Humble Pie? Who has been humbled by Key West?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Things happen racing in Key West. Like Murphys law, things that don't seem happen anywhere else. Some stupid spin. Maybe a swim. Some hose came lose, a bolt came out. Wrong turn. Coil took a dump. Stopped a lap early. Got a penalty.

Anyway a few come home proud and many eat some humble pie. It stays with you a long time. I know I have come home busted up before. Fortunately, I have had good days too. Sometimes racers refuse their serving and cry instead.

The record book notes the winners. Any body care to share their humble pie story?

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

A friend was running two boats, first race he was spanking everyone, all but lapped a few boats pulled in to get to the second boat. Problem was he came in one lap early. Did nine not the needed ten laps. Got his rig papered and a new nick name painted all over it in white shoe polish. Ouch, made him humble for months.

 

[MarylandMark]

I was drunk and.. oh sorry- that could go wayyy off topic

 

[Maximus]

Last Year. Key West. We knew we had the boat to get Bud. Bud being the professionals they are stepped up their game for the big race...checked, double and triple checked , they were prepared and and performed flawlessly. We listened to our ego and kept pounding on something that was broken. went home stuffed full of HUMBLE PIE....it was a good lesson for us. Reaffirmed racers etiquette and allowed us to dig inside and find out what we were made of.

I recommend a serving to everyone. While it's damn bitter going down after time it actually tastes good and will bring a smile to your face when looking back. It also makes the win so much sweeter.

good post Merc Man

 

[MANITIE]

Ken D. was good enough to jump in with me in Key West to shoot for his 1st World Championship...we won day 1 and 2 and never made it to the start on Sunday...he did a great job and the boat was running perfect all week....So close but its not over till you cross the finish line....Sorry Ken...you did a outstanding job....

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Can't tell Gino, which one of you two got humble?

 

[THEJOKER]

We installed a backup MSD Box right before Key West , this was 2001. I was driving Soalrized a 30 ft Phantom and hauling azz outta control and ahead of the SVL fleet. The damn boat quits and we come off plane. We jump back in the bilge and were perplexed on what to do. We sat there a couple of minutes and Bill Park yells " the backup MSD Box , hit the switch" , boat fires and we take off. Next turn a Super Cat barrell rolls right in front of us and almost takes us out. We stop and assist and take another short break. Eventually got a win there in 2002 in a brand new 38 TS Cigarette. Love that place.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Its bad when your leading and the boat starts to slow down. In 2001 a fuel pump, the one mounted on the sea pump cost a win. Won the second race, only two that year.

Stuck on Runner up hill. I hate that place.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Worse than that is leading and blow a drive. Won the second race. A first and a second tied a first and a second. Lost the tie break on speed.

Runner up hill again in '98. Sucks

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

I got a few more humble pie stories. Marks' is the best so far. Maybe someone else will share some pain.

 

[THEJOKER]

We did the hurricane 2 race deal too. One year sat and watched Dave Branch sitting on a sea wall volunteer to fly anybody sitting there home in his jet. I didn't even know him that well and looked over and asked him if he would fly me home , he said sure just be at the airport in the morning.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

David helped me with the cash to bail out my buddy at the Hurricane Offshore in
St' Pete in'98.. The weekend from hell. aside from bailing out my buddy. We put three different drivelines in the boat before the race. Ever seen a driveline swell?

 

[MANITIE]

Can't tell Gino, which one of you two got humble?

That would be me.....the way the boat was running, the drives just redone and tighten all bolts check everything the boat ran 91.6 (max speed both days) and the great job Ken was doing...I felt there was nothing that would stand in our way...

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

My biggest dose of Pie came at the Worlds in Biloxi '98. I was at the awards banquet looking at my trophy when someone said he was sorry to hear what happened. I had not heard and thought he was joking. Another person came over and confirmed we were DQed
along with 3 or 4 other boats.

I was so humbled and disgusted I had to leave. I was choking on Humble Pie.

I know there are others that have been humbled. Care to share?

 

[Gordo]

When you mention Key West, I think of 3 things...
Hangovers suck
Turn 2 hurts
You never get used to being a bridesmaid

 

[AugiePensa]

Won The Worlds in 2005, came back in 2006, :driving:1400 miles, lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$ I didn't have, first race we finished second outta nine boats. People on the wall were waving at us coming across the finish line and it felt great UNTIL we heard a load BOOM and realized AIN'T NOBODY WAVING AT US, the port engine was on fire and blew upuke:! Four days artyff and 1400 miles crying :nopity:all the way back to COLD JERSEY!

 

[phragle]

Key west reduced my to a crying fool, curled up in a ball on the concrete...

I was 4 years old and stepped on a big pile of red ants.... my foot was the size of one of OJ's autographed footballs...

 

[Top Banana]

It was November of 1977 and when we woke up on race morning, the toilet had whitecaps.

Only Brownie could make it out with a big Magnum to the checkpoint site near Dry Tortugas....but he couldn't anchor, it was too rough.

At the end of the day, a little old lady 54 years old, humbled all of us......Betty Cook won her first World Championship and everyone else ate humble pie.

 

[Sean Stinson]

Did the hurricane worlds in 2001 in F2 running 3rd behind Tres and Herbott.... beat the boat up in the rough a bit but not bad broke a drive spun the thing out sank it on the beach at the end of some street got it out spent all night in the rain putting it back together only to have the race called....but let me back up first we tested boat was good like on fire good....Got back to flush the motors and it was locked up midnight run to Innovation Marine got that done and back barely made the milling circle because no power steering stop run across street to parts house got fluid off to the races AGAIN got to mill as everybody was coming on plane.....alright here we go you could see the turn went from flat to big stay out a bit and watched everybody run into the wall zoom we go by....thats the only good luck we had we do a few laps had Turbo (Herbott) reeled in no problem Tres was about 100 yards ahead ok lets go get him boat hits a wave launches lands no steering and loopty loop here we come.....you alright??? Just give me a second was the reply....Are you alright??? Just give me a second again....well pal we dont have a second we are sinking!!! FAST!!!! Jump in plug the bellows with our uniforms they did work great!!!! Bilge pumps wont keep up as were getting towed!!! Rescue boat toss one to us to hook up.....Did you ever try to hook something up to a battery underwater....very shocking experience I am here to tell you!!! anyway back to start of story all night in the rain to have the race called because of "Michelle"....fly home fly back put boat in water just before race to find that it was pouring water in through the transom assy....We are done lets go to Ricks and drink!!!!!!!

 

[Ratickle]

Bilge pumps wont keep up as were getting towed!!!Rescue boat toss one to us to hook up.....

Did you ever try to hook something up to a battery underwater....very shocking experience I am here to tell you!!!

Ahhh, that explains a lot......:sifone: