When the Cougar cats were made of wood
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I'CE (07-13-2021)
06-01-2011, 10:16 AM
#158
Great Thread. Thanks for the memories of Detroit and West Michigan when I was little and went to the races. I am still amazed at the workmanship of the early cats, and the banter from THE originators !!!
Question, Was the Active Cat built by Ross Foucht in his first endeavor before Image and Ocean Express ( excerpt below from OceanX site)
http://www.oceanexpress.com/focht-designs.php
"Team KAAMA was also entered in the 1979 “Spirit of Detroit Race” on the Detroit River. As a National Champion from California, Team KAAMA was a highly respected competitor and well known throughout the powerboat community. When they came into town for the race, they stayed as guests at Active Marine’s headquarters on the Black River. Ross expected Team KAAMA to bring one of their championship V-hull boats for the race. But Team KAAMA brought a new strange looking wooden boat built by an English company called Cougar............................................ ........
The first catamaran built by Focht Design was the 33’ catamaran called “Active”. It was an awesome catamaran. It was everything Ross had hoped it would be: light, steady and fast. Butch Ryan, a racing enthusiast in Michigan, bought the 33’ “Active” catamaran and had success racing in regional competition.
The next season, Butch asked Ross to design and build a new catamaran for his race team. Butch wanted a 37” catamaran that could to win World Championships. Butch wanted to enter into the top ranking of the elite national powerboat circuit. Ross went to work and created a sleek new 37’ catamaran called “Express”. The racing team was sponsored by the Frostway Company.... etc.
Thanks again for a great thread !
Question, Was the Active Cat built by Ross Foucht in his first endeavor before Image and Ocean Express ( excerpt below from OceanX site)
http://www.oceanexpress.com/focht-designs.php
"Team KAAMA was also entered in the 1979 “Spirit of Detroit Race” on the Detroit River. As a National Champion from California, Team KAAMA was a highly respected competitor and well known throughout the powerboat community. When they came into town for the race, they stayed as guests at Active Marine’s headquarters on the Black River. Ross expected Team KAAMA to bring one of their championship V-hull boats for the race. But Team KAAMA brought a new strange looking wooden boat built by an English company called Cougar............................................ ........
The first catamaran built by Focht Design was the 33’ catamaran called “Active”. It was an awesome catamaran. It was everything Ross had hoped it would be: light, steady and fast. Butch Ryan, a racing enthusiast in Michigan, bought the 33’ “Active” catamaran and had success racing in regional competition.
The next season, Butch asked Ross to design and build a new catamaran for his race team. Butch wanted a 37” catamaran that could to win World Championships. Butch wanted to enter into the top ranking of the elite national powerboat circuit. Ross went to work and created a sleek new 37’ catamaran called “Express”. The racing team was sponsored by the Frostway Company.... etc.
Thanks again for a great thread !
06-01-2011, 06:14 PM
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