Joe Micielini

[Ron Hill]

I never met Joe. Seems he was quite a racer. I heard, when he died, he was in the cockpit of his F Hydro, in his shop. There are many people, I'd like to know more about.

Bernie Bergen:Kinda like Joe Micielini's 9 carb looper - my photo from Kaukauna kilos back in maybe '76.

[ProHydroRacer]

Found this on line.....
How To Build an Air Marine Special Racing Boat Plans
How to Build Plans » Old Vintage Plans » Old Vintage Magazine Boat Plans » How To Build an Air Marine Special Racing Boat Plans

How To Build an Air Marine Special Racing Boat Plans
Joe Michelini, nationally famous competition speed boat designer-builder and driver, tells you in step-by-step description with dimensioned plans how to build his class F racing hydroplane with which he won the APBA Class F national title in 1958. All of the latest professional racing-hull design data gained from 25 years of experience are incorporated in these boat plans.
TYPE: Two-point, prop rider competition racing hydro plane for use in Class F outboard races sanctioned under American Power Boat Association.
LENGTH: 140 1/2 in.
WIDTH: 76 in. max. at sponsons.
WEIGHT: Approx. 275 lbs. less motor and fuel.
SPEED: 85+ mph setup for competition racing. Unofficially clocked at 90 mph on a straight-a-way run.
CAPACITY: One driver-CONSTRUCTION: Plywood planking over wooden frame-work.
MOTOR: Mercury, Mark 75H Class F. 6-cylinder racing motor using alcohol fuel. Lower unit has 1: 1 gear ratio.
PROPELLER: Mercury special two blade, surfacing type steel racing wheel.

[ProHydroRacer]

Joe Michelini had a big boat shop on the Southside of Chicago, in a very bad neighborhood. He told me once that he would be worth millions, if the shop was located somewhere else. Years later he move his shop near Midway Airport and died a few years after that.
He was a hell of a nice guy. I bought my first lifejacket, helmet, and all the Keller hardware for my first built race boat from him. For a few years he had a booth at the Chicago Boat Show where he sold Michigan propellers.

[zul8tr]

Here are Joe's plans

http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=Hydr...rMarineSpecial

[J-Dub]

I have that engine. Steve Litzell is putting sleeves in it now. Rumored to be the only remaining 66" Looper. I am not sure I am brave enough to run all 9 carbs...

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Tim Butts and Joe Michelini hooked up in late 1976 or early 1977. We were at the Eastern Divisionals at Springfield, Illinois in 1977 when I was watching Joe test his looper. It locked up on him and he leaned hard left, then as the boat started to slow he leaned left again, then once more and I later figured it out that he was practicing. It was the first time I had met Joe, although I had heard his name for many years and knew who he was. I don't recall if I asked why he leaned like he did, or he just came out and told me. Joe had a pitot tube on his left sponson which he monitored. His cabover was set up to run flat and the boat running clean. If it started to lift, then the pitot tube would lose pressure and he would immediately know. He also told me that if the motor locked up that the torque would cause him to flip. His answer to that was to immediately lean as hard as he could to the left to keep his cabover from flipping. As is turned out, during the race, his motor did lock up and he got dumped. Don't recall why I was not in the race, except we had gone back to electric fuel pumps and we had problems.