Pictures of the A-Class with KG4

[Matt Dagostino]

Mark...............

These pics aren't as exciting as George's, but here's Mr. Kim Birmingham's ASH from 1973 at Portsmouth VA. Is this a Sid-Craft or a Sid-Son?

Kim was an experienced driver by the time I started racing ASH in 1973 even though we were about the same age. Typically he and this boat were always in front of me.

Once we were exiting a turn and I was just behind him to his outside. He looked over his shoulder, saw me, and bumped his right hip against the cockpit just hard enough to shower me with his roostertail. Fun times for a rookie...

I was at this race running against you guys! Ugh. Talk about showing our age!

Matt

[Mark 72@E]

Lynn Midgett's ASH is coming

I know Gary Pond has got to have some pics of his old racing partner Lynn Midgets A Hydro with the Merc on it.
Wow guys we are telling our age just a little.
Tim Lee

I've also got pictures of Lynn Midgett's ASH "Ole Folks" from 1973 -- just his boat, not of him. I think it was at the Elizabeth City, NC race. I don't have many photos from back then but I'll get them all scanned eventually.

[DeanFHobart]

Hobart - 1964 ASH

To All KG-4 Affectionatos:

Here is a picture of myself in 1964 in a Karelsen ASH. I won many races with this boat.

I still have this motor. Serial number 506879, square hole case.

Four records were set with this motor... three on the 1-2/3 course and one for the kilo straightaway.

1979 for the last 1-2/3 record: 55.215 mph average. Lawrence Lake, Yelm

1974 for the kilo straightaway: 60.884 mph. Modesto, CA.

[KG4]

To All KG-4 Affectionatos:

Here is a picture of myself in 1964 in a Karelsen ASH. I won many races with this boat.

I still have this motor. Serial number 506879, square hole case.

Four records were set with this motor... three on the 1-2/3 course and one for the kilo straightaway.

1979 for the last 1-2/3 record: 55.215 mph average. Lawrence Lake, Yelm

1974 for the kilo straightaway: 60.884 mph. Modesto, CA.

Nice picture Dean,How high on the transom did you run the engine for oval compitition.

[DeanFHobart]

How High ?

KG-4 Bob,

This picture is 1964 and I had not learned to run the motor high for competition records. The later boats that I built had narrower bottom widths which worked better for high set-ups.

For 1-2/3 record courses the transom height was about 18" and the prop shaft was about 1" above the bottom of the boat. I used a 25 SS style of gear foot with the water pick up on the bottom of the bullet... I called them
"scoop skeg" style of water pick up.

The last 1-2/3 record was set with a 3 blade prop built by R.Allen "Poppa" Smith.

For a kilo run, a little higher than that. With a 2 blade R.Allen "Poppa" Smith prop.

[KG4]

Thanks for the info Dean,Since my son had no interest in running J i have since sold the omc and i am in the process of fitting the K Craft hydro with my KG4.The first thing i noticed is the transom was too high and the gearcase bullet was hitting the bottom of the boat.The transom actually has two pieces and the part that the engine clamps too was bolted on the inside of the perminent part of the transom so i unbolted it and am in the process of putting it on the outside of the perminent transom so i have some up and down adjustment and the gearcase will be a little further from the bottom.I will post a few pictures of what im doing.I think the hydro should run pretty good with the KG4 its very light.Thanks again.

[KG4]

You can see in this picture with the KG7 on it how high it was and the gearcase was touching the bottom of the boat.This was just set up for a show.

[Graham]

R. Allen Props

Dean: R. Allen made every prop we owned from 1957 through 1963 time frame. He was the best. In 1962 he made us a prop for the Hot Rod to compete against the merc 20H with the conversion kit and his note to my father read "see if this don't run like a scared rabbit". He was right as I won many BSH races against the likes of Bill Giles, Bob Henry, bob O'Connor and others. The hot rod engine was so quiet that the guys nick named me "The Blue Ghost" - no one could hear me coming. Boy did I p--- off lots of merc guys when I blew them off. The hot rod wasn't supposed to do that. The prop was the first and only one Allen made for us. Brings back some great memories.

Sincerely,
Don Graham

[Hydroglobe17J]

Old ASH 70's

Back when we raced in Bays! Remember Matt D. & George S.

[STEVE FRENCH]

Very cool times!

There are books out on the history of outboard motors and the big hydros......anything on the kneel down classes?......would be cool to have some book that you could find each years history and how the kneeler's have evolved.

Looks like George could fill several chapters............

19P

Here's one book on E-Bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts...1%7C240%3A1318

19P

[DeanFHobart]

Bob Rhoades

Dean: R. Allen made every prop we owned from 1957 through 1963 time frame. He was the best. In 1962 he made us a prop for the Hot Rod to compete against the merc 20H with the conversion kit and his note to my father read "see if this don't run like a scared rabbit". He was right as I won many BSH races against the likes of Bill Giles, Bob Henry, bob O'Connor and others. The hot rod engine was so quiet that the guys nick named me "The Blue Ghost" - no one could hear me coming. Boy did I p--- off lots of merc guys when I blew them off. The hot rod wasn't supposed to do that. The prop was the first and only one Allen made for us. Brings back some great memories.

Sincerely,
Don Graham

Don,

I still talk to Bob Rhoades. He lived near you when he was in the Air Force.

He went to some races with you and your dad.

[Brian10s]

Not the "A" class but

KGMod hydro
1- KG4 with a 20H bowl & 1- KG4 with a pipe

2 KG4's with 20H bowls

[KG4]

Awesome pictures Brian.Thanks for sharing them

[Graham]

Bob Rhoades

Dean: Great memory and reminder. Sometime when you have the opportunity please let Bob Rhoades know that I'm alive and kicking. That was during the 60's. Guess I'm dating myself now with that comment. Let Bob know that he can reach me via email: dgsecsvcs@aol.com or telephone: 352-726-2904 - Home/FL. Thanks for the great thought. Happy new year to you -2009. Let's hope this one is healthy, happy and prosperous to all.

Sincerely,
Don Graham

[Dave_E71]

I was at this race running against you guys! Ugh. Talk about showing our age!

Matt

I wouldn't be surprised if I were running there also, I feel old

Dave