Old OPC Photos!

[sst60racer]

Hope this works!

Chris

[sst60racer]

I hope these can bring back some good times and some conversion!

Chris Waalen

[sst60racer]

I have a ton more but have to convert them from slides from back in the day!

Chris

[Miss BK]

OHMYGOD! These pictures are GREAT!!!!

And coolest of all..I was there! This race is where I got totally hooked on this sport, at only 8 years old.

That first pic of course is Reggie Fountain #76. #191 is Jimbo McConnell and #9 is Ron Hill.
Let's ID the others too!

Was this about 1972 ? I have some race programs from that era. Where did these come from?

The Lake Havasu World Outboard Championships - that race was awesome. Our family never missed one. :)

Ron --- who is next to you in the red boat on the beach - is that Cesare Scotti?

Please post more! Thank you!

[sst60racer]

I have a ton of slides that I have to convert so give me time! I love the old history! Just wish I would have grow up during the hay day! Jerry Siminson that use to race back then is a good friend of the Family and that turned me on to the sport! I have had the chance to race Mini GT SportC and sst60 sst70 and now moving to sst120 this year! I had a good run in 2003 in sst70 with a US1 which I thought was pretty good coming from the great state of ND! Also I am the only driver ever to come out of the state doing that! I am glad you enjoyed pics. I hope to here more about them. Also I wonder what ever happened to the Soda bottle boat that would be a cool find!

Chris Waalen

[Miss BK]

Pepsi-Cola was a sponsor of the race, and that boat was their marketing gimmick. :)
In one of the programs is a picture of the race queen riding in it.

[Thomas]

We want more we want more!!!

Remember seeing one of those Johnson GPs and it had a terrible sound,
that Merc with stacks must have been even worse?

How many ponies did those have, and what happened to that boat sinking,
forgot the duckdrains???

[sst60racer]

I will be posting more as time goes have to convert from slides! I wish we could find that old soda bottle boat! Hope to hear from more of you on these pics!

Chris

[sst60racer]

I was wondering if you can put those old programs in a pdf format I would love to print them for myself! Would love to see those!

Chris

[Miss BK]

and what happened to that boat sinking,
forgot the duckdrains???

I'm going to guess the one sinking was previously under tow by the Glastron with the yellow flag in front of him - I'm guessing they turned him loose just as he came close to the ramp and down she went. (note the rope attached to the bow).

I got to help out in the patrol boats a few times at Havasu, and I think this boat had probably been under already. They may have been draining out the water by towing it slowly for a while, but didn't get enough out when they reached the trailer. Towing too fast will cause damage, so the speed has to be just right..

It takes some skill on the tow-boat operators part to slingshot a sinking boat right up onto to its trailer before it goes down again - but I've seen it done! Quite a feat!

But you have to make sure most of the water has drained first. :D And don't let go too soon either!

[Mark75H]

The Mercs with stacks were 155 hp

Almost forgot ... great thread and great photos!

Post more when you get them converted and scanned! :)

[Ron Hill]

I know that Johnny Sanders won. The black and white Scotti, number 9 was me...(2 pictures)..

After Havasu, I moved my body back 5 inches, (Cut the cowling and moved the bulkhead) my dad mad a 2 inch extension for the wheel, we flatten the runners, and the next spring a t Parker we (Fred Hauenstein) and I won our Division (100 inch class) and ran third overall to two Merc V-6's.... Yes, 1972 must bre the year...


Great pictures, keep them coming!!!

[hydroc888]

Boat 880 was Walt [ Uncle Walty ] Crane from Antioch Ca. I had the pleasure of pitting for him . I have the race on 8mm film that has been converted to a dvd but dont know how to post it. I would be happy to mail the dvd to someone [ trustworthy] that can download the havasu part of the vidio and post it with a promise they will send the dvd back to me. Any takers out there email me at hydroc888@bak.rr.com .

[Ron Hill]

I really didn't run well that year...

[tthibodaux]

Man I was scrollin along and all the sudden I thought I heard that V4 bust off.:D Real cool pics. I always thought those old boats looked so cool because the CRAZY drivers just sat on top of the thing with a steering wheel in their hand and nothing else to keep them in the boat.:eek: WILD:D