The number of parts and the precision needed to assemble them made production painfully slow. They started with parts for 40 motors and had to produce 25 to qualify as a production racing outboard. This kept the big companies from racing one of a kind prototypes against each other. This group of regulators eliminated factory racing teams and encouraged the idea that anyone could race on an equal footing. Once the tapered slugs were pressed into the crankshaft throws to lock in the position it was either perfect or junk. There was no turning back. The list price of $400 was $25 shy of the cost of a new Ford, Plymouth or Chevrolet, but only a third of actual production cost. They were advertised at a horsepower per cubic inch, an unheard of figure before then. The loss was chalked up to Advertising. Dad figured they ended up with around 30 good racers. He assembled 13 of them. Denny Watkins and Irgie built the rest. Dads model 1770007 was the first tested and run in. It was to be delivered to the then class “B” high points champion for a race celebrating the completion of a new Dam that was part of Roosevelt’s “New Deal” to put people back to work and help the economy recover from the Great Depression. The race course was up river and around a bend from the dam. The launching ramp, docks and club house were brand new. Dad mounted the motor and took it out and made sure everything was properly adjusted. Then the new owner added fuel and took it out. He came back visibly shaken, he thought it was more power than the boat could handle. He thought he would take his mechanic with him to hold the boat down for the race. Now Dad was upset. He said he didn’t spend all that time and effort to build a river cruiser. Dad finally talked him into going around the bend in the river where dad would vote and put on his jacket and hat and run the race for him and hurry back so they could change cloths and he could go back to get the prize. Of course this had to be a secrete for it was illegal for several reasons. He got in his car and wentback aver a hill and through the weeds to the river bank hoping the driver would take him up on his offer. Very shortly his SpeediBee came up to the shore and they exchanged jackets and hats. ad mad a pass at the back of the pack watching the clock. When he thought it was time he hit the throttle and was third going into the first turn and first going out of it. He spent the next 4 laps passing boats. Coming out of the last turn the motor sputtered and died. It had run out of gas. As he watched, the float pins came back up so he grabbed a rope and restarted the motor and accelerated to the finish line. After getting the checkered flag he zipped back around the bend to hurriedly give the hat and jacket to their rightful owner. Driving back to the docks, there seemed to be a lot of commotion. He asked one of the officials where the winning driver was. “He ran out of gas and is being towed in” was the reply. Then he was told the new 5 mile competition worlds record for class “B” that was just set, was 5MPH faster than the class “C” worlds record.
so now you know the rest of the story . . .
