Sunchaser Marine: Randy Knodel and Gene Thibodeaux

[Smokin' Joe]

Sunchaser Marine lies near the east end of Canyon Lake, Tx. Gene Thibodeaux is the mechanic there. He drove V-8s, also in Europe, for Evinrude in the late 1980s. Randy Knodel, the owner, raced Scotts with success in NOA OPC in the 1960s. I've asked them both to send me some photos. Will post if and when I receive nay. I bought my 1975 Evinrude 75 from Gene in 1977 and he was briefly my sponsor in EP then. Randy rebuilds small 1950s era planes, flies them and sells them. He's flown several to Alaska and plans to fly this one there as well. The Lycoming engine was on a mounting rack, he showed us the fabric he'll use to cover the fuselage and wings. Like the others, he's converting this one from front to tail landing gear.

Photos by Cornelia Küffner

[tahawk]

like the pics joe. the guys like mccauley.gene,,darrell,duke babbit and schubert took us YOUNGER generation and showed us the sport we love today.thanks guys.

[texnine]

Hawk you're dead on about these men and many others leading the way for others Texans to have success in powerboat racing. And thanks Joe for taking the time to find Gene and Randy. Great memories from my youth

[WharfRat]

wonder if Gene remembers "WharfRat" from the Pier 7 days?