Mercury Pulls The Plug??

[T2x]

Then I think it is a bit of a pipe dream to think that a manufacturer is going to be in a supercat or supercat lite type class if they are unwilling to support the racers or series. There are politics in all racing, if that is your reason for not racing, then why even bother? From F1 all the way down to Saturday night dirt track racing there are politics, that goes hand and hand with racing.

Take KW last year for example. We went over on Friday. Mercury got us going again for Sunday. Without a semi full of parts and 3 or 4 techs help, we would not have made it out for Sunday. What would of happened if that was an ilmor boat? or sterling? I am guessing a pat on the back and "sorry buddy".

Take reliable in kw for the other example, they lost an engine, if it wasn't for jimmy and spare engines for talk'n trash, reliable wouldnt have made it back out. mike was there (and i like mike), but other than moral support, he wasn't much help.

So when these other companies jump up and down and say "let us in, let us in", yet want to do nothing to support it, just sell product, I always chuckle a little.

So with Mercury Racing/Brunswick issues, this is a great time for somebody to step up, will anybody? I doubt it.

Bingo.......

Bottom line...you don't know what you've got til it's gone.............

T2x

 

[Pete B]

Bingo.......

Bottom line...you don't know what you've got til it's gone.............

T2x

Not sure How this was to be taken, but I know the teams from OSS all appreciated what Mercury Racing, the support truck and the skilled techs they brought to the race sites did.

Look at last years Miami to Bimini run, 2nd , 3rd and 4th Overall were STOCK
525's/#6 boats. The I build a better motor is very overplayed, with the Miami-bimini race right around the corner, its a chance to prove something!!!

Mercury Power and Skater did very well!!

 

[DonziGirl]

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that Sterling brought a couple of mechanics to the races that boats that ran their engines were in. They might not have a semi truck of parts, etc but I thought they were at least there to provide some help.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Bingo.......

Bottom line...you don't know what you've got til it's gone.............

T2x

I have always been a supporter of Mercury. I have enjoyed, appreciated, and valued their assistance.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that Sterling brought a couple of mechanics to the races that boats that ran their engines were in. They might not have a semi truck of parts, etc but I thought they were at least there to provide some help.

Being there is one thing. Getting dirty helping is something else entirely.

 

[shifter]

:lurk5::drool5:uke: too much popcorn.

 

[Sean Stinson]

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that Sterling brought a couple of mechanics to the races that boats that ran their engines were in. They might not have a semi truck of parts, etc but I thought they were at least there to provide some help.

They were there when Rique Ford ran them in the Ragamuffin boat at every race except for a couple of the divisonal Cali races!!!!

 

[Ryan Beckley]

Didn't Rique run TEAGUE motors in his boats? Doesn't matter really, D'annabelle builds a great motor and you pay for it.


KS&W, Sterling, UNITED, HAWK, Turbo Craft, TEAGUE, INNOVATION, C&G COBRA, PFAFF, BAKER, Troy Dennis, Joey Griffin have all had there time in the lime light, Mercury Racing is one of the few that have stood through all of this....for all of our sake I hope they can weather this storm. NO ONE has EVER come close to the amount of race site support that Mercury has GIVEN AWAY in MY TIME involve with this sport since the mid 80's. People can whine and complain about there prices but IMO Mercury Racing has given more back to racing than ALL of the others combined in the last 20+ years. ........bash away.....

 

[T2x]

KS&W, Sterling, UNITED, HAWK, Turbo Craft, TEAGUE, INNOVATION, C&G COBRA, PFAFF, BAKER, Troy Dennis, Joey Griffin have all had there time in the lime light, Mercury Racing is one of the few that have stood through all of this....for all of our sake I hope they can weather this storm. NO ONE has EVER come close to the amount of race site support that Mercury has GIVEN AWAY in MY TIME involve with this sport since the mid 80's. People can whine and complain about there prices but IMO Mercury Racing has given more back to racing than ALL of the others combined in the last 20+ years. ........bash away.....

They'll have to bash both of us, Ryan.

In addition to your comments above, who else showed up for both stern drives and outboard support?

No knock on the others, but Mercury was an iconic staple and in truth probably the foundation around which the whole sport was built. You can point to Aronow's hulls if you like, but for my money, Carl Kiekhaefer's investment in engineering, his racing fleet and customized hardware put this sport into the big time.

