Dad's Boat... err... Dads' boats

[Fish]

I guess our dad's cannot blame us for the addiction to fast boats, afterall children learn what they live. Below are pictures of my dad's molonari, and parker's dad's rabco parked side by side on lake tarpon in the early 70's. At the time the picture was taken, both had been recently sold to their new owners, Bob V from the boards here (bought the rabco ) and his brother (who bought the molonari).

My dad won a national championship at Ufala in 73' with the molonari, and then sold it when he got his Hubercotti to Bob's brother. These are the only two pictures I have been able to find of the molonari. Thank you Bob for mailing them to me, it really means a lot. I will get them in the mail back to you this afternoon.

Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool that 30 years later the kids are tearing up the same lakes our dad's did.... just a tad bit faster

[Hottrucks]

Those are very kool pics glad you could find them maybe post them in History too!!
Thats when you had to DRIVE a boat....

Men where men and women liked it that way!!

[Hot Shot Merc]

Cool Fish

[action17]

I guess our dad's cannot blame us for the addiction to fast boats, afterall children learn what they live.

You are not lying there Jody!!!I'll never forget the first time I put the 17 action in the water after we built it and trying to get the coast guard gear up under the dash and telling my dad how rediculous this was because there was hardly any room and him saying when you younger you and your step mom would get under there and hide from the rain he was talking about his first 16 action he had in 1978

[Bob V]

Jody,

Your Dad will always be a racing legend in my mind. I remember him as a methodical driver with no fear. Not only was he a fierce competitor, but also an incredible guy to know and be around. I can remember spending countless hours down at your families' marina talking to your Dad and Tommy Huber. I can still remember your Dad's three race boats lined up under the awning behind the show room. There was the white and blue Molinari with the T-2 that my brother bought. Then there was a second Molinari with white with red stripes and a T-1 and finally the awesome Hubercotti with a T-2.

I can still remember walking into the showroom at the marina and seeing brand new Chrysler 135 stackers sitting on a stand that your Dad had for sale at $1400.00 each. If I could turn back the hands of time, those stackers would be sitting in my living room now. Maybe not though, because back in those days I did not have anything close to the $1400.00 price tag.

Thanks for the memories and regards to both you and Jack...

[mercpunk]

just think thirty years fom now when yalls kids or myself will be tearing up the lakes ... I'm only 15 and have driven v and tunnel performance boats just think what the future holds when its my turn

[blkmtrfan]

That is very cool Jody

[AnthonySS]

Yep...cool pics....maybe someday our kids will do the same

[specboatops]

My Father is directly responsable for my love of performace boating, hell all boating for that matter, as a kid watching my dad and his buddies fool around on the weekends and what not.....................good memories!!

Chris

[delawarerick]

Fish real nice pictures I wish I had my fathers he raced local in NJ small hydros that were taken to the races in a milk truck. We are talking around WWII. That makes me old. Rick

[Fish]

thanks guys, I have some really cool memories of the races and that boat, just not too many pictures. Thanks again bob for the pictures and the kind words about my dad. I know what you mean about the stackers in the living room, I wish he still had it.

Sounds like a lot of us got the bug from our dad's. In hindsight, I only wish I could have appreciated the racing when I was a little kid as much as I do now.

Any of you guys have pics of your dad's rides? post em if you got em, and if you don't, tell the story anyway.

[Bruster]

Sounds like a lot of us got the bug from our dad's. In hindsight, I only wish I could have appreciated the racing when I was a little kid as much as I do now.

Any of you guys have pics of your dad's rides? post em if you got em, and if you don't, tell the story anyway.

I think I got it from Grandpa, my dad never had any race stuff, just ski boats and a great place to grow up on the lake.
Here is a article my grandfather published over 50 years ago. Grandpa owned Van Pelt Boat Works in Spring Lake, Michigan and produced hundreds of interesting items in his shop, including some very fast racing boats. Although some of the information has changed, a lot of the basic "stuff" still holds true today. I sure wish I could talk to him today.
http://www.infoblvd.net/sah/ArtVanPelt/VanPelt_1.html

[PARKER RABE]

Bob V , Just Think Where U Saw Jacks Boats At The Marina ??? Thats Where I Work Everyday ! Its Now Quality Boats , And I Sell Grady Whites And Pursuits From There ., I Wish I Could Go Back 30 Years And Be Standing There ...

[Fish]

Bob V , Just Think Where U Saw Jacks Boats At The Marina ??? Thats Where I Work Everyday ! Its Now Quality Boats , And I Sell Grady Whites And Pursuits From There ., I Wish I Could Go Back 30 Years And Be Standing There ...

Man, this is definitely a small world.

Bruster, sounds like you got the gene for fast boats too. I am starting to think this is an inherited trait passed down thorugh generations.

[Fish]

Here is one of my favorite pictures. It is johnboy with his son on his lap on Lake Seminole. I remeber doing the exact same thing more than 30 years ago with my dad on the same lake in his molonari. Looks like another next generation S&F'er in the making.