Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[willabee]

I do remember, I finally retired after 45 years with Mercury

I assume you made that statement about remembering in response to mbd29 saying that he just visited Plt.#33 and no one there remembers what went on at that location back in the late sixties and seventies. If you just retired, forty-five years would put you with Merc around 1968, were you there?

Speaking of Mr. Butler, he said that he was with some of the boys that drove "Hot Singles" back in that timeframe. I believe he said that the Biography Channel is doing a story on the life of one Mr. Reginald Fountain! Mike was the Merc rep to help supply some info and Billy Seebold & Earl Bentz were also invited to add some first hand experience to the biography.

Left to right ..... Reggie, Billy & Earl ..... a bunch of talent at one table! Billy and Earl seem to be laughing at something that has not brought a smile to Reggie's face. I wonder if they are looking at the picture of Reggie in the infamous "Rhino Nose"?

[jackiewilson]

I assume you made that statement about remembering in response to mbd29 saying that he just visited Plt.#33 and no one there remembers what went on at that location back in the late sixties and seventies. If you just retired, forty-five years would put you with Merc around 1968, were you there?

Speaking of Mr. Butler, he said that he was with some of the boys that drove "Hot Singles" back in that timeframe. I believe he said that the Biography Channel is doing a story on the life of one Mr. Reginald Fountain! Mike was the Merc rep to help supply some info and Billy Seebold & Earl Bentz were also invited to add some first hand experience to the biography.

Left to right ..... Reggie, Billy & Earl ..... a bunch of talent at one table! Billy and Earl seem to be laughing at something that has not brought a smile to Reggie's face. I wonder if they are looking at the picture of Reggie in the infamous "Rhino Nose"?

If it didn't have great legs and a 40" chest-------blonde hair, white teeth and won the miss America contest for 3 years running, then it would not put a smile on Reggie's face.

[C.G. 125]

If you knew Reggie, that is his smile

[willabee]

If you knew Reggie, that is his smile

Actually, I always thought he had a bit of a devious smile. I recall he'd make a comment or answer a question and end the statement with that smile. Often times I'd walk away wondering "What is he really thinking?"

[T2x]

Often times I'd walk away wondering "What is he really thinking?"

Remember the seagulls in the movie "Finding Nemo"?........ "Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"

[jackiewilson]

Remember the seagulls in the movie "Finding Nemo"?........ "Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Too deep for me!!!!! Last time I went to the flicks was to see "Gone with the wind", don' suppose either viv Leigh or Gable were in---- what the hell was it ? FINDING NEMO.
Don't even begin to think about Reggie and the movies or you could be up poo-poo street without facilities.
.

[jackiewilson]

One of the things that pisses me off most is the fact that all three of them have still got hair, and lots of it. OK so it may be a whiter shade of pale---- fact is, it's HAIR and on the feckin HEAD, a very rare anomaly in this day and age ----I have hair in abundance, chest,arms, legs, privates and up nostrils------TOP OF THE HEAD-----God gave, then took it away, so by what God given rite do those three reprobates have to be granted A MOP AND NOT A CHROME DOME.
None of them would look that good if they were bald as badgers.
Jealous---------who---me------- bet your sweet trigger assembly on it.

[jackiewilson]

Well, it happened again didn't, it?
The thread went into hibernation------was it something I said----I suddenly got B.O.----or contacted leprosy----dog breath, or the powerboat pox.
Everyone gone flying !!!!!!
Charlie off into the wide blue yonder ?
Rich off flying the wing ?
Willa, flying with the fairies?
Seeroy------just flying.
If things go on like this, I might just have to tell you one or two facts about our hero and founder of this thread----William Welch-----known to all Mercury men simply as --------WELCH.
Right hand of one named, GG, when things went wrong, Welch got the blame, when on the other hand, everything in the garden was blooming, GG took the credit.
Welch used to fix everything, from breakfast to diapers for the whole crew.
For this he was given the title " crew chief".
he was given credit for the sunshine, and the blame for the rain.
T'was said he could drive a tunnel, but in all my time at Mercury I never witnessed this.
When you wanted a part or a tool or a new sanding disc---------See Welch was the answer.
usually the first in and the last out, Welch was always there somehow,part of the furniture,gofor, you wanted to be there, it was Welch who took you.
can't ever remember even once saying thank you for anything he did, so here goes, just once only,.

