Dillon Racing |
The Real Bob Dillon
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This is where it all started. In 1969 I bought this Minimax "punkinseed" hydroplane for 50 bucks, bought a 15-year-old Mercury Mark 20 for a hundred, re-painted the boat and put it all together. Oh my, what fun I had. |
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During the winter of 1969-70 I built my first boat, a 3-point hydroplane from Champion Boats. I believe this boat was only 7'6" long. You can see from the undulating shape of the front cowling that I had a thing or two to learn about boatbuilding. |
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Stock outboard racing on the Merrimac River in Methuen, MA, 1971. I wish I could tell you I was in one of those boats. I was a member of the South Shore Outboard Association that year, very eager to race, but short on resources. And utimately distracted by other teenage concerns. (I won't mention her name.) |
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And then, of all things, I discovered sailboats. Despite a childhood facination with tiny powerboats, I only had to take the helm of a sailboat once to fall in love with it. I spent three years building "Little Wing", and first launched her in July, 1998, on Leech Lake in north central Minnesota. Then in 2003 I made the "mistake" of going to the powerboat races in Crosby, MN. I was hooked all over again. I resisted the urge for a year of so, but finally succumbed. |
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For thirty-five years I had not owned a powerboat of any description. Then in the winter of 2004-5 I built this somewhat modified Glen L Tunnel Mite. I finally got to go racing at the age of 50. |
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The following year I tried my hand at raceboat design. The Dillon Mini was the result, and it was very successful (shown here with Tyler Kuhl at the wheel -- and leading the way). |
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Next came the Dillon Mini Vee, and it did quite well too.
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