Hot Singles ! - Pictures

[Rotary John]

Rotary John was Mercury interested in you, before or after OMC introduced the rotary outboard?
If it was after the rotary project, would that imply Merc was interested in developing their own rotary engine? And wanted your expertise.

Long after. I think it was 1986 or so. I don't think it had much to do with the rotary.

[willabee]

Willabee, on average how much would a Mercury “Team Driver” be paid back in the day? Did they have any other duties? Were they a Mercury employee or contractor?

Thanks-

Before I answer that question, I'd really like to hear what you folks think the answer might be. I'm very curious as to what you think Mercury was offering as an annual salary to entice talented young men to quit their job, move their family and risk life and limb in order to drive the newest and best equipment on the planet.

Remember, this is 1970 money, you might want to ask guys like Lanham about that, he still has his.

[Bob V]

Before I answer that question, I'd really like to hear what you folks think the answer might be. I'm very curious as to what you think Mercury was offering as an annual salary to entice talented young men to quit their job, move their family and risk life and limb in order to drive the newest and best equipment on the planet.

Remember, this is 1970 money, you might want to ask guys like Lanham about that, he still has his.

I will take a shot at this. If I am reading between your lines correctly, I am going to say that it was a lot less than one might think. Assuming that Mercury paid for airfare and or carfare, lodging and meals, I am going to guess that it was in the $20K - $25K range. Gene still has his because the checks were not worth cashing. Gene only goes to the bank when the checks are worth the trip...

[peterse90]

I will take a shot at this. If I am reading between your lines correctly, I am going to say that it was a lot less than one might think. Assuming that Mercury paid for airfare and or carfare, lodging and meals, I am going to guess that it was in the $20K - $25K range. Gene still has his because the checks were not worth cashing. Gene only goes to the bank when the check are worth the trip...

Bob V, that is pretty much what I would guess as well.
Did they get to keep all the prize money they won OR was it sometimes split equally among the team?

[Lake X Kid]

I will take a shot at this. If I am reading between your lines correctly, I am going to say that it was a lot less than one might think. Assuming that Mercury paid for airfare and or carfare, lodging and meals, I am going to guess that it was in the $20K - $25K range. Gene still has his because the checks were not worth cashing. Gene only goes to the bank when the check are worth the trip...

1970 Money.

Less than and no more than $20K for contract drivers, Like Seebold, Reggie, the Europeans, and others.
But I think there should be a multiple tier annual salary for the full time drivers (whose day job was being a Merc employee). Guys like Hering, I would guess were over the $20K ceiling.

[Rotary John]

1970; My Guess for the factory drivers Herring and McConnel would be in the 8/10 K range plus expenses racing. The other would be race expenses, travel. lodging, boat, motor, gas. I believe prize money went to the drivers.

[2us70]

I think that this picture shows what finally happened to one of John McCall's few twin engine boats. Originally I believe it was built for Mercury and run by Jeff Titus as "Big Job". I signed the order for my second McCall on the deck of this still uncompleted boat in late 1968.

Before I answer that question, I'd really like to hear what you folks think the answer might be. I'm very curious as to what you think Mercury was offering as an annual salary to entice talented young men to quit their job, move their family and risk life and limb in order to drive the newest and best equipment on the planet.

Remember, this is 1970 money, you might want to ask guys like Lanham about that, he still has his.

[Ronster43]

I think that this picture shows what finally happened to one of John McCall's few twin engine boats. Originally I believe it was built for Mercury and run by Jeff Titus as "Big Job". I signed the order for my second McCall on the deck of this still uncompleted boat in late 1968.

Big Job was real heavy. After Jeff ran it with Jock Horner (unsuccessfully - several gearcases) at Havasu '69, he put megaphones on it and it still only ran high 80's. If that's the same boat in the photo...it must have had more horsepower bolted on!

[GENE LANHAM]

I will take a shot at this. If I am reading between your lines correctly, I am going to say that it was a lot less than one might think. Assuming that Mercury paid for airfare and or carfare, lodging and meals, I am going to guess that it was in the $20K - $25K range. Gene still has his because the checks were not worth cashing. Gene only goes to the bank when the checks are worth the trip...

After 69 Thanksgiving--a lot of the good old boys started looking --other places--Odell--Richie--Ralph--Mel--

There was big money to be made!!

[willabee]

I think that this picture shows what finally happened to one of John McCall's few twin engine boats. Originally I believe it was built for Mercury and run by Jeff Titus as "Big Job". I signed the order for my second McCall on the deck of this still uncompleted boat in late 1968.

The flyin' #723 is Roy Zepponi making a kilo run in one of Kenny Baker's Sidewinders prior to Havasu 1970. Needless to say, the only record Roy set that day was for altitude!

This is the McCall at Merc Team headquarters in Havasu 1970 (similar paint scheme)

[2us70]

I got the impression that the "Big Job" was built under obligation to Mercury. John did not seem very enthusiastic about it. He had previously built a kneel down twin engine boat for a guy who named all his boats "Just Add Water". The guy ran it at Tavares and he complained to John about it's performance. John told him he just didn't know how to drive it. John then proceeded to take it out and illustrate his point. He promptly blew it over and hurt himself. He also had to take the boat and repair it.

[Bob V]

Before I answer that question, I'd really like to hear what you folks think the answer might be. I'm very curious as to what you think Mercury was offering as an annual salary to entice talented young men to quit their job, move their family and risk life and limb in order to drive the newest and best equipment on the planet.
Remember, this is 1970 money, you might want to ask guys like Lanham about that, he still has his.

And the correct answer would be....???

[kbirdmon]

Heres two Hot singles. Enjoy

[willabee]

Willabee, on average how much would a Mercury “Team Driver” be paid back in the day? Did they have any other duties? Were they a Mercury employee or contractor? Thanks-

Basically there were two groups, employees and outside drivers. Stickle, Downard, Hering & Merten were employees, 8 to 5 people when not pushing to get ready for the next race. Besides getting their assigned boat rigged and race ready, they did have other responsibilities. Stickle handled orders for race props, Hering did most of the product development testing, etc. I checked with one of the drivers and he said he started at just under 10K and kept any prize money he won.
The outside drivers received free equipment and their travel expenses. Initially they kept anything they won. As a rule they were not paid a salary. I'm sure there were special deals for some of the outside drivers, but I wasn't privy to those arrangements.
About mid 70 all drivers were told that they would be splitting the prize money equally. Some of them didn't like that change , but that's the way it was done from then on.

[willabee]

Big Job was real heavy. After Jeff ran it with Jock Horner (unsuccessfully - several gearcases) at Havasu '69, he put megaphones on it and it still only ran high 80's. If that's the same boat in the photo...it must have had more horsepower bolted on!

Talking about Big Job, it would be very interesting to hear how the 21' McCall went from conversation to the picture above. Who initially contacted Jeff, what was said, how far along was the boat when he first saw it, was the Molinari there at that time, what did John say about building this copy? Did Leek comment about Jeff driving this rig at the OWC, how did testing progress (don't forget about the gear ratio fiasco)?

Anything Jeff remembers about the project as the boat was being prepared for Havasu would be interesting to hear.