Originally Posted by 7xchamp (Post 1987506)

Hi Marco: I will give some clarity to what you say. You are correct about the Red 36` Innerspace being sold to Mondadori. The light blue 36` with red hatches and motors was sold by me to a non racer from Miami back in early 1970`s never seen again. The boat that we raced in Melbourne was not a 36` Cig. It was a joint venture boat that Tom did with Hallett in Calif. 35` with a huge flat on the keel, two of those boats were built, all metal flake etc. true Calif. boats. The boats never performed with the flats on the keel so we fabricated an aluminum V keel and bolted it on, the boat ran OK. The only time we raced it was in Melbourne and we won, in unbelievable rough conditions, we watched the Peter Dean 44` Cig/dean boat break in half when it tryed to pass us. The seas were like 20 feet high and 50 mph winds, it took us almost four hours to complete the 80 mile shortened course, it was freezing cold as well, we stuffed the boat so many times I lost count, it was two person boat just me and Tom. We sold the boat to guy named Tony Haines who owned a boat co. there called Haines Hunter, the boat was damaged from the race and was sold as is. Arnold Glass bought the old Sabre Dance green 36` which had been owned by Lance Taines and raced with Mel Riggs, later they bought Sandy Satullo 38` Bertram. Gentry had a total of four Cigarette`s only. Red 36` Light blue 36` 1976 35` and the ex conspiracy 35` red and white which we also raced in Australia I think 1980 or 1981, it was when Billy Elswick also went with his 36` performer night moves. We only ran the Sydney race and broke a gimble, Tom was not able to make the remaining two races as he was going through nasty divorce with wife named Nora and she would not let him travel to race, so we just hung out for that month, long story behind that whole deal as well, I`ll include in the book when I write it. 7XCHAMP

Originally Posted by Black Tornado (Post 1987809)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3...73resiziz9.png
Italian race in 1973


You are right about the Sabre Dance that was sold from Taines to Glass in 1974 or 1975 but the boat remained in Usa at last in 1976 and the windshield and hatches are litterally different. Ok alls can be changed but maybe the Sabre and the "aussie" American Eagle wasn't the same boat.
Marco

Originally Posted by Deauville Trophy (Post 1987814)

Thank you Richie and Marco for clarifying this.
With the help of a photo from HORBA, can you tell us which one this is. My guess is that it could be the Californian hull.

Phil.

Originally Posted by littlenige (Post 1989977)

Without wishing to change the direction of the present American Eagle queries - here is one of Graham´s shots which I´m sure most of you have seen. I just want anyone who hasn´t seen it to marvel in Graham´s picture - such a clear detailed shot from all those years ago is a true treasure! What a boat! (Even with that windshield Richie!)

Originally Posted by Top Banana (Post 1990025)

That was a Dan Arena hull. He also built hulls for Howard Arneson.

Dan Arena was a well known west coast figure that built primarily hydroplanes and fast runabouts. Unfortunately his offshore designs did not prove long lasting.

Originally Posted by Top Banana (Post 1990036)

Nigel that is a great photo. It really brings back those memories of what really fun days they were.

I was talking to Bill Wishnick yesterday from his home in Utah. We were talking about some of his memories of his own career. He still remembers with admiration the generosity of a South American competitor.

Wishnick had shipped his boat down to Argentina for the winter races. The first race was won by Balestrieri and Wishnick came in second. But to earn that second, they damaged one engine. He had no spare engine with him and was out of the running for the next race to Uraguay.

Balestrieri told him that one of the South American racers had suddendly taken ill and was in the hsospital. Wishnick went to visit him to see if he would be interested in letting him use his boat. He did, and Wishnick came in second in that race also.

In hindsight, he thought about what a generous offer the man had made to him. Real sportsman in all senses of the word.

His first race boat was a 20 foot Alim that he entered in the Around Long Island marathon. Since he needed extra fuel tanks, he set in another tank and "nailed" it all around with wood to hold it in........the tank broke loose on the way to the starting line...end of race.

Originally Posted by Top Banana (Post 1990036)

Nigel that is a great photo. It really brings back those memories of what really fun days they were.

I was talking to Bill Wishnick yesterday from his home in Utah. We were talking about some of his memories of his own career. He still remembers with admiration the generosity of a South American competitor.

Wishnick had shipped his boat down to Argentina for the winter races. The first race was won by Balestrieri and Wishnick came in second. But to earn that second, they damaged one engine. He had no spare engine with him and was out of the running for the next race to Uraguay.

Balestrieri told him that one of the South American racers had suddendly taken ill and was in the hsospital. Wishnick went to visit him to see if he would be interested in letting him use his boat. He did, and Wishnick came in second in that race also.

In hindsight, he thought about what a generous offer the man had made to him. Real sportsman in all senses of the word.

His first race boat was a 20 foot Alim that he entered in the Around Long Island marathon. Since he needed extra fuel tanks, he set in another tank and "nailed" it all around with wood to hold it in........the tank broke loose on the way to the starting line...end of race.