Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

May we all take a moment today to remember Tom Gentry.

It's been over 11 years since his Key West crash and 7 years ago today since he passed away.

Tom Gentry was a legend offshore powerboat racer who set several world records before a crash at the 1994 Key West World Offshore Championship that left him hospitalized and in a coma for 4 years. Just a month before the crash, Gentry, who already owned the transatlantic speed record, captured a new world record, reaching an average speed of 157.4 mph.

Tom Gentry died @ age 67 in Honolulu, Jan. 15, 1998 of respiratory failure.

May God bless him and his family... :(

Info on the Gentry Eagle

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

I raced at that race in Key West in the morning race.Watched the Gentry roll over right in front of me.What a shame.Made me wonder if racing was really worth it all.

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Yes A Legend ..RIP

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

i got the issue us offshore of him on the cover. he is missed rip.

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Tom was a true legend in the boating world he gained world wide respect for taking on richard branson(virgin) in the USA vs Europe battle for the blue ribbon. i was also there that day.... it never hit us how serious the crash was it looked like a common spin out in the corner in front of the galion.it was a truly sad ending for a true leader and gentleman in this sport........Godspeed Tom and thanks for the memories

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

I was lucky enough to drive the camera boat for the ESPN crew that covered his Miami-Nassau-Miami record speed run.
You couldn't meet a nicer, friendlier gentleman.
It was a tragedy when he and Richie Powers had the accident in Key West.

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

He had big ideas and did something about it.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910


RIP Mr. Gentry.

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

God Bless. :D

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Here is one from I think about 1989 Grand Haven Michigan

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

I had the pleasure of meeting him here in Greenwich CT. He had the Gentry Eagle at the Showboat (waterside bar/hotel) awaiting the right weather window for the transatlantic run.
I was on the dock, checking out the boat when Tom appeared. We had a real nice conversation about all kinds of boats & to my surprise, I was invited out the following day when they were taking the press out for a run.
What a great Man!

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

These pictures were taken at Directors Ship Yard in Mamaroneck, NY right before the Trans-Alantic Race from the entrance of the New York Harbor to Bishop Rock on England's Isles of Scilly. I don't remember what year this was....

Record time: 62 hours & 7 minutes

And the The Italian Chalanger....

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

more

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Its funny how jet drive seems real efficient in little jet skis .. then becomes somewhat inneficient in mid size boats ..then is the $hit to have in these megas ..
hmmm

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

One of the pictures is imprinted June 20 1988. Might be the correct time period but I can't say. Anyone able to verify the date?

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Your so smart C.H.!!!! that made me almost 14 :D and i remember it like it was yesterday :p

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

It was a very clever move by Tom Gentry. They had so much fuel on board, that they could never prop the boat properly, because there was such as change in gross weight as the fuel was consumed. With the jet drives, it put out essentially the same propulsion force with fuel tanks full or empty.

The world lost a real leader.

Michael

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

Another Gentry Boat

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

I was 35 when those pictures were taken.

Re: Remembering "The Legend" Tom Gentry
 

That was along time ago :drink:

The Legend, Tom Gentry. R.I.P.

I used to watch offshore racing on TV as a kid, probably from 1984-1988. I remember it being a big deal with my family when it was on. Gentry was always racing and did very well as I remember. RIP...

I think It will be 21 years this Nov,13th since the tragedy and it will be a race day in Key West. I'm sure and hope the local station announcers will make fact of it.

[B]I was flying my jetranger that year, many before and after, those were the days when the field was 150 boats with 20+ helicopters in the air above racing 26 mile laps out to Sand Key and back. Outside the reef at Sand Key was always rough. Had dinner beside Tom Gentry at the Rooftop restaurant, a gentleman and an inspiration to all who love performance boating. Still miss him. Systems (Kaiser/ Lanier) always put on a great show in that black aluminum cat/B]

Legend 4 ever 4 sure!RIP!:Score-101010: