OPC when it was Outboard Pleasure Craft

[Powercat]

I have not been able to pin the year down on this but this article from
Propeller magazine refers to the "first" new OPC rules for APBA used at
this event. Must have been 1961 or '62

[Mark75H]

The calender year was 1961, the month was December. APBA's racing year runs from November 1 the previous year thru October 31 of the calendar year.

Records set and races run in November and December of 1961 count as 1962 events .... with 1961 dates.

For a few years before that, OPC ran as a probationary division under APBA's "Special Events" division. Edgar Rose drafted the rules, you can guess who they favored.

[Powercat]

One thing that was throwing me off on the date is that some of the boats
are listed as having 100hp Mercs, while all the "team" drivers were
still using 80's. I guess the 1000's were so new that most racers went with
established setups.
Danny

[Ted March]

were legal on the Direct Reversing 800's.

At that event John DePietra set the Class I (80 to 89.9 cu. in) kilo record at 64.84 mph using a Merc 1000 (100 HP) club foot.

Bill Anderson set the Class H (70 to 79.9 cu. in.) kilo record at 66.879 mph running a Direct Reversing Merc 800 (80 HP) speedmaster.

Both were running Switzer Shooting Stars.

The rule was, in order for a motor to be legal it had to have reverse.

The 800's were legal due to the direct reversing feature of the Merc 800 motor. The 1000's had full shifting lower units and when fitted with a speedmaster only had forward.

We moved the SH record to 72.53 in 1968 using a 1960 Merc 800 DR on a 1964 Switzer Shooting Star. The actual boat shown here with a Merc 1000. The 1960 800's were white.

[Powercat]

Ted:
That explains it then.. ... .....
But since these were supposed to be "pleasure" craft that would
be a logical rule. Kept the older motors competitive for several
years also... Glad you cleared that up...
Thanks
Danny Leger
........
were legal on the Direct Reversing 800's.
At that event John DePietra set the Class I (80 to 89.9 cu. in) kilo record at 64.84 mph using a Merc 1000 (100 HP) club foot.
Bill Anderson set the Class H (70 to 79.9 cu. in.) kilo record at 66.879 mph running a Direct Reversing Merc 800 (80 HP) speedmaster.
Both were running Switzer Shooting Stars.
The rule was, in order for a motor to be legal it had to have reverse.
The 800's were legal due to the direct reversing feature of the Merc 800 motor. The 1000's had full shifting lower units and when fitted with a speedmaster only had forward.
We moved the SH record to 72.53 in 1968 using a 1960 Merc 800 DR on a 1964 Switzer Shooting Star. The actual boat shown here with a Merc 1000. The 1960 800's were white.

[lilabner]

In both class H and G Richie and I were running Speedmasters..

Butch Stokes

[Ted March]

a 700 DR with a speedmaster in G?

[lilabner]

YESSIREE...The boat (Raveau) ran best with that combo, but we also ran a Sportmaster a couple times..I used a Michigan prop that looked like a chopper..in fact I used the same prop with an 800 Speedmaster..it was bronze..worked fantastic..I also made a DR 1000 with 800 wiring and other stuff..sort of a mix and match..boat ran over 70 easily with that engine..Richie and I ran identical boats in that race..only the engines were different..

[lilabner]

6 Hour

[lilabner]

The Rules..pretty simple back then..

[Ted March]

I had a Sportmaster too. Won FH Albany to NY with it in 1965 It was very sensitive to props. John DiPetra work my Sportmaster Props (Mercury). Didn't realize Michigan had Sportmaster Props or I would had had some. MIchigans were my best stock unit props and speedmaster props. Boat was a 1964 15'2" Allsion.

Also had a 1000 Speedmaster would run 70/71 on the Speedometer on the Allison.

Still have the Speedmaster prop we set the SH record with in 1968. Boat was the above pictured Switzer.

[lilabner]

Only used a Michigan on my speedmasters..the same one on all of the engines, just wound the motor tighter..I don't ever remember seeing one for a sportmaster..the boat handled so much better with it..Marcel Raveau was my prop man...with a ball peen on thr trailer hitch..then we would sand it smooth..lots of hammering for the 1000..

[Ted March]

Props were a bitch on the spoetnaster. Couldn't really make them work, but
the bottom line is, as bad as they were, the sportmaster set up was better that the club foot.

Only props I ever ran on the speedmaster were Michigans. Went through the same experience with Paul Allison and the ball peen hammer and you went thru with Marcel

[Lloyd Burns]

Ted:
That explains it then.. ... .....
But since these were supposed to be "pleasure" craft that would
be a logical rule. Kept the older motors competitive for several
years also... Glad you cleared that up...
Thanks
Danny Leger
........
You could and Iam sure a110 or 100 power head in a 8oo cowling and use the DR feature and speedmaster amd sportmaster Fleetmaster was the club foot Sportmaster was half as big
Lloyd Burns MVP 49

[Ted March]

was a 1000 powerhead on an 800 frame. The only place it was legal was in the unlimited classes.