Hot Singles ! - Pictures

**GENE LANHAM** · 11-18-2009, 03:20 PM

[QUOTE=willabee;1830713]A number of Billy Don Pruett stories have been told on S&F

I met him in 1967---so I have a few. The last time I saw Don was in the mid 80's. There was a 'race'--- New Orleans to St Louis. By this time Don and I were too stiff, too old, too cranky to even think about being in a race boat----so each of us were providing 'air cover', using our own airplanes. I think Don was working for Don Johnson, I was working for Tom Gentry. We were in a bar in the Big Easy, we were both pretty drunk, and Don was telling me how much he "hated my guts"---back in the day-----seems like any time we were in the same race, he was going to 'blow up' or 'blow over', and I was going to win. I think 'hating my guts' was actually a compliment from Don----
Gene

**T2x** · 11-18-2009, 05:41 PM

Smith Mountain Lake Virginia.... late 60's..... Pruett in the triple engine Jones.

Comes in with a blown powerhead during the race....... Pulls boat up on the trailer and up the ramp.

Watches as the Merc guys....probably including Willabee...start to unbolt the powerhead..... can't stand the delay and grabs a sledge hammer......... rears back and ....... WHACK!!!!!!!!....... knocks the powerhead off and onto the ground.

Then grabs a wrench and starts putting the new one on..........

This was when we had a plug in wiring harness.... Thank God.

T2x

**seeroy** · 11-18-2009, 07:08 PM

1971 Havasu, Pruett says,"Hey Steve, wanna go flying?" "Sure", says I. Next thing I know we are lined up at the McCullough (Dammit..I never could spell that name) factory in seperate J2 Gyrocopters. We are with factory pilots, but they are not about to touch the controls. Off we go in formation. Spent the next hour chasing jackrabbits all over the desert. Never got over about 50' above ground. -

Steve

**jackie wilson** · 11-22-2009, 04:21 AM

Pruett was always in the thick of it somehow. He tried to get me up in that thing ,but i knew just how "loony" he could be [even on a good day] so i declined gracefully. Remember him scaring the crap out of everyone at Havasu when he brought it into the launch ramp, did not realise there were two of you fooling around, can't quite imagine you Steve, being as Loopy as Pruett. Wierd just how many people Pruett knew, Kings and Queens, presidents and Dictators were all the same to that guy. Amazing he was always skint, he could go through money like no other person.

**willabee** · 11-24-2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by jackie wilson

Pruett was always in the thick of it somehow......Kings and Queens, presidents and Dictators were all the same to that guy.

.......So about a months worth of work in Oshkosh, really burning some midnight oil and another weeks worth of testing in the desert has finally brought us to Saturday morning. In a few hours we are going to find out if we did things right or if we should have just stayed home. It's a busy time, but it's also very exciting. The "good mornings" and "hellos" have a slightly different sound to them and they are said with smiles that can't hide the tension and apprehension.

We don't have to do last minute checks because we took care of that the night before. Just need to give the boats one last wipe down to look their racey best, install some props and start the parade to the launching ramp. All the engines fire right on cue and Billy Don and a few others show the opposition that big wall of water......this morning it looks exceptionally good.

The boys take a hot lap and then start idling over to the refueling dock to get lined up for the start. That gives the crew time to park the trucks and trailers and to hot-shoe it over to the dock to assist their assigned driver.

Here are a few fuzzy shots of some of the team boats as they begin the process of lining up.....Billy Seebold in his 20' Jones and Bobby Hering in his new 17' Molinari sprint are the first to arrive. Somehow we had agreed to allow some guy from England space for his Molinari/Cowbell combo Bloody Hoo Ray and he squeezes in next to Tom Stickle's new 17' Molinari sprint powered by the mighty 1350 stacker. A few more idle in including Duey Berghauer in a 17' Jones single. Jim Merten arrives with the new 20' reverse S Molinari Wet & Wild powered by a pair of Cowbells.....even at idle they sound like mean machines!

Seebold looks relaxed sitting on his Black Witch (don't know where that name came from) next to Bill Petty in the new 21' lightweight Glastron/Molinari with twin 1350 water injected stackers. The most prestigious stage in outboard racing is about to be set.

**jackie wilson** · 11-25-2009, 03:45 AM

Gotta hand it to you Willa, you certainly know how to make full grown men weep. Read your thread, and pure emotion took over. Tear rolled down my cheek as i read it and realized how few of us are left from that day.
No more Pruett, Merton,Kabasta, Wyrabeck, May, Kennedy, Scotti, But aren't we so lucky to have even been part of the pure magic that was 'RACING IN THE DAY'. That was our time and you tell it so well you bombastic old 'DICKHEAD'. Just don't ever stop, J.

**T2x** · 11-25-2009, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by jackie wilson

Gotta hand it to you Willa, you certainly know how to make full grown men weep. Read your thread, and pure emotion took over. Tear rolled down my cheek as i read it and realized how few of us are left from that day.
No more Pruett, Merton,Kabasta, Wyrabeck, May, Kennedy, Scotti, But aren't we so lucky to have even been part of the pure magic that was 'RACING IN THE DAY'. That was our time and you tell it so well you bombastic old 'DICKHEAD'. Just don't ever stop, J.

