Jeff Lewis: Grants Pass, Oregon

[Ron Hill]

Jeff went through the kilo in UIM CLASS ON at 153.00. His motor was a 2.0 liter Mercury on a HOMEMADE hydro, no capsule.

Jeff flew down to the kilos at Parker one year, and the lights were out at the Parker Airport, while trying to find the airport he ran low on gas. He headed for Blythe, but ran out of gasand made an emergency landing in an orange grove outside of Blythe, got gas then, flew to the kilos...

Ron, One of those near death experiences. Jan. 1st 1981 at night and didnt notice the wind machine after clearing the X country power lines (2-3 inches).

Jeff told me the 2.0 liter was an EFI motor burning alcohol....

[Ron Hill]

Jeff wanted to break the OUTBOARD WORLD speed record...I don't know if this speed is a class ON UIM record or not.

Jeff at speed, at Parker, Arizona..2.0 liter Mercury on a JEFF LEWIS built boat......Near death experience? Not for me, except watching him run could cause a heart attack.

Thanks for the pictures, Jeff!

[CSR4C]

I remember Jeff breaking the record 150+ at Modesto. I think I held may breath on every run. He used a Hubble overdrive unit that was never meant for that much power. He still has the complete outfit in running order. He does demo runs with it at Boatnik each year in Grants Pass, OR. He gets it up to 90-100 mph on the runs on the river in the park.
He is also one of the favorites in the Outboard River Race each year and won it a few years ago.

Darrell

[Ron Hill]

44 Cubic Inch stock blocks, two blade props...and I don't know what size boats....but they run right up and down these CRAZY rivers....I''ve always considered myself crazy but never thought of myself as insane!

I wonder how these boats would handle in the surf???

Boatnik 1990, Jeff is leading here with 35 miles to go!

[Ron Hill]

More of Jeff..

F Hydro was for Lon Stevens..

[sasbenson]

For a number of years, Jeffs big adventure after the river racing ended in the fall was to travel all the way from Grants Pass Ore to Parker AZ to the Kilos. The Klamath river is about 120 miles south west from Grants pass and under the right conditions in late fall was a perfect place for him to dial in the boat prior to the Parker event. On several occasions I used my Wooldridge river boat to stand by in case of trouble and thankfully there never was real problems but certainly could have been.Bird strikes being in the news relates to one of Jeff's test sessions where he drove through a flock of river ducks a very high speed and one of them cleaned off the aircraft pitot he had mounted vertically on the deck of the boat about 2 feet from his head! Imagine taking a coot in the face shield at 140 or so!! Pretty sure Mr. Lewis has had several " near death" experiences in his boating career not related to aircraft.

[Mark75H]

Ron, they are 14 footers, a little bigger than usually raced in D or FE

[Ron Hill]

Jeff Lewis in Lon Steven's F Hydro...Not sure the speed...

Ron, just talking to Lon Stevens he reminded me this one way run was 125.8 in 1983 lost 1/2 blade on return (hit duck) on the 1100 record.....

[Ron Hill]

Ron, the driver at the time of the Parker photo was John Stevens (late).I had been saving 2 propellers for this project put the 1st one on and coming from the short direction (dam) got into the pipe after the entry bouy, averaged 125.8 dn. on the return,less 1/2 blade hurt the engine ave.122.376 24 years ago. I always wanted to run the 2nd prop! --Jeff

John Stevens at D-Lake 81