Or, at the very least, some part of his anatomy.


;)

T2x

Lobsterboy--just wondering what happened to ElDiablo--I didn't see it running this year--The way S.B.I. pumped the P.R. with NCR sponcering it I thought it might hit a few races -John

That, I CAN'T IMAGINE! :D :eek:

I didnt realize Rolling Thunder was a Shadow. That's cool. Dont think its racing anymore, but ive seen Arnold D cruise through the F-cove in Brick a couple of times this year. Bad ass boat for sure. Great thread guys.....

Not THAT Rolling Thunder..... That's a Baja..or a Jaguar... there are a couple floating around...

THIS Rolling Thunder..and it's not a Shadow....it's a Conquest \/
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GREAT THREAD
 

GROWING UP HERE IN MIAMI I HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE MANY RACES AND AWESOME BOATS.WILLIE DIAZ AND
JULIO DE VARONA THE DRIVER OF THE 38 EL BOSS WAS
ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING RACING I HAVE EVER WITNESS.WILLIE RAN THAT CIG WITH NO MERCY AND THAT IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE RIDE OF ALL TIME.

Re: GREAT THREAD
 

His riding crew in the Shadow were Carlos and "El Ronco" (The Rhino)..... two massive gentlemen who ....er..."accompanied" Willie wherever he went....including races. They lost weight in every race, and had eyes the size of half dollars after every event due to Willie's antics in the boat..... They were the only crew in offshore that included Glocks in their race emergency kit.

Those were the days.......Willie was..and is..amazing.

T2x

T2x, Why do the occupants sit, seemingly, so high relative to the overall height of the sponsons and deck? It seems that in some of the other boats I've seen that you built, the crew sat deeper. What is the advantage/disadvantage to the design above? Was it less safe to be that high off the water? Did it affect the cg?

Actually, it's an optical allusion.... due to the lense and camera angle..... That boat had a LOT of deck...and the occupants were seated normally...but the camera has skewed it.

T2x

Is the seat height about the same as Brownie's Cougar? The cockpit looks similar in design to my Cougar, is it?

I can't remember the guys name but it was the late 80s The boat was a black shadow called The Collection He must have popped a mold because he was trying to sell some boats. Anyhow on the last lap he put the boat on the beach. Well as it turned out the feds found him and gave him a ride to school.
Anybody know this fellows name?

mm,

You are thinking of Joey Robregez. He had a Cougar called The Collection.

the boat was named the connection and i beliave the name was tony

Interesting stuff, I am getting an education. My question is what happened to Willie Diaz?

HE IS OUT OF SCHOOL

I see, another boarding school case, what about now is he still boating. There ought to be a book or something on the history of offshore, so us beginners could catch up. We were attempting to tell some friends about the whole Ben K., Don A. thing they asked if it was a movie!
Sorry, I don't mean to get you guys off topic, just want
to know more, like others have said there sure is a history of knowledge on this thread, thanks

Right on The Collection...Joey Rodriguez..

The boat was named after the S Fla. exotic car dealership of the same name..........

T2x

The last time I saw Willie was at the world's in KW a few years back..he was throttling somebody else's Pantera in a smaller class......and was very low key.

The amazing thing is that there are a number of Super Cat and SCL teams today that could have a dramatic improvement in competitiveness....if they put Willie on the sticks...... T

This guy took NO prisoners....kept himself in perfect condition...... and never blinks.....

As far as the history thing...DarrenUS1 is currently editing the largest historical race library of the period from 1978 to 1996.....Phil Lewis' NNRT Productions... This stuff has interviews with EVERYBODY including Ben and Don, and Willie, and Willie Falcon, and Sal, and Brownie, and Richie Powers and Mark Lavin, and Bob Kaiser, and Betty Cook, and Howard Arneson, and Bobby Moore, and Reggie Fountain, and Bobby Saccenti, and James Caan, and Tom Gentry, and Al Copeland, and Billy Sirois, and Bill Wishnick, and Rocky Aoki............. and literally hundreds of other characters.....

Oh, and there's some racing too!

Look for a press release soon.

T2x

OK T2x,

You got me:( I meant to put a d in RoDriguez, but my finger hit b! My mistake. We are even. :) DARREN US1!

I CANT WAIT FOR THAT VIDEO DARREN....PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED AT [email protected] ...
BY THE WAY I SAW WILLIE AT A MARLINS GAME WAY BACK WHEN HE GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AND WAS REMINISING WITH MY OLD MAN THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS....

hey T2x i have been boating on lake hopatcong for the past 20 years, i used to go to hockenjos and hang out all the time a few years ago and i watched them build the last shadow that was a failure...i havent been over there or seen elbie since he sold the place, i was wondering if u knew what he has been doing lately and if u still talk to him, or even what happened and why did he go so under and seem to keep going even more uner

justin

Is there an order form on the site yet?

