HORBA member needs help !!!
 

One of our members has acquired one of the 5 original 29 foot Magnums built in 1973. They had real high freeboard as compared to the 27 foot Magnums.

The boat last raced as Vaughn Szarka's BOAR HOG, single engine Open class boat in the mid 70's.

Does anyone have any info or photos of any of these boats?

Billy Martin and Roger Munn also raced one in the mid 70's with twins.

The boat had a strange deck as Magnum never made a deck for it so, they would go down the street to Formula and have them make a deck and then Magnum would cut it to fit and glass it on.

All stories, photos or leads will be very much appreciated. Help these guys retore part of the history of offshore.

I thought they had a deck mold. The hull mold was bought by Mr. K and given to Mabry Edwards. Later sold to Randy Rabe. Billy Martin's boat was a 32', which was a stretched 28. The full height boat was 28', The 27' & 28' pleasure boats were shorter.......

This is the deck that Billy Martin had on his boat and it came from Formula # 51 See how high the sides are....this is what I think the HORBAmember has, oneof these.

The second photo is of the boat that Aronow raced, the 27 footer that Billy bought....the sides are much lower and the deck is one that Magnum had and used on the production boats too.

The third photo is the Formula boat with the same deck that Billy has in the first photo.

Will Show this to Dad and Pull out some Archived Photos. Thats if I get this Membership thing strightened out with offshoreonly.

Jr.

Photos of 29-9
 

Having a problem posting photos that I have,however the 29-9 looks like the 1st picture less the the lip on the dash near the cockpit. I think it was removed won't be able to tell until we get back to our shop. Bud

Wow strange deck story indeed, my 1967 28' Magnum high free-board number 4 boat looks nothing like these pictures? (the centerfold picture in Michael Aronows book) and the color picture in John Crouse's book (page 75)

Billy Martin was known also to own my boat and then it was sold to Frack Lach and named the "White Knight".

Good luck I'm looking through some other pictures I have archived to see what I come up with.


http://www.myspace.com/magnum_donzi

HH

Martin's boat and the Formula are both 32'. I used a 32' Formula deck on the first 'pleasue' 32' Cary, for Jeff what'shisname from Columbia, S.C.

What was the 29 foot boat they are talking about that Szarka ran.....was it just a stretched 28 high sided model?

He ran it in that Open class for single engine boats, along with the kid from California that ran the 28 Cigarette, Super Toad.

Must have been the 'high-sided' 28'

29-9 Was Vaungns boat
 

It was the boat that Vaugn Szarka ran...#126 Head Hunter in 1977,the previous owner said that Vaugn told him that the transmon was cut and the boat shorten at the factory would this make any sense ??? Bud

If it was one of the 32's, that would make sense to shorten it to a 29 foot.

Sorry, in my previous post I showed the name as Boar Hog, that was the Fernandez boat, not Szarka.

Photos of 29-9
 

Attached are photos on the 29-9.Will be able to answer some of the questions when it is back at our shop. Bud

29-9 more photos
 

Additional photos

29-9 photos
 

Last set

Brownie - Jeff "Hunt"?

Yeah, that's the ticket!

Ad ffrom Pwerboat and photo
 

Attached is the ad that appeared in the 1980 issue of Power boat along with a picture with it going out to the milling area. Again need better history and what it looked like in it's racing days.We have been told that it may have been cut down from a 32 and the deck may have been altered. All info and pictures will be much appreciated.Bud

Here the only two pics with the Head Hunter from my archive.:(
Key West World Championships 1977.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4...st77up5.th.gif

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4...tartfi6.th.gif

Charlie: I remember those Magnums. If you look at the Searace book the outboard boat that Don is driving against Odells Turbine boat in Calif. is that style. We built one at Lake X for Don with twin 482`s, the thing was so squirrley they hardly made it through the Kilo, without rolling it, I think it was scrapped. Jim Armington also raced one with single 482and I`m pretty sure Balestrari raced one maybe white tornado. I think thats the boat that is sunk next to a large boat in the Searace book, I think its pruitt in the water with his sunglasses still on. Seeroy should remember those boats from the Lake days. It`s possible that the Boar hog was Armingtons boat, raced by Juan Fernandez???????????????
Also the same triple outboard 28` Magnum with Don A. racing against the Turbine is the same outboard boat Don won the bahamas 500 in. Hope the info. helps.
7XCHAMP

It sure looks like one of the originals, I do remember a red and white 28`??? single 482, I`m thinking Jim Armington, or possibley another guy from Wisconsin was owner his name may have been Sonny -------.Help me out!!! or maybe Gil Lieber. I definitly remember the boats.
This would be a great boat for HORBA legend racing, let`s get her running.
7XCHAMP

[QUOTE=mr vinyl;2242607 All info and pictures will be much appreciated.Bud[/QUOTE]

Looks like Point Plesant N.J. in pic. # 1 to me.

