Betty Cook, what's in a name
 

So I'm taking my dad and his friend (lifelong family friend who helped me considerably building my new house) on my boat for the first time for dad (I've owned this boat for three years)

I'm all pumped up to show off my Formula to dad and Fred and show them how I can be first in our club to our Saugatuck port ( I know, medium fish in a small fish bowl) anyway, fred being a gearhead and former cruiser owner mentions Betty Cook, and I say....

"who??"


Fred just looked at me...... "you don't know who Betty cook is??":rolleyes:


so much for impressing dad and Fred:(

I'm not worthy.......................................:o

so please tell me about Betty cook and the relationship with Formula,Kaama, Reggie, and offshore racing.......

I have so much to learn................

Betty was the first female (and grandmother) to win a World Championship. I forget the year, 1977/78?
Betty also started "Kaama" marine and drives. John Conner was her lead mechanic-throttle person. She was married to Paul Cook who ran the first Cat in a race. A 36' Cigarette was her first boat, a 38 Scarab was another-She also had a cat which never ran well. Originally from Glens Falls NY-home of the new APBA prez Ted Zolli. She passed away a few years ago.
Thats all I know off the top of my head.
BOB G.

She also lived on Lake George not to far from my house. Betty held the record for the fastest trip from The Statue of Liberty to Albany and back until Jim DeNooyer Jr. and Sr. broke it a few years ago. Gotta run will add more later.

One Tough Lady!
 

Betty Cook was winning offshore races against young punks half her age! I think she was a National Champion in 1979 or 80?

She died of cancer a number of years ago.:(

She did found Kaama, and was one of the first to race a CAT. I remeber reading an article by her in Boating about how the navigator had to crawl OUT ON THE FRONT OF A SPONSON to get the boat on plane. Also that when they lost an engine in the cat it immediately execute a 90 degree turn in it's own length.

I have her as one of my top ten personal hero's in Offshore.

Wannabe

I have met her Before and she was a real nice Lady Also,That on top of a being a Champion !:)

Betty Cook didn't start driving until she was 50 yrs old.

That proves my theory:
 

Theres hope for me yet!

Bulldog from this board owns one of her old boats -- a Larry Smith Scarab 377, I think.

Don't post this crap on a Friday afternoon! This is a good topic, but I have to leave town 5 minutes ago.

P.S. Never heard a bad word said about her. That is unusual for this sport full of egos.

I bought a pair of her engine/drive packages and later when they didn't fit our boat, she took them back and refunded our money 100%. Went to a coctail party for her in Newport Beach, she was class all the way. If I recall, she may have been world champ once or twice...

I remember her coming to Saugatuck, Michigan in the early 80's for the Coral Gables Cup Challenge offshore races with her 377 Scarab. I loved her boat...KAAMA. She was also one of the first to try and get the sport of offshore racing to become more of a spectator event by having the boats run closer to shore. I respect and admire Betty Cook.

Didn't she survive a barrel roll in a Scarab during a race. Had a beer name on the side. Michelob Light ???? or something like that???

The Michelob Boat barrel rolled in a St Pete Race !It was not Bettys Boat !

Strange thing I was at
Betty Cooks old shop in
Costa Mesa Ca. Today, Its
now Archer Marine and the
Guy who could fill in a
lot of your Questions is
Team Gary who is on this
board, Im sure he will post and I hope Shifter
might also post, VERY good
topic.
Mike J.

I believe her cat was called 'KUDU'. Saw her run out of Marina Del Rey many moons ago. She beat drivers (Crews) like Norskog, Rocky Aoiki, Arnow and all the greats. Was, is and will always be one of my all time heros.

Rambunctious - You never heard of Betty Cook???
:confused: Shame on you.

Bob G. Your knowledge of this stuff always blows me away.

So, what is a KAAMA you ask? I believe it is a fast animal, like a gazzelle. Am I right Bob?

You can also find Betty
Cook in the MotorSports
Hall of Fame, Ya Gotta be
great to be there.
Mike J.

Ron P,

Yes you're right kinda like a Gazzelle....a KAAMA is sort of like an African deer------a part of the Heartabeast family of animals.

Ram... try to find a copy of Thunder Boat Row it's a book by Micheal Arrnow (Don's Son) or Searace by Crouse. Between the to two books it should bring you up to speed so you can swap stories with your dad and his buddy. Then if you want some info on Don's murder try Speed Kills by ? and Blue Thunder by Thomas Burdick. From what I have gathered the best thing to do is read them all, since they are from different perspective.

Then you will be able to bull**** with almost anyone!;) or at least follow along with them!!:D

TTT

..also check out the NJPPC's library..some nice shots of KAAMA & the KUDU cat..

:cool:

From the Motorsports Hall of Fame
 

Betty Cook is widely regarded as having been one of the most successful off shore boat racers of all time having won two UIM World Championships and three APBA National Championships. Ms. Cook won her first race in 1974 driving the Mongoose, a second-hand 32 foot offshore boat. After purchasing a new 38 foot Scarab named Kaama, she won numerous races, including the 193 mile Bushmills Grand Prix at a speed of 73.3 mph. In 1978, she became the first woman to complete, in one day, the 580 mile run down the Gulf of California from San Felipe to La Paz. Averaging just over 50 mph, she completed the race in 12 hours and 45 minutes in a 29 foot Scarab hull. A world and national champion driver who could hold her own on any race course in the world, Betty was inducted into the prestigious APBA Hall of Champions in the years 1977, 1978, and 1981 and became a member of the APBA Honor Squadron in 1993. She retired from active competition in 1982 and passed away on December 23, 1990 at the age of 67.

I think this says alot, and should answer most questions.
Other inductees into MSHF include Gar Wood, Chip Hanauer just to mention a few.

Wannabe

How about this...

http://www.speedmasters-inc.com/lgkaama.htm

:cool: :cool: :cool: