OPC when it was Outboard Pleasure Craft

**Powercat** · 01-22-2005

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** · 01-22-2005

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** · 01-23-2005

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** · 01-23-2005

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** · 01-23-2005

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
........

Originally Posted by 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.

**lilabner** · 02-05-2005

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

Butch Stokes

**Lloyd Burns** · 11-06-2005

Originally Posted by 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
........

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

**Smokin' Joe** · 01-09-2010

Was there an OPC race in APBA anywhere except at the Orange Bowl Regatta in 1961? Must have been 1962 that Allison boats won at the Orange Bowl Regatta-? Yes, my old friend Edgar selectively wrote OPC history as if NOA never existed (he does know better), but OPC had exploded in NOA during 1957-1960.

A different question: when did Roy Rogers run twin Mark 55s on a 14' Yellow Jacket, and under what racing organization?

Originally Posted by 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.

**lilabner** · 01-09-2010

The South Florida Outboard Marathon Club was the first sanctioned OPC club, and we put on the first races around 60-61. We raced all over. The term Orange Bowl came from the Orange Bowl Regatta that was held every year around Dec or Jan..It was mainly an inboard event, with Stock Outboards added sometimes..The OB Regatta lasted a couple weeks, to get in all the events, including the Around Miami Beach Race..It was a spectacular couple weeks..
The Nine Hour Race was I think an APBA event, with just about every class you could imagine..I know it was an UIM event..The Six Hour was strictly OPC. We raced OPC all over Florida. I went in the service in Jan 64, so the best man to fill in the gaps would be Velox on S&F..