looking for info on this cat?
04-16-2004, 08:17 AM
#11
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Thought it look like one of copelands boats .Do a search on Popeyes. Stan on will know the boat.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/m...o&userid=10278
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/m...o&userid=10278
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05-06-2004, 09:46 PM
#13
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I began my racing in a Flight Marine back in 1988 for Larry Good (Fountain PB) when he owned Hy-Tech Marine in Washington, NC. They did run good we had small blocks in it for one year and big blocks the next and we ran Arneson #6's w/ a tunnel tab. Even with small blocks it we were in the 102 - 106 mph range, which was not bad for a heavy old style cat. I'll try and did up some pictures and scan them to post.
Ben
Ben
04-26-2006, 09:04 AM
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
Originally Posted by jbbeard
It is the same 30 foot boat driven by Al Copeland in the Halter 200 race held on March 28, 1981 on Lake Ponchatrain in New Orleans. It was Named "Flight Marine" then. Just before the start of the race while milling for position, I was Driving my 30 foot Chris Craft S11 " Kruggerand" and saw Joel Halpern turn his 39 foot Cougar "Michelob Lite" in front of Al who was not on plane and could not see him. This resulted in a collision which killed Joel and caused Halter Marine to withdraw sponsorship of this race. A sad day for offshore racing.
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04-27-2006, 05:30 PM
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
I didn't think that the Flight Marine Cat that I raced had been in any accident to speak of. I know Al Copeland did or does have a Flight Marine as I have seen it, but our's was orange and yellow and called "Top Cat".
Ben
PS: Hey Rik...
Ben
PS: Hey Rik...
04-27-2006, 06:18 PM
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
Here are the photos of that sad day... Halperns boat was an aluminum cougar... the boat went on to become a world champion hull in 1985 as MISTER ROBERTS driven by Tony Roberts.
Last edited by stinger312; 08-14-2007 at 11:28 AM.
04-27-2006, 06:28 PM
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
From Crouse: "Shock of another nature hit the Americans minutes before its first ‘81 race in New Orleans as two-time national champion Joel Halpern was crushed when Al Copeland’s Cigarette Popeyes ran into Halpern’s brand new aluminum catamaan Michelob Light. Halpern died almost immediately. No one else was injured."
Thought Popeyes went with Big Cougars after that but whatever they had in 82' they held world record at 113mph.
Thought Popeyes went with Big Cougars after that but whatever they had in 82' they held world record at 113mph.
04-27-2006, 06:56 PM
#19
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
Originally Posted by Ryan Beckley
It is a 30' Flight Cat. One time Popeyes race boat. One time World Kilo Record Holder.
04-28-2006, 08:20 AM
#20
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Re: looking for info on this cat?
Originally Posted by jbbeard
It is the same 30 foot boat driven by Al Copeland in the Halter 200 race held on March 28, 1981 on Lake Ponchatrain in New Orleans. It was Named "Flight Marine" then. Just before the start of the race while milling for position, I was Driving my 30 foot Chris Craft S11 " Kruggerand" and saw Joel Halpern turn his 39 foot Cougar "Michelob Lite" in front of Al who was not on plane and could not see him. This resulted in a collision which killed Joel and caused Halter Marine to withdraw sponsorship of this race. A sad day for offshore racing.
Wrong....
Al Copeland and Billy Sirois were in a Cigarette Vee bottom that day......and that is the boat that hit Joel's aluminum Cougar ....any Chris Cat...did not exist in 1981 as that was the year we rolled out the Shadows which pre dated the Chris Cats by 2 years....... I was in the race throttling the first Black Duck Shadow Cat with Pete Aitken on the wheel.
I also believe that Al and Bill did not finish the Flight cat until at least 6 months or so after that race.
T2x
