A good day in carlsbad.....

5807 Views 57 Replies 24 Participants Last post by harlanorrin, Jul 17, 2009

DaveSammons

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2009 (Edited)

6

A good day in Carlsbad.....

Many of you knew Dale Landsbury and if you didn't, you probably have seen his beautiful restoration of the 1963 Patterson SHOCKWAVE, driven to the 1966 SuperStock High Points Championship by Don St. John. Dale passed in December and a few days before he did, he called me and asked if I would put the freshly rebuilt engine back in his pride and joy because he didn't have the strength. Of course I said yes, and then he was gone 5 days later. I called his son Chad a couple months after and told him my offer still stood and that when he was ready to bring it over on a Saturday, I'd have a crew here to get it all together and running...well that Saturday was Today. Boat arrived at 9am...had it running by 1:30...cocktails poured at 1:40 and a toast to a great guy who saved such an awesome piece of our boat racing history. No question he was looking down with a smile on his face!!!

What follows are a few shots from today. Thanks to Barry McGowan, Darnez, Walt Geisting, Tom Farner and my brothers Rolf and Eric for getting this beauty up and running again!! It was a fun day that makes all this stuff we do SO worth it!

His widow has now put this piece of history up for sale. Please PM me if interested. Not often does a legendary boat like this come around.

The SHOCKWAVE arrives...

See less See more

1 - 20 of 58 Posts

DaveSammons

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jul 12, 2009

SHE IS A BEAUTY!!!!!!!!

See less See more

CampbellCarl

· #3 · Jul 12, 2009

Dave,

Cheers to Dale, you and the crew! Nice one buddy!

Carl

DaveSammons

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 12, 2009

4

The other wooddecker seen in the shots is a Litchfield runnerbottom owned by Wes Wise from San Diego. He owned the boat originally in the mid70's and found it a few years back and had Harlan put a wood deck on it. Swede did all the paint and glass. I'll be rigging it and installing a Injected 500+inch chevy. I am truly blessed to be able to be a part of this stuff!!!

Transom Bar Might be a little on the long side!!!

See less See more

SS-55

· #5 · Jul 12, 2009

WOW, She turned out perfect! Dave knows this but most don't, my Father was the man who bought this boat from the ST. Johns in the 60's complete with a Keith Black hemi. The boat actually took high points and set the kilo @ 99+ mph with a 427 Ford side oiler. The boat was so successful that the St. Johns were offered a Chrysler sponsorship. They were given two KB prepared hemis in the deal. When my father purchased the boat he actually had to drive to San Diego to retrieve the title from the original owner. As the story goes that gentleman ended up with a dead arm. The boat landed on top of him resulting in function loss in one arm. I have always had a special love for this boat from the stories I had heard and eventually drove my father back to circle boat racing in the from of a Faulkner/Canary that I had the honor and privelage of driving. I guess in a round about way I can thank Shockwave for all the great memories I have of racing with my father. I am very thankful I had that oppurtunity. Much praise to Mr. Landsberry for the exceptional quality of this restoration. This is such a special piece of boat racing history and if I could find a way she would have a new home by now!
My dad told me a story about his "test drive" in the boat. He rode passenger in a heat with Donny St. John, wrapped a rope around a stringer like a bull rider and held on for dear life. Something else according to him because Donny was always right in the mix at the start because he only had one eye so he really could not "hit" the clock start, but always worked his way to the front. Pop always told me the thrill of driving a circle boat in a race could not be beat, but riding shotgun is a different story! Well thanks to my Father I know how thrilling going six deep into turn one and then taking a set down the straight is, but I'll pass on the passenger deal, lol. Boy I love those stories! Dave thank you for sharing these photos, you have made my day! Richard

See less See more

Jetboatguru

· #6 · Jul 12, 2009

Great Job Reggie!! NICE!!

wrighton

· #7 · Jul 12, 2009

Well done guys. And a another round is in order.

Dkahnjob

· #8 · Jul 12, 2009

SS-55 said:
WOW, She turned out perfect! Dave knows this but most don't, my Father was the man who bought this boat from the ST. Johns in the 60's complete with a Keith Black hemi. The boat actually took high points and set the kilo @ 99+ mph with a 427 Ford side oiler. The boat was so successful that the St. Johns were offered a Chrysler sponsorship. They were given two KB prepared hemis in the deal. When my father purchased the boat he actually had to drive to San Diego to retrieve the title from the original owner. As the story goes that gentleman ended up with a dead arm. The boat landed on top of him resulting in function loss in one arm. I have always had a special love for this boat from the stories I had heard and eventually drove my father back to circle boat racing in the from of a Faulkner/Canary that I had the honor and privelage of driving. I guess in a round about way I can thank Shockwave for all the great memories I have of racing with my father. I am very thankful I had that oppurtunity. Much praise to Mr. Landsberry for the exceptional quality of this restoration. This is such a special piece of boat racing history and if I could find a way she would have a new home by now!
My dad told me a story about his "test drive" in the boat. He rode passenger in a heat with Donny St. John, wrapped a rope around a stringer like a bull rider and held on for dear life. Something else according to him because Donny was always right in the mix at the start because he only had one eye so he really could not "hit" the clock start, but always worked his way to the front. Pop always told me the thrill of driving a circle boat in a race could not be beat, but riding shotgun is a different story! Well thanks to my Father I know how thrilling going six deep into turn one and then taking a set down the straight is, but I'll pass on the passenger deal, lol. Boy I love those stories! Dave thank you for sharing these photos, you have made my day! Richard