Hi Richie,
Don with the 28' with three outboard finished 2nd behind Lewis in the 500 of 1967.
Then he bring the boat in Europe together with 28' single engine solding the last one to Kennerley after the CTC.
Balestrieri buy the two-engined one re-named Tornado and raced the season 1968 with Pruett.
The boat sank during the Cowes-Torquay while she was dueling with the Surfury of brothers Gardner.
She was sold by Pruett for few pounds to Ian Toll. The Royal Navy that was looking for one sunk helicopter of his find the boat and deliver her to Toll, that re-rigged she and changed the deck and introducing himself to the 1969 CTC.
That 28' it seems both still somewhere in England.
Balestrieri bought a second 28' in 1969 named Blue Tornado.

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1...0067ri8.th.gif
The Mag 28' triple mercury.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4...gnumud5.th.jpg
The Mag 28' single engine(with the sides in green).
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/4...23smqp8.th.jpg
The Mag 28' double engines.

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/4...1969ds7.th.jpg
Maltese Magnum Twin. CTC 1969.Kennerley modified the boat with a second engine in tandem forward the cockpit.
(photo from Graham's Library on Boatmad.com)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3...nadoij7.th.jpg
The Mag 28'Tornado after the restoration of Ian Toll.
Courtesy of Graham Stevens.

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6...09smbq4.th.jpg
The former Maltese Magnum double engines now(1968) became Tornado winning the World Title for Balestrieri/Pruett.

Restoring the 29-9
 

The 29-9 will faithfully be restored,the only thing we might change is the steering. keep the info coming greatly appreciated. Bud

OK Richie you sucked me into this one. The only things I remember about 28' Magnum and Aronow in California are as follows. One summer I worked for Don in Miami instead of working at the Lake. Knocky was in Europe with one boat and I took a 28' Magnum w/single sterndrive to Long Beach for 2 day race. Day 1 was Long Beach to SanDiego..Day 2 was SanDiego back to Long Beach. Odell was 1st with the turbine Maritime and we were 2nd. At the finish line Odell was sitting just out from the dock when we came by close enough for me to hand him a ham sandwich. That is, if I had a ham sandwich, which I didn't. Another of Bill's favorite sayings, "If we had some ham, we could have a ham and cheese sandwich, if we had some cheese." By the way "Searace" says that it was Bill riding with Don when, in fact, it was me. Also, apparently there was another race in California where Aronow ran a Magnum against Odell in the turbine. I believe that race ran from Long Beach to San Francisco and I don't know who rode with Don, but I would imagine that it was probably Knocky or, possibly Barry Cordingly. As to Jim Armington....I recently sent an e-mail to Buckeye Marine in Ohio asking about him. It seems to me that was the name of his dealership. I did not get a response. The only boat that I remember Jim in was the 32" Cary w/4 outboards that Chet Strickland had run somewhere, and I ran in the 3rd Bahamas 500 with Ralph Seavey as a Co-driver. Sometime after that, Armington bought that boat from Kiekhaefer and ran it in a race off of the New Jersey coast with Me and his son onboard. Brother Bill was running with Joel Cohen in the old "Ghost Rider". The Jersey coast was home waters to Joel, so we followed him thinking he would know where he was going. He was leading and we were running about a mile behind him in 2nd place. He missed a turn/check point.....Naturally, we followed thinking, "Hey. This is his home water. He knows where he's going."......WRONG! After about 5 or 10 miles he reversed course and, once again we followed him. Not too far down the line we picked up a plastic bag on one of the lower units thus plugging the water intake and toasting an engine. The drag from the puked motor put us out of the race. Armington ran the same rig at another later race with Chet Strickland along for the ride. Somewhere along the way they rolled the boat and Chet damn near died. I think he ended up in the water with a punctured lung and Jim's son holding him up until rescue arrived. We really need to get Chet on this site. I know he has some incredible stories to tell. Back to Jim Armington....I remember him as one on the truly nice guys from those days. I am sure he raced in other events after I had left the scene for USAF pilot training. My attention was pretty much centered on surviving through that year long school followed by another 6 months of Fighter/Interceptor training. During that year and a half, I really don't know much about anything that happened on the boat racing scene. Does anyone know what became of Jim or his son? -Steve Sirois

Restoring 29-9
 

Thanks for all the help so far,still looking for any good pictures of it the pits or dock just prior to a race so we can see how the interior was laid out and what kind of engine hatch it had.He thinks it might have had a mild scoop.
In speaking with the past owner he indicated that this 29-9 was cut down from a 38 and done at the factory. There also was an article in Powerboat Magazine that stated that it was one of the best rough water boats out there because of its wide beam.Who would be able to find that article...was probably written mid to late 70,s. One last note on the deck he said that when he purchased it in 1980 it in looked like it was built in 3 pieces and he filled in the uneven areas to make it look better if that is of any help. Thanks Bud

The one I have the 1967 28' single 427 - 450 H.P. it was converted to twins and now it's going back to a single engine.

