Back In The Day
#571
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We built that boat for Tom at Cougar England as a 46' in the middle eighties. It was his version of the 4 engie cat. Sammy James was the crew boss in those days. Later, John Connor stretched it (I thought to 50') and the left coasters put on those oil derricks on the back. The last time I saw it run, in the Key West version of the Worlds, they were leading, but the line to the fuel pressure hose took a dump, and the closed canopy was full of avgas fumes. Norm Gentry stood up and used his hans to vector air to John, who was passing out from the fumes. The leak was on his side. They hung on to win. Tough bunch!
Last edited by Redman; 03-11-2008 at 10:23 PM.
#572
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The aluminum boat has been for sale for almost 10 years. I looked at it in '99 and it was offered to me for $25K on the trailer. I don't remember where I got the number but we set hull weight at 16K/lb. Too heavy to do anything with.
The last I heard, the boat was going to be stripped and a cpuple of diesels installed on straight shafts- the person was going to make it into a floating billboard - don't remember where. I was told the story as the seller called to see if I was interested in the drives. Obviously that didn't happen.
I remember the Arneson boat from the mid-80's. It was absolutely magnificent. The bottom was varnished- you could see the wood grain. The rest of it looked like it was built by NASA. Gentry didn't skimp.
The last I heard, the boat was going to be stripped and a cpuple of diesels installed on straight shafts- the person was going to make it into a floating billboard - don't remember where. I was told the story as the seller called to see if I was interested in the drives. Obviously that didn't happen.
I remember the Arneson boat from the mid-80's. It was absolutely magnificent. The bottom was varnished- you could see the wood grain. The rest of it looked like it was built by NASA. Gentry didn't skimp.
#573
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Location: Warsash, England & Orlando USA
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Old story, but good. The Arneson 48' 4 engine boat was my favorite. It was built in the Phillipines by a bunch of native carpenters (think 10 cents per hour). We sent in good European plywood and glue and screws and such. The boat was built in a crude shed, and carried out of the jungle by about 80 guys. No machinery whatsoever. Everyone who drove that boat fell in love with it. Cougar M, do you have a picture of it being transported by hand?
The first Arneson class 1
Six 32's (the first was Powerplay, the second was for the Toleman twins, two where shipped to the UK and I eventualy burned them as they where rotten, the other two I think remained in America)
A Light weight 32' triple outboard for Craig Mosley! and Sony ?? (this came as just a hull and I put the deck on in Smittys raceshop)
#574
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Here are some old race programs I saved .
For me , back in the day was the early/mid 80's when I was introduced to the sport , later doing a little racing that I sorely miss .
I know Ben Kramer needs no introduction on this forum , the first one is from the 1986 Apache Offshore Grand Prix of Miami .
The second is us ( before we added canopies ) from Billy Martucci's United Grocer's Classic in Barnegat Bay New Jersey . We only ran 2 guys in the boat , but that year Don Hermann an APBA inspector from NJ asked if he could tag along for a race . I figured Barnegat was a safe venue . He was thrilled .
I'm on the deck , my driver/navigator , Lanny Dellinger is seated and Don Is the readheaded dude .
New Jersey is a great place to race , everyone there is so into it . I remember going to events , asking directions and getting the reply " What race ? " You'd never get that in NJ . In New Jersey they'd give you an escort !
For me , back in the day was the early/mid 80's when I was introduced to the sport , later doing a little racing that I sorely miss .
I know Ben Kramer needs no introduction on this forum , the first one is from the 1986 Apache Offshore Grand Prix of Miami .
The second is us ( before we added canopies ) from Billy Martucci's United Grocer's Classic in Barnegat Bay New Jersey . We only ran 2 guys in the boat , but that year Don Hermann an APBA inspector from NJ asked if he could tag along for a race . I figured Barnegat was a safe venue . He was thrilled .
I'm on the deck , my driver/navigator , Lanny Dellinger is seated and Don Is the readheaded dude .
New Jersey is a great place to race , everyone there is so into it . I remember going to events , asking directions and getting the reply " What race ? " You'd never get that in NJ . In New Jersey they'd give you an escort !
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