Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[jackie wilson]

Hey Willa you old goat----------That's MY cowbell you show there-------at least, the one on number 22 was mine---------from the minute i got it ,i had OMC cameras waved at me ,begging for me to make it easy for them to take a piccy----so just kept it covered till i was way out on the pond---that was the start of the CRANKY calling--------which makes the cowbell an important piece of outboard and racing history.
Was always deaf after having the noise of that mother coming back down the tunnel, mind you ,i never got the pleasure of driving a stacker with chrome pipes--------definitely OOB in Europe---you would have been drummed out of the brownies if you had attempted to bring one of those over here, so i guess the stacker had to be the winner in the noise department.

[Bob V]

Jackie...You bring up an interesting point here. I agree that the stackers were slightly louder than a cowbell from the spectator standpoint or from a driver following them. However, from the position of the driver, I would be willing to bet you that the cowbell was actually louder than the stacker. The stacker deflected the sound well to the rear of the boat. The stacks were horizontal to the water, which means that the sound waves did not bounce off the water. The cowbell, on the other hand, dumped the exhaust directly down towards the water where the sound waves could bounce back and radiate up through the cowling to the driver. I would be interested to hear from a driver that drove both.

[Bob V]

It really would be hard for me to say which was louder as the biggest difference was the tone. I know, on the way home, after the races, my ears would ring only after running the stacker.

I am curious if your ears still ring today? Mine sure do!

[J. Sherlock]

I am curious if your ears still ring today? Mine shure do!

For me the thing with the Stacker was we had many, many, many engines on the track at one time, going and coming...... My own stacker seemed quiet compared to the ones around me................

[Bob V]

For me the thing with the Stacker was we had many, many, many engines on the track at one time, going and coming...... My own stacker seemed quiet compared to the ones around me................

John...You were in it during some of the best years of racing. Sure, engines today are much more powerful and have all kinds of computer controlled technology, but nothing will ever be quite as memorable as the sound of a stacker or a cowbell twister.

[J. Sherlock]

John...You were in it during some of the best years of racing. Sure, engines today are much more powerful and have all kinds of computer controlled technology, but nothing will ever be quite as memorable as the sound of a stacker or a cowbell twister.

The cool thing is I also did ALL the testing of the F-1 V6 that is racing today. Ran the engine for 35 hours on a 34 +- sec track, 20 min fuel loads, 4 to 5 hours a day. Not going to say the rpm we ran, the guys smarter than me will jump all over it lol......... 35 hours no engine part changes and for safety we changed the gear lub at the end of each day. I will say, or brag, 139 mph on each and every long straight away and 125 on the one short straight. The track was set up in a triangle shape. The prop was a Mercury Three Blade 19. We ran the rev limiter on the two long straights so as to test how it may or may not hurt the engine and gear case. I had onboard data being recorded so I could concentrate on my driving and keep the little SST-140 glass Seebold on the water, it was a hellava fun ride....................

[FUJIMO]

The cool thing is I also did ALL the testing of the F-1 V6 that is racing today. Ran the engine for 35 hours on a 34 +- sec track, 20 min fuel loads, 4 to 5 hours a day. Not going to say the rpm we ran, the guys smarter than me will jump all over it lol......... 35 hours no engine part changes and for safety we changed the gear lub at the end of each day. I will say, or brag, 139 mph on each and every long straight away and 125 on the one short straight. The track was set up in a triangle shape. The prop was a Mercury Three Blade 19. We ran the rev limiter on the two long straights so as to test how it may or may not hurt the engine and gear case. I had onboard data being recorded so I could concentrate on my driving and keep the little SST-140 glass Seebold on the water, it was a hellava fun ride....................

And you can brag that you were the only one that performed this type of testing, on these latest F-1 engines to boot. Very, very cool John. Now, let me get out the calculator...lol

[J. Sherlock]

And you can brag that you were the only one that performed this type of testing, on these latest F-1 engines to boot. Very, very cool John. Now, let me get out the calculator...lol

get out the calculator but with no rpm it will do you no good. Don't let the fact I said we ran into the rev limiter think I gave it away. The engine was a prototype and we had not decided just when we wanted it to come in. Let me put that another way, we knew the rev number we wanted but would have to get it past those in the North, not easy to do. Working the calculator will give you an idea the rpm. I don't want to say and put myself in a position like I have in the past and get all bent out of shape with the critics. The thing that made this program so much fun was the 3 litre OMC was the engine we needed to stay in front of useing our 2.5. It was like having a blank check. May never see this kind of testing again. It was a great way to close down the lake.

[Bob V]

Like I said...you were in it during some of the finest years of racing. I agree that you probably will never see those days again, racing or testing.

However, you have the unique ability to go back in time. When you complete the restoration on the Kitson and go for that first test drive with those twin 1350 BP Stackers singing, you will back in 1969. Enjoy the ride...

[J. Sherlock]

Like I said...you were in it during some of the finest years of racing. I agree that you probably will never see those days again, racing or testing.

However, you have the unique ability to go back in time. When you complete the restoration on the Kitson and go for that first test drive with those twin 1350 BP Stackers singing, you will back in 1969. Enjoy the ride...

Thank you, I will enjoy the ride and be thinking of those who made it all happen for me. I raced with the help of many and wish the boat had enough seats for them all............................

Sorry for getting off track on the thread, Hot Singles Pictures started by Willabee, but when things get rolling along they just come out. lol

[jackie wilson]

Just wanted to tell you about my Mechanic Chas Shooter who went on to be wrench monkey for Percival and Spalding when they both defected to OMC. Went into hospital 3 weeks before Christmas and came home `last week, minus his right leg. Found big nasties in his upper half. Went over to see him yesterday------still moaning and a groaning, but the medics think they got all the fuzzy wuzzies out . Most of the old racers will remember him as a brilliant engineer-and the main reason i did so well with my outfits. Sends his regards to all his old "colonial" friends in the US of A.

[gofish7070]

He had to be some wrench to have put up wth Ol Jackie Boy.. Thoughts are with him from all OOFers and all the trash we have to put up with by getting oldc is why we love having our party,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[JP Love]

Just wanted to tell you about my Mechanic Chas Shooter who went on to be wrench monkey for Percival and Spalding when they both defected to OMC. Went into hospital 3 weeks before Christmas and came home `last week, minus his right leg. Found big nasties in his upper half. Went over to see him yesterday------still moaning and a groaning, but the medics think they got all the fuzzy wuzzies out . Most of the old racers will remember him as a brilliant engineer-and the main reason i did so well with my outfits. Sends his regards to all his old "colonial" friends in the US of A.

Regards to your friend... JP

[Old fiberglass]

This is slightly off topic, but applies to racing both multi's and singles. Can anyone nail down the history and time line of the MC-1 lower units for inlines. Sam thought they can out in the early 70's. This would follow the BP lower unit disaster and the need for a more robust lower unit design for marathons. Anyone...Willabee.....inquiring minds want to know.

[MN4V]

Here is one of mine I got from Molly Ballou. The bullet measures 2.44" in width. It's been cut for use on her Ron Jones drag hydro. Why does it look so much different below the cavitation plate from your MC1?
Mark N