Looking for my old race boat

[Wizard612]

does anyone out there own my old Eliminator 19 Daytona? I raced it in Ski Jet Circles about 1977-80. Norm Grimes Found a buyer for me about 81. HAven't seen it since. Love to know what happened to it.

[FuelInMyVeins82]

you raced a Daytona as a circle boat thats awesome.
I personally have not seen it but I'd imagine some one will come up with something. Good Luck

[beerjet]

Why on earth would you do that ! :wink: :wink: Hope you find it .
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27549&d=1175120662
-beerjet-

[MikeF]

Don't think I've ever seen a Daytona w/a turn fin on it.:)
If I ever come across it, you'll be the 1st to know!
Call Norm and see if he still knows who bought it?!:idea:

[Jim Brock]

did you have the nozzle turned at a angle so you could turn???? i think i remember the boat, who are you ?????

[MikeF]

did you have the nozzle turned at a angle so you could turn????
Jack had said that to me in the past about the indexed nozzle.:cool: Didn't ever really expand on it to know what boats they were on.
I can see it now.:D

[Wizard612]

Name's Tom Nusbickel. Craig Millet and I had two daytonas. He raced Comp Jet ran his with plates I raced ski jet both boats ran out of Craig's shop Nova Performance, and yes I had a crooked nozzel but not because it was a tunnel. Would have used that trick in ski jet even if I raced a semi-V. No up-downs allowed but no one said I couldn't install a stock nozzel wrong. I beat Craig to the races first completing my boat about a month before he finished his so I lay clame to be the first to ever race a tunnel jet in circles. Wizard ran well too, won enough races to worry the competition. Even got sabotaged once. Craig's "Spirit II" won the Austin Aqua Festival and was equally successful.

[Jim Brock]

I remember your name, i raced mod jet, #460 and still do,those were the good old days, Jim

[Goad]

Tom,
sounds like i opened a can of worms....do ya got the itch to go racing again? :D
-Brad

[Wizard612]

All boat racers have the itch to race again. The old line that a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into though still holds true. The wife may not be too keen on the idea ether. Before we were married she got a ride in Wizard at lake Plesant AZ. It was the only time I couldn't here my engine, she was screaming so loud. She also cut off the circulation in my lower leg due to her death grip on my knee. Also Jim, I remember our racing days fairly well. When you were racing in MJ you had the likes of Jack McCure and Steve King to beat. I had to contend with Herald Bruce and Mel Bacon.

[Wizard612]

By the way, Beerjet. you ask why would I do that? Well in the day you always wanted an edge, go faster, turn better, have more control. This new age of "nostalga racing" takes a lot out of the equation. Only going XXX MPH comletely eliminates the idea of moving the class forward. Mount a GPS to the boat tie it to your throttle with an MPH limiter and cruse around the course, HOW BORING!!! I had the opportuntity to pick any hull I wanted to go circle racing out of the box as a rookie. I was very lucky because I was connected to Craig Millet and Nova Parformance. Our normal way of thinking back then was, we should be the most progressive team in racing and to not sit on our backsides. We wanted to go with a tunnel because the outboard guys were by far the best at circle racing ever and we thought with the right setup we could take jets to the next level. We in fact did, but due to our changing lives at the time and money drying up the team didn't last. Jets not going to tunnels as a primary commercial design I think was probably our fault. The Liberty Tunnel that Jeff Bennett and I designed turned well, was very stable and a pleasure to drive. If we made it lighter hence quicker it could haved changed the world. It didn't become a commercial success because of marketing and Liberty was going through big problems at the time.
So you ask why did I do it? In the words of Sir Edmond Hilery on climbing Mount Everest... " because it was there"...

