Gold Coast Marathon

**lilabner** · 10-22-2015, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Here's Johnny!!!!

And the reason he is driving Dave's boat...Mr K asked Dave to see how fast and hard he could turn Johnnys boat, the 7000 Wing, at Lake X. The boat spun and Dave went through the side. Boat sunk. Mr K was mad and told Johnny that he could have Dave's boat. Dave was banged up pretty good and the most beautiful wing of all was junked.
Story leaked by both Johnny and Dave at OFF in Jupiter.

**Lake X Kid** · 10-25-2015, 03:53 PM

Is this possibly a reenactment of an early 1950s Gold Coast Marathon in Florida? But this race is taking place in present day Top O’ Michigan. Well maybe the equivalent of outboard classes, of GCM in Florida, during the early 1950s.

The thrill of motor racing through the middle of the city, and flying by people back yards in a boat, is still experienced in America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zrUMcHRGBM

Albeit in this Dustin Pearson video, the race driver has a GoPro camera attached to his race helmet. The more boat pilots start attaching small light weight cameras to there race boats, the healthier the sport will prosper and grow. These shared race videos on the Internet is free publicity, for the sport of boat racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svPxOtjUM-4

Another light weight video camera, this one mounted on the outboard engine, film by Peter Lauer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6r9A7cG9u4

**Mark75H** · 10-25-2015, 06:11 PM

This is Stock Outboard Marathon racing that has been running since the late 1940's. Its no reenactment of any other event or locale; its it's own thing and always has been. Top O' is one of the main races in the Marathon category.

Originally Posted by Lake X Kid

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Is this possibly a reenactment of an early 1950s Gold Coast Marathon in Florida? But this race is taking place in present day Top O’ Michigan. Well maybe the equivalent of outboard classes, of GCM in Florida, during the early 1950s.

The thrill of motor racing through the middle of the city, and flying by people back yards in a boat, is still experienced in America.

**bernie** · 10-27-2015, 08:22 AM

Gotta love those newspaper guys - 126 MPH - I know John B. and he was good but not that good!

**2us70** · 10-27-2015, 03:54 PM

I don't believe I ever saw the 7000 wing run. I have seen pictures over the years but I never saw them together. The 7000 boat looks to have a little more areo looking bows. Was this any faster than the 700 boat? It was a little better looking in my opinion.

**lilabner** · 10-27-2015, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

I don't believe I ever saw the 7000 wing run. I have seen pictures over the years but I never saw them together. The 7000 boat looks to have a little more areo looking bows. Was this any faster than the 700 boat? It was a little better looking in my opinion.

Jim, I have been trying to find out for years. I talked to Dave Craig and John Bakos at an OFF reunion at JJ Muggs in Jupiter. The Switzer brothers were also there as well as Gene Lanham. What I posted was all anyone remembered about it, but no one remembered it by the number 7000. I don't think it was around very long. Not uncommon for a boat at Lake X. It was the best looking one of all I think. Dave Craig said it ran about 120 with those stackers, but no one else has ever said anything. It looks pretty fast in the picture, and if the glass wings could go 116 for a record, it could very well be true. It should have been put in a museum.

**GENE LANHAM** · 10-28-2015, 12:29 PM

The '700' was '7-11' when Dave won in 1964---

**GENE LANHAM** · 10-28-2015, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by lilabner

Jim, I have been trying to find out for years. I talked to Dave Craig and John Bakos at an OFF reunion at JJ Muggs in Jupiter. The Switzer brothers were also there as well as Gene Lanham. What I posted was all anyone remembered about it, but no one remembered it by the number 7000. I don't think it was around very long. Not uncommon for a boat at Lake X. It was the best looking one of all I think. Dave Craig said it ran about 120 with those stackers, but no one else has ever said anything. It looks pretty fast in the picture, and if the glass wings could go 116 for a record, it could very well be true. It should have been put in a museum.

Odell finished the 1966 GCM----in the '7000'--

**2us70** · 10-28-2015, 01:24 PM

No wonder I never saw the 7000 boat run. Odell was probably working on his third beer by the time I finished on both days in that race. Can't see it from back there.

**GENE LANHAM** · 10-28-2015, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by bernie

Gotta love those newspaper guys - 126 MPH - I know John B. and he was good but not that good!

Bernie---you know what they teach a journalist----'never let the facts interfere with a good story'

The article quotes Louie Nuta as 'turning that 266 at 7200 RPM---which is about 126 miles per hour'

---and Johnny is that good!!! Here is Johnny and I trying to figure out why we are not running those Lycomings in our airplanes---

**lilabner** · 10-28-2015, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Odell finished the 1966 GCM----in the '7000'--

That picture doesn't lie..I was in the jungle in 66, had never even heard of the 7000 till years later when I saw the picture of it. I tried to find out about it, but you can't expect somebody working for Mr K to tell the real story,or even remember it..The boys hoodwinked me..I suppose we all get boats and dates and people mixed up now..That's what makes it so much fun..

**FUJIMO** · 10-28-2015, 05:53 PM

I believe the 7000 boat was destroyed beyond repair, at Lake X of all places, while testing new power. Elmer directed the testing & mishap & it went on the bon fire. Get Dave Craig on this thread, to have him give you the details, as he was the one testing it. He was badly hurt & Elmer actually showed compassion to him.

**GENE LANHAM** · 10-28-2015, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

I believe the 7000 boat was destroyed beyond repair, at Lake X of all places, while testing new power. Elmer directed the testing & mishap & it went on the bon fire.

By 1966 these lightweight wooden Wings were all getting a little 'long in the tooth' I remember one of Dave's Miss Skyway sitting under the trees at the Lake in 1967.

The last wooden wing I remember seeing run in competition was Bill Olney at Parker, 1968---and that boat had been back to Crystal Lake and had a new 'glass bottom'

(---And Bernie was still running the v-Wing in 1970---)??

**FUJIMO** · 10-28-2015, 08:18 PM

U4oria...

**shadowcat** · 10-28-2015, 09:34 PM

wasn't this boat used as the mold for the fiberglass ones which followed????

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

By 1966 these lightweight wooden Wings were all getting a little 'long in the tooth' I remember one of Dave's Miss Skyway sitting under the trees at the Lake in 1967.

The last wooden wing I remember seeing run in competition was Bill Olney at Parker, 1968---and that boat had been back to Crystal Lake and had a new 'glass bottom'

(---And Bernie was still running the v-Wing in 1970---)??

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