1967 Bahamas 500 Sports Illustrated Article

[flyingfrizzle]

A few pictures of the other 21' SeaCraft production hulls that were listed on the finishing results that BigShrimpin posted (#40,#42,#43,#505,#21). I have some more on my other lap top (#42,#123,#808):

[Bigshrimpin]

I love those pics . . . I also love the SI article talking about how #42 (seacraft) ended up 20ft up the beach That's where I would have driven the boat during that race (a lot safer than being on the water) at night in those conditions. It's crazy that the guys did this all with a compass and chart. When you consider that the actual race was about 570 miles (to stay safe around the reefs) . . . average speed is faster than the 34 and 31 MPH speeds.

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

I love those pics . . . I also love the SI article talking about how #42 (seacraft) ended up 20ft up the beach That's where I would have driven the boat during that race (a lot safer than being on the water) at night in those conditions. It's crazy that the guys did this all with a compass and chart. When you consider that the actual race was about 570 miles (to stay safe around the reefs) . . . average speed is faster than the 34 and 31 MPH speeds.

It is absolutely amazing, I could not imagine this even being allowed under conditions like that. Those were real men in those days, something to be said about a boat that even finished that one!

[flyingfrizzle]

Another cool Pic: From the left - the second third and forth boats are SeaCrafts

Lake X Photo Shoot prior to 1st (1967?) Bahamas 500. #48- Johnny Bakos, #47-Bill Sirois&Ed Leslie,
#43- Wayne Vickers&Me (SeaCraft), Maritime-Odell Lewis&Mel Riggs. Chet Strickland ran a single outboard
one year. I'm not sure if it was 1967, but if so, then #40 is him (SeaCraft). Dammit, I wish I could remember
who was in the other boats. No doubt Roy Ridgell, John Stenbeck were in this picture.
Whoever I have forgotten...Please forgive me...
#41 might be Gene Wagner and Dale Thayer(SeaCraft)
-Steve Sirois
02/22/2005

[ScottM]

Originally Posted by flyingfrizzle

Attachment 9295

Very cool photos. Regarding #40, I see the driver's right hand on the throttles but what's up with the controls on the starboard side (red and black knobs)?

[flyingfrizzle]

can Se two levers on the throttles two but only one is active. E=ScottM; 27]Very cool #ootos. Regarding #40, I see the driver's right hand on the throttles but what's up with the controls on the starboard side (red and black knobs)?

The one set of two handles in his hand are his throttles like said, and the other set is the shifters. The boats usually was ran with twins but the boat driven by Chet Strickland #40 was ran with a single some races. They must of left the twin rigging in the boat. You can see one shifter in gear forward and the other looks to be in the neutral position. The #43 boat pictured under it and any other pic of twin boats shows both handles forward In forward gear while running. The race boats shifters it were separate from the throttles. Some boats had additional levers for a ballast tank system but I thought that was on the longer hulls. The shorter hulls may of had them too. (They are one or the other)

[gofastsandman]

Where`s Bowrider?
I remember hearing the controls did double duty. Pulled out then moved forward or back to fill or empty the ballast tank.