Eraf
 

Sorry - this is a self-indulgent thread! My Avatar in all it´s glory! My favourite boat of all time! Anybody else got any pics of this machine? (This is a Beken of Cowes shot).

Re: Eraf
 

And all the this time I thought I was your favorite with Dry Martini Just pulling your leg That was one fast SOB Julio would make us all earn our money, he was intimidating to say the least. Also that was one of the latest 36`s at the time and very light. Always good Nigel, your good friend and big brother. 7XCHAMP richie

Re: Eraf
 

Hi Richie,
If you don't mind me joinning in, I have read that Guilio de Angelis had two "Eraf". One was the well known sky blue hull and the other was a red hull (36' Cigarette as well) but set for bad weather. Is this correct, since I have never seen the Red one?
Also, how much did you have to do pre race to adapt the boats to the sea conditions?

Very honnoured to be able to correspond with you.
Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

Hi Phil: I can`t recall Julio ever racing a red 36`, if he did it would most likely have been borrowed from Cosentino who had NICOPAO with Davey Wilson, also could have been Lady Nara from Benelli which also could be the same boat. If I`m not mistaken I believe De Angelis built a blue 35` as well????? help us out here Nigel!!! In those days we really didn`t do much to prep for rough or calm, it was usually done during the race with selection of various fuel tanks to burn off. the races then took pretty much a full load of fuel to complete approx. 375gal. some boats ran Ballast tanks, but 36`s didn`t need them, we kept the boats loose. 7XCHAMP

Re: Eraf
 

Hi gents. De Angelis had a 35 cigarette in sky blue. Marco has more details. Marco?? Also, at one point in time there was a ref Eraf, presumably the same 36 sky blue widebody re-painted. Plus I recall seeing it at Cowes in about 1975 and I think it was black. I just remember this boat being the first out of the traps every time I saw it. His throttleman must have slammed the throttles to the wall the minute the green flag was raised because for the first few miles they were usually out front (before breaking!).

Re: Eraf
 

Littlenige a few pictures of Eraf for you, including the black version. Some from old local newspapers hence a poor quality.

A few more pictures will follow soon.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

Wow - thanks Phil!! I have somewhere a copy of Eraf in red from good friend Graham (also a big offshore fan with lots of knowledge!) - once I find it I will post it.

Re: Eraf
 

Excellent Nigel, in the meantime, here is the blue version leading the pack at the start of the 1972 Dauphin d'Or.

Re: Eraf
 

Phil, that´s wonderful. Please post more!!

Re: Eraf
 

Beautiful images Dauphin d'Or!

The Eraf saga was of 4 boats. 3 Cigarette 36' and a italian made 39' builded by E.R.I.A. Marine in 1975.
The Cigarette 36' was the follow:
The first builded in 1972,was that with the sides in sky blu,with the hull and deck in white.
With it De Angelis raced in 1972-73-74. Then the roman driver abandoned to a new wodden Eraf 39' in 1975.
In 1973 De Angelis bought from Bonelli one of him two 36' Lady Nara. Exactly the second Lady Nara builded in 1972.
De Angelis raced with it(Eraf in red) in some races in 1973-74.
That 36' was modified like a pleasure boat in 1975 and was lost, burned offshore Viareggio in 1979.
The third 36' Eraf was the former first 36' Black Tornado of Balestrieri.
After the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio in 1975 the Italian Champ abandoned the competitions and sold the first 36' ever builded by Aronow to De Angelis that left the original sides in black and renamed it Eraf-De Angelis Costruzioni Edilizie-Compra una Casa a Roma(De Angelis Buildings-Buy a home in Rome) and putting him #96.
De Angelis won the race after Viareggio,the Dauphin D'Or in Marina Baia des Anges near Nizza with that boat,beating Bonomi.
When De Angelis joined in 1978 the new Alitalia Team of Francesco Cosentino,THE 36' was repainted in gray and renamed Eraf-Alitalia Due.
The Roman spent him last two race seasons with a new 38' tin boat of CUV named Alitalia Tre.
In 1976 De Angelis bought a Cigarette 35' and was in the Bacardi Trophy but didn,t race again with it.
The 36' former Black Tornado won again the Viareggio-Gorgona isle-Viareggio in 1981 with rough waters(Jack remember well, I think)with the rookie Renato Della Valle and reappeared in the last of eighties in some Italian races.
De Angelis started to race in offshore in the Sam Griffith Memorial Race in 1972 with the 31' former 1971's Black Tornado that became the Sahlman's The Little Cigarette setting a new speed record in 1974.
The boats of Balestrieri was special boats.
That's it all.
BT

Re: Eraf
 

Marco, I am impressed! All the gaps and question marks in the Eraf saga answered in one neat, precise message.
Well done

I have a photo of the Alitalia liveried Eraf but Nigel will need to use his wizardry before it can be posted.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

Phil, send the picture to me for improvement and it will be done.

Marco - I bow to your superior knowledge!! Phew!!!

Re: Eraf
 

Many Thanks! :cool:
However to complete the Eraf story,the first Eraf(with the sides in sky blue)was sold to the rookie Beppe Roda in 1976. It was in the same colours(only little modifications) and was renamed Damolu,with the #80. Roda raced the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio in that same year.
The boat rested in a hangar of Viareggio for 5 years then was bought by Antonio Meschi and was modified with a new windshield similar to that of Black Tornado/Eraf and with new airscope in the engines hatches. It was repainted with the sides in dark green and renamed Alfred with the #717.
Meschi raced the Viareggio-Gorgona isle-Viareggio in 1981 with rough seas.

BT

Re: Eraf
 

In red! Thanks Graham for the photo. Ex Lady Nara.

Re: Eraf
 

Thanks Nigel.
I have been waiting a long time to see this one. At last, I know that it isn't a myth.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

God... I love this website.

Happy New Year

T2x

Re: Eraf
 

- been trawling through Graham´s wonderful library (racing and non) over on Boatmad. Came up with this - check out the exhaust plates on Lady Nara - still in place when the boat became Eraf.

Re: Eraf
 

PLus another when she was black.

Re: Eraf
 

But this was the former Black Tornado not the Lady Nara II.

Re: Eraf
 

Nigel,

There is another picture of the "Blue" Eraf in Graham's library. As you can check below, it show the boat leaving harbour and we can clearly see the side exhausts complete with plates in the style of those used on Lady Nara. We can also note that holes from exhaust through the transom appear to have been plugged.
This picture is dated from 1974 and possibly taken at Cowes in late August.

When Eraf arrived in Deauville in early September of the same year, the side exhausts holes had been patched up, as shown on the black and white newspaper photo. Eraf had reverted to the other type of exhausts.
I wish I knew what went on and why.
Does anyone know? As far as I know it wasn't common practice.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

Hi Phil: The exhaust was changed to the new Kiekhaefer header system, as dictated by Kiekhaefer. Mr. K. did not like the Patterson side exhaust and highly recomended to all his customers they switch to his out the back. Bob Patterson in conjunction with Gentry was a major contributor to the sport of offshore with the first water jacketed exhaust header system. He set the stage for all the header sytems that are available today, and should be recognized as such, He was one of the coolest guys of our sport, much could be written about him. We used to race the old log manifolds before his. when we went to the header systems we picked up close to 100 hp per motor, next step in progression is when I installed the Lucas/Kinsler fuel injection on the Mercruiser/Aeromarine conversion motors and picked up another 100hp which lead into sterndrive failures due to extra power which lead to beefed up drives and gear ratios, then the two blade props broke due to the extra power and additional speed, so then came the three blade props, and the rest is history, and is all about why the racers have what they have today. It all starts somewhere with people, inovators, engineers racers and the desire to win at any cost. All for now, this should keep us going for awhile.7XCHAMP

Re: Eraf
 

Hi Richie,
Thanks for the explanation. That's an awful lot of hp to gain. I have read that Aeromarine IX was the first 36' Cigarette to have the back exhausts. Now it all make sense but I do find it strange that the other boat from the Kiekhaffer 'stable', Bob Magoon's Aeromarine III, stayed faithful to the side exhausts.

Back to Eraf, my guess is that the conversion to back exhausts had probably been planned but not yet finished. It was however completed for the next race.

Also, I read once that Balestrieri was forced to retire because his exhausts were red hot and too close to fuel tanks for confort. Did you guys used to have trouble with overheated exhausts?

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

Marco, thanks for the correction. Richie too - thanks for that - and I thought it was just fashionable to have the headers straight out the sides of the hull! I guess there´s a good reason behind everything in reality! You started writing your book yet?! Please put me down for copy No. 1.

Re: Eraf
 

Phil,
The Aeromarine 3 had rear exhaust from day one, it was first when it came to England Gill switched to side exhaust for unknown reason.

The Aero 1(KAM) however used both side and rear exits in the US when raced by Magoon.

On my boat the headers are approx 1" from the fueltanks and if there is a problem with cooling water I would be worried also!

Joern

Re: Eraf
 

Phil: The original red and white 36` Cig. was one of the first 36`s on the circuit I think it was called KAM ??? anyway it originally ran Mercruiser/aeromarine conversion motors with the old style log manifolds out the back. Kiek. I believe got the third set of headers ever built by Patterson which only were made one way and that was side exhaust. so that boat was converted to side exhaust and later converted back to Kiek headers out the back and was a test boat that I used to drive to test new products on Lake Winebago in Fond Du Lac. The Yellow and red I can`t remember what the story was, I`m pretty sure we converted that boat to Kiek. headers as well out the back. we may have had Patterson`s for awhile, can`t remember, but don`t believe so. Incidentaly the side headers would mezmorize you after awhile, I had a problem throttling with them, as the rpm`s eventually all sounded the same, and became hard to judge speed vs. rpm it was weird to say the least. I`ll tell you some test stories some time while I was employed at Kiek. how I used to go out and break crakshafts like up to four motors per day trying different crankshafts, that`s when we came up with the carrillo rods and Moldex crankshafts. we found that the old 482 cu in connecting rods were to massive and heavy for the GM cast cranks so the combination was breaking all the cranks due to the extra HP and torque, and additional rpm. at one point we had approx. 14 motors on stands with pans off showing broken cranks, but see what we learned, all pass`s on to todays motors. Just another memoir. 7XCHAMP

Re: Eraf
 

Joern, Richie:
Sorry guys I was wrong with Aeromarine III. It is obvious from the picture from Searace that the boat was in the back exhausts configuration from day one as you mentioned, Joern. The photo of Aeromarine I, however, shows the side exhausts in place.

