f_inscreenname

You are a lucky man. The first picture I got of my race boat took years. To have a total snap shot of the boat's history in one thread is amazing.
Former you mention a boat with twin BBC to one drive to one prop. I only know of Donzi Babay (7 meter Donzi) and my boat (Nova 24) that had that set up. There is another?

Former Champ

Unfortunately, no....I don't have any pictures of El Diablo...only great memories. The pictures
have been lost for years. There were many taken of her by helicopter during the racing season,
those, also, are now non-existent.
Take care of her...she's truly a great lady.

JCG
Col. USMC
(Retired)

Pismo10

Sounds like a resto is in order..

Cigarette_28SS

Now that I know what races she was in, I'm going to try to find some more images. I would love to have on of those helicopter shots. Does anyone know what publications would have covered offshore racing at that time?

Fast Shafts

Cigarette 28, just out of curiosity, what speeds are you seeing with the outboards? I'm assuming stock 200's?

SkaterMike82

Good stuff Former and sorry for your lost.

Cigarette 28 post some recent photos of it.

Cigarette_28SS

I was told it would top out around 80, but I was never able to confirm it. We didn't have a GPS back then. She hasn't been in the water in 15 years.

Cigarette_28SS

She's looking pretty rough these days. I was having an issue with one of the powerheads in 2001 and pulled it off to rebuild it. Then I got married, had a few kids, and moved a few times. She has been sitting since then.

Former Champ

In 1974, after the engines had been blueprinted and tested, El Diablo was clocked (on a flat calm sea) at over 92mph. Remember, those engines were the forerunner of the Z-28 engines that powered Chevy Corvette's in the late 70's and early 80's. No one could get near her and she was well known in the Miami and Keys areas. The race in California against "Bonzai" the 32' Shiada that won by only a few feet, both boats were doing close to 100mph....ye, she was something else. There was a photo studio in Miami that used a Helicopter and took race boat pictures. I don't remember the name of the studio....they took numerous pictures of El Diablo.

JCG
Col. USMC (Retired)

Former Champ

Yes, I saw her in California in mid 1974. The name was "Bonzai" a 32' Shiada....almost flat bottom..open cockpit, no hatch cover over the engine box. Owned by a local Volvo Dealer. She raced against El Diablo and won by only a few feet....90-100mph. I was at the race, a very calm sea all the way to Catalina and back. The race was sponsored by the California Yacht Club....I think it was out of Marina-del-Rey...hard to remember exactly. There were hundreds of pictures of El Diablo...I have no idea what happened to them, I was way too busy being a Marine.

Col. JCG
USMC (Retired)