Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
"They" didn't.....
It will. Thankfully, most of the spectators who enjoyed it aren't here.
Headlines
The Day SVL Died
- Thread starter Mike A.
- Start date
"They" didn't.....
It will. Thankfully, most of the spectators who enjoyed it aren't here.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
It was a one race, Sunday, winner take all event. Every other SVL team member signed Randy's flag and congratulated him at the awards. They were all there to win, and took it personal they didn't. Watch the vid of the start from Pete. As for picking on the class and what those who were there decided, maybe everyone who raced in another spec class with more boats than SVL at the World's in Orange Beach should be allowed. The rest of us are speculators at best.
Smitty has some good ideas I think. Hopefully the class and the OPA will work together on them this winter.
Wahoo 214
Charter Member
Rat,
I couldn't care less about the class anymore. It is the biggest joke in offshore. But people have destroyed equipment and themselves in pursuit of a once highly respected title. To be a World Champion puts you on the same list as those who really earned it back in the beginning. It was meant to be an event that you battled for not simply stood around the keg and handed out. I wonder how luhrs, gentry, arnow, rocky,alcone and the rest who actually raced for that title would feel knowing this.
I couldn't care less about the class anymore. It is the biggest joke in offshore. But people have destroyed equipment and themselves in pursuit of a once highly respected title. To be a World Champion puts you on the same list as those who really earned it back in the beginning. It was meant to be an event that you battled for not simply stood around the keg and handed out. I wonder how luhrs, gentry, arnow, rocky,alcone and the rest who actually raced for that title would feel knowing this.
smokeybandit
New member
I really don't think you want the opinion of those of us that won world championships in the past. We won it in a completely different sport.
XtremeRacing
Competitor
Dont think they would really care or give a sh%t .
MOBILEMERCMAN
Founding Member / Competitor
Then after everything he has said he wants to talk about respect. Please.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
What he said......(Ask Steve, he was at both)
Guess the year......
What did turn up was the best field in U.S. offshore racing history, including 15 foreign teams among the 23 entries in the Open Class.
Key West presents a particular challenge to offshore racers. The union of channel and ocean waters can create choppy waves and complicated currents that severely test the skill of a crew and the strength and design of a boat. Two crewmen were killed in 1985 and one in '86 when their boats stuffed—plunged into waves—and were crushed by the force of the water. This year many of the boats were fitted with bulletproof plastic canopies over their cockpits. One such boat was the 36-foot catamaran Thriller, which lived up to its name as it hit a wave at 115 mph, did a barrel roll and skimmed along upside down for several seconds before landing upright with the crew unscathed. "If it weren't for the canopies we'd be dead right now," said Thriller throttleman Jack Clark.
The Union of International Motor-boating, which is based in Belgium, bestows its sanction and prestige on the Open Class of boats, which may be catamarans or deep V's, 30 to 50 feet long, and have a maximum engine displacement of 1,000 cubic inches—2,000 for diesels. The American Powerboat Association favors its Superboats Class. These are from 35 to 50 feet long, and the largest can have as many engines of as much size and power as their owners care to install. The international body considers Superboats a testament to American mechanical excess.
The defending Superboats champion, Al Copeland, 43, the Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits tycoon from New Orleans, may be testimony to American culinary excess. Copeland's canary-yellow 50-foot Cougar catamaran, Popeyes, was not the fastest Superboat off Key West, however. That honor belonged to the $1.2-million white-and-gold Gentry Turbo Eagle, a wooden-hulled, 48-foot Cougar cat with four turbocharged engines, each of which produces nearly 1,000 hp. Its owner and driver, Tom Gentry, a semiretired Honolulu real estate developer, has been racing and winning for more than a decade. In New Orleans in March he set the offshore powerboat world speed record of 148.283 mph. In fact, he got Turbo Eagle up to 157 mph on a follow-up run but suddenly thought again. "In the middle of the run I turned chicken," he said last week. "Well, maybe chicken isn't the word. Let's say I exercised caution. The boat has a lot more in it now."
The Open Class featured a contingent of eight Italian boats, which matched the number of American entries. The Italians had dominated this year's European circuit, winning 11 of 13 events. They were led by Fabio Buzzi in his unique Luchaire, a 44-foot deep V with four turbocharged diesel engines and a giant upturned wing behind the cockpit that made the boat look like a flying nun in a bright red habit.
The apple in the Open field was a freckle-faced Briton, Steve Curtis, 23, son of marine designer Clive Curtis, founder of the Cougar boatbuilding company. Steve had been a top motocrosser before switching to boats four years ago, and he brought a fresh exuberance to the scene. He dressed for Saturday's race in striped surfer jams and a sleeveless Union Jack shirt, with a light stubble on his chin and yellow zinc oxide on his nose.
The championships in each class were determined on points over three races: 90-milers on Tuesday and Thursday and a 149-mile finale on Saturday. In the Superboats, Al Copeland's Popeyes won the first two races, while Tom Gentry's Turbo Eagle placed third and second. But in the finale Gentry's smaller but faster yellow cat left Popeyes dead in the water to win the title.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066758/index.htm#ixzz13CQJqcXm
We got transferred from civilization to the Keys in October of 87'
I think we saw this race's testing on a sat. in November from the Pier House, my first intro to boat racing.
Great cure for culture shock.
Patricia You ARE in civilation . It's this up here ( north of jacksonville ) that is not , and I cant wait to leave . Almost done .
imco offshore
Competitor / Charter Member
RAT CLEAR YOUR PM BOX ,,
XtremeRacing
Competitor
Pat we going to see u in kW this year??
Patricia You ARE in civilation . .
Yeah, well..........just show up on Duval St. next week, especially sat. night and tell me that's civilization....you know what I'm talking about.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Made some room. Sorry guys.....
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Yeah, well..........just show up on Duval St. next week, especially sat. night and tell me that's civilization....you know what I'm talking about.
Civilization is the tree at Rick's .arty:Ye Ha !
So is that why Bobcat is never there?????
Civilization is the tree at Rick's .
MD........f.y.i.....Rossi GOT MARRIED......
Hope she doesn't make changes in the sidewalk.....
Sean Stinson
Founding Member/Contributor
I see you kids are still hard at!!!!!! Mike the "too" part was me being a smart ass!!!!!! Don't get your panties in a twist at least that was what my daughters told me and they are 7 & 11....maybe I should turn them loose on this great debate or debacle however you choose to view it!!!!!
Sean Stinson
Founding Member/Contributor
Look everyone keeps banging on Randy who I had the fortune of racing a race with this year.....he was nothing but professional and I will get back in the boat with him anytime......so if you guys wanna race lets go I am sure Randy who I haven't talked with for a couple of weeks because of scheduling and work as well as recovery would be willing to tear his stuff up again so we can kick your asses in the rough.....MAN UP BOYS life is a race in itself so what do we have to lose here besides some pride.....Oh you wanna make it interesting you say....name it but please shut up and race!!!!!! See ya next month PM me if anyone really wants to wet their whistles in the rough because I'm your huckleberry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XtremeRacing
Competitor
Sounds like we have a race, Steve said he was ready just name the place and time. I'm sure Steve would battle it out in KW .....
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