What Does "MOD-VP" Mean? Evolution/History Lesson

[march3stv]

Ron and Ted -

Everyone talks "MOD-VP", in reference to everything and anything today.

ex: Classified ads: 22ft MOD-VP bottom...

What does "MOD-VP" really mean for the younger folks (<40) that weren't there for the evolution? These folks are the future of our loved sport!

1. There has "always" been a class that existed which promoted and sanctioned (APBA/OPC) the highest production HP outbooard available to the public on a production runabout hull. At least as far as my existence...

F
H
JP (Family J)
VP
MOD-VP

as the motors evolved, so did the classes and the story....

What does that mean? I don't know for sure, but you two and many others can shed the light on the evolution of the real deal...non-true tunnel boat hull classes (don't get me wrong, I love them also! - we're on the MOD-VP Forum).

I'll just start at...(exact dates?)
J-Production / Family J (73' thru ---) - 150hp - 15-16ft V bottoms
1975 - OMC released 200 V6
1977-78 - "VP" - 200hp "STOCK" - 18-20ft V bottoms (mostly OMC)
1979 - MVP - V6 "Modified" Motors (moving rules target) - 18-20ft "V" Bottoms only
1980? - Ron Hill put an outboard bracket on a center-pod jet tunnel (19 Daytona - oops it worked! The MOD-VP class (world) had suddenly changed!
1981 - St. Louis - Powerboat Mag Shootout - What a trip! Everyone had air entrapment designs, even if it was glued in PVC pipe for tunnels (sorry Howard!).

Ron - you're the teacher, tell the "real" story (with pics) and shed light on what MOD-VP really means! (and why it died) I know Ted has hundreds on photos to share as you do -- post them damnit!

If I'm off on the years (memory only), it's yours to set it straight!

Set it up and knock it down...it's a great story that not everyone knows! If anyone can paint the picture...this group can!

We need it this type of racing back...it was the BEST!!!!

Thanks for the memories...You're the teacher...

Now, class! "SHUT-UP" (and listen) - Thank-you!

[chill]

I was probably only seven or eight when John ran that Hydrostream in the Parker Nine Hour or should I say Seven Hour. We raced like hell to get to Blue Water only to find out the bottom blew out just after the first turn. “I think John was hanging out looking for a smoke.” Getting rid of all that gas was a bitch. The best memories I have of boat racing was the Parker Nine Hour, we really need to bring it back. If you really take a look at boat racing today as compared to the old Mod VP days as well as the early Nine Hour days, boat racing is close to being nothing more then a museum of old facts and pictures. Lets not let that happen.

[march3stv]

Heres another - 1988 St. Louis

Right to left...
Ron Hill
Myself
John Castelli (driver)

Don't know the names of the other guys...hell it was 16 years ago...

[march3stv]

one more...

[Ted March]

Driving Al Zink's Mod VP Allison. Parker 1981. Picture was published in Trailor Boats.

[Ted March]

Ron says he's going to California

[Miss BK]

Heres another - 1988 St. Louis

Right to left...
Ron Hill
Myself
John Castelli (driver)

Don't know the names of the other guys...hell it was 16 years ago...

The guy in the white hat is Mike Basso, Sr. (The west coast Tohatsu distributor back in the late 80's - Sport C heyday). Cant think of his company's name right now....

[Miss BK]

One of the earliest Mod-VP's....



Fred Bowden, Havasu 1982

[Ron Hill]

Western Engine Distributors...Thye did $8,000,000 a year in VOLVO parts, when the got theTohatsu Distributorship.....I told them we should race those things... Mike Basso Sr. worked at Western Engine, he was a big promoter of the Mini Boats...

He and his son Mike Basso Jr, own Sun Country Marine in Ontario...The sell...well boats....largest dealer of not Monterey's, not Sea Ray...Anyway, they've done well since the Western Engine days!!!

[jeff brewer]

Mod-VP stands for Modified V Production it started as V Production before the tunnels came out with a center pod or pad lower than the out side sponsons classifieing it as a V so it was called a modified V.- Production meaning a hull that can be bought on a showroom floor or from a dealer to the public.