Jim,
Thanks for posting the pictures.The class structure was great back then..I always thought the small vee bottoms in S and A classes were the coolest.The 22Ft. Velocities S-13 "Joker"that you ran with Art Lilly,and the A-44 "Team Gulfwind" that was run by Gene Whipp were my favorites.I hope all is well with you.Do you plan on coming back east for any races this summer?

Mark

Into the darkroom with you Inspector Marco.In your potted history to young Nigel there is the odd fact that has me wondering about Beep Beep and Michelob Light.The two pics look the same to me such that the topside stringer for an alloy boat appears the same for both boats.So where does the wood boat come in.Without trawling through all my archives,I have noted that Beep Beep was 1978 - 79 and Michelob Light was 1980.I have my tin hat on ready for a response.

[QUOTE=flying fish;2407299]Into the darkroom with you Inspector Marco.In your potted history to young Nigel there is the odd fact that has me wondering about Beep Beep and Michelob Light.The two pics look the same to me such that the topside stringer for an alloy boat appears the same for both boats.So where does the wood boat come in.Without trawling through all my archives,I have noted that Beep Beep was 1978 - 79 and Michelob Light was 1980.I have my tin hat on ready for a response.[/QUOT

Wood boats are the same, that`s me 7XCHAMP in the Michelob light boat with Halpern, I did the change to M. light. I ran the boat in a few races, we won Detroit, destroyed it in New Jersey off Jones beach and pulled out of the Benihana race in Pt. Pleasant when she started comming apart, when I got the boat she was already very tired. The boat was never really that fast, best I ever saw was Detroit, we ran all Aluminum reynolds silicone blocks from McClaren days, built by Kiek. Aero. boat ran 120 mph 1980. I have some pix. of the damage, I`ll try and post sometime. I have many stories about that era, and with Joel, Joey Ipp. etc. 7XCHAMP

Not the darkroom was necessary for me this time Doc Graham.
There were two Michelob Light cats Cougar for Halpern.
That sank during the Guy Lombardo of 1980 was the same Beep Beep of 35' in wood of the 1978. Bumping some afloat debris had a hole in the bottom.
I believe that Richie can tell more info about it.He won with Joel the Spirit of Detroit one mounth before.
If it had been made of aluminum more than to bump debris would have had to kiss the rounded deck of a submarine to sink without the use of torpedos.
After that Halpern ordered a second cat a common 38' built in aluminium in 1981 still named Michelob Light.

Richie you are also Champ in speed posting!

That one was pretty good, if I do say so. Thanks, but I concede to you and Nigel on the history parts.

[QUOTE=7xchamp;2407476]I know it does not mean much but who use to be known for the fastest boat..... 120mph in 1980 seems really fast.....

I have been told it isnt how fast ya go but how long ya can go fast.....

1980= 120 woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow that is really scary in a open boat...Hell 80 seems like your face is going to tear off

Yeah it's not how fast you go, it's how good you look going fast!!!!!!!

Thanks Richie for the low down on the cats.It really is a minefield keeping tabs on owners who have several boats with the same names racing in the same year.There is so little reference info around.This where the website is useful for updating those missing links,and anyway I like to keep Marco busy.Get away from those Ciggys and Bertrams Marco and sort all the Skaters out.You`ll need tablets for that.

Hey MercMan, Thanks for all the great race pics. Baja boat looks like Baja NForcer Cat built by Ocean Express...