Reply on 29-9
 

That looks like a 29-9 what are the reg #s,from the transom the unit we have may have been converted from twins to a single.Won't know till we get it to our shop in a week or two.What is the freeboard at the transom that may tell if they are the same...I have been told these may have been cut down at the factory from 38,s. Powerboat Mag did an article on these boats in the late 70,trying to find it. Bud

Bud,

Mine is 27' 8" if two tapes are right, I've pulled the tape on it a few times I've learned that was designed by Harry Shoell. In 1967 my understanding is Mr. Don Aronow raced six baby Maltese Magnum’s that were named MAGNUM DONZI, three in the United States with the hull number (4) white hulls and three in Europe, with dark green hulls. Two were singles one green, one white two had twins and two had tripple 110 mercs outboards. I’ve performed some insensitive checking and may have located the U.S. out-board boat, the Magnum other (4) Maltese Magnum’s of 1967, I’m fairly sure they do not exist in this restorable condition. in 1966, when the boat was made the only other Maltese Magnum was a 35' not a 38' If you look at page 63 in Michael's book it shows the 35' with a different bottom and deck. Yours looks awesome keep me posted on the progress.

[email protected]

Hugh

Hugh it looks like we have two different models,we think ours is one of 5 that were made and they were cut down at the factory from a 32 or 38. Hopefully we will find that out when we locate the article from Powerboat Mag. Thanks Bud

Hi Hugh,
You have spoken of 6 boats(alls 28'?) used by Aronow during the season 1967 and I don't know where you have taken these information that I don't have.
From my information it results me that Aronow used only three 28'-27'8" (all with the #4, number that then Aronow give to Balestrieri from 1968): a white with 2 engines, a white with three outboard and a green dark color with an only engine.
In Europe Don bring only two boats and not three, that with three outboard and that with a single engine and that used alternatively according to the conditions of the sea.

Marco

Hello Marco,

Here's picture of the single white 28' you have no record of? look at the picture you'll see just one drive I think it's a 215H from the research I done. in 1968 Mr Aronow ran the same hull but the deck was rounded on the sides. The other twin boat was I'm told sold to John Mecom of Texas.

Marco,
Please email me your phone number I would love too talk with about your knowledge in the sport.

[email protected]

Hugh Hulman

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...orCal4mint.jpg


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...ughsMagnum.jpg

Hi Hugh,
you are right about the existance of a second single engines Mag 28' drove by Aronow in 1967.
This time my magnifying glasses has failed. I have those photos that you have posted but I have not been able to recognize the 28' single engine with the stern drive (the other single engine had the V-drive).
Recapitulating the boats that Aronow uses in 1967:
#4 - Maltese Magnum II - single engine/V-drive - dark green sides.
Aronow raced it the first two races in USA,then bring it in Europe,winning the Dauphin D'Or.Then sold in august to the British J.Kennerley.
#4 - Maltese Magnum - 3 Mercury outboards - white.
Was 2nd in the first Bahamas 500. Then Don bring it in Europe,winning in Sweden. Maybe it was sold to Bob Magoon and renamed Andrea III.
#4 - Maltese Magnum - single engine/stern drive - white.
Aronow drove it in two races (Hennessy Long Island and Hennessy Cup Long Beach that Seeroy said in post #25).
Was the next White Knight of you.
#4 - Maltese Magnum - double engines/V-drives - white.
Aronow drove it only in the last two races of 1967; Miami-Nassau and Miami-Key West,winning the last one.
The boat was solded to Balestrieri renamed Tornado(the first of the Tornados saga),sunk in the Channel during the CTC of 1968 and recovered in 1969 for the new owner the British Jan Toll.
This should be the definitive history of that 28.'If you or others in OSO have further information I hope you will tell it.
Marco

John Tussaud (Think Wax Museum) Had a 28' Magnum, I think it was dark green, with 2 427's n a single shaft in 69 or 69.

Hello Brownie,

I read the 66 & 67 summaries (Searace) and looked at all the index info again last night and you had some nice years back to back...

What year do you feel you personally had the most success and accomplishments?

Hugh

Hi, Hugh. I guess 1967 was my acme. Winning the Miami-Nassau race was everyone's dream back in the day. My record setting win was actually facilitated by some poor son-of-a-***** metallurgist at Mercury, who used the wrong alloy mix for ALL the Mercury propellers. I could have just as easily finished 12th or whatever. Back then, we were all personal friends, and there is nothing as satisfying as beating your pals. That year, I also got in the hall of fame, along with Aronow and Wynne. I finished 2nd for US1, 25 points shy of Aronow, who won 600 points in races that I didn't attend. Holy mackeral, that was 40 frickin' years ago!

Magnum 29-9 vs the 28
 

I even called Magnum and there records do not go back that far,so they were unable to help out The 29-9 was built in 73 and maybe all 5 were built then and raced thru at least 77,someone must have a clue on these units.We also know Power boat Mag ran and article on this design sometime between 75 & 77,could even be wrong on those dates.Does anyone know someone who kept old copies of Powerboat that maybe could look for this article it would be much appreciated. Bud

Juan Fernandez and Gardner Young, of Nassau, ran 'Boar Hog' in the Miami-Nassau race around that time. It was a Merc outboard powered 32' or slightly shorter Magnum. I thnk it was the same year that Ed Sims ran the 6-pack 35' Magnum with 6 outboards. Then again, I can't remember how many drinks I had last night....................

I can't remember how many drinks you had last night either......or was that me?

Bud I have most of the Powerboat mag's from 1975 to today I will start looking.