Greetings to the 70's gang
 

Hi,

I'm Bill Vogel Jr. I raced offshore from 1969 (Bushmills - Long Beach to Ensenada) to 1981 (Key West Worlds).

I just found this forum. I had no idea there was such a strong contemporary interest in Offshore Racing from those years. Your posts bring back a lot of memories! It appears that there are still some of you I raced with active on this forum, and it would be great to hear from you - please reply here or PM me!

I'm only beginning to go through the many pages here, so I apologize if I should have posted this somewhere else.

Here's a photo I thought you'd enjoy seeing from the Benihana Grand Prix West in San Francisco in 1978.
The water was rough that year, and on the way out to the Farallons we broke the boat down the side and across the bottom to the keel. I think I have a picture of the damage, somewhere... This was the only race I navigated for Rocky; actually it was half a race as I got hurt in the impact and jumped out at the Farallons checkpoint.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/...e=17754&size=1
Bill Vogel, Rocky Aoki, and Errol Lanier before the 1978 San Francisco race

ahhhh very cool and welcome to our nightmare :)

Errol Gets on here every now and then.

Check this out as well:

HORBA

http://www.historicraceboats.com/

Welcome aboard Bill!!!
It is a honor to have you with us.
Here you can find old guys as Richie Powers as 7xchamp, Allan Brown as Brownie, Charlie Mccarthy as Top Banana, Steve Sirois as Seeroy etc.
Can you tell us your history in offshore?
I hope that you will put also some photos.
Marco

Those guys are all "elsewhere" now. We all are. :)

Yes!
Maybe he will find them somethimes....:o

welcome. cant waite to see more pics.

Bill many hang on another site called seriousoffshore.com as well as this site. Both sites have great info from the past

I am not as big a celebrity as some of the above mentioned ICONS, but I also visit here once in a while!
I raced in the 70's 80's 90's and the new millenium, maybe that will qualify me as an old timer! :eek:
Later,
Pepe Nunez @ www.panteraboats.com

Welcome to Offshoreonly!! I was just kid when you raced in the Bennihana, I remember your boat "Super Toad", a 28' single engine Cigarette. You were actually leading all the open class boats due to them breaking down or getting lost. You were close to the finish line when you broke down, handing the victory off to "Latortuga". This had to have been a major disappointment. Could you post pictures of your boat?
Bob

I remember Super Toad & have a few pics tucked away somewhere. I never missed a Point Pleasant race back in the day.

Thanks, everyone, for writing back!

Well, afterwards they told us that everyone on shore was going nuts about it (esp. my folks!), but on the boat we were clueless! :) We had no idea we were leading, so we were just bummed at breaking down 1/2 mile from the finish. We did wonder why all the helicopters were overhead, but figured we were so far behind that everyone else had already finished, and they were just coming back to take some pictures of the Class II boats!

We were mostly West Coast racers (POPBRA) back then. That race in 1975, being on the East Coast and pretty high profile, is the one that gave me some credibility as a navigator. Probably why I was able to get offers of rides later on with Rocky, Joey Ippolito, Preston Henn, and eventually a full-time gig with Betty Cook.

I'll look for some pictures, I don't have any on my computer. I'm sure my parents have the scrapbooks somewhere, and when I get time I'll scan some of them.

Welcome to the board MrToad. You obviously must have known John Connor. I had to google him to find out what's he up to now. I remember reading stories about him and Betty getting lost in the fog off the Californian coast , only relying on a compass and charts. How easy it's nowdays with GPS , eh.

http://www.connormarine.com/Frame-7-...=1240500331248

http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/E...ur%20racer.jpg

Sorry if I have not mentioned you Pepe.
Sure that are among the great old men of the offshore!!!
And one of the few Americans that has come to challenge the Italian drivers beating them!:cool:

Yes it sometimes it feels like 1980 was not too long ago!
Had a great time there in Viareggio, but Venice was very different.
Later,
pepe.

Navigation
 

Thanks for the link and the photo. That's probably me in the picture, as Don Holloway (Betty's navigator during her first World Championship run) was much taller. I'd heard John went to Florida. I've lost touch with everyone from that era, but certainly remember you all fondly (if you can apply that word to some of the tough cases we raced against!).

Yeah, GPS is cheating! And, hey, we had stop watches, too! The chart, whiskey compass, stopwatch, and Mk. I eyeball were all we had, though, and navigation was a big part of truly "offshore" racing.

I learned much of the techniques and subtleties of pilotage and ded-reckoning in race boats from California crew chief and navigator Frank Guertin, who was quite generous in sharing his knowledge with a young guy.

For those of you that didn't know him, here's a Frank Guertin story:

I remember the dense fog suddenly shutting down the start of one of our races, perhaps the one you are referring to. Visibility was maybe a boat length or two. There was a real danger of hitting other nearby boats that were milling for the start. Frank was nearby in (maybe Zippe, I'm not sure...) and he would have our small group shut our engines down. Then he'd listen, point, and we'd start up and idle for a little before stopping and repeating the process. Eventually we found our way to one of the little oil islands in Long Beach harbor, where the heat of the land made a little pocket of less-dense fog. We waited there for quite awhile until the fog lifted. When I asked Frank how he knew which way to go, he explained that he was listening for the sound of the oil wells on the islands.

