Hi everyone - I'm doing some research on Betty Cook (powerboat champion from the 70's) for some of her family and was wondering if any one can help point me in the right direction of people who knew the following (or if any of them are still alive - I know most are not)). Family or friends, anyone who knew them and can help me get to know their characters better.
It's before the era of the internet so naturally it's a little difficult to get all the information!

I'm looking for:

Don Holloway (Navigator - it's hard to fund out anything about him)
John Connor (Throttleman - is he still alive?)
Don Pruitt (Throttleman who I think taught her to race)
Bill Vogel Jnr. (Navigator/I think)
James Beard (Boat designer from the UK - Cougar)

It would be amazing if anyone were able to help me. I'm happy to contact them myself if I can find them on Facebook or by phone/email etc but it's really hard trying to track anyone down and I was hoping the experts in here may be able to help me!

Thank you in advance.

David

John Conner is still alive and living in FL. Don Holloway is a retired airline pilot last I knew he was living in Newport Beach CA. Hope that helps a little Regards Dan

Betty was my great aunt. What info are you looking for?

Thank you!.I'm.actually trying to find people who knew (or knows if alive) John Connor, Don Holloway or Bill Vogel Jnr.

I'm doing a bit of research imto all these amazing characters. They achieved incredible things together!

David

The Betty Cook story has always been interesting to me. It would be cool to see a hollywood movie about it someday. Maybe they could be more accurate than the "Don Aronof" story with John Travolta a few years ago.

Agree 100%. Her story doean't need.embellishing at all!.It's insanely good already!

Isn't John Conner somehow associated with Kaama Marine in Fort Lauderdale? I thought at one time he had all the rights to Kaama's name and designs and there was talk of him building Kaama Drives again, but I haven't heard anything in years.

Don Pruitt has been gone for many years now. work some with him when he was at Chris Craft and my dad was VP there. Betty was always a gracious lady to speak with. always pleasant and loved to talk racing.

I have been working with a group that is doing a documentary film on Betty for the last few months.

Are you involved with them or is this another group?

Interesting that you say here you are doing research for some of her family, but when her nephew contacted you, you let that drop?

So what is your back story.

Not to be rude, but we old timers have been contacted so many times by people........ who are going to do this, or that, re Aronow, Gentry, Cook, etc and then after much effort it comes to nothing.

So who in her family are you working for and what can we do to help them?

HORBA Historic Offshore Race Boat Association -

Top Banana. I was wondering if you were going to chime in.

https://davidjkeogh.co.uk/