Darren, you're being over-generous. YOU'VE long since surpassed T2x in the history department...it's his alzheimer''s that keeps holding him back! :eek:

How are things? What's up with you? You and T2x should come to the city for sushi some night. Drag Philip and Kim with you.

Philip, glad to hear things are good. Sorry to hear about trouble with the egg beaters. I've decided that the Gods are punishing you for never giving me a ride! :D:D

Miller
 

You are right, Please take the spell off the boat! I am considering doing the chicken sacrifice thing on the deck at midnight on the eve of the full moon!! will that do it??? I was going to answer you on the "Cat" thread, but I want to bring this one back up to the top..


T2x, Speaking of Joey Ratner,,,, what were the first words he said?

Re: Miller
 

The only cure is to take me for a SPIN! See, T2x has had no such issues with his after taking me for a ride! :D

Hi Justin:

We met at Doug's a few months ago.......

Elbie has had some rough times...and the entire Shadow catastrophe was caused by two things..... a Real Estate deal that he got into which was way over his head...on Rte 15..... and a side deal ( based on desperation from the deal above) he tried to make with an ex racer involving the 36 foot Shadow plug..... (the one I burned in anger)... which was the basis for the lawsuit and settlement I received.

While George and I were involved, the company was profitable, on the cutting edge of technology, successful on the race course, developing new hulls, supporting a dealer network, and delivered products on time. After we left, all of that ended, and buyers were allowed to spec their own boat's construction (most of which broke), the company lost money, nothing was ever again delivered on promised date, no new products emerged, wheeling and dealing ram amuck, and dealers canceled relationships.

Other than that, Elbie's health has been deteriorating, his wife and best friend passed away, and he has retired to his cottage next to......."The old boatyard".
I visit from time to time..... and my heart goes out to him, but he made his own decisions.


T2x

Re: Miller
 

Let me guess......... "Ma Ma"?

T2x

thanx T2x, and yes i remember meeting you and you and doug are the most knowledgable people about the boating industry and its past that i have met ever...your knowledge makes this board interesting because i dont really care for the stupid bickering that goes on, i like facts...my boat is at doug's right now and we are rebuilding the engine, do u have any suggestions on what to do?? or just any other improvement you would make to the boat

thanx for your knowledge,
justin

Justin,
I am interested in some info about Lake Hopatcong
My mother who is in her 70's had a house there and
graduated HS there, (I will PM you), growing up on Long Island I heard about it constantly. She still talks about it.
Donna

You are right R.L. I was thinking humbly of watching El Boss blow by us in Lauderdale. The fastest 2 stroke was the 35 wooden cougar Bill S. put together for Big Al with the eight powerheads 2.0 mercs mounted sideways with blower belts to a shaft going to M.C. drives. 138.512 mph straightaway record set in New Orleans in I think 1984.

Stan

Copelands record was eiter in 1985 or 1987 I know his first race in the boat was Treasure Cay in the Bahamas in 1986. Jesse James won that race but was penalized for a techncality.

Lowblue You are correct that boat was The Connection it was a shadow or maybe a criscat

mmwalters
 

Mike do you now where this boat is located??????

I belive that boat became Power Broker / BoatHouse and then Fast Boats.com it came apart in Miami a few years ago but was fixed. Rob had it for awhile as a pleasure boat and sold it as a pleasure boat. it origanally belonde to Alex Ramos when it raced back as Loco Motion.

Ryan,

Can you tell me what Motion kevler hull has built in line canopy from the factory?

Doug My boat was a inline 2 seat canopied kevlar boat. I do not have any pictures from before we modified it but it had a tail from the back of the canopy to the transom. Jack at hydra in N.J. has the mold for the canopy he pulled from my boat. When first built it had a 1/4'' sheet of aluminum laminated in the deck. It still has the water deflecting bulkhead just forward of the cockpit As far as that boat in your picture, it looks like it is going to the moon.

Love it Again, does it still have that light blue paint job. T2x holds the answer to your question. I believe it was one of his Shadow Cats.

Send T2x an email and ask him nicely for information. Or try George Linder. He could probably help with information as well.

There were two in line 30's built one was Alan Butler/ Gary Balloughs CUTTING EDGE which was later changed to a twin canopy the othe is MMWALTERS boat which was also changed to double canopies.