Mercury Through The Years...

**FUJIMO** · 08-07-2021, 09:53 AM

**FUJIMO** · 08-07-2021, 09:54 AM

**FUJIMO** · 08-07-2021, 09:55 AM

**FUJIMO** · 08-07-2021, 09:56 AM

**FUJIMO** · 08-07-2021, 09:57 AM

**Mark75H** · 08-07-2021, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by willabee

Strange picture ..... the boat is carrying Seebold's#190, but appears to have "Driver Earl Bentz" painted on the cowling?

If I recall, numbers are issued to the boat owner

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-07-2021, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

If I recall, numbers are issued to the boat owner

First time I saw that number was March, 1970----

Click image for larger version.

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**WaterZebra** · 08-07-2021, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

If I recall, numbers are issued to the boat owner

Yup.............you could also run any number you wanted to as long as the scorers knew which actual number to assign points to in the race results. Always thought that 4 digit numbers assigned in OPC category was rediculous. IOGP made us run single or two digit numbers for the sake of appearance. Always got reminded by Art Kennedy who the number 2 really belonged to.............Number situation with the APBA got really out of hand when owners / drivers who were not racing anymore were allowed to keep their numbers by just renewing their membership. Took an act of God just to get a 2 digit for OPC racing that was legit from the APBA.

**willabee** · 08-07-2021, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mark75H

If I recall, numbers are issued to the boat owner

That wouldn't explain the picture, 'Driver Earl Bentz' was painted on the boat which indicates that at some point it had been assigned to Earl. The race numbers are stick on numbers so they could be changed at any time. A batch of numbers, zero through nine, were kept in the parts truck.
A wild guess would be that Seebold damaged his boat before this race and the only hull available for him was one that had been previously raced by Bentz ..... stranger things have happened.

Click image for larger version.

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**peterse90** · 08-08-2021, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by willabee

Strange picture ..... the boat is carrying Seebold's#190, but appears to have "Driver Earl Bentz" painted on the cowling?

Willabee, can you tell if that is Bill or is it actually Earl who is driving ?? Looks to be about 1978 or 1979 vintage.

Could it have been Parker and Bill & Earl were co-drivers and Bill's name was on the port side ???

**willabee** · 08-08-2021, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

First time I saw that number was March, 1970----

Some time ago we were wondering where was Seebold's first race for Merc. He sent me an email with the answer but I can't find it. I posted his answer on S&F, but can't find that either! Do you remember where it was, maybe Havasu 69?

**FUJIMO** · 08-08-2021, 04:54 PM

**FUJIMO** · 08-08-2021, 04:57 PM

...bristol 1982...

**GENE LANHAM** · 08-08-2021, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by willabee

Some time ago we were wondering where was Seebold's first race for Merc. He sent me an email with the answer but I can't find it. I posted his answer on S&F, but can't find that either! Do you remember where it was, maybe Havasu 69?

I think it was Parker-1970--

It was GG's first race after the 69 Thanksgiving massacre

Bill was introduced as the 7 Litre driver of Long Gone--and impressed everyone with a 100 mph lap in the Jones--

Only 51 years ago!!