A great example of using all the resources at your disposal.

Bill Vogel

Marco, here's the story of how I got started....

My Dad, Bill Sr., knew Southern California endurance racer Jake Gilbreath (flat-bottom circle racing, like the Parker 500 mile(!) Enduro). Jake rented a shop from Dad for his gas tank business, which later became Jake's and his son Jerry's very successful Gil Marine business. In 1969 I was 15 years old, and Dad was looking for a safe outlet for my obvious interest in anything fast. We had a small cabin cruiser, but I wanted a 'speed boat'. So, Dad spoke to Jake about how to get into boat racing.

Jake was friends with Russ Hill, brother of prop wizard Ron Hill, and Russ was on the POPBRA board as its official APBA referee. POPBRA had recently created the Development Class (to develop interest in offshore at an affordable price) that allowed pretty much any boat to run. Through the help of Russ, Sandy Kemp, and Bob Brown they figured out how us kids could qualify for APBA insurance so we could race with our Dad.

Dad bought a 19' Tahiti jet boat with a 427 and put a big compass in it. We named it "Mr. Toad", after the hero of the children's book "Toad of Toad Hall" and the inspiration for the Disneyland ride 'Mr. Toad's Wild Ride', and were assigned number 48 by the APBA. We added helmets, life jackets, a life raft, and now Dad, my brother Bob (14), and I were 'racers'. ;)

We entered our first race, which just happened to be the 1969 Bushmills Grand Prix from Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico! We had no clue how totally inadequate our boat was for the ocean. Looking back, they probably shouldn't have let us enter. We were fortunate that the outcome was successful.

This race was Don Aronow's west coast premier with his new Cary 'Cigarette', the year he won the world and national championship. My recollection is that Don only had to finish to clinch the national championship. You've probably read how Don beat the mayor of Long Beach to Ensenada, even though the mayor hit the freeway an hour before the start of the boat race. Don's time was under 2 hours.

Well, we took ten hours! The first time we hit a big wave, the dash broke right through the center (the hole for the speedometer was a weak point) and my Dad spent the whole race holding up the flopping deck with his arm, to keep it from breaking the rest of the way and crushing our knees (it was a sit-down boat). I drove and throttled, and thank goodness all we had to do was follow the coast south.

We received a trophy for "last to finish", and Bob and I were awarded silver cups for the "crew award", which I still treasure. We were hooked!

Super Toad
 

Thanks for remembering. Here are a couple of photos. (Click the images for larger versions)

Bill Vogel

Super Toad
 

Here's one more pic of Don Aronow inspecting his handiwork.

Cool pics! -Really appreciate the history!:drink::drink::drink:

Kurt

I am very new to the sport and find it awesome that the guys who paved the way will sit back and relive it with us. I never attended a race until this year and it was on a lake but I am hooked and look forward to learning more about the history of this sport. Welcome aboard and please keep the stories coming

Super Toad!
Now I remember your boat on the few US motorbat magazines that also arrived in Italy in the seventies..
But were you in Venice with Betty Cook and Connors in 1979's Worlds?

Every day you learn new stuff about back in the day,,,,,,,
As usual, a little off the thread, but would love to see you guys @ OFF party in Jupiter Fl Oct.23-25th,,,,, I realize it is a lot of distance for many of you,, but as Brownie keeps saying,,,,, When else can we do this. Besides I'll get everyone a free chicken wing and the real old guys, a bran muffin,,,,,,,,, Great Poost........

Venizia
 

Marco,

I was there. Of course Betty and John were the stars, and I was just a young kid!

In Searace, Crouse mentions Connor taking pictures of the other boats. That was actually me, not John, as he was pretty busy throttling the Cougar cat at the time! I was in the navigator's spot behind Betty, and since the water was flat I pulled out my little point-and-shoot camera and snapped a few photos of the other boats. Since the V-hulls were trimmed way out trying to keep up it was not such a fun ride for them, hanging on while the boats chine-walked at speed. I guess the camera was kind of infuriating to the other guys, and in retrospect I shouldn't have done it. :D

I have a lot of great memories of that trip. Here's one:
Betty shipped the Cougar cat to Calais, and five of us (Betty, John, Jimmy, Don, and I) picked it up at the docks and towed it all the way to Venizia. In France, they decided we couldn't go on the Motorroute with the wide load, so we had to take back roads all the way through France. We actually had a lot of fun, I remember stopping in the small towns for a lunch of bread, cheese and fruit from the local store. After threading our way through Monaco (amazingly big boat in amazingly small streets!), we arrived at the Italian border late in the afternoon.

Something wasn't quite right with our paperwork, and the border guards wouldn't let us in. We had a very long wait, during which Betty finally convinced them to let her make some phone calls. I think this was on a weekend. Eventually she reached someone of authority, and about 11:00pm Cecilia Fanfani(sp?) personally called the border station and spoke to the commandant.

(Marco, please explain for everyone what this would have been like for the guards - I understand she is a national heroine, something like Caroline Kennedy here in the US during John Kennedy's presidency. Wasn't her father one of the racers?)