[beerjet]

By the way, Beerjet. you ask why would I do that? Well in the day you always wanted an edge, go faster, turn better, have more control. This new age of "nostalga racing" takes a lot out of the equation. Only going XXX MPH comletely eliminates the idea of moving the class forward. Mount a GPS to the boat tie it to your throttle with an MPH limiter and cruse around the course, HOW BORING!!! I had the opportuntity to pick any hull I wanted to go circle racing out of the box as a rookie. I was very lucky because I was connected to Craig Millet and Nova Parformance. Our normal way of thinking back then was, we should be the most progressive team in racing and to not sit on our backsides. We wanted to go with a tunnel because the outboard guys were by far the best at circle racing ever and we thought with the right setup we could take jets to the next level. We in fact did, but due to our changing lives at the time and money drying up the team didn't last. Jets not going to tunnels as a primary commercial design I think was probably our fault. The Liberty Tunnel that Jeff Bennett and I designed turned well, was very stable and a pleasure to drive. If we made it lighter hence quicker it could haved changed the world. It didn't become a commercial success because of marketing and Liberty was going through big problems at the time.
So you ask why did I do it? In the words of Sir Edmond Hilery on climbing Mount Everest... " because it was there"...Always informative , thank you Tom .
-beerjet-

[Ralph Brunt]

I remember your name, i raced mod jet, #460 and still do,those were the good old days, Jim
yeah but now you go straight:eek:

[Emanon Performance Marine]

I saw this post, well quite frankly it pisses me off. I have built this class with very little help from Old timers. I have worked countless hours with APBA and SCSC to make this happen. No disrespect but I think it might be a good time for you old guys to come on out and show us how it is done. Help the sport don't hurt it.
Here is a link to the class rules;
http://www.socaljetboats.com/index.php?topic=489.msg5240;topicseen#new
This new age of "nostalga racing" takes a lot out of the equation. Only going XXX MPH comletely eliminates the idea of moving the class forward. Mount a GPS to the boat tie it to your throttle with an MPH limiter and cruse around the course, HOW BORING!!! ..
This "Boring" form of racing is in its beniging years, we need all the support we can get. The future plan is to take it National. Things take time. It took alot to even sell this to APBA. The 80.9mph max speed takes the big $$$ guys and puts them at the same level as the home town back yard racer. This is the only thing that the APBA would go for in a series. Now if you go out to The Idaho Regatta the Comp Jet class is pritty wide open, but it is a one race event. We also have the 300 in Parker AZ where there is no speed limit.

[Wizard612]

Sorry for the rushed interpritation. I in no way meant Boring in the way you took it. As long as the class has a grassroots feel and intended to entertain the croud and give the drivers the opportunity to race I think it's great. But racing is racing and if you think that a MPH limit will keep the big spenders in line, it has never happened before and it will probably never happen in the future. Dollars will figure out a way to get arround a course in the shortest amount of time. As I said in my post about a GPS hooked to your throttle, not available yet I don't think but a little money and it will, or how about a way to make a boat take a set and turn @ 80.9 or how about a way to get to the starting line exactly right going exactly 80.9 or etc, etc. APBA didn't like jets much back in the day but we had good size classes and they kind of had to recognise us. but once it fell off... good by! Try to find APBA archives of our old records, or members, or photos. I wish you guys all the best and I would love to join you some day but way too many priorities have to take a front seat. My partners are wondering what job number to put this post to so I better get off. Talk later

[MikeF]

I saw this post, well quite frankly it pisses me off.
SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,.....yeah that pissed alot of people off too..............ALOT! Lest we not forget.
Sorry for the rushed interpritation. I in no way meant Boring in the way you took it.
Tom, You are completely intitled to your opinion! (interpretation aside) It is relevent and all your experience racing that you all were doing speaks volumes.

[poncho-pwr]

The 80.9mph max speed takes the big $$$ guys and puts them at the same level as the home town back yard racer Rules like this have never kept big $$$ guys at the same level as the home town back yard racers. As a matter of fact, the only person they hurt is the low budget home town back yard racer who doesn't have Bazillions of dollars to spend to figure out the quickest way around or down a race course within set limitations such as MPH limits and the like. Just look at asphalt drag racing for example, in the past there have been classes that had limitations put on them such as cast iron heads only, cast intake only, single carb, X-amount of cam lift, compression limits ect. ect. in order to keep costs down and create pairity. In reality what it does is gives a huge advantage to the teams with deep pockets who can do unlimited research and testing in every possible area within the given rules.
Dollars will figure out a way to get arround a course in the shortest amount of time. As I said in my post about a GPS hooked to your throttle, not available yet I don't think but a little money and it will, or how about a way to make a boat take a set and turn @ 80.9 or how about a way to get to the starting line exactly right going exactly 80.9 or etc, etc.E]This is very true.
All that being said I think it is cool anytime somebody does something to resurrect any of the old racing classes whether they be asphalt or liquid..I have never seen a circle boat race but I would love to. Where do they have them? Are there any near Arkansas? How big are the courses and how far do they usually run?

