The really "Old School" boating thread

[gn7]

Ray created the 1st T deck, he took a chain saw to a new boat and cut it to his likeing and said fix it. This is the best thread on all the boating forums by the way, hope it keeps going!!!!!!!!!!!

As I remember it, came up with it after Larry Schwabenland's accident.

Imagine, a boating thread like this being popular on a boat site. Who'd a thunk it.

[Sharp shooter]

Imagine, a boating thread like this being popular on a boat site. Who'd a thunk it.

Lol!!!!

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I believe this is the boat ray died in it was a t-deck. The 1st T-decks I've seen were 73 hulls and Ray died March of '73




Copy/paste from the Drag Boat and Water speed record racer memorial page.

Ray Caselli


Born: November 4, 1933

Died: March 18, 1973


Buried:

Age: 39

Full Name: Raymond Caselli

Nickname:

Location: Oakland Marine Stadium, California

Event: American Powerboat Spring National Championships

Accident Date: March 18, 1973

Boat: "Panic Mouse" blown fuel flatbottom

Biographical: Just after winning his race at a speed of 131.38 MPH, the boat started riding on its side and then nosed into the water. It was thought that he may have broken a rudder. He was thrown clear of the boat and his emergency parachute opened, but hit the water at a bad angle on his neck. It was a freak accident. He was transported to Alameda Hospital where he died five hours after the crash. He was a former world record holder from Reseda, California. Just a week earlier he had won the blown fuel flatbottom class during the California Drag Boat Championships at Long Beach with a speed of 144 MPH.


Sources

"Drag racer dies in Oakland crash," Hayward Daily Review, March 20, 1973

"Boat driver dies in flip," Long Beach Press-Telegram, March 20, 1973

[Donnell Culpepper column], Long Beach Press-Telegram, March 21, 1973

"Crash claims boat racer," Bryan Times, March 20, 1973

"Racer killed," Ellensburg Daily Record, March 20, 1973

Social Security Death Index (Raymond Caselli, born Nov. 4, 1933, died Mar. 1973, SS# issued in Illinois)

[2manymustangs]

As I remember it, came up with it after Larry Schwabenland's accident.

Imagine, a boating thread like this being popular on a boat site. Who'd a thunk it.

who'd a thunk it???

[Sharp shooter]

1960