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I Remember When Mercury Marine Supported Boat Racing
Now days and for the past 50 years Mercury Marine has used boat racing as a profit center. They have been able to pull off NON SUPPORT via politics, rule changes and groups like APBA taking Mercury's crap and smiling.
Mercury has always wanted to win, but they have always wanted to say who wins with a Mercury.
Here are two pictures from the OLD DAYS, 1955. 115 Mile Needles Marathon, winner, Ronnie Rima from Newport Beach, California win a new Mercury motor for winning the race.
Mark 20-H's in BU race their brains out for trophies with new GOLD Mercury motors. No support from Mercury! Buy a Mercury motor in 1955 and you can go racing and win trophies.
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My Dad, Russ Hill, Sr. and Pep Hubbell Were Like Brothers
https://www.boatracingfacts.com/foru...cons/icon1.png Lake Saguaro, Phoenix, Arizona: Russ Hill Led Hugh Entrop
I wasn't old enough to drive "Alkies" in '57, but I went with my brother and John Drake to the race at Lake Saguaro. The Arizona Navy always paid good money to race and many a top driver showed up as a result. Also, "Step Up's were legal. So, my brother "Stepped Up" with his C Hydro into F Hydro. There was no D Hydro in those days. My brother got a good start, for once, and was leading Hugh on the first lap. I think Hugh had held back as I think he was on his way home to Washington after setting a record, because Jack Leek was there with his Cabover C Mercury (Alky burning). Jack didn't "Step Up". Anyway Hugh's throttle wire broke and he never passed my brother in this heat. My brother won F Hydro but ran second to Leek in C Hydro. Fun weekend.
Not to cause an argument, but my brother beat Hugh Entrop at Lake Saguaro, 1957. Hugh broke a throttle wire. But my brother was ahead at the time.
Also, around this time my dad helped Pep Hubbell for years. I know my dad went back farther, but I remember listen to the 1950 Indy 500, at Pep's shop.
My dad was a painter contractor by trade but he made many patterns for Pep. In fact, he traded a KR "A" lower unit pattern for my first bicycle in 1950. Pep got his name because he rode his bicycle to work. For many years he was the Senior Olympic Champion in the Hammer Throw.
My dad's patterns mahogany and spackle....
I recently got this "Match Plate" from Karl Williams who purchased most of Pep's patterns. I am reasonably sure this "Match Plate" was used for the Starflite or Star Fire Record.
Doc C.W. Jones did so much for OMC racing and more than a ton for my racing career.
C Racing and C Service Outboard Racing Engines
A couple of things that you might not have completely right.
I don't remember Doc's C Service. But his Racing C, was the same as my dad's Evinrude. It was a 6042 Model, Hex Head motor. We called it a "Six Stud".
In those days Racing motors like the 6042 Evinrude and the PR 65 Johnson were built for alcohol burning race motors. They both had detachable heads, and roller and I think needle bears on the crankshaft.
Service C's were either Johnson P50's with detachable heads, or the EVINRUDE SPEEDITWIN cast in heads. My dad had a P50 that was fast but when he blew it up he quit racing C Service. C service motors had brass bearing on the crank.
C Racing and C Service were both 30 cubic inches.
Nitro was legal in either class but we never ran nitro as it was corrosive as hell and my dad had seen the result ruining carbs brass jets and the like.
I won the 1967 John Ward Trophy Race (500 CC World Championships) driving Harry Bartolomei Konig, with Nitro added. Only time I ever ran nitro.
The Evinrude 6042 cylinders had a large content nickel mixed with cast iron and when Doc "Blew Over" the cylinders were much stronger than the aluminum crankcase.
My brother spilled his DeSilva Runabout in C Racing Runabout, and blew 8 ears off Hubbell cylinders.
Racing and Service were two different classes but fuel isn't what made them different.
Thanks for posting, I feel close to Doc when you do....Doc started Evinrude/Johnson's racing Division with Charlie Strang.
Add: WE USED A ACID FILLED BATTERY, "HOT SHOTS" WERE TOO EXPENSIVE.