Justin,

This may have been before your time. My father spent his summers on Nolan's Point and grew up with and raced with Dick O'Dea and Ritchie Sutphen. His name is Roger Mahieu and was buddies with Elbie and the gang.

This thread is absolutely incredible. Growing up in teh shop of Dick O'Dea as he and my father have been friends since child hood and raced hydro's together, and going to Atlantic City and Point Pleasant to see the offshore races (and Lake Hopatcong to see the hydro's and skiffs) I specifically remember seeing a boat there that was blue and black and sponsored by TRUMP HOTEL and CASINO. It was also sponsored by the Boardwalk Restaurant in Lake George, NY. At that time I was a little tyke (grade shcool) and still living in NJ with my parents. It caught my attention because we used to camp on Lake George. To this day I SPECIFICALLY remember saying to my mother that some day I will race one of these and have my own. Well in 1996 I got my start as a rookie offshore racer in that VERY SAME BOAT only now it was called PENNZOIL! It turned out to be the winningest boat in offshore history and was a 30 Shadow Cat.

At the time I had NO IDEA that I was driving a TRUE LEGEND built by the two people who could arguably be credited for having some of the MOST SIGNIFICANT impact on the sport and hobby we all enjoy today. Even more important to me is that now I am so EXTREMELY proud to call these two fine gentlemen FRIENDS! Okay, GJL is a gentlemen, the jury is still out on T2x;) . In all seriousness, everytime I speak with T2x, GJL, and Philip I feel I am TRULY blessed to be friends with such inspiring, free thinking and technologically advanced minds in the sport. These 3 guys along with a few others set the standard by which today's boats are built. Another INCREDIBLE bonus to all of this is the blessing I have in knowing Darren US1. This guy is a human encyclopedia on offshore and truly inspirational human being.

T2x, GJL, Philip, DARREN US1, you guys are the best. Your friendship is a blessing and one of the best parts of being involved in this sport. I have learned more form the 4 of you about offshore boats and racing than from any other source, and for that I am truly grateful. I look forward to seeing you ALL at the LAKE HOUSE this coming summer. You too Miller!

Shane

P.S. Hey Darren are any of my races in the 30 Shadow in 1996 gonna be on your tape?;)

I have a question.....
 

How did Shadow/Shadow Cat, Conquest, Challenger etc get their names?

Man that was long!:D

I didn't even have to breathe either!:D :crazy:

ttt

Shane, Thank you But!
 

Shane, I am very flattered that I am included in the same paragraph with Rich Luhrs and George Linder, but my only connection with them is as a long time friend and huge fan of their accomplishments. I am always in awe when either gentleman starts to contribute to a thread. I know that you have made many good friends on OSO and I am lucky to consider myself one of those friends. Thank you, But Rich and George are MY Heros also.

Philip

Wasn't the first I/O Shadow called Marlboro, later known as Town and Country and currently Pipeline?

Also, the El Boss in the photos was actually the second El Boss, with just the deck from the original?

I would love to see step by step photos of some of the Shadows being built from scratch!! :D

1. Absolutely not.... Town and Country was built two years after Love It, and Erickson Racing, and a year after El Boss.

2. ........ El Boss threw a fly wheel which cut the back end of the first hull all the way through....... That happened at a race in Michigan. and the quickest fix was a new hull..... but it was not a hull failure. The replacement hull was ready for the World's that year ...about 8 weeks later.

T2x


T2x