HI Richard,
I remember when your dad bought Shock Wave, the boat was a legend, we always used to see it at Leonard Fulkerson's shop, Finish Line Engineering. When your dad was through with it Mike Crandall bought the engine from your dad, and I ended up with it as a spare for my Hemi powered Sanger.
Fun days, we miss your dad.
Take care,
Dave

runninbroke

· #9 · Jul 12, 2009

Very nice Dave, very nice

little john

steve d

· #10 · Jul 12, 2009

.

Your always bringing back the memories Dave..........Nice job!!!

BUZZ KILL

· #11 · Jul 12, 2009

everything, and I mean everything about that is COOL!

devil

devil

WMorton

· #12 · Jul 12, 2009

Is Wes working on the 83 Litchfield I gave him? It was the last boat the Litchfield brothers built before retiring. I look forward to seeing it run again.

Uncle Dave

· #13 · Jul 12, 2009

Awesome, just awesome.

Keep the picts coming- I wanna hang out with these guys!!!

Uncle Dave

SS-55

· #14 · Jul 12, 2009

Dkahnjob said:
HI Richard,
I remember when your dad bought Shock Wave, the boat was a legend, we always used to see it at Leonard Fulkerson's shop, Finish Line Engineering. When your dad was through with it Mike Crandall bought the engine from your dad, and I ended up with it as a spare for my Hemi powered Sanger.
Fun days, we miss your dad.
Take care,
Dave

Yeah, he always did have great taste, and the way he could tell a story I feel like I have owned these gems at one time too...Words can not describe how much I miss him. I'm a lucky guy for having him as a Father, and for sharing the same passions. He is my nearest and dearest friend........I remember hearing what a pain this boat was to tow in LA traffic. People would start to pass, then slow down and hang right next to the boat checking it out, then see the "high points" and "kilo record holder", You couldn't hardly ever change lanes! That trailer is a special piece too, the fact it was restored instead of replaced is truly nostalgia, so cool and well done.

DaveSammons

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 12, 2009

SS-55 said:
When my father purchased the boat he actually had to drive to San Diego to retrieve the title from the original owner. As the story goes that gentleman ended up with a dead arm. The boat landed on top of him resulting in function loss in one arm.

For those of you that don't him...the gentleman in the black t-shirt in the photo above is Barry McGowan, the owner/driver of one of the most famous Top Fuel Hydros of the 60's "BANZAI". He is a regular on Saturdays with me. Anyway, he proceeds to tell us that he was there the first day this boat went in the water!! ARE YOU KIDDIN" ME!!
Story goes like this...Boat was originally built as a dragboat. The owner of the boat commissioned Kieth Black to build him a blown gas motor for it. The motor was identical to the motor in the BANZAI TFH, except it was on gas. Barry rides to Long Beach with KB to watch the boat run for the first time. On the maiden voyage the guy(Barry said his name and I forgot, think we were in about the 3rd round of cocktails by then

) whacks the throttle, the boat goes straight up in the air, when the boat comes down and the force causes the driver to hit the throttle and the boat goes skyward again barrel rolls and the gunnell hits him right in the neck and he loses the use of his left arm. From there the boat is sold to St. John, KB builds him a hemi Superstock motor and the rest, as they say, is history.
What are the chances I'd have a guy there that witnessed all this?? As I've said before, I am TRULY blessed!!!

See less See more

Coolchange

· #16 · Jul 12, 2009

Great job. That deal is bitchen and the wood trailer is KILLIN ME!

Roaddogg 4040

· #17 · Jul 12, 2009

Great stories Dave... Keep 'em comin' When do you expect to start on your new boat?

Steve

Rattle Can Lou

· #18 · Jul 12, 2009

Hey slim hips...I don't see your big, bulbous ass cheeks in that thing.....Thank the good Lord some of your thinner buddies showed up. And your two brothers that don't dine at the same trough as you...

Keep the stories comin dipstick...oh, that's right, you don't use em..

.

WOODAGAIN

· #19 · Jul 13, 2009

wmorton said:
is wes working on the 83 litchfield i gave him? It was the last boat the litchfield brothers built before retiring. I look forward to seeing it run again.

bill
this was the original runner bottom i bougt in 74 ,we ran with your dad at the the lower river back then, you were probably only 2-3 years old.
Probably the reason your dad switched to litchfields.
The boat your dad gave me is in a friends garage in murrieta being re-rigged ,trying to decide which way to go with it.
By the way , if you want to sell the tri axle trailer to the litchfield , i have an interested buyer.

WMorton

· #20 · Jul 13, 2009

I'm probably going to keep the trailer. I'm looking for a Mako or Canyon to put on it. However, if you do need a trailer I will keep my eye out. I spend a lot of time in Havasu and Parker and have been running into great deals. Be very cautious of the bottom of our old litchfield though, I had some people you may know from the past say it had warped from the heat and elements of the desert.

1 - 20 of 58 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.