T2x, Great info here!!! Don't take it the wrong way when I was asking about other manufacturers. I didn't mean for it to come off as if I was knockin' you. I was just surprised not to see Jack Clark in there some where. The rest I guess you did cover with the label "Kitty Litter". Looking forward to more posts of valued information. THANKS!!!

What about the Superboat? Was that a "Kittylitter" Boat or was that a somehow originall design?

Jon

While it has only been a week since the tragedy, I felt that it was time we got back to some of the topics abandoned by Bin Ladin's attempt at destroying us. I hope you all understand the spirit that this is written in.

Random answers:

Ed-- Very good insight on the "Twisters" ..... .Except.... the original T3 was a 2 litre, factory only, Fuel Injected V-6 with Bendix aircraft injection on a "toilet bowl" manifold. The much tamer (lame) version sold later to customer racers was the carbureted engine you refer to.

As for the T4's history in offshore, to my knowledge, the first set actually raced, were put on Rich Luhrs' white factory Sport Class Shadow Cat and run in Chicago, Fort Lauderdale and the World's in Key West in 1981. These engines, and one extra, were then installed on Mike Drury's gorgeous 36' Maelstrom in 1982 and run in Open Class with Billy Sirois on the throttles. The motors had the very rare "football" lower units (kind of a cut down #2 drive)and were never left alone without a factory escort. You may have rigged a set of 3.4 liter motors with racing cowlings, but in 1981-83 the actual T-4's were kept verrry close to the factory. Later, after, they were considered too big and clumsy for further development or racing, Joe Imprescia ran a set on the "HMS Dea Won" and Michelle Maynard put 4 of them on a red 38' Cougar pleasure boat.

Ron--- Yes I have seen a Strike Cat. One raced out of Ohio in US Offshore. It had OMC V-8's as I recall, and was very tail heavy.

Badcat--- I regret to say that I can't take the west coast cat's seriously. I've seen too many roll over and they don't carry the speed or handling in competition that some other designs are capable of. It's a "California thing" I guess. Pretty graphics and not much else.... except rave reviews in Powerboat.

Audiofn--- FYI... Superboat "popped" the second Shadow Cat produced. This may be a record for speed in copying a design. Of course he raised the deck, fooled with the bow, and generally horsed around with the design.

T2X, I haven't heard anything about Kenny Kitson in years, since he skipped out of his dealership in a master plan to escape the floorplan guys and disappeared . What is he doing now?Heard that Bob Switzer, even though retired, has drawings for a new "Killer Wing".The old days bring back memories that cannot be duplicated, and I for one appreciate the memories you are calling up for me. I am trying to figure out who you are,I know I have met you years ago and I will figure it out unless you want t o e-mail me privately with your idenity.Please keep posting. Robert Nelems,Nelems Marine,Jasper,Al

T2x, you are amazing.I am 47 years old and have been exposed to different kinds of boat racing since I was 3 years old. My memory from when I was very small with my parents recalls a outboard hull raced locally called a Fantasy Craft. I vividly remember the drivers of these twin and triple inline merc 6 cats powered, actually laying on the front deck of the boat to get it up on plane. (pre hyd tilt and trim). These boats ruled in about 1958 to early-mid 60's I also remember the Merc's with megaphone exhaust and a sort of Speedmaster lower unit. I only wish I had pictures of these old days of racing.

t2x,
I too have been away from the board for a while...lurking and reflecting on the tragedy in Manhattan and Washington.

I worked at 4 World Financial Center up until a month ago and flew into JFK from Syracuse at 7:30 that fateful Tuesday morning. I glanced out the window and commented to my girlfriend about the Twin Towers...little did I know it would be the last time I would see them standing. The thought of all those people being trapped in that rubble has left a pit in my stomach that still has not gone away.

That being said, I thank you for posting such an interesting topic that has brought me out of my little world and forced me to think of something else. Your intimate knowledge of the V-Bottom and Catamaran worlds on the east cost in particular, seems pretty extensive.

I bought HMS Dea Won several years ago and was intrigued by it's past. Raced by Joey Imprecia, Joey Detour(sp), Dea and Frank Buckley...it was in a state of disrepair and I painted it and put it back together with a pair of 2.4 Bridgeports...boy was it slow! It was my first offshore boat and my first catamaran...I kept it for 2 years and sold it to put together another project---my 28 Cigarette...I guess I've got a thing for those old boats! BTW, there are a couple of pics of HSM Dea Won on www.falconhp.com in the Gallery section if you're interested.

I spoke to Joey I. about that boat after I bought it and he got pretty quiet and reflected on those days. It seems Joey D taught Joey I. alot and was saddened by his passing.

In any event, thanks again for posting some real content...thought provoking, and educational.

BTW, the rumor wast that George Linder went to jail for Insurance fraud and that's why he got out of the boat building business...is this true? If not; my sincere apologies for bringing up such a rumor

Sean

Hi Sean:
Thanks for the kind words.

Joey Detore was quite a character. A world class gymnast, a dedicated, talented racer, and the craziest S.O.B. to ever walk the face of the earth. He actually shot up his own gas station to try and convince the local police that he needed a gun license for protection. On another occasion he excaped from the hospital during his final health battle and went power-sailing only to crash land in a convenience store parking lot. This was quite a guy and Joey Imprescia was his protege'......enough said.

As far as the George Linder "rumor". The incident you refer to occurred before the Conquest Cat's (Jesse James 2-3, Etc), so whatever happened between Linder and the insurance companies had nothing to do with his boat designing career. He did pull back after the death of Mark Lavin, but is quite capable and available for boat design to this day....... phone number 631-273-3479.
Maybe American Offshore should call and say thanks..........Maybe APBA should do likewise......and to answer the next question.... No, T2x is not George Linder.

T2x

[ 09-18-2001: Message edited by: T2x ]

Hi T2x,

We have, and we constantly pay tribute to what a great hull the Chris Cat hulls are. (see sighting on east lake, 24 skater vs. american offshore... etc) Some people think that Awesome and American Offshore have the Chris, The Shadow Cats went to Awesome (great bunch of folks, Jim & Marie) and the sole owner of the Chris Cats are American Offshore.

I have to say that I throughly enjoy all of your postings and look forward to many more. I know that you are definetly a pro-skater person and thats all good too! That's what makes this country so great, freedom to choose and the freedom to be proud. I think that there is room for a number of us in the cat business, as a owner, I am extremely proud of the heritage that comes with American Offshore, the Chris Cats, and George Linder. In fact, I'll call him to just say hello, today.

Again, I impatiently await your next post, I think that they are great. Keep up the good work!

Scott Hutchinson
American Offshore

Hi Scott:

You're right, I like Skaters(I own one)......but make no mistake about it...... I like Shadow/Chris cats as well(owned and drove a bunch of them too). The technology is older , certainly, and the styling not as fresh...but those boats are stout and they are the reason that production cats existed in the first place....truly they were innovative beyond anything else that came before.

We're working on that styling thing!