1957 Offshore Race

[Powercat]

Ray Leger and Robert Caffey after winning the around
Anacapa Island offshore race in 1957

[Powercat]

This ad from the 1957 Western Outboard magazine shows
a list of races won by Power Cat in the early 50's. All of these
were open ocean races run in true offshore conditions.

[Powercat]

This is the Miss Power Cat boat that was run in every
offshore, short course, or marathon race we could find
to run during the early to mid 50's all over Southern
California. The notariaty and free publicity from the
racing success, translated into ever increasing sales
for Power Cat. Bobby Brown, shown here as co-pilot,
was my Dad's half brother. When in 1962 Power Cat
moved all its manufacturing to Victoria, Texas, Bobby
chose not to make the move and started his own boat
company CeeBee Mfg. making Avenger boats.
Danny Leger

[Powercat]

Scott Atwater ( McCullouch Motors ) was active in the
SoCal offshore scene during these early years. This photo
from the 1957 Catalina Cross Channel race shows their
class winning boat. Other names from their roster at this
same race included Bob Kies, Jack Oxley, Danny Snead.

[Powercat]

This Miss Yellow Jacket was the boat that Roy Rogers had
won this Catalina Channel race in the previous year. He
chose not to drive for 1957.
Danny Leger

[Powercat]

This is only trophy that my mom kept from the hundreds
my dad won over the years. This was for the 1957 Long
Beach Offshore race. My mom started out as co-pilot in
this race, but in a hard landing off a swell she broke her
back. Only knowing that it hurt too bad to continue, my
dad pulled in, my mom got out and my aunt took her place
so my dad could finish the race in first place.
After 48 years the clock still works...
Danny Leger

[Ron Hill]

The John Drake, of hte OFFY Engine fame, is not the John Drake that raced with Elgin. That John Drake, helped Elgin get the MExican Float boats built...and he worked for Elgin, at Seaboard Equipment Company (Mercury Distributor), until he retired and moved to Needles...where he'd come from, as did Elgin Gates...