Why did Chris Lavin get out of racing???
 

Anyone know what ever happened to Chris and why he got out of racing? I know he had the tragic loss of his brother Mark, but seemed to get back into to racing in the late 80's...I know he spent a lot of money and time developing a new superboat that raced in the 89 season??? I think it only raced a few times, why go through all the effort then leave the sport?

I hope Chris and his family are doing well....

T2x could probably answer that one

The racing was always Mark's thing, with Chris going along as kind of an adventure and to support his brother. Chris probably had equal talent to Mark, but without the boat racing fire burning in his belly. After Mark's accident, Marce, The boys' father, wanted to create the safest and most unique boat in the history of the sport as a tribute to Mark. I believe it was also an attempt to keep a little piece of Mark alive by pursuing his dream. We built it only after Marce insisted in the strongest terms that we do it. Of course Chris was on board for this, but you could see the flame was burning out over the 3 years that the project encompassed. The big cat was the test bed for most of the Lavin Foundation (also funded by Marce) standards in use today, but was also a victim of a failed engine program that exhausted huge amounts of money.

By 1989 the family realised the enormous toll the sport had taken from them and they decided to hang it up.

For me Mark's death will always be "The day the music died." , not just for us, but for the sport as a whole. It lost its brightest, legitimate star and, at the same time, that season represented the beginning of the end of the high budget teams with "exotic" cash sources. It was, and, sadly, will never be, the same.

T2x

Chris owns and runs some properties in Wilton, CT where I work. In fact, I am looking at one of his buildings out the window right now!

T2X, I remember when all you speak of happened. Chris just lost his passion for the boat racing thing. When he decided to hang it up, I purchased some Stelling exhausts and tails from him. He had alot of stuff that he was unloading back then.

When I got my Corsa from Don Roberts this summer he shared some great stories and photos of the Lavin brothers and himself. He also had the "Jesse James" 28 Cigarette at his shop. I was fun hearing him talk about the old times.

Does anyoneknow how to get tin touch with Don Roberts? I am looking for pictures/video of the 48 superboat. engine bays, surface drives, cockpit, etc.

T2X would you have and pictures and video? I bought the 5 you have on sale now...You should make one of all the JJ boats....