Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Foraging through the various stalls at the FORD car boot sale when i came across this buffalo horn Chinese sailing junk. Was impressed how the creator had managed to rig up 26 sails with gold wire .
whole thing is made out of horn cut so thin you can see through it !!
So why did i buy it —- i have no idea—it will probably wind up under the bench and emerge long after my demise as scrap.

[jackiewilson]

...gene whipp very possibly...

i do have a picture somewhere of both boats moored up, at either GULF MARINE or SKYWAY MARINA??
or outside Mike Gordons restaurant ?? Both drivers are named —- i remember thinking that i never knew either of them!!!

[FUJIMO]

[jackiewilson]

Found myself in a discussion about the old CALIFORNIA DRAG BOAT RACERS ASSOZIATION .
Was apparently run very efficiently by a group of drag boat racers, their wives and friends and helpers in the late 60‘s and early 70‘s . Everything was fine and everyone was perfectly happy until APBA started throwing it‘s weight about and screwed the whole thing . Anyone care to comment on this .
I have this on the best authority by someone who was heavily involved with the DBRA !!!

[Lake X Kid]

1978 & 79.

[FUJIMO]

...that west coast market back then was booming...$$$...

[willabee]

Always thought it was Dave Craig ​.....

[WaterZebra]

Always thought it was Dave Craig ​.....

Another question........is the boat right in the middle of a lope or gallop in this pic or did it really fly that way?

[FUJIMO]

Always thought it was Dave Craig ​.....

...i think you are correct on that willa...

[FUJIMO]

Another question........is the boat right in the middle of a lope or gallop in this pic or did it really fly that way?

...given the correct rigging & conditions, they ran full time this way. they steamed some exhaust plates. wings were weight critical...

[willabee]

Another question........is the boat right in the middle of a lope or gallop in this pic or did it really fly that way?

Don't know the answer to the question, never saw that boat run. Heard a few folks say that it did, in fact, fly like that. I think T2X might even have a test sheet from Lake X showing that boat ran over 120 mph using a pair of 1100's!

I've been fortunate to have seen a hell of a lot of Wings run, never saw one fly like that. Granted, most of what I saw was running on sloppy race water surrounded by other boats and, of course, they can't fly in those conditions .....

[lilabner]

It was Dave, in Odell's boat. Dave told me Mr. K asked him to turn it as hard and tight as he could. He did and got thrown thru the side. Boat was destroyed, Dave was hurt pretty bad. I don't know if it was this day or not, but Mr K gave Daves boat to Odell to run in the GOLD Coast. Dave had no boat to run but he was hurt.. Dave was no pussy. He got thrown out of his Power Cat one Sunday at the Miami Outboard Club race, and one prop sliced his Gentex and stomach open I think in three slices. I opened up Skyway the next day early. When I walked into Daves office to turn off the outside lights He was sitting at his desk. He said "What are you doing here so early Butchie?" I about fell over. I figured he would still be in the hospital.

[Bob V]

...given the correct rigging & conditions, they ran full time this way. they steamed some exhaust plates. wings were weight critical...

Back about eight or maybe even ten years ago, there was an in depth discussion about this very picture and whether the boat was actually flying or just on the top of a lope. T2X was very clear that the picture was only showing a lope and that the engines at that time did not have the power to continually fly a wing.

[WaterZebra]

Back about eight or maybe even ten years ago, there was an in depth discussion about this very picture and whether the boat was actually flying or just on the top of a lope. T2X was very clear that the picture was only showing a lope and that the engines at that time did not have the power to continually fly a wing.

If you look at the puff of spray in the right side of the photo, that indicates it was a lope.

[FUJIMO]

Back about eight or maybe even ten years ago, there was an in depth discussion about this very picture and whether the boat was actually flying or just on the top of a lope. T2X was very clear that the picture was only showing a lope and that the engines at that time did not have the power to continually fly a wing.

...really? is that what you think? 120 is not enough to fly a wing back then? well i'll be a monkey's uncle...