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Props Are the Least of the Problem
Everyone of these Race Boats have stock production gearcases.
Hell that 6 HP or whatever have one of my 16 pitch cleavers on it. Check out the skeg, I'll bet he can turn on a dime.
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So, I bought three Tohatsu 30's from Western Engine
Western Engine was good to me, they paid COD when I delivered propellers. When I found out the motors only cost $450, so I bought three.
There were some young men working at Western Engine, Chuck Frederick, Bill Shepard to name two. Twitchy, I never knew his real name, had a small show sell Addictors and Tohatsu motors.
Somebody, probably me, decided we should have a race. It was decided to race to Catalina Island. Willey Poole, who's dad owned Trailer Boat Magazine wanted to race. We had 12 boats and they followed Bruce Nescher out into the ocean in his 36 foot boat. Off they went. One problem, they all ran out of gas. Willey Poole borrowed some gas and finished.
We got everyone back safely but that night over few drinks I told Sleek Craft and Western Engine had someone died out here we'd all be sued and they had more to lose than me.
I SUGGESTED, I go to APBA and get us a class, so we could use APBA insurance. As it turned out, my long time friend and college roommate was Ernie Dawe and he was Stock Outboard VP. I presented the class as C-NOD (30 HP, National One Design) It was approved.
Charlie Strange went to Ernie and said, "If you'll kick that Japanese motor out, tomorrow, I will built you a NEW "A" and "E" motor. Ernie responded that, "You build the motors, I will let OPC (because it is a sit down boat) have C-NOD. Next year we had a new "A" and "45 SS" motor. Ernie kicked C-NOD to OPC.
Backing up a year, Mercury came out with the CUB class that never hit the water as far as I ever knew.
I got home from the APBA meeting and Western Engines tells me they have a 40 HP. They also tell me they will buy insurance and trophies for all our races.
So, I throw in two new Classes: S-NOD stock 40 that became Sport C (31 cubic inch maximum as to not let Mercy 4 cylinder 44 kick Tohatsu's ***). And U-NOD (31`1 cubic inches Modified).
We schedule a 5 hour Enduro at Parker the week before the Thanksgiving Havasu Classic. We get like 65 entries,1 Merc, 2 Evinrudes 1 Yamaha and the rest Tohatsu's.
Race was crazy successful. We start racing everywhere. Club makes money because of Western Engine paying APBA fees and buying trophies.
Why We Have "Racing" Gearcases and Why We Don't Need Them
Our first Mini Enduro had like 67 boats in three classes. No racing gearcases.
We had a hell of a five hour race. The trophy presentation was over the roof with cheers.
The Miller Boys from All Season's Marine had won overall with an Evinrude (U-NOD) Blake Esau won O-NOD with a 40 Tohatsu. And I can't remember who won C-NOD.
All year we raced with the regular APBA club, SCOA. SCOA made lots of money with Western Engine paying the insurance bill and buying the trophies.
to be continued