30 Years Ago Today.
 

It was 30 years ago today when Howard Arneson's boat driven by Tony Garcia and throttled by Sammy James took fiirst place in the Coral Gables Challenge Cup in Saugatuck, MI. From that day on, marine propulsion would change forever. I was happy to be a part of it and to witness history.

I remember that boat well, spent many a hour fixing it

I can't amagine having to "fix" a race boat....you mean they have to be worked on...

Look at your talent!

Beautiful picture! Thanks for posting it Rik.

i was there kick ass race!! lew cooper put on a great party too! happy!

I was ther also. Sat at a table with Sal Magluta.........

What was historic/groundbreaking about it?

Won like 8 races in a row, and was the first boat to really prove the effects of the surface drive...I am sure others can add more details

8 in a row?? Give Sammy some credit. Detail, detail, attention to detail, and Sammy is still at it today with his RV Aircraft parts, and still full of hell----

http://i45.tinypic.com/34slyzq.jpg

For those that don't know, Thats Sammy Laughing with the hat on.....

That race is when Howard asked me if I wanted to put his drives on "SHEER TERROR' and the rest is history. Great day.

Bobby Sheer

"Give Sammy some credit..." Of course he gets credit! In my opinion he was one of the best! He could do it all and he was a great friend who I always looked up to.

Thanks for coming here and racing, I was 14 then and still love these boats. My parents took me down to the docks and the next day we took our tiara down to watch you goes run. Great times! The bug bite me way back then.

the sport class express cat also won the next 4 races with the arneson drive