My earlier comment was aimed at those who chafed under, and complained about, Mercury's dominance. Now we'll see who, if anyone, can or will begin to fill the gap.

Admittedly, I "bleed Mercury Black" and the company has been my touchpoint in racing for 50 years, so my memory is longer than some others.

They will be missed.

T2x

 

[Geronimo36]

No doubt Ryan, no bashing required. Mercury has done a whole helluva lot over the years! They lead the way for everyone else to follow! For me they're the ying and the yang though... I love em and hate em and the same time which is the best thing about this country we live in...we have that right..

Unfortunately, the customers with pleasure boats/engines/drives etc. and anything else that "Brunswick" offers keeps the skids greased and those sales are way down...

Bottom line, this economy sucks and everyone is feeling the brunt of it in one way or another. I just hope we can get to a place of stability... I saw some positive signs in the market place at the end of the quarter so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[ILMORdude]

I agree 100% that Mercury has kept the sport going with the tremendous support. Hopefully, they, along with everyone else impacted by the econ, can get back to their old ways. And maybe we can join in the fun in the years to come.

 

[Ratickle]

Slightly off topic. Nice article on Illmor drives in my new Powerboat. Congrats..

 

[ILMORdude]

Slightly off topic. Nice article on Illmor drives in my new Powerboat. Congrats..

Damn, havent got it at the shop yet. Good photos? And only one L rat:

 

[Ratickle]

I think decent photos, a little blip on the cover promoting the article. Pages 26 and 27. Article could have gone into the engines more, mentioned how speculation was a 1000 HP supercharged was being kicked around by the public. And Ilmor, one l... Sorry...


It looks real nice by the way. It doesn't mention if there are spaces for different lengths available that I see.

 

[TCEd]

Was there ever a time when G.M. funded/supported Mercury Racing ?
ed

 

[T2x]

Was there ever a time when G.M. funded/supported Mercury Racing ?
ed

There have been joint projects with auto manufacturers over the years including Mercury manufacturing some Corvette engines on a sub contractor basis, and Bob Kaiser's Mercruiser/McLaren project, etc. For the most part GM has been a major vendor in supplying blocks for the Mercruiser line. I may be wrong but I don't recall any subsidization from GM or any of the auto industry.

In fact GM stepped in and competed with Mercury during the last few years of Michael Allweiss's reign as the APBA Offshore chairman. That made it very clear that GM had no loyalty to Mercury and also made it very clear that GM did not have a marine drive. A bunch of racers proudly took GM engines and "showed up" Mercury.....all the while using M/C Bravos and props in the process....?????

You can't make this stuff up.

T2x

 

[Knot 4 Me]

There have been joint projects with auto manufacturers over the years including Mercury manufacturing some Corvette engines on a sub contractor basis, and Bob Kaiser's Mercruiser/McLaren project, etc.
T2x

Yup, in the early 90's I almost bought a ZR1 Corvette and that motor was built by Mercury Marine in Stillwater.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

A bunch of racers proudly took GM engines and "showed up" Mercury.....all the while using M/C Bravos and props in the process....?????

You can't make this stuff up.

T2x

Lets not forget to mention the rpm advantage given to the GM vortec.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Since this thread is about offshore racing, I would ask what commitment?

There isn't even a US team that runs their products here.

Actually the title thread is Mercury pulls the plug.

What commitment? - Please

Several lines of engines all upgraded this year-
A brand new drive to compete with the 6 -

Thats not a commitment ? No they arent handing out money and engines but neither is mercury at the moment.

Who else is developing performance engines and drives for our market?

Ive love/d my Merc products, and Im not bashing them, but for the first time in a long time we have a real choice.



Uncle Dave

 

[Top Banana]

Not sure How this was to be taken, but I know the teams from OSS all appreciated what Mercury Racing, the support truck and the skilled techs they brought to the race sites did.

Look at last years Miami to Bimini run, 2nd , 3rd and 4th Overall were STOCK
525's/#6 boats. The I build a better motor is very overplayed, with the Miami-bimini race right around the corner, its a chance to prove something!!!

Mercury Power and Skater did very well!!

Pete....just a small clarification here and you can ask the racers involved.....the Merc motors on some of the top boats went into this automatic shutdown that saves them from destroying themselves.....it was very frustrating for the guys it happened to.

The water was flat calm, certainly not real ocean racing conditions....I was in a 23 foot boat and didn't pull the prop 6 times. So why did these motors shut down on a run on the lake?