Richie, as Nigel said before, you have to write that book! (I will take the second copy)
I am amazed by the effect that the side exhausts had on you. I would have never thought of it. I suppose that 3 to 4 hours of this treatment must have taken its toll on your perception of noise.
All the victories must have been even more satisfying. Not only did you rig the boats, throttle them but you had played a big part in the R&D of the winning engines.

Thanks for the annecdoctes, they're great.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

To complete the interesting lessons of Richie about the exhaust I would want to add that apart a little experience with side exhaust in the Aeromarine I in 1971 all boats that was powered with Kiekhaefer engines had the exhaust on the back,included the Aeromarine III.
About the I Like It Too then Realite Charger that had the exhaust on the sides I read somewhere that the original Kiekhaefer was switched to the Chevy prepared by McLaren in UK. It's a gossip?
About the story of the positions of the exhaust on the Cigarettes,in 1970 alls the boats(Cary 32') had positioned on the back,then in 1971 the Balestrieri's Black Tornados and Wishnick 32' Boss O'Nova II had the exhaust on the sides(first appearance of that solution). From that nearly alls the 36' powered MerCruisers had the exhaust on the sides. They made exception in cronological order,Lady Nara (I),Starduster,Boss O'Nova III,and Rock A Bye/Triple B Special.
When the MerCruisers powered 36' switched to the powerful Aeromarine in 1973 like Eraf,Copper Kettle,they changed from sides to back exhaust. They didn't make it instead Balestrieri on him two Black Tornados and the (mustard)Tornado and Mondadori on him Nicopao.
That year(1973) Balestrieri was forced to retire in a lot of time for various mechanical problems. Like engines broke,steering,stern drives.I didn't believe that the problems came only the fact that the exhaust went too hot during a race. In this it would want the testimony to us of Jack Stuteville or Dave Wilson.

Marco

Re: Eraf
 

Hi Marco: The "Red hot exhausts" incident which forced Vincenzo Balestrieri to retire occured during the Naples Trophy 1971. For this event, Balestrieri was with his heavily modified 32' Cary, the one with a wooden deck. (see photo below).
As for 'I like It Too', the Chevy engines were prepared by Nicholson who also was tuning the Ford Cosworth DFV used by the McLaren F1 team as the time.

Phil.

Re: Eraf
 

About the exhaust of Eraf light blue the story it's the following.
When the new 36' raced the first season in 1972 was powered with MerCruisers and the exhaust came out from the sides.(image below)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9...72resizqj7.png
In 1973 De Angelis switched to the powerful Aeromarine and Franco Esperto(the throttleman of ERAF) put the exhaust on the back.
In 1974 until the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio the Eraf was with the exhaust on the back.
Then in England the boat was prepared with the old exhaust on the sides. Then in 1975 that boat was abandoned.
I think that De Angelis switched to the exhaust on the sides because he didn't have Aeromarine or back exhausts to mount on the boat and he was forced to an chosen of emergency.
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/427...4aresiztd9.png
Viareggio,July 1974,after the winning goal. In that year the legendary mechanical problems of the 36' of De Angelis they were cancels from a season of victories that carried it to
threaten the leaderships of Bonomi. Note the absence of "guns" on the side.

Marco

Re: Eraf
 

Phil,I know very well that picture because I have the original. It was take in Viareggio on the outer dock, minutes before the start of the race .
The problems had to Naples with the hot exhaust were added those regolamentary ones. The day before the race the Bonelli's Firebird Racing Team protested versus the Tornado Racing Team because according to the regulations those exhaust mounted on the 31' did not exit from the stern but from above it. The Napolitan organisators refused the protest of Bonelli and admitted the Black Tornado 31' in the race.
The problems(regulations and mechanical) was resolved in the next race,the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio when the rough seas give in fragments the light plywood deck.
In the next Dauphin D'Or Balestrieri had the new 36' made arrive by plane in Nizza.
Balestrieri sent the 31' in Usa for repairs and never drove it again.
That boat was set up to the race debut for two others Champ: Giulio De Angelis and Hal Sahlman.
It was drove by De Angelis in the Sam Griffith race in 1972 and was sold or leased to Hal Sahlman to set the new World speed record in 1974 in California.

About the I Like It Too what you say confirm that Gill switched the Aeromarines for another type of V8.Therefore explained the fact of the exhaust on the sides on him 36'.

Marco

Re: Eraf
 

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

Re: Eraf
 

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