1967 Bahamas 500 Sports Illustrated Article

[Bigshrimpin]

I posted this in another thread, but here it is again for those who are interested.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

I posted this in another thread, but here it is again for those who are interested.

Big,
In my search for race results, I am having a hard time finding the year of the pure race designs. 67 or 68?

[Bigshrimpin]

GFS - 1967 was the year . . . I'm pretty sure The Miami Key West race was in Dec 1st 1967 and 1967 Miami-Nassau was Oct 12.
I don't think the 25 race hull was around during the 67 Bahamas 500.

[Bigshrimpin]

Your 25 race hull #31 "My Racing Machine" doesn't show in the results in 67 until Miami Nassau which was Oct 12th. Sadly Carla's results don't show races after June 17th 1967.

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

Big,
In my search for race results, I am having a hard time finding the year of the pure race designs. 67 or 68?

From what I can tell the full race hulls didn't hit hard till 1968, there may of been one or two ran late 1967 but all results from that year that I have found were in the 21' production race converted hulls. Just a guess- in 1967 he raced the #21 "my flying machine" then in 1968 he started out in a 21' hull the #31 "my flying machine" (changed number) then switched to the #31 "my racing machine" 25' race hull latter that year.

My 27.6" race hull is titled as a 1968 as well so it may of been built late 1967 but was not purchased till 1968

[flyingfrizzle]

There also was teo production 21' hull that carried two different numbers that was called "my flying machine". The pictures shows a #21 named "my flying machine" and other pictures shows a #31 "my flying machine". It may be the same boat re-numberd or may be a second hull built I don't know but when you look at the race results just because it says #31 that dose not mean it was the pure race 25' hull. It could of be either one the 21' or the 25' hull. The "my racing machine" #31 only carried that one number far as I know. You may know more on this Sandy than I do with your FL resources, I would like to know more about this and the years each numbered hull ran and why the change. I always thought the #21 was the 21' hull and when he went to #31 it was the 25' hull, but proof below shows differently.

Both boats below are cut down production 21' hulls clearly named "my flying machine" but they carry two different numbers:

[Bigshrimpin]

Interesting.

It sure looks like the 25 race hull won the 1967 Miami - Nassau race with triple Mercs (as far as I can tell). I never knew flying machine raced with a 31 number . . .

[Bryan A.]

Good stuff!

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin

Interesting.

It sure looks like the 25 race hull won the 1967 Miami - Nassau race with triple Mercs (as far as I can tell). I never knew flying machine raced with a 31 number . . .

Looks like you are right, that race must of been the first appearance of the 25' race hull in October 1967. Matter of fact I know that is right! I actually bought the original photo from one of those races late 1967. I purchased the original copy that was took by the media for that race and have it at home in my safe. I will get it out when I get home because it has the date wrote on the back of that photo with an ink pen. Think it said something like the 7th of October or September 1967. It is the same photo that you have in your last post (second one down). I bought it from a photo collector that had a archive of hundred of thousands of original black and white pictures from the 60's that came from the media and other sources. I have been wanting to get it preserved and framed and Possibly autographed. I would be sweet if some of ya Florida boys or Gals (Carla & friends of the family) could help with a signature. All the races previous to that in this same year were shown with the 21' production hulls and Carl's as being the #21. That being said the last part of 1967 must of been when he tried the new race hulls out and then in 1968 the others were raced after being made over the winter maybe? Still unknown is when he race the 21' foot hull as #31? May of been a conflict with another racer already using that number so he renumbered for just that one race?

[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):