Black Tornado

CAM 2 the name of that 40'(not a 39') of Roger Penske that in Key west 1976 became Really Ridicolous for D. Smith with the sides in red and then in 1977 it was renamed Diamond Don.
After I haven't other info about it.

littlenige

Only pics I have managed to obtain.....

littlenige

oops...are here!

littlenige

And who's gonna pay 190 when this is 50 less? (still too much!)

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1977.../United-States

magcig29

yea i have 1980 39' cig, with #3's and twin 700s'(give or take a few) it did 70-75
currently putting #5's on it now

here's a pic

Mike Bontoft

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1977.../United-States
Check out the engine ignition boxes, very old school!
For some reason my link doesn't work, click on littleniges link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Scara...mZ150329166593
I think this was a screaming deal! It took all my self control not to hit the bid button.

7xchamp

Sorry Marco incorrect: The 40` Cig for Diamond Don was a bare hull 40` that Kiekhaefer had laying around the barn in Fondulac for several years the original gelcoat was the colors of the Diamond Don boat. I did the first test and set-up work with the boat, which I stated in other posts?? This boat had the prototype Kiekhaefer drives on it, predesesor to the # 6 we know today. The upper housing was fixed straight and the lower unit steered, wish there was some documentation for them, I`m sure there is maybe Nigel could get some pix????
anyway: when the boat was first put in the water Dick Schwartz tryed to drive it with the new drive system and it was out of control. I was with Bonomi at the time and was on my way home from Europe when Mr. K. called and asked if I would test the boat for him, I did and encountered the same thing, boat was uncontrollable, the more I tested I finally figured out that the steering helm ratio was wrong, it was two turns lock to lock so any input in the wheel exaggerated the steering at the drive almost double. We changed the helm and slowed the steering and the boat could now be driven wide open hands off the wheel. This is what many racers today don`t understand that it was guys like me who had to figure all those things out, things that were new and experimental, guess that`s why we were called test drivers, we had to relate what was going on to the engineers then it was up to them to come up with the solution. As for the Sunoco boat, not sure where it ended up, also FYI Mark Donahue rode in the boat as well, and I think Barry Cordingly, who was Don`s test Driver.

Top Banana

Richie......good post...here is a photo of Don and Roger Penske and Jay Signore, who worked for Roger Penske. They are going over the details of the Sunoco boat as the boat is being delivered.

Jay was the guy who headed up Roger's special projects like starting the IROC series and also making the street versions of the Camaros that Don, Magoon and I had.

Black Tornado

Richie, thank you for having correct me.
Then Really Ridicolous that raced to Key West 1976 was a 40' original.
The long job that Graham (flying fish) and me are doing for cataloging all the boats that have effected at least a start at an offshore race is helped a lot by people as you that the facts have directly lived and that they remember well still today.
Thanks again for everything.

wannabe

What a great looking boat. Classic lines. I suspect yours is heavier being a non-race boat. Undoubtedly a wave crusher.

wannabe