Fountain
Mercury Sets New Super Cat Kilo Speed Record
Gilbreath and Fuller Establish Inaugural Class Record over Rough Sarasota
Bay
Fond du Lac, WI, July 5 -- Veteran throttleman Jerry Gilbreath of Priest River,
Idaho and driver Hugh Fuller of Clearwater, Florida piloted 'Fountain Mercury,'
a 36-foot Skater catamaran powered by twin 509 cubic inch, 750 h.p. Mercury
Racing Super Cat Race engines coupled to dry-sump Mercury Racing Six Drives and
Mercury Racing lab finished cleaver propellers, set a new Super Cat class kilo
speed record Friday, June 30 in Sarasota, Florida. 'Fountain Mercury' was one of
over 25 teams registered for the annual American Power Boat Association (APBA)
Offshore Pro Series 2000 Kilometer speed runs that take place in conjunction
with the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix. The annual event, round four of the APBA
Offshore Pro Series 2000 Tour, takes place on Sarasota Bay. High winds churned
up the normally tranquil protected waters, forcing teams to change set-ups and
propellers at the last minute to compromise for the less than desirable
conditions.
To claim the title of the 'World's fastest offshore boat, the kilometer speed
trials require teams to take two full speed passes through a measured kilometer
(1.6 miles), each pass within 15 minutes of the other. The purpose of the passes
is to eliminate any advantage that may be gained from winds, tides and weather
conditions. 'Fountain Mercury's' average speed for the two passes was
120.850
mph.
The all-new Armada One Design class also made its Kilo Speed Run debut.
Powerboat racing's answer to automobile racing's IROC series, the class features
24-foot canopied Armada V-bottom race boats powered by a single Mercury Racing
Scorpion 377 small block engine coupled to a Bravo One drive. Unlimited
Hydroplane racing legend Steve David and APBA Offshore racing record holder
Nigel Hook drove 'Armada' to an average speed of 77.483 mph for the all-new
Armada One Design class Kilo speed record.
The veteran/rookie race team of Ben Robertson and Mitch Miller established a new
Factory II Kilo speed record, averaging 91.490 mph over the 1-kilometer course
in 'Lake Cumberland Farms Marine,' a 33-foot Fountain powered by twin Mercury
Racing HP500 EFI engines coupled to Bravo One drives. The 1999 Kilo records for
Factory I and Factory III classes remain unchallenged due to the inclimate
weather and unusually rough course conditions. Jim Arvis and Justin Halden set
the 1999 Factory I kilo record, averaging 81.849 mph in 'Mountain Dew,' a
26-foot Progression hull powered by a single Mercury Racing HP 500 engine
coupled to a Bravo One drive. Arvis and Halden made an addition to their racing
portfolio by setting a new 81.956 mph C Class record Friday. Jamin Jones and
Curtis Morris set the current Factory III kilo speed record in 1999, averaging
112.864 mph in their twin Mercury Racing HP500 EFI powered 'Team Yahoo.' Poor
course conditions prevented Factory IV Kilo run attempts from being made.
contact: Rick Mackie, 920-924-2032
rick_mackie@mercmarine.com
Web by: Walt Reynolds
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