WELL, you should have seen the sudden change. Men were running around, straightening uniforms, flood lights came on, etc. But they still didn't let us in. After about a half hour, flashing blue lights could be seen coming towards us from within Italy, rising and falling over the dark hillsides. Soon a escort of four motorcycles pulled up, and we made quite a grand entry into your country. Since it was midnight, however, there was no one else to see our triumph!

Lido Isle was great. The Excelsior Hotel was a very elegant venue for the race. We received the most wonderful hospitality everywhere while in Italy, and of course our race result was good, too. A wonderful experience for all of us.

Bill also I was in Venice that year but only as spectator with two friends. Usually The waters in Venice are calm but that day not even a lake could not be more dish. The European teams were wrong completely the preparation of the competition.
And so you have had as adversaries alone Quam-Lanier with the old cat of Aoki and Ippolito-Stuteville with the mono Scarab 38' that didn't finish
It was really a walk for you that perhaps also Connors would have been able to make photo to the flat and boring Lagoon of Venice.
Interesting your trip across half Europe. To that time the frontier still existed between France and Italy and I remembers that at times we can crossed without they didn't even look us and at times they wanted to also see the pistons. Cecilia Fanfani doughter of a well known Italian political that time she had involved in offshore because her husband disputed some races in UIM class 2.
Below some pics of mine and from italian magazines of that time.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/556...cockpit.th.jpg
Your office after the race


http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/238...inner79.th.jpg
backing to the docks. In the background partially view of the Excelsior. It was the headquarter of the race.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2413/venice79c.th.jpg
The morning before the race in the base at the Marina del Cavallino,Lido isle.

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/5233/venice79g.th.jpg
At full throttles

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5...nice79d.th.jpg
The winning finish.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9349/venice79.th.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1...nice79b.th.jpg
From a cover of a magazine.Immediately after the finish besides to the Limit Up Cig 37'6 of Tim Powell third classified and the second classified Dry Martini 2 of Niccolai .
You perhaps are that in white t-shirt close to Connors?

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9236/detroit78a.th.jpg
An image from a US magazine of my archive; where you are with Connors and Cook at Detroit in 1978 that if I don't remember badly was the first race with the new cat.

Wonderful photos, thank you for posting them! You have a great memory for all of the details - much better than mine!

Yes, I am next to John, and that is Jimmy Myers standing next to me, facing away from the camera.
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1...nice79b.th.jpg

Also Jimmy in this picture.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2413/venice79c.th.jpg

Great read! Thanx :drink:

i must agree great read. Also welcome aboard Bill Vogel Jr.

Hi Bill , Long time no hear or see, glad you found OSO, there are many great stories and many more to be told. You and I used to have a very good relationship, we always talked at the races, You were always picking my brain in a very complimentary way. We had some good races against each other, AAAAHHHHH the good old days. I just started a thread inquiring about the whereabouts of George Bartell, I would like to commission him again to do a portrait if he is up to it, He did two of me that my wife Allyson comissioned, which are great, and very special. If he is not able, maybe he could recomend someone of same mind set and quality for a very close friend of mind that I won three world championships with. All the best to you and family, I look forward to hearing from you. please email me. Richie Powers [email protected] .

Michael Allweiss here. No reason for you to remember me but my dad raced with Myles "Smiley" Johns in Production class in a 28' Magnum, Conspiracy, and then in Open Class in a 35' Cigarette of the same name. I remember your family and the Super Toad very well. I was in the mid course timing boat when you all set the world speed record in 1975. My dad and Smiley actually crashed that day! And I think we may have even visited your home on one of trips out West maybe in 1976??? I have a vague recollection of swimming in your folks' pool too??? Welcome aboard!

Richie,

To this day my dad's Bartell portrait still hangs in our law office. Timeless piece. Very cool.

Hi Mike: I am happy to say I located George, and spoke with him yesterday. He just finished 30 custom portraits for the monterey historic races and is a little burnt, but was excited to hear from me again, and we started recalling all the past times, and celebs. associated. He has consented to do a portrait for my very close friend, it`s a surprise so can`t say name. You are so right, about his portraits, he captures everything and makes the portrait very special. Question : are you and your dad going to the old fart thing in Oct. if so you need to talk studebaker into coming with you.

Bill theirs also another website called donzi.net where browney and michael aronow pop in from time to time..

Hey Billy: Is your profile correct -- do you live in Yorba Linda, CA? I do too -- for the last 30 years! This is my first post here -- still writing columns and articles for the boating mags.

#88 "Ringleader" -- Bob Brown

This stuff is priceless. we need more of it on here. I've still got my very first powerboat magazine i found in my dads old filing cabinet, and it is from 1974 i think and has a picture of Super Toad in it, I think it was the Henessy cup?. I could check.

Bill. Good To See Are Well . I Build Small Cats For Fishing Now But Still `love The Cats. Errol-- Web Site Laniercustomboats.com

Hi Bill. I was wondering if you'd be happy to chat about those days? I'm doing a little research and trying to get to know all the charcaters and you of course, were in the thick of it!

Would love to chat if you have time?

David