[El Prosecutor]

SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,SPAM,.....yeah that pissed alot of people off too..............ALOT! Lest we not forget.
No use picking scabs if they are healing properly. Jim has substantially reduced the intensity of his marketing tactics since changing his user ID. I got one pm from him when he started posting again, just to let me know he was here. I haven't personally seen any spam from him since.

[Goad]

No use picking scabs if they are healing properly.
couldnt have said it better.

[Wizard612]

Alright Guys I'm sorry I screwed this thread up with some comments that nobody wanted to hear. I truly hope that by you bringing back nostalga racing everyone will approach it the way you guys are intending it. Hopefully dilligence and oversight by you, the grassroots guys, will keep this going and allow it to grow. At some point if you are successful be prepaired to develope new classes some nostalga some not that trully return Jet racing back to where it was.
Buy the way this all started with me trying to find my old boat. Anyone hear anything?

[moneysucker]

I saw one with the same paint scheme by my house. I will have to snap a pic to see if it is it.

[rossdbos]

The Nostalgia thing wasn't intended to be a "rules" class, like comp Jet, etc. what is was intended to be was a way to get those that had always wanted to get into racing but either didn't have the financial wherewithall to get involved in Spec classes or didn't know if they would like it before making the financial commitment for a spec class. The Nostalgia thing is like "bracket racing" and what it does do is very important: brings new and old blood back into the sport, teaches the new racers how to race along side other boats, turn and "read" the water at a controlled speed. Then after the learning curve of a year or so, some are ready to make the committment to go into other classes while others enjoy the 80 mph- to each his/her own. This was never meant to be about whose got the biggest wallet or fastest boat, it was about racing side by side and having fun.
What you're also missing is that back in the day, there was a beginning class that doesn't exist today, except in the Nostalgia classes we created which is why there are so many that have stepped up to be a part of the 3 classes created. Most already owned the boat(s) so all they had to do was get safety gear and voila, they were racing- at almost no additional expense.
Last, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what works for one, may not work for another, but regardless it's all good!
Hope you find your boat! Good Luck!
Ross Wallach, SCSC/RPM RACING ENT.

[pw_Tony]

[QUOTE=poncho-pwr;2474977]Just look at asphalt drag racing for example, in the past there have been classes that had limitations put on them such as cast iron heads only, cast intake only, single carb, X-amount of cam lift, compression limits ect. ect. in order to keep costs down and create pairity. In reality what it does is gives a huge advantage to the teams with deep pockets who can do unlimited research and testing in every possible area within the given rules.
QUOTE]
Actually I have a very low spending limit and thanks to drag racing regulations and rules I have a very good shot at winning. I've won like two events and I aian't got a fifth the money into my car that those other guys have into theirs. They win more, but doesn't mean I can't win. I like the idea of the speed limit, best driver is the winner

[LOWRIVER2]

This subject of circle jets comes up about spring every year.
I talked to Jack Mcclure about it 3 years ago. His idea of why it has'nt come back (at least on the level it was in the 70's) is the fact that back then it was at least 20 hours of service between races to be competitive. Now, some drag teams do way more than that but many jet drag guys do a lot less. That alone and with the extra costs probably make it not as popular these days. I'm friends with Mel Bacon's son. Mel moved on to Coronado Stone and planes and has 0 interest in boats anymore. I did some research and saw that he did some very innovative stuff back then. George Stregal (sp?) of Clay Smith also did a lot of seat time in the "roundy rounds".
Keep the stories coming, I wish I could have competed in this then, just before my time.

[Wizard612]

Hey moneysucker. Thanks for getting my hopes up. That paint job was unique to only two Daytonas mine and Craig Millet's. If the one you know is black with the yellow orange and red dart on the side it's mine. If it's white with the same dart it's Craig's. Eliminator didn't want to do the graphic because it wasn't "looped" meaning the outside colors didn't completely surround the next color inside of it. Our graphic scheme took almost twice as much tape to produce because they had to double tape the mold to get each color sprayed into the mold. Bob Leach told the guys in the shop to do it anyway since he was looking at two young guys willing to race his boats in a way nobody else said could be done. It was great marketing for him.

