1971 Inland International Grand Lake St. Marys (Ohio)

[Auglaize99]

The Inland International Marathon was held off the East Bank of Grand Lake St. Marys. The first race was held in 1970 and I believe that 1974 might have been the last year for the race. I have quite a few photos and will post them if there is interest.

I'll start with a few pictures of the local favorite Bill Petty from Wapakoneta, Ohio. Bill was the big winner in 1971.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Do it. There is a lot of interest.

[Auglaize99]

I have photos from several different years, I will stick with 1971 for now. If anyone happens to have a request let me know and I can look for a specific boat.

[TNT Teen]

Keep the pictures coming. Love the Allison tunnel, gotta find a picklefork one to own

[largecar91]

I see your handle is Auglaize 99. I assume you are from this area? I live on the lake and have for a number of years.

[largecar91]

I see two different Dutchmans in the pics

[Auglaize99]

I don't live there anymore, but I grew up close to the lake.

Glad there is some interest, I'll keep posting until everything worth posting has been posted. It will take awhile I still have quite a few slides that haven't even been scanned yet.

Love any comments if you recognize or can identify anyone. For now I know the following drivers/boats

199 - Bill Petty
190 - Bill Seebold Jr.

[largecar91]

254 Tom Stickle, 251 Mike Downard ? 119 might have been Kenny Kitson

[Auglaize99]

This might be it for 1971, I do have photos from other years.

Apparently Bill Petty used to say that he would race for a can of corn so race organizers awarded him a can of corn, they also gave him trophies and checks.

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Boat #289 John Schubert. 1971 first Sid Son tunnel

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Good eye Largecar. 119 is a good number for your guess, but I wonder about the German flag (not exactly, but close). Michael Werner was my guess because he was a Merc guy and sometimes he ran under other numbers if he raced in different countries. In Europe he was normally 7. It might be that Kenny Kitson ran under a German flag in some U.S. race. This was common.

ADD: My mistake about the flag. It's vertical, and I thought later it might be Belgian, but it's not. Don't know what country that is.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Hey John, did not know that. Good info. How many Sid Sons were made if you know? Looked pretty much like a Merc event. What can you tell us about the Chrysler guys?

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Hey John, did not know that. Good info. How many Sid Sons were made if you know? Looked pretty much like a Merc event. What can you tell us about the Chrysler guys?
About 15 - 20 were built. Our T*A*R*T team had 7. One even was in Texas. Roddy Foreman’s Dad Jim had one. Don’t know much about the Chrysler’s other then they weren’ t competitive

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Thanks John, I need to look at some old pics from the Motorsport days and see if I can find one of Jim. I'm not good at ID'ing some of the boats I'm not familiar with so if I find one of Jim, I will ask for your help.

[Auglaize99]

A little more memorabilia from the 1971 race.

[peterse90]

254 Tom Stickle, 251 Mike Downard ? 119 might have been Kenny Kitson

These are GREAT pictures.

I think Largecar91 is right on with Stickle #254, Downard #251 both with Merc factory team Molinaris and Kitson #119 in a Kitson/Milesmaster.

I think Willabee (Bill Welsh) wrote that the St. Mary's race became a major stop for both Merc & OMC.

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

These are GREAT pictures.

I think Largecar91 is right on with Stickle #254, Downard #251 both with Merc factory team Molinaris and Kitson #119 in a Kitson/Milesmaster.

I think Willabee (Bill Welsh) wrote that the St. Mary's race became a major stop for both Merc & OMC.
The OMC team collectively did not race at St. Mary’s at least from 1970 - 1973. I attended representing the T*A*R*T team. I also recall Jenk’s team there one year with Earl Benz driving

[Mark Poole]

Brings back memories! Lots of Merc and Chrysler stackers. I see a red stripe Twister in one pic. Ted Morgan engine?

[Auglaize99]

From the Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter Mon Jun 14 1971

[Auglaize99]

From the News Journal Mon Jun 14 1971 (Mansfield, OH)

[Auglaize99]

Here is some local post-race coverage from The Evening Leader June 14, 1971.

[Auglaize99]

The Evening Leader (St. Marys, Ohio Monday June 14, 1971) from page one

[Auglaize99]

The Evening Leader (St. Marys, Ohio Monday June 14, 1971) from page one and more

[Auglaize99]

The Evening Leader (St. Marys, Ohio Monday June 14, 1971)

[Auglaize99]

The Evening Leader (St. Marys, Ohio Monday June 10, 1971) and I am not going to fight with it to get it to post the two parts in the correct order.

[hoss199]

254 Tom Stickle, 251 Mike Downard ? 119 might have been Kenny Kitson
oops

[hoss199]

I see you in the above photo, behind your dad.

[Auglaize99]

I see you in the above photo, behind your dad.

OK, do you know who this is?!74639

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

OK, do you know who this is?!http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=74639&stc=1

Tim, Bob’s brother, forget the last name. Dealers on the lake who were responsible for the race.

[Auglaize99]

Wow, good memory, the last name is Schroer.

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

Thanks for the last name jog. Saw Tim a few years ago at the OFF reunion in Tavares, FL. Told him that I was sorry about his brother’s passing. They were friends from my days racing at St. Marys

[hoss199]

John, that is Jim Schroer in the picture, Bob's younger brother and Tim's older. I'm the one who did'nt work for OMC, interviewed twice, close no cigar.

[hoss199]

that's me, Jim Schroer

[hoss199]

finally got a boat, Fe in vintage!