#55 Is In: Mr. Al Stoker

[Ron Hill]

Talked to Al, today. They are "IN"...The boat will be Fred Bowden's Stoker, powered by a Mercury. Al really wanted to run the new E-Tec Evinrude, but they are just starting to come down the assemblyline...

Next year.

John Stoker drove the first Evinrude V-6 I ever saw in the parker 9 Hour...The same year, Al race a Chrysler on a HILL TUNNEL boat...

Al seems VERY EXCITED about racing...He ordred a new Life Line jacket...His old jacket had been in the bag for 27 years.....which doesn't seem right...He and Fred Bowden may have "MENDED A FEW FENCES" whci always please me...

John Stoker is going to The Blue Water Resort and Casino 300 Enduro to keep and eye on Al.......Few people have ever loved boat raing more than John Stoker....He goes back to Lee Taylor's jet boat....days...

The Stoker Family has always been our friends...Chad Hill's high vchair was Al Stoker's...It was nefver ours, it was laoned ot us, becasaue John Stoker and I let Jessica's high chair blow off my truck when we moved to Irvine....

Sid, Ida, Sandy and Tina Stoker have always been friends of the HILL's....

We are going to Parker to race....with our friends.....win or lose, we'll still be friends!!!! (Even thoguh, we'd probaly never tell anyone else....)....

As I tell anyone who will listen....I say, "when I really get in trouble with an engine....I go to Stokers, and take all the BS.............but they help me, and they KNOW!!!"....

Wish that Al would built me a 140 for my Tri Hull....

[fyremanbill]

If he does, I'll be the first to claim it:eek:

[fyremanbill]

Bad luck so far. Stuck a piston, I think it overheated, but? Got it fixed, leaving tonight and have 1 1/2 days to test. It did run good, but still didn't really get it in "race tune" before we had trouble.

[Knuckle Head]

That is awesome. I will now be able to tell everyone that I have raced against Al Stoker & Fred Bowden. I am sure I will have to include that I got my *** handed to me also, but hey I at least I was there:D

Al was an integral part of our win 2 years ago in this race.

[steve sr.]

Are Fred and Al really going to drive the 55 at Parker....Now are we talking The Fred Bowden. I can't start trash talking yet, my son won't let me, but it looks like were going to find out if that 20yr old Johnrude V-8 will turn 7000...
Al have you got any spare powerheads just in case??

See you guys at the race!!!!


Steve Rains Sr.
647/918 Crew Member

[RitcheyRch]

Very cool to hear that Al going to be racing this weekend.

[647and918]

Are Fred and Al really going to drive the 55 at Parker....Now are we talking The Fred Bowden. I can't start trash talking yet, my son won't let me, but it looks like were going to find out if that 20yr old Johnrude V-8 will turn 7000...
Al have you got any spare powerheads just in case??

See you guys at the race!!!!


Steve Rains Sr.
647/918 Crew Member

If you turn my motor to 7K you're buying the next one... I finally got the stinkin' thing running again!!! :eek:

[Instigator]

Big fan of Al's and love the idea of him going racing again.

A friend of mine has a great website going with copies of all the magazine articles of race coverage from the Mod VP days.

Was hoping to see him running an E-Tech.

Did they make Al wear a bag over his head to drive a Merc :D

Gary

[Ron Hill]

1987 stickers on this Stoker! Al giving Fred a "PEP TALK"....

[steve sr.]

I was looking at the pictures of Al, Fred and others and trying to decide who was the oldest driver out there this year. I think Fred and I are about the same age.

[Ron Hill]

Rod Zapf who BROKE the Body Snatcher was the oldest by about ten years....and I for one, have been thinking that maybe we should have an AGE LIMIT on drivers....

FYI: Fred didn't get a ride in the race, as AL BROKE IT FIRST!!!! Somehow, I feel, even if Al hadn't broke...Fred STILL wouldn't have gotten a ride!!!!No way of ever proving this one!

[Dabull1919]

Rod Zapf wqho BROKE the Body Snatcher was the oldest by about ten years....and I for one, have been thinking that maybe we should have an AGE LIMIT on drivers....

FYI: Fred didn't get a ride in the race, as AL BROKE IT FIRST!!!! Somehow, I feel, even if Al hadn't broke...Fred STILL wouldn't have gotten a ride!!!!No way of ever proving this one!


Still it was cool seeing Fred in a racing jacket again.

DB

[fyremanbill]

Oldest driver has to be Al James at 68.

[vishus]

Instigator,

do you have a link to the website with the MODVP articles?

thx.sid

[steve sr.]

Al if you get this let me know. My son has decided to run the anchor again next year, but we need help!!!!

The thing hasen't been tuned up in years and other then the new lower unit and new plugs is pretty much as you saw it at Parker...I'm sure the carbs need going thru and we know it needs top mounts. We want to raise the mount up 3 inches or so, so that we can drop it down for the race. As of now we are 2 inches below or at least an inch below where we should be.

Any suggestions on props that big old 30p just won't turn, And the boat seems to be down on power. We ran 100oc av gas at 25 to 1 for Parker but it seems to load the plugs..

Also do you know if B&K Boat repair is still in Bellflower. We want to get the bottom done, and somemore strength in that old transom. Or can you do that also. We're trying to pick up 20mph cheap. We arn't looking to win the race but a nice top ten would be nice. I passed on some of the ideas you gave me the other day. Also whats the best time to bring the beast to your place to start the project????

[Ron Hill]

We should have a "SENIOR's" Division......Figure out the ruls, and no one under 60 could run THAT Division....

[steve sr.]

Ron.....I agree there should be a senior division, but I don't wana be in it. I figure i've got one more good year left, then i'll retire and let my two sons take over. My youngest son (27) still needs a few more hours behind the wheel before he is ready and my oldest son (38) is doin pretty good. I'll be 64 next year. This year I ached for 5 days after the race, but you know what it sure felt good...

Hey while your on the line sell us a prop...We need to try a few to find out where were at. I'm thinkin that big Johnrude needs a 26 or 28... It's going to be comin over here soon and we can test at Elsinore. We're going to take to Stokers for some engine work and bottom work and maybe a little lift job. What do you think 3 blade 28 or 4 blade 26.. We can get about 5200 out of the 3 blade 30 @ 2inches below like we ran at Parker....Would like to see it up in the 5800 to 6000 range.

The boat is such a heavy weight that it is hard to get it to lift. This rig was never made to be a race boat. If we're going to do much with it we need a sponsor with deep pockets....Stoker said something about the new lower unit and $3500.00 in the same sentence. Thats just not in our budget. Not without some backing. And if we get that kind of backing we'll be replacing the hull first.....

Any Help Appreciated......Thanks STEVE SR.