......? The cowls indicate 1966 motors on one of the boats. Also who drove them at the races? Dave Craig couldn't have been in two at the same time.


I know I have more wing shots - just may take some time to find them.

jeff

[Mark75H]

Thanks, Jeff! That's the real stuff!

I haven't changed my Desktop in a long time, but Burt Ross going 115mph is now retired ...

[seeroy]

Thanks, Jeff! That's the real stuff!

I haven't changed my Desktop in a long time, but Burt Ross going 115mph is now retired ...

Sam - Does that mean you now have a picture of Jackie Wilson on your desktop? - Steve

[Bruce Washburn]

I thought I had heard that the Miss Skyway crashed during one of the last Gold coast marathons

[seeroy]

I thought I had heard that the Miss Skyway crashed during one of the last Gold coast marathons

Hi Bruce - Maybe that explains why I saw one at MEMCO.

[digital_jeff]

One more shot for today.

jeff

[seeroy]

One more shot for today.

jeff

Jeff - That's Bill in white jacket in the boat, with Ed Leslie in green coverall and back to camera. Next boat over is Johnny Bakos and it looks like Wayne Vickers bending over - Steve

[seeroy]

Steve:
I was wondering if you might remember the situation as to why Bill was
in Long Beach California for the running of our Power Cat drag hydro back
in 1962. I know these motors were factory specials and some of the
very first black 100's off the line. I thought maybe Carl K. had him go with
the motors to be sure us west coast crazies knew what we were doing.
Danny Leger

Danny - I spent some time with Phil Schenk recently...He and Bill were in California together during that time. He told me that Bill actually worked for Powercat for the time period that the picture was taken. I think that Bill might have stayed with Eddie's family for awhile. If anyone is in touch with Eddie, perhaps he can add more to this. Phil told me that Bill also worked on boats for Dan Blocker and Jack Elam during that stint. I need to listen to a recording that I made of our recent conversation and maybe I can find out more. Or...I could just call Phil. Best Regards - Steve Sirois