I just could not stay out of the game
 

Back in the Day Wally Harper had one of the [badist] Magnums ever to race Li'L SMIDGEN ,, it later became Seminole Spirt, than American Spirt. Like Father Like Son Wally Jr & Ron Harper had the need to race too. There boat, SMIDGEN TOO a 24' Cobra with twin 302 Holman Moody Fords. I Just bought this classic, its in rough shape but its all there I plane to restore it as it raced back in 1975, should make a good historic racer.

Let me know if you want some help. I have some free time in my hands and a need for some sort of hobby. My bar tabs are getting ridiculous

mark, If ya need help with anything let me know.


Spark

Tony you have to look for when its happy hour,or wish the Monroe boat club was closer. Were going to get some better pics first. The one I posted is the only one I have so far. Thanks will keep you posted.

Thanks Spark I will need some advice on this one,I originally bought the boat as a donor boat for a Magnum project. But when I found out it had Smidgen Too cast into the trim tabs I knew this would be a great boat to restore. Mark

Your quote, "one of the [badist] Magnums ever to race Li'L SMIDGEN " is about as accurate as it gets. That was my favorite Magnum raceboat.

Don Aronow's ultimate creation, at least thats what the ad say's. The year 1980.

h2o, thats awsome... i'd like find one w/ original paint.

The classic Spirit.........

Way Back In The Day !!! Catalina 1972 Doc Magoon Win's

Fantastic stuff! Thanks for posting!

Found a few more from Way Back In The Day, a 1971 Detroit New's story about Bill Wishnick and how Offshore Racing may come to Detroit. The race would be from Detroit to Port Huron and back, to bad it never happened ! The other story is about a 29 year old Bill Martin winning the Casale Trophy with his 33' Magnum, Hustler IV. It's a Great story hope you can read it !

Really Fantastic!
Many Thanks h2oboater!
Interesting to know that Catalina race in 1972 was the first victory of the Magoon's new Aeromarine III that came only in September. Interesting too to see the red/white Popeye Cig.36' of Dominic Visconsi.
About the race of Detroit in 1971 it's lacking the story.
Can you post it and others Way Back in the Day?

The paper is very old but here it is. The last paragraph read's Chicago hopes to hold a across lake Michigan event. Detroiter Freddie Alter a Gold Cup driver has sought backing for a Ambassador Bridge - Blue Water Bridge and return race. [ Back then Fred Alter was a local Unlimited Hydro driver and had a Wood Offshore V bottom boat called the Griffin he planed to race ] If you enlarge the paper's print you can read most of it.

It's ok! Thanks!

Buy 1978 Billy Martin was the man, on the cover of Motorboat, they said he the fastest man on the ocean. Even Betty Cook thought he was the best driver then ! I like the use of a bungee cord holding down the shifters

I have had a copy of that Motorboat magazine,but then I gave it to a my friend.
I remember there were more pics of Martin.

Wow! Gotta love this site! Old school rules!!

This old stuff is so cool. I could read the old school boating mags and sites non stop. I think there should be a profile page for both a. old school boats, and b. old school drivers with profiles on their lives, careers and if they are still alive etc.

I'd love to know what happened to guys like Billy Martin, Art Norris, Dante Tagnoli etc.

Also, what happened to their boats

A Black Panther in Europe.
In 1980 Pepe Nunez had to compete with him 28' Pantera in Europe for some races, like the Viareggio-Bastia-Viareggio finishing 4th overall and 2nd in Class 2 behind the Cougar cat 33' with 4 Mercury of Fabrizio Smania.

With the Italian Michele Marelli Pepe raced the Venice Trophy with the same result:2nd in Class 2.
In 1981 the boat was sold to the 1980's Italian Champion Doc.Tommaso De Simone and then it was sold in England to Henry Hector that finished 2nd overall and 1st in Class II at the Spithead Trophy and Guernsey.

B T you are right there is more, the artist Ray Houlihan did these great sketches from the Ceder Point's race 1978, also in that Motorboat Magazine.

Now we know the fate of P-128 Black Sunday Thanks, B T.

bungee cord on shifters...
 

Magnum Mark(el indio) still does this... on his 41apache.

I still use the bungee in the OB race boat, cheap insurance. And one small one on each outboard cowling two.

You will find answers to your questions on this my old thread:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=151758

bungee..........

Long Shot
 

I pretty sure the Long Shot with the raised front deck in the front went to Chicago. I talked to Cashbrain about buying it in late 02 or early 03, not sure. Always wondered where it went.

Billy Has come outta retirment and plays with the OPA Jersey Boyz.

Thanks,
Jr.

My Father Still Laughs when he sees those pics, Just thinking about the poor photographer kneeling on the deck at 80+ mph trying to take the photos around the turns. Oh and yeah they did have a little fun with him as well lol.
Jr.

i dont have an old ex race boat........but i do have on old ex work boat....there is no forum for those on this site....but without the work boats there would have been alot less race boats......food for thought for you offshore groupies! cya.....

louie was nuts. we have had a few together. i miss those days. BRING THEM BACK PLEASE
MIKE STANCOMBE

buenos dias..........

Art Norris a 24 year old Detroiter Won the 1974 APBA High Point Championship in his 36' Cigarette Slap Shot in just his second year of racing. At that time Norris was the VP of the Detroit Red Wings a team his family owned. Art did not return to defend his Championship in 1975, instead he went back to the hockey team. Art Norris did keep ties with power boating, he opened a Magnum dealership.

This story is from a 1974 Powerboat Magazine.

"Snapper" Norris was one of the best 36's driver and him Slap Shot was simply Magnificent!

Go ahead,h2oboater!

Speed Trials from 1974, many types of boats raced offshore in California back in the day. This is were many newcomers in the sport started [Hal Sahlman Betty Cook] This is from a 1974 Powerboat Magazine.

Hey Thanks Black Tornado & H20 Boater

But what ever happened to the boat slap shot? Does it still exist? What ever happened to Snapper Norris? Does he still race?

Also, nice to see Billy Martins son on here. What ever happened to your dad's boats?

Little story aboat that photos:

The first above on left was one of the three The Cigarette that Don drove in the him triumphant 1969's season. Then it was sold to Balestrieri that drove it to win the world Title in 1970.
In 1971 Balestrieri made to modify the boat being cut it some centimeters under the deck. The boat turned out therefore shortened of 1' becaming a 31' and made to put a deck in marine plywood. After some races failed the boat was abandoned and Balestrieri send it in the Tornado Team in Florida. In USA the boat competed in a race in 1972 drove from the rookie De Angelis before being drove from other rookie,Hal Sahlman in 1974 as The Little Cigarette.
In the right page the Nordskog's Powerboat Magazine,first 35' ever builded. Note the first version of that prototype still with the 36' deck and engines hatches like Richie Powers wrote in a old post.

Black Tornado, can you please elaborate on this quote? Can you also go into more detail if possible about whatever happened to it? Also, how similar is the 35' top gun to this boat?