Jackie:

We should thank God every day that we got to play in that era. Today it's all chest thumping, taking bows, and boasting...without any racing...and with very little talent... (your offspring, Stevie Curtis, Johnny Tomlinson, Gary Ballough, the Seebolds, Torrente, and very few others being the exceptions rather than the rule).

My greatest source of pride (beyond my kids of course) is membership in OFF.

Now go back to the wine, women and song of the south of France....

Oh .....one more thing... Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Old Farts.

T2x

**seeroy** · 11-25-2009, 10:55 AM

I always like the fact that Jackie is so subtle

**Mike Bruton** · 11-25-2009, 11:01 AM

I remember my thanksgiving dinner at Havasu, 1970. A cheeseburger & fries at a place called Crazy Ed's. Real gourmet dining. Got into a roll tossing fight with a bunch of OMC guys.

**T2x** · 11-25-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Mike Bruton

I remember my thanksgiving dinner at Havasu, 1970. A cheeseburger & fries at a place called Crazy Ed's. Real gourmet dining. Got into a roll tossing fight with a bunch of OMC guys.

We were luckier a few years later when Sherlock got us an invitation to a real sit down dinner at the home of some girl he knew.......

**jackie wilson** · 11-25-2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by seeroy

I always like the fact that Jackie is so subtle

AW!!! Shucks Steve, that's so nice of you to realize what a humble gentle, reticent, appreciative old soul i really am.!!!!!!!!! TCH, TCH, TCH. !!!!!

**jackie wilson** · 11-25-2009, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by T2x

We were luckier a few years later when Sherlock got us an invitation to a real sit down dinner at the home of some girl he knew.......

Now if you can get Willa and his memoir to elucidate a little more, he may tell you of the big breasted "TIFFANY" who was into ---COOKING---- for some of the Merc guys at the house they rented during Havasu week. Pruett was always ready for desert, [having a sweet tooth and all], but as i recollect she did some pretty fancy meals. Molly Ballou was the main stay for the crew along with Kenny, but good old "TIFF" served up some tasty morsels. Man-oh- Cunningham--------Happy days----- J.

**willabee** · 11-25-2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jackie wilson

Molly Ballou was the main stay for the crew along with Kenny, but good old "TIFF" served up some tasty morsels. Man-oh- Cunningham--------Happy days----- J.

Hard to believe, but I had forgotten about Tiffany. I remember the first time I laid....................................my eyes on her, she was quite the package. She was tending bar at the Bedrock on the river and really stood out. I guess that was kind of easy considering that she wasn't wearing much of anything.

She noticed that I had noticed and motioned for me to come up to the bar. I slipped through that crowd like water on a weasel and asked the fair maiden how I could help her. She proceeded to ask for the name of one of the guys that I had come in with and then asked me to tell him that she would like to meet him somewhere!

.....all of the emotions did a quick flow-through as I stood there in total shock. How in the world could that woman be telling Cool Hand Luke that some other stud had caught her eye.

She did become friends of the race team and helped Molly Ballou with her scoring efforts and the Thanksgiving meal. The meal was a tradition Molly had started on her own. The first year she came to the rented house on Thanksgiving she saw that all of us were working and grabbing a burger on the run. The next year she arrived with cooked cornish hens and a big bunch of other delightful treats. We took the time to sit and eat with her and Ken, it was really great. From then on Molly was known as our Den Mother because she was always trying to take care of "her boys".

**jackie wilson** · 11-25-2009, 02:42 PM

Don't you just luv 'im-------It's the way he tells 'em. Eat your heart out Steinbeck and Hemingway, -----------WE GOT WILLABEE !!!!!!!!!
First time i LAID ------eyes on her,-----------Subtle as a house brick don't you think, modest as DE GAULLE, [ COOL HAND LUKE if you please] Rugged as John Wayne, and Gable wished he could look like Willa. When he comes -----he's IN LIKE FLYNN. WE COME NOT TO BURY HIM ----BUT TO PRAISE HIM --- WILLIAM 'CEASER' WELCH, ALL HAIL.Number one 'OLD FART'.

**T2x** · 11-25-2009, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by jackie wilson

Don't you just luv 'im-------It's the way he tells 'em. Eat your heart out Steinbeck and Hemingway, -----------WE GOT WILLABEE !!!!!!!!!
First time i LAID ------eyes on her,-----------Subtle as a house brick don't you think, modest as DE GAULLE, [ COOL HAND LUKE if you please] Rugged as John Wayne, and Gable wished he could look like Willa. When he comes -----he's IN LIKE FLYNN. WE COME NOT TO BURY HIM ----BUT TO PRAISE HIM --- WILLIAM 'CEASER' WELCH, ALL HAIL.Number one 'OLD FART'.

Some one hand me my boots....it's getting deep in here......