THANKS WELCH, FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU DID, AND THE BEST THREAD ON S& F HOT SINGLES, JACKIE.

[seeroy]

"THANKS WELCH, FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU DID, AND THE BEST THREAD ON S& F HOT SINGLES, JACKIE."

Jackie - WOW, If that doesn't get things going, nothing will. Funny thing is that while writing this, I am on the throne. That is when all of my best ideas eminate from my brain. Unfortunately, by the time I stand up, they all disappear into the fog. - Seeroy

[John Schubert]

Well, it happened again didn't, it?
The thread went into hibernation------was it something I said----I suddenly got B.O.----or contacted leprosy----dog breath, or the powerboat pox.
Everyone gone flying !!!!!!
Charlie off into the wide blue yonder ?
Rich off flying the wing ?
Willa, flying with the fairies?
Seeroy------just flying.
If things go on like this, I might just have to tell you one or two facts about our hero and founder of this thread----William Welch-----known to all Mercury men simply as --------WELCH.
Right hand of one named, GG, when things went wrong, Welch got the blame, when on the other hand, everything in the garden was blooming, GG took the credit.
Welch used to fix everything, from breakfast to diapers for the whole crew.
For this he was given the title " crew chief".
he was given credit for the sunshine, and the blame for the rain.
T'was said he could drive a tunnel, but in all my time at Mercury I never witnessed this.
When you wanted a part or a tool or a new sanding disc---------See Welch was the answer.
usually the first in and the last out, Welch was always there somehow,part of the furniture,gofor, you wanted to be there, it was Welch who took you.
can't ever remember even once saying thank you for anything he did, so here goes, just once only,.

THANKS WELCH, FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU DID, AND THE BEST THREAD ON S& F HOT SINGLES, JACKIE.

Great post Jackie. I concur wholeheartedly even though I was on the other side. I had some great conversations with Bill including several about the possibility of driving/working for them, but for personal privacy issues will not elaborate further. Nevertheless, I have nothing but accolades & gratitude for Bill. And, yes, he is the one that held it together for successes of the Merc team during the Golden Era.

[willabee]

.....T'was said he could drive a tunnel, but in all my time at Mercury I never witnessed this......

I don't know what the hell you've been smokin', but please put it out! Have you ever thought about getting a dog? Think about it, you obviously need a pal to play with, cause when no ones playing with you on S & F you put some really weird thoughts to print!

Of all that BS you just spewed, the only part that is accurate is the tunnel driving bit. I have only said this to my wife and children (and any friends that have never been to a boat race), but it's time to come out ..... I, with all due modesty, was without a doubt, the best ever to grab the steering wheel of a tunnel boat. As a matter of fact, had I been allowed to race, results would have been such that when people printed their list of the top five tunnel boat drivers, my name would have occupied at least four of the five positions! I was so good that I probably could have run a twin at Havasu on Saturday and a single on Sunday and still won both 1st Overall & 1st Single! Yep, sittin' there with my big cigar, just a drivin' like a Superstar ..... that was me, Willabee!

Superstar was drivin' the nuts off of this go-fast machine .....

[jackie wilson]

SUPERSTAR MY ARSE--------SUPER SQUIB MORE LIKE------AND DAMP---LOTS A SMOKE AN NO BANG

I never would have mentioned the firewood. J.

[jackie wilson]

As feckin modest and unassuming today as he was back then, with his Don Ameche lips and the growth on the top one
Once told me he was racing when Pontius was a Pilate.
If his lips are movin--------------------_________.

[willabee]

Great post Jackie. I concur wholeheartedly even though I was on the other side .......

I don't know what Jackie's got on you, but after all of that you can certainly tell him that the debt is paid!

Thanks, Bill

[willabee]

SUPERSTAR MY ARSE--------I never would have mentioned the firewood. J.

..... I think you have it wrong. That's not a picture of a blow-over, I was runnin' that 18' rocker with a pair of single pipe C6's strapped to her tail. Was goin' so fast the wind just ripped the nose right off! Called Renato and sent him pictures. He called back and said "Hey Superstar, you just have to slow it down until we can make something strong enough to take the speeds you run at". That's when Merc took my helmet away and gave me a desk job.