The Bahamas500 race
05-19-2007 | 01:32 PM
#21
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,853
Likes: 11
"the Boys From Wisconsin"..
Great picture: that would be me in the back, I used to deliver the motors to Carl Moesly the originator of Sea Craft, not Bill Potter Incidentally Carl Moesly is another non recognized legend who should be remembered for his contributions to the sport of Offshore. I used to bring the motors from Lake X to Miami, Rig them on the boat then co-drive with carl, Carl is the one who gave me my real start in Offshore after Gene Wagner. 1967 1968 This picture I believe was the Gateway Marathon, and we were returning from Bimini ????? racing against Magoon also in an outboard triple Magnum, our boat was triple 110 hp merc 25` Sea Craft. Carl got hurt and told me I had to take the wheel, so we switched positions, and I took off for Magoon, caught him just before the finish passed him and won. Carl wrote an incredible letter to Mr. K. about how good I did racing his boat and that he wanted me to continue racing his boat, as he had hurt his back and could no longer race. I raced the Sea Craft in several races, Doug Janisch was my co-driver in a couple races. I also built and raced a special 29` Formula simalar to one **** Genth won round long Island with. duplicate boats, his was I/O mine was triple outboard with Gene Wagner driving I was co-driver again,Boat name was Joan E. we built the boats entirely in the boathouse with Wayne Meyer in Oshkosh, I mean decks stringers etc. with Mr. K supervising the whole project. I could go on but not enough time and stories are to long. There is a picture of Wagner and me in the Searace book page 100 1967 we are the 505 boat, Brownie will remember, I think he was in the Broad Jumper if memory is working.
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
Hi Ritchie. John Crouse once told me "no one worked like the boys from wisconsin".the merc team. Spoke to Melinko this morning and he is still working.........m.m....one more thing....I have been doing bussiness with Melinko 30 great years...m.m...
Last edited by el indio; 05-19-2007 at 02:00 PM.
05-27-2007 | 07:42 PM
#23
Registered
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 6
From: MIAMI, FL
I had to deal with all those Kiekhaefer outboard guys throughtout my offshore career. I was the first class one guy beaten by an outboard (Atlantic City, 1967, John Stenback). Worse than that, the bastards ferried parts out to Aronow on the far side of the course. He had fried his motor, and my class one win would guarantee my US1 title if he didn't finish. He had won 600 points in races that I did not race in. Mr. K wasn't about to let the lone Holman Moody racer grab his title. Anyway, payback is a mother! In the 1968 Miami-Key West race, I was driving the 32' Alunimnun Maritime, Broad Jumper. Bill Wishinck had a business commitment, so 'Big Dirty" and I raced it alone. We led for a good ways. It was rough as a *****! We threw a blower belt on one of our Koopman's supercharged Fords. When the 100 HP Gilmer belt shredded, it wiped out the sparkplug wires, etc. By the time we fixed it, the race was lost. Just as we were wondering which way to turn, who came by, but Stenback, who was again leading the outboard contingent. We decided to f**k with Mr. Stenback. We were much faster, and larger. We ran along side John, and at every checkpoint, we stayed between him and the checkpoint. We blinded him from the checkpoint at the last seven checks. By the time we got to Key West, John had temporarily lost his sense of humor. I was glad to have Big Dirty as a shield. After a couple of beers, John finally gave me a hug.
That bunch of guys on the Merc team made up the best bunch of sonsa*****es I ever met.
That bunch of guys on the Merc team made up the best bunch of sonsa*****es I ever met.
Last edited by BROWNIE; 05-27-2007 at 07:45 PM.
08-02-2010 | 07:46 PM
#25
Registered
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Florida
The Bahamas500 race
Actually I posted that picture on Boatracing facts, the picture was given to me by Carl Moesly, and had hand written on it "Frank Co-Drove this race"...
