Spellman Pellerin Photo Album

Tin Horn F-90

The photograph above and the next 3 are ones my sister sent me. I am not sure of all the people in them. I can identify only a few.
Bob McGuire, Roy Wilson Sr., George Albert’s, Al Flair, Gerry Milto, Mr. Balero and wife.
Anyone who knows the others can help.
1960’s I would bet. This is St. Pete for a fact. And surely the beginning of my future into boat racing.
All the people in these photos were a part of my dad’s circle of race friends.

Eastern Divisionals - Raleigh, North Carolina 1988
Start of a qualifying heat race

E-14 Warhawk (Dea and Wally) highly modified Sooy hull (wood cabover) Chevy 305

E-60 Fast Company (Steve David) Karleson wood hull (with shoes and possibly a Ford 302)

E-726 X-Ray (Mark Burkhardt) Staudacher wood & narrow hull, Chevy

E-5 Jezabell (Spellman Pellerin - driver | Jim Ranson - owner) Kelson hull (with a built in shoe on the shaft log), Chevy 305

E-30 Budget Buster Racing (Ray Lynn) - homebrew conventional/cabover. Possibly Plymouth but more than likely a Chevy

Note the group of diverse boats, drivers, builders, motors and a good ole' flying start.
A testament to what many would call real APBA racing.

Jezebel E-5
Raleigh, NC 1985-1988?
Can really see the strut shoe....

I was not alone when one or more 7 Litres would leave the pits either testing, heat races or the all time best - Finals.
I still attend races today, but not one event I have been to, can even come close to the pit turn in St. Pete.

All should recognize Stover himself in this picture at St. Pete.
Parked next to it is the E-747 of the Heringtons from Baton Rouge, LA.

E-747 Hydro-Therapy
David Pellerin driving
Owners - Richard and Johnny Landaiche
This boat was the De-Wa-DeDe (sp) from Neil Carnathen.
This is the boat that was used to convert to the chevy 305 from Merc Cruiser.
After the 305 success and mercury’s push as well as APBA’s need to replace the hard to get Plymouth 273 parts.
Well lets just say the rest history. Ford’s 302 also came in with some attempt but I believe cost, knowledge, and weight were its demise.

F-83
The top 2 boats - 'Rookie' drove.
They were very fast and I believe kits from Ron Jones, Sr.

My T boat was a 48 Blide hull my dad purchased from Jack Sellers (St. Pete) and his son Jimmy drove it. We actually bought 2 boats and I have pictures of them, but I need to locate them first. We were close friends with the Sellers and they were very helpful with getting it to run. Dick Sooy built us a fine T motor and delivered it to St. Pete one year. We ran good in practice on Friday until the throttle cable decided to break. The most fun I had in racing was then, because of how simple everything was with little pressure to win.

HANG ON!! was the name of this boat and it was wild to steer one handed and control throttle with the other. I had to disconnect the pin that allowed me to lock it wide open (safety). To secure myself from leaving the cockpit in the turns I would wedge my feet and legs apart and into the stringers. I was spent at the end of every heat to the point of getting help to get out of the boat. If you ever rode motocross and your arms, fingers, and wrist get so pumped up you need someone to peel them off the handle bars -------WELL………………. this was the same pain in my legs.

I have no clue where this boat and the sister to it have gone. A lot of boats just disappear and are never seen again.

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