Lake X- Anyone been?
 

What is the process and the cost to go there an do testing ?

I hear too much about lake X
what exactly is it?
why do you go there?
can someone xplain me pls
thnx

Hey Sonny,
Call me mid day Thursday and I can fill you in on the lake deal. I've been going to the lake for about 10 years now to dial in race boats that I have owned or boats that I have been involved with. Give me a call and I will go into more detail.
Steve
727-433-2200 cell

Believe it or not...I've been to lake X!:cool:

i've bled there a time or two:eek: :rolleyes:

i told them when i go back to dial this next one in,, i'll spare them;)

Steve aka "MoneyShot":

Thanks for replying. I will give you a call tommorro. I am going to the Caymans Friday so if i miss you i will try early next week.

Tim,
Lake X is a private lake in Florida owned by Mercury and has a state or the art R & D facility.:cool:

Actually mercury does not own the land... a software company here in florida owns it called kirchman corporation... I drivr by their building every day on my way to work.... I read that they owned the land in the local paper by accident one day.

Been there 4-5 times. Try to contact your local Merc. Hi-perf. rep. I think he can help arrange it.
Very cool place.
MD

you have one of jay's 30's??...our driver Phil Semel (CatchThis)has done a lot of testing there with that hull....you never know, maybe you can time it when we are there....his input may help ya???

Its located about 5 miles east of Saint Cloud Florida, about 10 mins from my house:D

John from Offshore Concepts in St. Cloud use to work there give him a call, he should be able to tell you how to get in!

Been there several times dialing stuff in. Used to be run by this elderly chap named "Schwebby". Boy what a character he was. Anyway, Lake X, is located in Kissimmee Florida and used to be Mercury Marine's secret high performance testing facility. On the premises is an airstrip, a "motel" or "dorms", offices, several garages/shops and the main building. The main buidling is rather large and houses countless parts, drives, props, spacers, etc. etc. etc. to assist in dialjing in your boat. You actually get hoisted in the water inside the building and go out through big overhead doors. If you are in the building toss a potato chip or bread into the water and watch the 3 feet long cat fish gobble it up and when walking in the tall grass watch out for gators. As you head out to the "lake" you will travel between 2 sea walls and at the end of the pier is a large observation tower. The entire property is fenced in. To enter you pass through an electronic gate. Also in the main building are meeting rooms for you to use and the knowledge that works there is beyond belief. The history in that place is incredible and everytime I have been I just look around in awe thinking about all the "top secret" stuff that used to go on there before the public could use the facilities. It is like you travel back in a time machine and the buildings certainly look like it to. I think Mercury's web-site has some photos for you to view. If you ever get the chance to just stop by and visit, DO IT! It is really a cool place!:D

The last time I was at Lake "X" I ran out of dollars to stuff in the G-Strings.......or was that Lady "X" ???:D :D :D

BY THE WAY...stay to your left and NOT your right when you head out after the chanel....it's VERY shallow ova there!

Shane , way to many S's in Kissimmee:D

waov Shane!?!
you lived there or what?!?
:) :)

What is waov?:confused:

means nothing.we just use it when we are impressed or surprized by a topic,idea etc..

is there anything you would like to know about the lake? If you go to Merc's website I believe they have photos there. Believe me, if they are from the 1950's, it looks no different!:)

Check this out
 

How can I get one of those "Dialed in at Lake X" stickers?

'waov!' again shane!
thnx for the link.

will post a image soon about -turkish offshore development.LOL!!
:D :D

I was there back in 98' or 99' I believe... As soon as I find someone with a scanner, I will post some pics. I was sneaking around taking pictures of everything I could. I even got some pictures of those "Top-secret" mercury powered waverunner prototypes that never hit the market... VERY COOL PLACE!!!!:cool:

Like this????:)

cuda:sticker looks cool :)

how can I get one?

Timucin, It's easy!! Just load up the Skater on a Plane and fly it over here to the States and head for Florida, After you get that thing set up after a couple days of testing they give you the sticker!

:)

himm.
its easier then I thought....
:)

was there a month ago ....thanks Kirk pretty cool deal

I read an article in a boat mag when I was 10, never been able to get Lake X out of my head..... I need a supercharger then I can "need" to have it dialed in and there is not a better place than Lake X.... Only a 24 hour drive (thats w/ speedlimits....) maybe next year....

Aah Lake X, one of my favorite memories. Fantastic facilities, beautiful surroundings, all kinds of wild animals and guys that really know their boats. A couple of years ago my son was based at Lake X while on the Team Yahoo crew and I had the opportunity of seeing many of the top racing boats there. Met Craig (no longer there), one of the best in the drive business.

Some are speaking as though Mercury no longer does secret tests there. Unless things have changed recently they continue the secret tests and at times will shut the facilities down to everyone except those involved in the tests. Even when Nathan worked there, there were certain buildings he was not allowed to go into because of the top secret programs.

I have been to the Lake as a persoanl driver for Tres Martin of Martin Offshore, Tres sets up more boats at the Lake than anyone else I know. Tres test his own race boat a 38 foot MTI Cat in in which he will be racing in Key West for the Worlds. He is at the Lake every other week setting up a new cigarette! For fees on having your boat dialed in at Lake-X, you will need to call Tres at 954-587-1220, sticker supplied when boat is finished. I have seen boats leave there with a 4 to 6 miles per hour gain with no motor motification.

$$$$$$$!!!!:)

Lake X (lake Conlin on area maps) was the brain child of "EC" (Carl Kiekhaefer) I think the story goes something like this. EC ws looking for a place to run endurance tests and I think in the late 50's he was flying around Fl and found the lake that looked like it would fit his needs. Lk Conlin about a 4 square mile lake that EC decided to run an "around the world" 25,000 mile endurance test as a promotional gimmick for his new inline outboards. He had Jim Wynne (EC's chief test driver) oversee the around the clock endurance tests stopping only to change drivers or refuel. He had the United States Auto Club certify the run. It was just a tent city and I bet the bugs were unbelievable because they are still to this day in this area. The first building was the Endurance Building with a lagoon for turning boats and a canal to the lake. Than they built "The Motel". Than in the late 60's they built the Offshore Building. The governor of Fl. (who was a fisherman) was invited down to try his luck at fishing and see what was going on. It must have went well because after that they built a landing strip and then paved the road to Lake X when the governor decided he'd like to fish in Lake X. And to anyone who hasn't been there it's a LONG road. And so that's how the local story around here goes. :) :cool:

Reason why they did 25k miles? a popular saying about mercs then was "theyre fast but they dont last"

they continued to 50k, a driver died when switching boats (do you think they had time to sleep on the 6.?? mi total counter clockwise loop?

I thought it would be boring living in St.Cloud Florida, but every time I leave my house and head down rt. 192 I see so kind of boat parked at a motel either coming or going from the lake, one day I will hit something rubbernecking at the boats.:rolleyes: