Marco: I think when you read what I write you just don`t get it, or you don`t want to get it. One more time. For exhaust transition: most all boats ran the old mercruiser log exhaust systems out the back until as I said Bob Patterson designed and built the first water jacketed header system, at that point anyone who was a serious racer and was going to be a contender either switched to the new headers which were only made to come out the sides, or built new boats utilizing the NEW HEADERS, as the transition goes forward Patterson started building transom exit header system, as did Kiek. and then Stellings started and only built rear exit, I sold the Magoon boat to Charles Gill, along with the patterson headers, so he had both sets Kiek. and Patterson. It`s true he had Mclaren rebuild the Kiek motors and he preferred the patterson over Kiek headers. They were much easier to work with and were much lighter than Kiek. Jack Stuteville hated the Kiek. headers, and swore to never use them in favor of the pattersons. Don`t forget at that time if you switched you had to discard the Pattersons and spend approx. $12,000 plus installation to change to Kiek headers, so times 3 it was very expensive and hard to justify. Lastly you talk of Vincenzo being so unfortunate all the time, almost as if he was being sabotaged. Don`t forget all the times he was a winner and a great champion. We all had our header problems, I had the whole header fall of in a race in Majorca, fire was blowing against the fuel tank and the header beat the sh-- out of the motor and hull, guess what we won. Everyone who ran headers has a story of overheating, or LEAKING water into the motors, or a hose blowing off and turning the header blue. Once they were over heated one time the metal became weak and the welds would break and we would have all kinds of problems. Every single person I`m sure can tell a story why they lost a race because of a header problem, So please cry for everyone not just Vincenzo, He was not picked on, he had the same equip. as everyone else, and much better than most with one of the best crews in the world, They don`t come any better than Jack Stuteville, and Bobby Moore, if they can`t do it no one can, Guess you don`t remember the memoir I told about when they quit, or you don`t want to remeber. I respect you for favoring your hero`s but you should be a little open minded and realize history as it was. And I was there and know the history better than anyone around today, I lived it. Remember there were approx. 10 to 12 top teams to beat every race day, and if you can`t beat them on the course don`t be crying in the pits.
7XCHAMP

I'm sorry Richie but I think that you to continue not to understand what I mean to say on purpose of Balestrieri and and him mechanical "problems".
Balestrieri have had header problem only one time in the Naples Trophy in 1971,maybe caused by the new position above the stern and not through it.But you wasn't there at that time and maybe you don't know that.
Therefore I cannot have said that all the problems at the headers have only had Balestrieri.
But I do not want to continue to be controversial with you. You tasks that I still say things like a Balestrieri's fan and not with impartiality but isn't true that.
Sure mechanical incidents for two seasons consecutive(1972-73) have only succeeded to Balestrieri therefore I cannot speak for the other drivers.

Marco