Originally Posted by 7xchamp

Marco: I was at Lake X when we built the boats. All Kiek. Merc. boats were in yellow color so Carl could easily spot them while flying the race, we also wore bright yellow jump suits. I`ll give you the info. I have. There were four 31`s that I was involved in. Original for Sirois was outdrive twin 427 then 482 boat Yellow and white. Next was a yellow and white 31` triple small block`s originally built for Johnny Backus, and later driven by Sirois. Another yellow and white 31` was a four engine outboard driven by John Steinbach. and last was the red 31` outdrive boat designated to Odell Lewis. He was supposed to run the boat in St. Pete race, but Carl disbanned the factory racing team so all boats were then designated to Merc, racing customers, or customers who wanted to race Merc. It is my belief that is the race and the boat in which Bobby Moore invented the famous throttleman position, as he was the co-driver for Wishnick, they won the race. There were several other 31`s but were inboard models and not Merc factory boats, I remember we converted one at Lake X from Hollman Moody Fords to Mercruiser inboards, I think it was for either Bob Rodman or Peter Rittmaster. Hope this helps. We were always changing boat numbers and crews as Carl K. wanted, and who was his favorite for that day.
7XCHAMP

Originally Posted by Top Banana

Who remembers the story when Vincenzo's engines were thought to be illegal and Jack had to tear them down.

Then Jack refused and that was the end of that.

Originally Posted by Black Tornado

Charlie the misfact happened after the Dauphin D'Or in France in 1973.
Not only the Aeromarines of Balestrieri was found illegal by the local scrutineers but alls the boats powered with a couple of Kiekhaefers;Bonomi,De Angelis,Mondadori and Balestrieri.
Carl Kiekhaefer himself flow to Nice with the regulars fiches and the victory come back to the real winner Bonomi.
Balestrieri started the protest again Bonomi and he falled in the same him trap.
Then he gave the blame of the him illegal engines to Jack Stuteville and discharged him.
That alls was a big mistake of Balestrieri. He was exasperated after two years of several engines problems that prevent him to win the third title.
The newcomer Bonomi and him very impressive superiority in every race made the rest.
After that episode the two time Champ understanding the changin time and fate decided to reduce him employing on the competitions selling two of the three boats and stopping to race definitively in 1975 after 12 years where he had competed and won in every seas and against the best adversaries.