T2x

There were many variants of the aluminum Cougar...some better in rough water than others........ Overall they dominated racing during the 80's and culminated in the incredible 4 engine Superboats, Popeyes, Maggies Mercruiser Special, Eric's Reality (originally built for Ben Kramer), Gentry, and Spirit of the Amazon. They were the main competitors we had with the Conquest Cats and their popularity was well deserved. Each had it's own separate character and charisma with names including the ill fated, "Beep Beep", "The Collection", The tragic "Still Crazy", The Sea Hawk fleet, the "Systems" fleet, Turkish Express, and the bubble bottomed "Dirty Laundry" (which despite repeated mods never ran worth a d*mn).

Eventually, newer materials and a guy named Hledin created the demise of the aluminum hulls which had issues with straightness and rivet loss over time.

They won a tremendous number of races and proved cats could kick *ss in the rough...... so...... props to you Cougar...and the colorful personalities who built, owned, and drove 'em

T2x

PhantomChaos

Is this a Cougar? It was alluminum with four blown engines and #6 drives?

T2x

That's a Cougar...... Spirit of the Amazon.

T2x

T2x

Couple of interesting anecdotes.

Owned by Eike Batista.... Gem Merchant from Brazil.

Navigators included Rock n Roll illustrator, Rocky Williams, and his buddy Stephen Stills (Of Crosby, Stills and Nash). At the Long Beach race one year Rocky, Stephen, Bobby Moore, Art Eckmann (Race TV co host with yours truly), my son Erik and I piled in a car and went for dinner at Stephen's house in Beverly Hills, where we dined with Jan Michael Vincent and a few other celeb types.

As I walked through the house I came face to face with one of Stephen's solo album covers in a frame on the wall......... Pictured on it was one of our Conquest Cats (drawn by Rocky) going into orbit .........

I'd kill for the original art piece today............

T2x

PhantomChaos

I think I took that picture at Bobby's place. This boat was waaaaaaay in the back in the corner gathering dust. Though it was pretty cool!

p.s. How's the buggy whip?!?!?!

thor of thunder

I heard that rocky passed away,

Semper Fi

was he beating his wife while you were there??

T2x

No..... in the condition he was in I doubt he could have beaten an egg.

T2x

T2x

Please say that isn't so........ He's one of the neatest guys I ever knew. Mom was a rodeo star. He had an uncle way up in the Nixon administration.
Traveled with Elton John, George Harrison, Eric Clapton....etc, etc. Packed a hog leg wherever he went........ Unbelievable tatoos (yet none in sight when he wore a golf shirt and shorts)....... great motorcyclist/boat handler. ...and a super guy to boot.

Man he has some stories to tell.

T2x