View Full Version : Shark Photos from a jErK!
This is probably not in the right place BUT, I have sucessfully loaded pictures on a web site! No big deal to some of you but I am old and also a jErK so back off!
I am proud to represent the 'Outlaw Nostalgic Circle Boats' of the Northwest with my 1968 Aquacraft Shark. Found in the local news paper for $2500, running! The wife spotted the balsa floor in spite of its bad color and shape and said, "Buy it". Gotta obey those commands, no? It had a vague history as a ski boat and 'yard ornament'. At Christmas time it was garnished with lights and stuffed plump Santa and later on the snow melted into a greasy bilge and the bowels of the oil pan!
I robbed the good parts and sold it to a very good friend who sold it back! Boy have I struggled to make it competitive in our circle racing bunch but with loaded hull weight (less engine) of 1400 lbs it is real good in chop! No back pain! I am told it was built to marathon ski race in very rough water which may explain the 3 extra stringers attached 90 degrees to the other 2. It also sports a bi-core contruction with foam sewn in between glass layers. The hull just seems to gobble up and dissapate big waves, kind of like a freighter! It has 4 strakes and a dropped chine very similar to early b-boats. Rumor has it, Shark hulls were once used in the production of the winningest circle boat of all time, a Beisemeyer!
Gear: Casale 12 degree with 18 gears, a 1972 bbc 468 LS7 spins a 11X15 Menkins 6800 rpm, Nicson underwater gear and stainless 8" plate. 1970 Weind tunnel ram with 049 cyl heads, Isky Z33 cam, and rare 1964 Joe Hunt mag.
Hope to add injection, 180 headers, a Clay Smith 322 roller, and a wing in an attempt to start a Nostalgic K class to run APBA 'Vintage Flat' or our Outlaw short course brackets. We have had 7 wonderful years of v-drive racing for former 'spectators'! Over 32 different drivers have tried boat racing! Maybe I will see some of you in Burley in 2008. Come by & say hi to a real jErK...a circle jeerk!:D
Please dont think I am tooting my horn, simply searching for others with an interest in these boats who may be tiping toward circle racing with limits. We run on a very small oval that keeps speeds down and the lazy flips are in the turns where 10 of us have TESTED our safety equipment and learn the value of good diesel fuel as a water displacer! It would be much more dangerous to be recklessly speeding on your local lake (and you know you do) and something happens!?!#%* And then your only personal rescue and your boats rescue would have to rely on a jet ski or fishing boat! Bad news!
Some us also use GPS and tech inspections to match the weekends competition to the appropriate class. Our ski class is where this boat runs and we pick and choose specific class racers based on their experience and their boats performance. We discourage anyone from driving outside their skill levels or the boats design limits. After 7 years of racing, some of us are getting pretty good at this! I know at my age, this more than satisfys my need to go fast and hear 4-6 high compression mills burn good fuel! Like a musical ballet orchestra performance for gear heads Lets see what I can share:
1. Shot of the Vintage exhibition where we had a grudge race to sort out #57 before competition, the boat slid real bad on turn exits.
2. Another heavy boat, #65 a 1965 Wickens Aquacraft set up to marathon race at 2300 lbs! This 427 Ford now has dual fours and aluminum block and driven by the owners daughter who REALLY drives! I know, she beat me once at Moses Lake and my wifes Lavey at Newport. I'll find more shots of this restored piece.
3. Finally, a shot of the fast class in Ione Wa. doing their FLAG start! The #50 boat is the former 'Sweet Caroline' sidewinder Lavey.
The 34 b-boat is a heavy ski racer now running Pro Stock and Nostalgia with much sucess, this boat hit 98 on our short 1600' chutes!
And outside is the Sanger SK27 drag runner bottom that George Nordling used in his return to boat racing now owned by a new polished 5 year veteran. He makes this boat turn with the rest! If you cant believe it, order the Nostie video from v-drive video. He was actually right beside me and George when we both went over! Slightly behind, but in the chase!
The wake in lane one is being made by George's new-old Lavey SS76 now being driven by 'Flipper Devore' who has become the Nostie guy to beat! He won this event handily.
4. Ray Defir in Andys 1962 Rayson Craft which raced at Arrowhead Lake as #A9 by his Grandfather! Andy has run very well in the ski class taking many wins with consistancy. As soon as his daughters finish school we hope to see Andy back grinning from ear to ear!
Tomtall
10-01-2007, 07:40 PM
Boyd - Great look'n boat. Great stories. keep them comming. Always great to see the older stuff brought back from the grave. (I'm talking about the boat) ;)
P.S. - Your wife for saying "Buy it" , WHAT A WOMAN !!!! :D
Check out this link for a cool story and our Nostalgia pits from our most recent race and season finish; Moses Lake Wa.! http://www.skagenboats.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=606
......further proof that ALL boats are invited and we will find a class for you! Jets included! Next year we may do a joint event with the jets and the drag boats that havent raced there in 6 years! Drag, circle, and jet boats, about 100 of them!
Lets try: Ya, here's that boat AFTER my wife beat him and he got serious! Note the 180 headers, dual fours, dropped gears to 12s, new racing seats and poly fuel cell, electronic ignition, new cam, etc..... This picture does not do it justice, this boat is imaculate! And it is not a poser show boat!
2. Our lovable 'Got Milk' George the bush pilot in his restored 'Continental' that has many Mandella lines but its not, it was made in the mid west and had a very low production. Incredible boat that was driven back to the pits without steering cables!! He torque steered it back! Hit gas, turn right, back off, go straight! True story.
3. a 1970 Sanger 17'10 flat bottom with a circle boat chine! Similar to the season winning 1980 18'3" gull circle. Harlan Orrin identified this as his first attempt at Sanger to win them a championship. A very rare boat that is currently for sale in Rice Wa.!
4. This is MY SS83 Lavey I raced in 2004. It was originally owned by Glen Stone and driven rarely by Paul Grichar. It now resides in New York and is ready to run the new ERR Vintage class. This hull originally sold in June of 1974 with a cost of 1795.00 plus strut and fin 295.00 plus a bottom blueprint for 200.00. It was a sister to the SS26 'Gone Broke' and Sundowner SS39 Laveys however I am told always suffered some weird mechanical glitch. When it sent the driver swimming, the Lady of the house said, "Sell it"! The trunk style deck was called a 'Model C' with three different bottom molds in use in the three years of production. A later deck without the rear hatch was introduced sometime in 75 but you could order them either way. The bent headers are the result of my crash where I took the carb off with my backside! Thanks to: Security Life Jacket! Bell helmet, Kevlar cut resistant suit!!!! NWC rescue personel....
Mark75H
10-02-2007, 05:55 AM
Love the sound of 180 headers
More pics of everything ! ! ! :)
Our pro Greg Hoover is on his way over as I type, stay tuned.......Where to I post the outboards???
Mark75H
10-03-2007, 06:22 AM
Our pro Greg Hoover is on his way over as I type, stay tuned.......Where to I post the outboards??? Depends on what it is Probably in this forum: http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10
BRING IT ON! :)
Moses Lake: This is 'Vintage ski boat class' Two guys and one Girl in a Ford went side by side for three laps! Great stuff
1970 Sanger #SS396
1965 Wickens Aquacraft #65(Ford) (Girl)
1968 Shark Aquacraft #57
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