By Rick Eichrodt, MOB Reporter &

Tom Miscovich, Great Lakes Reporter

It was Friday, July 9 2004 and the swap and sell area was getting full. This was around 1:00 in the afternoon and things were shaping up to make this “Super Meet” one of the biggest and best ever. The MOB and Great Lakes Chapters again hosted the Super meet along the St. Joseph River in Constantine Michigan. The chairman of the event is alternated from each chapter and this year’s chairman came from the Great Lakes Chapter. Dale Robertson did a fine job running the event this year. The camping area was almost full and lake front property was becoming a much sought after commodity. Friday was set up day and the river was getting a lot of action before Saturday’s main event. There were lots of motors on the water Friday. Some members were trying out their rigs for the Bob Hatcher Event. A beautiful Mercury MK75 ran along side lots of 3 horse motors being tested. Along with the many campers and tents were Bob and Jim Shapton who brought an old fuel oil tank converted to a B-B-Q roaster. Inside the grill was a hog that was cooked all day. Besides the smell of two-stroke oil, you could also smell the wonderful aroma of roasted hog being grilled!

Saturday, July 10, 2004, started off with breakfast that was served at the American Legion from 6:00am to 9:00am. One can’t find another better, or filling, breakfast for only $3.00. The water activity started promptly at 8:00 with the announcement of the start of the 2004 Super Meet over the PA system. The early morning hours were devoted to the small kickers and quite a few of them took to the water. A brief meeting was held at about 9:30 to discuss all of the day’s events and the rules of the meet. The day was broken into different hours to allow all motors a chance to take to the water with safety in mind. After the meeting, the Bob Hatcher Event was held and eight contestants answered the starting gun. The Hatcher Event is a contest to determine the best overall running motor. The event focus’s on 2, 3, and 4 horsepower motors and it takes in consideration starting, high speed, performance, hot engine starting and idling. This year’s event was for the 3 horsepower motors.

After the Hatcher Event the river was open to the “Loud and Fast” crowd. MK20H’s, KG7H’s, KG9H’s and other high speed rigs took to the water and were seen cruising around the course. Though out the day different classes of motors were allowed to use the course. The MOB and Great Lakes Chapter’s came up with a unique way to allow each class to get equal time on the water by using flags to display the running times of each group. Also planned for the event were Zephyr and 3 horsepower motor time trials, both stock and modified classes. The modified 3 hp and Zephyr classes really were interesting to watch because of the degree of modification to each motor. Each year the event grows and most of them actually made it around the course and finished. It is truly remarkable to watch these modified motors, with open stacks and home made racing units, take to the water.

This year Sam Vance made a request for members to bring their 1929 Elto Quads to the meet. He had announced that he would be giving plaques for different categories for the 29 Quads. Also, this year had the biggest display of restored motors and boats, ever. The tent was enlarged to accommodate all the outboards on display. Approximately 15 boats were displayed on the grass beside the show tent. Among the boats was a Raveau with twin Mercury MK58’s. Jack Craib had a great display of hand and foot powered outboard motors and Roger Dykehouse displayed Champion Tandem 33! Custom wooden stands displayed a couple of racing Mercury’s and there was everything else under the sun, under the tent. Lots of brass motors were on display, including a beautiful 1936 Evinrude Fisherman that you had to view with sunglasses on because of the shine! At the end of the meet on Saturday, members met at the Legion outside decks for “happy hour”! Everyone could be seen talking about the day’s activities and you could see a lot of tired and worn out faces among the crowd. The banquet was held inside the Legion and afterwards, the trophies and ribbons were handed out. A big thank you goes out to the staff of the American Legion who, again, did a remarkable job of feeding the hungry outboarders. This years winners are listed following this report.

Sunday, July 11, 2004, started out with another great breakfast and the usual running of the outboards after 8:00am. Around 10:00am, the Constantine Super Meet River Cruise was held and all the boats took off and headed up the river. About 10 to 12 boats were in attendance and some of the members hitched rides with friends to experience the river. There were MK75’s, PO-15’s, Gale 35’s, Johnson RD’s, Mercury’s and many other motors that went out for an adventure. After the River Cruise, the course was open for use and quite a few rigs took to the water. A few of the racing and “go fast” boats took their turn on the course. In the afternoon, the vendors had just about all left the meet and slowly the camper and outboarders headed home. This year’s event was one of the best one I had ever been too and I sometimes wonder when the event will outgrow this wonderful site. The weather cooperated, again this year. The temperatures were great for this time of year and the sun had shown each day. It was a beautiful time to be with friends, running old motors and sharing a “Super Meet”!

See Ya On The Water!