I Remember When Mercury Marine Supported Boat Racing

[Ron Hill]

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.

[Prolog2]

My dad and his brother (Doc Jones) owned a Mercury distributorship in Seattle during the early 50's. They went to Phoenix in 1955 and became Evinrude distributors because of policy changes at Mercury. Later. they hooked up their with friend (Hugh Entrop) from Seattle who worked for Boeing and who designed and built the boat which set the outboard world record with essentially a stock Starflite V4. Hugh raced F Hydros in a custom cabover he built and won every race he was in. Later they broke the record several times with modified Evinrudes. Dad always said that Mercury couldn't break the record cause they didn't have the boat. Remember Pep Hubble being involved in all this too.

[DeanFHobart]

My dad and his brother (Doc Jones) owned a Mercury distributorship in Seattle during the early 50's. They went to Phoenix in 1955 and became Evinrude distributors because of policy changes at Mercury. Later. they hooked up their with friend (Hugh Entrop) from Seattle who worked for Boeing and who designed and built the boat which set the outboard world record with essentially a stock Starflite V4. Hugh raced F Hydros in a custom cabover he built and won every race he was in. Later they broke the record several times with modified Evinrudes. Dad always said that Mercury couldn't break the record cause they didn't have the boat. Remember Pep Hubble being involved in all this too.

The good ole days.

[Prolog2]

As a corollary to all this. I remember Mercury's were used exclusively for Stock A, D Hydro and Runabout and F Hydro.
Not sure if there was F runabout. But I suspect it would beat one to death. Sorta remember two drivers in case one got bounced out.
The other guy could keep racing.

[Ron Hill]

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.

[Prolog2]

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.

No argument at all. Was a kid. But I remember Hugh was revered in my family. He helped me build a model airplane with which I actually won a "rat racing" contest. .29 Dueling motor among a lot of Fox 35's. Hope to post some old photos I have when I find them.