Frank G. Brown IV, son of Frank G. Brown III
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Frank G. Brown IV, son of Frank G. Brown III
[IMG]
[/IMG]Great picture: that would be me in the back, I used to deliver the motors to Carl Moesly the originator of Sea Craft, not Bill Potter Incidentally Carl Moesly is another non recognized legend who should be remembered for his contributions to the sport of Offshore. I used to bring the motors from Lake X to Miami, Rig them on the boat then co-drive with carl, Carl is the one who gave me my real start in Offshore after Gene Wagner. 1967 1968 This picture I believe was the Gateway Marathon, and we were returning from Bimini ????? racing against Magoon also in an outboard triple Magnum, our boat was triple 110 hp merc 25` Sea Craft. Carl got hurt and told me I had to take the wheel, so we switched positions, and I took off for Magoon, caught him just before the finish passed him and won. Carl wrote an incredible letter to Mr. K. about how good I did racing his boat and that he wanted me to continue racing his boat, as he had hurt his back and could no longer race. I raced the Sea Craft in several races, Doug Janisch was my co-driver in a couple races. I also built and raced a special 29` Formula simalar to one **** Genth won round long Island with. duplicate boats, his was I/O mine was triple outboard with Gene Wagner driving I was co-driver again,Boat name was Joan E. we built the boats entirely in the boathouse with Wayne Meyer in Oshkosh, I mean decks stringers etc. with Mr. K supervising the whole project. I could go on but not enough time and stories are to long. There is a picture of Wagner and me in the Searace book page 100 1967 we are the 505 boat, Brownie will remember, I think he was in the Broad Jumper if memory is working.
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
Last edited by fgbiv; 08-02-2010 at 07:50 PM.
04-03-2025 | 11:16 PM
#26
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: Onset, MA
Great picture: that would be me in the back, I used to deliver the motors to Carl Moesly the originator of Sea Craft, not Bill Potter Incidentally Carl Moesly is another non recognized legend who should be remembered for his contributions to the sport of Offshore. I used to bring the motors from Lake X to Miami, Rig them on the boat then co-drive with carl, Carl is the one who gave me my real start in Offshore after Gene Wagner. 1967 1968 This picture I believe was the Gateway Marathon, and we were returning from Bimini ????? racing against Magoon also in an outboard triple Magnum, our boat was triple 110 hp merc 25` Sea Craft. Carl got hurt and told me I had to take the wheel, so we switched positions, and I took off for Magoon, caught him just before the finish passed him and won. Carl wrote an incredible letter to Mr. K. about how good I did racing his boat and that he wanted me to continue racing his boat, as he had hurt his back and could no longer race. I raced the Sea Craft in several races, Doug Janisch was my co-driver in a couple races. I also built and raced a special 29` Formula simalar to one **** Genth won round long Island with. duplicate boats, his was I/O mine was triple outboard with Gene Wagner driving I was co-driver again,Boat name was Joan E. we built the boats entirely in the boathouse with Wayne Meyer in Oshkosh, I mean decks stringers etc. with Mr. K supervising the whole project. I could go on but not enough time and stories are to long. There is a picture of Wagner and me in the Searace book page 100 1967 we are the 505 boat, Brownie will remember, I think he was in the Broad Jumper if memory is working.
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
It`s great that there is interest in the outboard guys, as they were a really tough breed and many unsung superstars who need to be remembered. It is incredible to think back and how Carl Kiek. gave young kids a break to go Offshore racing. Many of us were just endurance test drivers either from Lake X, Sarasota, or Fond du lac and Oshkosh, Many had never even been in a boat in the ocean, much less a race boat, but off we went, I was youngest at 19 yrs old, the kid. Others were not much older. That is what the Merc. team was about, with mentors like Sirois, Backus, Ridgell, Riggs, Odell. etc.
Many of us started as boat guards at the races, then co-driver`s then drivers. Rest as they say is history, Carl Kiekhaefer was my Vince Lombardi and always will be.
all for now 7XCHAMP
"our boat was triple 110 hp merc 25` Sea Craft. Carl got hurt and told me I had to take the wheel, so we switched positions, and I took off for Magoon, caught him just before the finish passed him and won. Carl wrote an incredible letter to Mr. K. about how good I did racing his boat and that he wanted me to continue racing his boat, as he had hurt his back and could no longer race. I raced the Sea Craft in several races, Doug Janisch was my co-driver in a couple races. "
Hi Richie - I am reviving this thread from 2007. I have recently come into possession of "Joan E" your old Seacraft 25 - 505 race hull. I would love to ask you a few questions, if you have the time or interest.
Last edited by bigshrimpin; 04-03-2025 at 11:52 PM.
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