Who is this kid???
 

Someone asked me the other day if my son could relate to the classic look and the times of early offshore racing that we are building our new boat line to reflect.

I laughed and answered....Well, he was there too!

He isn't hearing stories from a bunch of old geezers about what it used to be like...he was there and has a tremendous sense of what it was like in that era, and has a great desire to make these boats reflect that.

The picture on the left, shows him with me as we took the 24 foot race boat that Don Aronow had rigged for me up from Miami to Boca in 1976.

The picture on the right and bottom, shows him as probably the youngest person to race in an APBA Open Class boat race at about age 13 or 14

Re: Who is this kid???
 

And of course he always managed to get into the press interviews and photo op's!

Re: Who is this kid???
 

The brain trust of team banana

Left to right..Charley Jr, Charlie Sr, Willy Myers, past winner of Bahamas 500 and Navigator on Top Banana, Chuck Fogarty, Owner, driver of Gone Bananas, a 34 foot Modified banana boat.

Charlie, Jr?

The thought of him not being qualified never crossed my mind.

After spending a day with him, my only comment is that I was shocked as to the high level of his knowledge regarding offshore boat racing and construction.

Who is talking smack about my throttleman?

Let me at him...

:blaster:

Re: Who is this kid???
 

Thanks Airdog.....I didn't mean to imply that Charlie Jr has only been a spectator when it comes to high performance...he had a very successful run in professional sports car racing with IMSA in the 80's

Top left photo shows our team with two cars at a Watkins Glen 24 hour race where we came 5th out of 86 cars.
Top right photo shows Charlie Jr after getting out of the car at a pit stop, trying to re-hydrate himself.....Mom and dad offering encouragement as well as cold drinks. The fueler in the background is the Tim in Chatim, my youngest son.
Bottom photo shows Charlie Jr at Sebring 12 hour race getting ready to take over driving at the next pit stop.

Re: Who is this kid???
 

Couple of racing shots from Sebring and Road America in Wisconsin.

Re: Who is this kid???
 

No questions here. All you need to do is read my response under "Banana Boat Info?" You guys are great.

Re: Who is this kid???
 

Hi Charlie, I didn't see a response from you on the Excalibur question's site so I thought I would try over here. I emailed Kathryn and Bill Farmer last week and sent your regards. I have not heard anything from them in three weeks. Kathryn said she was having e mail problems. Bill's condition is at a point where he cant work a computer. I have both Don Abel's and Bill's home phone number's if you would like. I cant remember if I met you with my father at a boat show or not. My name is Grant Allen and I am Jerry Allen's son. He was the EXCALIBUR car and boat dealer in FT. Lauderdale back in the 70's and 80's...

Re: Who is this kid???
 

Grant
Thanks for following up....I won't be home until after the first of the year, I'll get in touch with you then.

Re: Who is this kid???
 

charlie, post more of those cool old pics when you can, thx, ratman