Gold Coast Marathon

[Leah]

I grew up in Fort Lauderdale. My Dad would take us down to the Intracoastal on one of the Marathon days, and I can still remember Dave Craig coming down the water in his Switzer Wing. Or the year that Craig (?) Stella cut down a North American S22 to a low profile, 18' boat powered by an I/O and won.

When I was 13 or 14, we put steering in my Dad's 14' fiberglass skiff, 18 hp pressure tank motor, my brother and I put on our Soap Box Derby helmets and ran in class 1. Little did we know that most of the other boats in the class were little kneel down runabouts half the size of our boat, and way faster.

We finished 9th out of 21 boats in class just by virtue that we finished, and were given an award by Ross Bennett for being one of the last 5 boats to finish. I think around 250 started that Saturday.

Unfortunately, that was the last year the race ran up and down the Intracoastal--a cruiser ran across the course up in Boca Raton, Dell and his then teenage son Duff Daily in an E or F Service runabout (Oh Mona) hit the wake, broke Dell's back and burned Duff--end of permit for the race.

hello. I’m quoting you because my uncle found this thread, & he thinks you two might know each other. He’s not super internet/forum savvy, so I’m helping him. His name is Bruce C, & he raced his 8 cylinder boat that he built in about 1965. If you are who he thinks you are, he finished building his boat in your driveway with the help of your dad. My grandpa, who was a judge, knew your father somehow & talked to him about helping my uncle to finish building his boat. Your dad taught him to fiberglass his boat. Your house was on the west end of the isles on las olas near a bridge & across the way from my great uncle whose initials were LC. He told me that you & your brother raced boats & soap box derby cars.

Im hopeful that I can help my uncle to reconnect with you & possibly even participate in this forum. Feel free to PM me (if that’s a thing on this forum), & I’ll give you more details.

[Leah]

Hi Dad. Snapped this (crappy cell phone) pic recently at the house. One of these days I'll spend a night scanning all the old boat racing pics and make a thread here.

In my lifetime powerboat racing just hasn't been this accessible.

Hello! I’m posting here because I’m trying to reconnect my uncle, Bruce C, with your dad & uncle. I quoted the forum member you refer to as “Dad” as well. My uncle isn’t internet/forum savvy, so I’m trying to help him. I know he would enjoy talking to the Gent brothers again & reliving boat racing memories. If I’m figuring this right, your grandpa helped my uncle to finish building the boat he raced in the Gold Coast Marathon in about 1965. Somehow my grandpa knew your grandpa. Please feel free to read the reply to your dad that I just posted in this thread. I’d love to connect my uncle to your dad, so please PM me if you’ll like more details & contact info. Looking forward to hearing from you.

[lilabner]

I'll tell you what Butch...I've been to a gazillion shows in my lifetime, but the "quality" of John's is unsurpassed. Not to mention the building build-out itself. Incredible. Talking to a 28 year veteran employee there of John's, he stated that quite a few of the 300's, etc., that we were looking at, John had bought brand-new back in the late 50's, early 60's, and had simply stored them away & have NO miles on them! Did you know that Mike Britton drives up there every day, and works in a fab shop, just the other side of the wall of that shaking prison inmate? I called him "Bennie". On the way up there, the wife & I also stopped at the "Coffee & Cars" show at the brand-spanking new Palm Beach Mall. THAT was incredible too. Its the first Sunday of every month. Those guys had two different mobile Dyno's going, while we were there, with 1500 h.p. Vettes and Imports on them...constantly running. It was a good Sunday, lol.

Britton has been in Italy for quite awhile. He just got back. John has a new 232 foot Feretti. it just arrived at the port up there. Beautiful.

[Bob V]

Funny looking kid ran this one first.. Holt Craft BU

Attachment 242440Attachment 242441

That kid sure does resemble this kid....

And this kid...

These were the days when you did not need sponsors with deep pockets to go racing....the Best of Times...

[lilabner]

The Best of Time for sure Bob.
Friends were abundant

[Instigator]

That Raveau (sp?) is gorgeous.
Always loved the lines. Don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person.

That kid sure does resemble this kid....

And this kid...

These were the days when you did not need sponsors with deep pockets to go racing....the Best of Times...

[lilabner]

That Raveau (sp?) is gorgeous.
Always loved the lines. Don’t think I’ve ever seen one in person.

Here is maybe the last one built, and I'm waiting to go for a ride in it.

[Dave S]

Lilabner... Just love them old Pixs with the ol Mercs...White....cool. Flying too.....

[Instigator]

Wow.
Im not worthy, I’m not worthy.

Sometimes in my shop, I’ll think I really got sonething right and then I’ll see something like this.

Then I realize I’m not close and I want to to set my junk on fire.

I hope these guys understand the artisans they are.
Think I’ll go apply for a job bagging groceries tomorrow ��

Here is maybe the last one built, and I'm waiting to go for a ride in it.

[2us70]

I had a Raveau for a while. Bought it from Henry Rivers. Unfortunately it had been through many hands before mine. I think Butch had even run it for a time. By the time I got it the bottom was failing. Nick Chapman was going to repair it but I wound up trading it to him for a new CurtisCraft. Nick sold the Raveau with a full set of seats and a 35hp Johnson. Kind of regret never racing that boat.

[lilabner]

I had a Raveau for a while. Bought it from Henry Rivers. Unfortunately it had been through many hands before mine. I think Butch had even run it for a time. By the time I got it the bottom was failing. Nick Chapman was going to repair it but I wound up trading it to him for a new CurtisCraft. Nick sold the Raveau with a full set of seats and a 35hp Johnson. Kind of regret never racing that boat.

That was the 54 Boat I was running..Won every race in it, but two on the same day in Leesburg. Finished second in the 40 class and blew over in the 60 or 70 class out front. Great boat. Raveau gave me a new one to run but I was too light, the boat was wider. Herbie got it and the rest was history. He had a lot more meat on his bones.

[FUJIMO]

anyone know where & how young Curtis Chapman is? Victor?

[2us70]

Johnny Reed might know. He kept in touch with Nick for a while.

[Bob V]

That was the 54 Boat I was running..Won every race in it, but two on the same day in Leesburg. Finished second in the 40 class and blew over in the 60 or 70 class out front. Great boat. Raveau gave me a new one to run but I was too light, the boat was wider. Herbie got it and the rest was history. He had a lot more meat on his bones.

[FUJIMO]

Britton has been in Italy for quite awhile. He just got back. John has a new 232 foot Feretti. it just arrived at the port up there. Beautiful.

thank-u 4 the update butch. ...nice to know mike is still at something, staying busy. good egg. thx