Black Tornado

In 1980's R.P. Warmington Grand Prix,former Bushmills G.P.,that opened the season,Martin have the 39' round deck but then he decided to didn't to take the start.
Then at the New Orleans/Halter "200" Martin come back to the old 39' with McManus.
Here at the start of the race with the Long Shot.



Next part will be continue tomorrow.....

Black Tornado

In 1981's season the 39' round deck was repainted in dark blue(black?) with white stripes and entrusted to some drivers like the veterans Willie Meyers with Wayne Vickers or others like Mike Drury with Billy Martin and Michael Meynard that used it like a spare boat for rough seas(never happened).


Halter "200" march 28 1981: n.5 Meyers-Vickers


Probably Bacardi Trophy, May 9 1981: n.15 Drury-Martin


Key West november 1981 World Championships: The n.13 "version" spare boat for Meynard but at disposal to Mike Drury.
Note the little modifications for the 1981 season: new engines hatches with airscope and other scope on the sides. Maybe the engines was breathless before?

Black Tornado

In the same year Bill Elswick,that dominated the 1980's season,appear with a 39' with the US-1 and a new deck(or new boat?)


And appeared Eddie Trotta with a new 39' sister boat of the Long Shot new version of Elswick.
It was the n.10 white Rampage



continued....

Black Tornado

After the accident in New Orleans where was killed Joel Halpern,Al Copeland come back in a race with the 39' round deck,probably former Bounty Hunter.
The white n. 18 Popeye's


Coral Gables Challenge Cup August 14 1982

After that in Auckland's World Championships in december 1986 that "bubble boat" reappeared with the old Orange original version. It's very strange....
However it had the rising sun flag now,named Bengal for the Aoki new alter-ego,Misukazu Kobayashi.

36widebody

Well Marco, I am impressed of your knowledge, and is anxious to see if Billy Sr. can confirm your history, or if it actually was two different hulls.

On a side note: Was it only the 36' who was 9' wide, or was any of the 40' or 39' also "wide body" ?

Reg Joern

Black Tornado

Joern,I think that there was an only 39' "round deck". There aren't datas that say to us the existence of a sister boat. To confirm that is the fact that seem that the boat of Martin was heaviest respect to the others 39' and infact this one not won anyone race,in opposite to the alls others 39' builded.
However it's very curious that it at last was repainted in the original version several years and colours after.......
But it's my opinion that the 39' "round deck" was the version most beautiful of alls 39',that it's a general opinion they haven't a well design hull.
The 39's hull design was derivated directly from the 35' Awesome boats,like the 40' other not was that a 36' lenghtened of 4 feet simply,with a re-dimensioned stern and a different deck.

Marco

Black Tornado

I think that were builded almost 5, 39' originals.
3 identical(safe the windscreens):
- Powerboats Magazine Special(also CAM-but not the CAM2 40' of Penske)
-Bounty Hunter(also no name-Cigarette/Halter/Bounty Hunter)
-Long Shot(in white then black)
then there was:
-Bounty Hunter("bubble" -Cigarette/Halter/Fayva Shoes-Popeye's-Bengal)
then there was:
-Rampage

There is a doubt about the Long Shot in "Rampage version" of 1981. It was that of 1978 with the new deck or a new boats?

The 39' won 10 races from 1977 to 1983
3 victories each for: Nordskog's Powerboat Magazine Special*
Martin's Bounty Hunter early 39'**
Elswick's Long Shot***
1 for Rampage

* 1 victory in APBA circuit and 2 in MBRA
** the victory in Mar Del Plata seem was with the "round deck" but I think was a mistake. Martin raced the World Championships in Mar Del Plata in december 1978 with the first 39',then raced ,one mounth after, the same race to take easy points for the World Final in Italy 1979,brought another boat from USA? Very eccentric....
*** alls three victories in 1980 with the first version of black Long Shot.

One 39' gave to the Cigarette the fifth National Title ,after five years,in 1980 with Elswick.
2 speed records in long distance course.
Powerboat Magazine Special in May 7 1978 averaged at 64,7 mph from san Francisco to Marina Del Rey.
CAM of Nordskog July 23-25 1980 in 1300 miles from Canada to Mexico borders in 31 hours and 14' averaging 41,6 mph.
Billy Martin won the Hurricane Classic in april 16 1978 debuting in him first 39' at 81,6 mph. It was the most speed average victory for a 39'.

littlenige

All of this is too much for a Monday morning..............!

littlenige

Look what showed up on Ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-...QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder if it has any racing history??

ApolloMaxim

I've been bidding on it, pretty damn cool boat, nothing like working for a charity and seeing that show up in the paperwork!!!!