Let's say we have established that about 50 boats were made over the years. Could we get everyone who knows of a race boat to write in and give some history on the boat and drivers and the races that it competed in?

Actual sanctioned races by APBA or one of the local clubs would be all that we are interested in.

Thanks

Charlie Sr.

Well it wasn't a race but I have or should I say my brother Air Dog has a photo of a Banana boat fun run back in 91 or 92 somewhere down by Port Edgewood. It shows a bunch of Banana's being led by the team Banana race boat, the second one with the set back windshield and the cockpit has just one three person bolster seat. It's a great shot taken from the air.

I will try to get it and post it for all of you.




Rick

OK........what do you think about this? You pull the old molds out of storage. Charlie SR. and JR. start building custom race banana's. You film the whole thing and put it on Discovery channel and give O.C.C. a run for there money. It's time for them to move over we need something new, that show is getting old, and it has gone to there heads. You should have seen them at Laconia 2 yrs ago. Just too cool for there fans.

heatbuzz - sounds good to me but I think Outerlimits beat us to it...

Anyway - here's some more racing bananas

Charlie Jr.

First is Jim Ginetta's; then Mike Perette's (Dad's right hand man at banana boat back then);and I'm not sure who is the last one - but I do know that this boat is still running and owned by a Chinese guy in CA who stores it in his wharehouse..

next is Dad, Mike Perette, and Matt (used to work at bb co.) in Gloucester '76? (you can also see Jim G.'s banana boat to left)

second and third pics are Top Banana with new deck at 1977 Bacardi race.

more of '77 Bacardi...

and last 3 are Top Banana renamed Gone Bananas owned by Chuck Fogarty (St. Pete in '78)

I met Jim G. this summer. He is the one who owns the red banana with twin omc's on a bracket that people have spotted on lake Winni and in Boston harbor. He was also a Driver of Hells Banana at one time.

Great pictures....I grew up watching many Banana boats race in the Benihana Grand Prix....liked them all; but I must say that the black and green paint scheme on "Hells Banana" M-666 was my favorite!It seemed racing back then was so much simplier; only five classes:Open 1,Open 2,Sport,Modified and my favorite; Production....because it always had the most boats.It was as much about reliability and navigating the course as it was speed.There was only ONE SANCTIONING BODY;APBA ,and at least 40, and as many as 80 boats at every race in ONLY FIVE CLASSES!The Benihana Grand Prix was a big time event that eveyone really looked forward to each summer.Hopefully, the races here at the Jersey Shore can somehow be brought back to that level.

PS-If you guys have more pictures, please post them.