[Wizard612]

I've got three stories about George. First I think was as Lake Castaic George raced Comp Jet, Going into the first turn his iron flywheel blew up. One piece went straight down and punched a 8" hole in the bottom of his suction piece (Jet inlet) well that piece was designed to bring water up from the lake so george in a mater of a second went from halling ass to "0" bow straight up. After getting the boat back on the trailer the starter ring was lodged half way through the header looking like a piece of spagetti on a fork but pointing out and up at a 45 degree angle. Story two was @ Long Beach George was trying to make an outside turn and lost his engine probably doing 80+. With no rudder the boat whent straight for the rocks. Spectators on the grass saw him comming and dove out of the way as his boat scaled the rocks and landed perfectly flat on the grass. George calmly climbed out of the boat and waved to the croud. The last story is George's last race. Going down the sraight, might have been Bluewater, his boat must have hit a roller wrong doing probably over 90 and rolled. George was violently thrown from the boat landing in the water right before the boat landed over him. His turn fin caught him right between the life jacket and his belt. George pulled himself off his fin just as the resue boat got to him. Us on the beach thought he was a goner and he almost was. George was a supremely strong person though and after months in the hospital was able to get his life going again and can still be found running Clay Smith Cams. George was one of the greats in Jet Boat racing and his character was one reason the sport did so well back then. Wether a competitor or just a kid wanting to know how things worked George would always take time to talk with you share his secrets (though I'm sure not all of them).

[Emanon Performance Marine]

Any word on the Boat yet ?

[BUSBY]

I've got three stories about George. First I think was as Lake Castaic George raced Comp Jet, Going into the first turn his iron flywheel blew up. One piece went straight down and punched a 8" hole in the bottom of his suction piece (Jet inlet) well that piece was designed to bring water up from the lake so george in a mater of a second went from halling ass to "0" bow straight up. After getting the boat back on the trailer the starter ring was lodged half way through the header looking like a piece of spagetti on a fork but pointing out and up at a 45 degree angle. Story two was @ Long Beach George was trying to make an outside turn and lost his engine probably doing 80+. With no rudder the boat whent straight for the rocks. Spectators on the grass saw him comming and dove out of the way as his boat scaled the rocks and landed perfectly flat on the grass. George calmly climbed out of the boat and waved to the croud. The last story is George's last race. Going down the sraight, might have been Bluewater, his boat must have hit a roller wrong doing probably over 90 and rolled. George was violently thrown from the boat landing in the water right before the boat landed over him. His turn fin caught him right between the life jacket and his belt. George pulled himself off his fin just as the resue boat got to him. Us on the beach thought he was a goner and he almost was. George was a supremely strong person though and after months in the hospital was able to get his life going again and can still be found running Clay Smith Cams. George was one of the greats in Jet Boat racing and his character was one reason the sport did so well back then. Wether a competitor or just a kid wanting to know how things worked George would always take time to talk with you share his secrets (though I'm sure not all of them).
Good stories. George, Patty & Sherri showed up to the last NJBA race in March for the first time in about 20 years ... they had a blast. We sat around and listened to his old stories until about 1am after they had a thrash and dash on Tom Cress' boat that went late into the night ... good times.
There are a lot of people still around from the old days, you should plan on attending an event.
Thanks for posting up and sharing, hope you find your boat.
Brian Busby

[Wizard612]

No news on the boat yet. Had a tantilizing post from moneysucker last week about a boat with the same graphics in San Diego. Intriging since that graphic was unique to two boats mine in black and Craig Millet's in white. The post suggested that he would go take a pix of it. I talked to him by land line and he said he would go look again but I haven't hear from him since.

[Goad]

Tom,
I saw this boat out at ming this weekend and got excited for ya....but after lookin at the picture you posted, its not the same but close :D Your boat didnt have blue in it and the stripes were continuous to the rear... I will continue to keep an eye out for ya.
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=30272&stc=1&d=1178517987
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=30273&stc=1&d=1178517996
old pic to compair:
http://www.***boat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27549&d=1175120662

[BUSBY]

Has the hull numbers on it ... have you done a DMV search?
Looks like: CF 7475 SB