The real deal Offshore boat pics

[tiqueman]

I thought Id put this here as it would probably get more hits. I know as for myself, I rarely go down to the off topic area. If mods feel the need to move this, please do so.

I walked the dry pits today for the Clearwater Offshore boat races. The had just opened the gates at noon and I got there a bit after 1. A lot of things were not set up yet but the two years being there, this is the first Id seen the Miss Geico even though its raced every year. They always have it in hiding or something. :confused2:

[tiqueman]

few more

[Fluid]

...I know as for myself, I rarely go down to the off topic area...Thanks for posting, cool pics. As for myself, I always hit the "New Posts" button when I enter the site, that way I don't miss anything. Try it.



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[tiqueman]

So obvious. but I never do it. Perhaps Ill start now.

[millzee]

Nice pic's mate, they show them boats off well. I was living in Mornington Victoria 6-7 years ago and headed down to the pier for a fish and to my suprise they where running these on Port Phillip bay so I took a few shot's. I hope you don't mind me adding them to your thread.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30018.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30017.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30016.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30015.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30014.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30013.jpg

[millzee]

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30010.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30009.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30008.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30005.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30003.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd439/1millzee/2005_0227BABYJACOB30002.jpg

[tiqueman]

Nice. I don't mind at all. Yeah they do know how to show them off.

[gregk]

its a small world Im good friends with the throttleman and driver of the WHM boat they just flew out today. That is there little boat they will race there 40 and the little guy at the worlds in key west! i was trying to make my avenger look like the "JEM " boat that used to race a few years back in the supercat class. havin a hard time to match the graphics.

[johnf]

You did have an awesome day! So jealous.

[gregk]

not to brag but i raced (driver) the "JEM" / "WICKED" boat for a few years , THOSE were awesome years!!!!! the sport is getting smaller and each year nobody can afford 60 thousand dollar motors when they blow up! i sure as heck can,t I can barley afford this hobby

[tiqueman]

I helped pit for a friend and his dad for a couple years. Self Sponsored team. I only did the Sarasota and at the time they were running St Pete as well. that race is no longer. American thunder was the team. 52' cat Those were fun times.

And yes I did John. It is too bad though, Greg is very right. Less and less boats each year. I remember back when the Sarasota race first started and several years following, it would take 2 hours or more to walk the pits and see all the boats. Now you can do it in about 20 minutes. Seems no one is near as friendly either. We were trying to convers and throw some jokes around at the Stihl crew and they were complete snobs. Scott B was kind enough to throw a smile and a wave (Geico Throttle man) and the fastboats.com folks were cool and talkative. Other than that, most teams seem like they couldnt care less about the fans. Im becoming less and less pumped about the real ones for that reason. My hobby peeps are much more excited about thier boats than most of the real ones seem to be.

[gregk]

no "s* it" that was one of my favorite boats that thing had 4 motors in it ( if i remember correctly or that could if been big thunder) yup the throttlman of the sthill Stihl crew is grant form "grants custom rigging" hes a fun guy once u get to know him but is is always serious at the races

[johnf]

That sucks. Good way to kill the fun. Guess it's time to build scale trailers and tow rigs for some realistic pre-race pics. Who needs the real deal? I'm ready to see the florida scale dry pit! Haha

[tiqueman]

no "s* it" that was one of my favorite boats that thing had 4 motors in it ( if i remember correctly or that could if been big thunder) yup the throttlman of the sthill Stihl crew is grant form "grants custom rigging" hes a fun guy once u get to know him but is is always serious at the races

He only had two motors in it while I was around. Not sure if it ever had 4. It was the old Budweiser boat. Circa mid 90s. They repainted it as a big a$$ American Flag and raced it from late 90s to early 2000s and now its about 10 minutes from my house, sitting on its side on the trailer rotting in the sun and Fl weather. Hasnt been moved in about 4 years. Its a shame. His dads got more money than he knows what to do with and just lost interest in it. Hes got two band new motors in the storage room of his hardware store that have never seen the light of day. if I remember correctly they were about 1500hp each. he bought them and never installed them. he purchased them in about 03-04? Must be nice to have that kinda chees and not care.



That sucks. Good way to kill the fun. Guess it's time to build scale trailers and tow rigs for some realistic pre-race pics. Who needs the real deal? I'm ready to see the florida scale dry pit! Haha

Funny, Daggerfl from the forums (Grant) was with me today and we said the same thing.

[tiqueman]

Greg do you know Ryan B from Kinetic Animation? The American Thunder used to be stored next to his shop in Sarasota. I met Ryan there before he was a racer. Actually I think he had throttled once or twice. he was just getting into a boat. then he got crazy busy w/ racing and his shop and I never see him anymore. Ive stopped ina few times but hes never there.

[gregk]

yup i know beckly he did the "JEM"/ "WICKED" boat its on his site, iv talked to him and he said send my boat down and he will do the graphics, maybe this winter i will send it to him! . I saw him last year in key west at the worlds he has a race boat in the same class as the little WHM . He was so wound up i tried to talk to him about my rc boat and i more or less got the hand !

i must have been thinking of big thunder or airborn but either way a 52' boat if freakin huge! it must of had the big power to move it. does'nt it make you sick how much money these owners have. But then again im sure they have earned it!

[tiqueman]

:lol: Sounds like Ryan. Thats what I got last time. Hes doin pretty well though racing.

Yeah it was a tank to say the least. I remember we got it prepped to go up near you somewhere, I think it was Boston or something. They launched the boat, fired her up and meandered out for the start of the race. they werent into testing, just splash and go. Signal flare dops and they hit the throttles. Junior is driving and yells at Senior, "fricken go Dad!" but with other words. Long story short, junior forgot to take the intake covers off. Smooth. then the next year, same race, rudder arm breaks loose. Junior crawls out to have a look and slips off the rear deck as his leg goes thru the rudder hydraulics his body goes the other way and snaps his leg in two. Ahhh, they were like a circus. I always whistled the circus show tune while in the shop. And man they used to piss Team Mercury off because theyd always somehow win. The merc guys would protest and have the officials come in and inspect the boat, even did a partial tear down once. That was the year they need another hand and my first time helping out.

[gregk]

u don't remeber who the engine builder was ?, that does suck about ur friend though im sure we could have some good stories to share , if i don't reply i will chat tommorow my wife just sent me a WTF text " thought u wanted cocktails we are here waiting" so i gotta go

[tiqueman]

LOL, no But I can find out.

[gregk]

LOL, no But I can find out.

I m just curious , who was the owner of the boat. I got in the driver seatby helpin out with the boats then I stared to. Test and so on.$ lot and lots of fiun. Of you can't allready tell I at a bar trying to type o a bb with fat finger and getting dirtylooks from my wife and. Friends!

[tiqueman]

The Jacksons own it. Erik sr and junior drove.

I've heard a lot of people getting in that way. I didn't stay around it enough. I actually met the jacksons thru a mutual friend. We'd hang out at the storage shop all the time, work on the boat and bs w ryan. They hardly raced. But there was a couple years in a row they ran sarasota and st pete. I think that boston race was their last. Maybe 04ish?

[HYDROJERRY]

You lucky dog to get to see all them upclose,, if my leg were long enough id kick you!!!! But nice pics@@@