Life at Lake X in the '60s

[digital_jeff]

Here are two other shots that may help. The first clue is the window, all the other windows on the property were either round, like on the big building, or louvered. Also, the lack of the horizontal stripe that is on all the buildings. Possibly the south side of the building looking west? You can see the nose cones in the background. Also, looks like a carpenter shop to the right.

jeff

[digital_jeff]

Looks like it is behind the old wood shop. The back of the building that I pointed out.
All of this was torn down, except the loading dock, and a new building put up.

OK - looks like we posted at the same time. That must have been torn down before my time.

jeff

[digital_jeff]

Now, what about the boat and the person pictured?

jeff

[Mark75H]

I want to see if anyone has any info on this picture. Pretty sure it is at the lake from some items in the background - but where? I don't remember the part of the building at the top right of the picture.jeff

Dang ... not only a V-8 ... but a big block Chevy at that ... nothing else has valve covers quite like a 348/409

[seeroy]

More great pictures of the facilities. The guy pushing the "Flivver" is Charlie Rush. He was at the lake the whole time I was there. I think he worked with Jim Emerson some of the time. Jim Hauser can add more to that. The "Flivver" was a fun thing. We had a fleet of them that were used with small motors to stage relay races at the Dealer/Press conference. We would hold the Flivver for them. The first guy would jump in, start the motor, haul ass out a ways and go around bouy. We would catch him at the beach and turn the flivver around for the next guy. The final guy on the team would run the boat up on the beach. Usually, when he hit the beach and the flivver stopped suddenly, he would literally fly out of the front. Luckily nobody got hurt and it sure was fun. As for the big block and stern drive in the Flivver, sometimes we did things like that for a great joke. Nowadays somebody would Photoshop it....I worked in the "wood" shop for awhile with Jim Harkins. There very well may have been a small square window in the rear sliding door to the shop. I think John and Jeff are correct about the location of the Flivver pictures. Every time I see another "new" picture on this thread it brings back wonderful memories. Thanks to all of you for that and Best Regards - Steve Sirois

[gofish7070]

Photo was taken right outside the entrance to Charlie Rush Spotcheck Department, which was next to parts...... Guessing in the mid-60"s,,,,,,,, The amazing flivver races at the dealer meetings, were unbelievable, Steve described it perfectly, These guys would nearly kill everybody to I think win afree T-Shirt or something, for many years was on the receiving end of catching those damn things,,,,,, remember one year in Missouri Fred K. was next to me some guy came in unaware as to how to put his 4 HP engine in neutral,,, with spinning propellor was just able to shift take out of gear or Fred would have had a bad day,,,,,,, And you guys think Professional racing was HAIRY, Holiday Greetings to all,,,,,,,,,,

[digital_jeff]

One of these days i'll dig out some of those dealer meeting race shots. As I remember, they really looked out of control!

jeff

[seeroy]

Photo was taken right outside the entrance to Charlie Rush Spotcheck Department, which was next to parts...... Guessing in the mid-60"s,,,,,,,, The amazing flivver races at the dealer meetings, were unbelievable, Steve described it perfectly, These guys would nearly kill everybody to I think win afree T-Shirt or something, for many years was on the receiving end of catching those damn things,,,,,, remember one year in Missouri Fred K. was next to me some guy came in unaware as to how to put his 4 HP engine in neutral,,, with spinning propellor was just able to shift take out of gear or Fred would have had a bad day,,,,,,, And you guys think Professional racing was HAIRY, Holiday Greetings to all,,,,,,,,,,

Jim - Great post. As to Charlie Rush and "Spotcheck", that's something I had completely forgotten about. I don't remember too much about it, but for those who are wondering....basically, engines were pulled off the production line at random and sent to Lake X for "Spotcheck" testing by Charlie Rush. On occasion, I would drive a truck to Sarasota (my home ground) on the weekend and pick up "Spotcheck" engines from the Sarasota/Bradenton Kiekhaefer Distribution Warehouse. I'm not sure where Charlie Rush originated from, but for some reason I thought he was a St Cloud/Kissimmee area guy. Also, I always thought the same of Jim Emerson. Hopefully, someone will either confirm or correct me on that one. - Steve

[seeroy]

Speaking of Jim Emerson, He was multi talented. he ran the fuel program at Lake X. He had an 18 wheeler/Tanker that he used to supply all of the fuel at the Lake. I don't know where he went for it, but I suspect it was Tampa. Anyone that was ever at a race site was witness to his expertise at fueling boats during pit stops. What most people don't know is that he was a masterful welder. Lots of people can weld steel, but aluminum is an entirely different matter. Jim was/is expert in the art of Aluminum Heliarc. To add to it, he was a really nice guy. Come to think of it, while there were a few stinkers, most all of the folks at Lake X were great to be around and work with. Here is a picture of two of the best. Don Schwebbs and Jim Emerson, affectionately known as "Schwebby" and "Emery" - Steve

[seeroy]

Steve,

Was just thinking how it seems like only yesterday your brother Bill and I were cutting chain link fence off the axles of a four wheel drive fork lift in Ocala, FL. We rented the lift to move old Mobile Homes to make room for an RV Center when your brother tried to drive over the fence. Man was that fence wrapped tight on the axles. We had to throw those side cutters away by the time we finished.
Oh and the time an 18 wheeler took the front of his van off. Both of us walked away without a scratch !!!

John - You obviously have some stories about Bill that I have not heard...but need to hear. Thanks - Steve

[T2x]

Yes, Jim (JD) Emerson was a St Cloud/Kissimmee area guy.

JD is also Chuck Mercereau's first cousin.

[T2x]

John - You obviously have some stories about Bill that I have not heard...but need to hear. Thanks - Steve

Steve do you have a copy of the video of my interview with Bill and Al Copeland before the Miami-NY race?

T2x

[gofish7070]

A little off of this thread,,,,,,,, But received my OSS schedule for next year and in October offshore racing returns to W. Palm Beach,,,, Wait a minute, I live in WPB, Very early planning stage of old farts party again,, but will try to give it a go,,,,,,, Plenty of S&Fers in the area,, Steve lets work on Bakos & Riggs,,,, OK back to Lake X thread, Tunnell Boat drivers of course would be very WELCOME,,,,,,,,,, and for those that were @ The Aronow Memorial party, I'll try to get the girl in the Sea Ray to visit

[T2x]

A little off of this thread,,,,,,,, But received my OSS schedule for next year and in October offshore racing returns to W. Palm Beach,,,, Wait a minute, I live in WPB, Very early planning stage of old farts party again,, but will try to give it a go,,,,,,, Plenty of S&Fers in the area,, Steve lets work on Bakos & Riggs,,,, OK back to Lake X thread, Tunnell Boat drivers of course would be very WELCOME,,,,,,,,,, and for those that were @ The Aronow Memorial party, I'll try to get the girl in the Sea Ray to visit

I'll be there and maybe if we are all real nice....... Sherlock and Willabee might take the invitation.....

I'm going to drag Linder down kicking and screaming as well.

T2x

[seeroy]

Steve do you have a copy of the video of my interview with Bill and Al Copeland before the Miami-NY race?

T2x

Rich - I did and probably still do have (somewhere) a video of Bill interview before Miami to NY. However, I am not sure it was done by you. Is that the one that also included Ben Kraemer and James Cann? - Steve