The Beast!

[Composite Specialties]

I finally found my photo's of the double Konig that Wayne Baldwin drove at Alexandria, La. on his Butts Aerowing.

[Joe J]

OK, I'll bite. how in the hell do you rope that thing?

Joe

[Jeff Lytle]

Joe:

Look on Page 38 in the archives. There is a thread Sam started about a year ago called "The other 8 cylinder Konig"

Keep yers eyes open though, the thread title is also in German too !!

[Abbott Racing]

I'm with you on the roping question Joe. I'd hate to be the guy roping on one side and have to try re-wrap your rope because your half of the motor didn't fire!

I can see it now, is my side wrapped clock wise or counter clockwise, what's the worst that can happen!

[David_L6]

Originally posted by Joe J
OK, I'll bite. how in the hell do you rope that thing?

Joe

TWO people! No kidding... one on each side of the boat. I saw that thing in Alex. I had a picture of the motor too at one time, but all I can find now is a picture of the boat it was on.

[Composite Specialties]

David,

I saw that too, the thing only started one side and they could not get the other side started. I must have been about eight years old, but that was the coolest thing I ever saw.

[epugh66]

Great photos Marc. Aint it fun going to the archives?
Not trying to say that it was used at Alex that year, but look between the tower housing legs. Doesnt that look like the starter in this pic? It may not be the same engine, but I cant imagine too many of those things being built. I'll ask my dad.

[Composite Specialties]

Yes, it did have the starter on it. But, when they tried to test it one time, that I saw, it would not start, so they tried to rope start it and that was when one side started. Eric, remember the tall guy that started them and hung out with the Baldwins all the time? I thought that guy was going to die trying to start that thing.

[epugh66]

The tall guy was Joe Rome. Look at some of "T-73" pics and Joe is lifting the back of the boat. He later traveled with Tim Butts. We would see him in europe from time to time. He also showed up at Alex this year.

[Dave M]

That thing looks like a nightmare come to life !!!!!!!! MAN !! What a piece of work. One He!! of a machinist/motorbuilder came up with that. You Pro guys come up with a lot of cool stuff !!

I woulda looked at that thing at the race and ran the other way for fear of being asked to rope it. I remember Mel roping an 1100 with one hand one time..................... successfull to.

Great photos, would love to see that thing going !

Anyone have a pic of the beast that Litzal ran for 1100 runabout this year ? I think it was two 500cc Rossi mounted on top of one another or something ???? Did not get to see it run at Constatine as I left early Sunday.

[pro350hydro]

Originally posted by Dave M
Anyone have a pic of the beast that Litzal ran for 1100 runabout this year ? I think it was two 500cc Rossi mounted on top of one another or something ???? Did not get to see it run at Constatine as I left early Sunday.

Dave, The motor you are referring to, could it possibly be a Litzell Yamaha 1000cc??? I have never seen this motor, but I have heard alot about it. I really doubt that it is a Rossi motor of some sort..........

Mike

[Dan M]

If my memory is any good at all, I believe that the first 8 cyl Konig was bought by Marshal Grant in the late 70's. Dieter had made a casting for a motorcycle program that had the rotary valve and the exhaust on the same side of the motor. He took two of the castings and put them back to back for the "BEAST". This was about the time when Bill Seebold was moving on to bigger and different things, and I think that Danny Kirts ended up with that motor. Eric, Correct me if my memories are fuzzy. I think Wayne got the second generation motor. Dany used 24 volts in batteries on a stand in the water to start the "BEAST". It was hard to keep gears in the lower unit due to the huge amount of power generated. There were gears between the two blocks that kept each power head turning the same speed. Independent driveshafts to the single prop shaft. Saw it run a couple of times and it was AWESOME!!!!

Dan:

[roperz111]

Good job Marc!

You found those pics! I too, remember the "Opposing Rope Starters Team" in Alexandria that year back around 1974(?).

I have one other clear and vivid memory of the 250ccH race with a brutal head wind coming down the back strech. The guy out front was flying ahead of the pack with his boat at about a 10 degree angle (at least), and riding literally over the nose of the boat, his gut draped over the steering wheel. Who was that? I want to say Trevor Billiter? Been too long.

CJ

[David_L6]

Here's the other end...

[pro350hydro]

anyone got any video of the beast running?

[epugh66]

Huh...uh...I think that was before video was invented:D There might be some "shaky" Super 8, but those films always end with the cat sittin; in grandma's lap.

[pro350hydro]

Originally posted by epugh66
Huh...uh...I think that was before video was invented:D There might be some "shaky" Super 8, but those films always end with the cat sittin; in grandma's lap.

LMAO

[Capt_Speed]

Originally posted by roperz111
Good job Marc!

I have one other clear and vivid memory of the 250ccH race with a brutal head wind coming down the back strech. The guy out front was flying ahead of the pack with his boat at about a 10 degree angle (at least), and riding literally over the nose of the boat, his gut draped over the steering wheel. Who was that? I want to say Trevor Billiter? Been too long.

CJ


Trebor (Not Trevor) Billiter never ran a 250, he only ran a 500 Hydro (as big as Trebor was back then, I don't think a 250 would have gotten over the hump for him anyway ;-] ).

I remember that Hoz Compton had a REAL floaty Butts 250 back then. But Hoz was (and still is) very thin & light. Even if Hoz would have eaten 12 Big Mac's a day, I don't think he would have had a gut or gained any weight.
My father won the 76' UIM 250 Hydro World's race @ Alexandria in a White Bunky Boat. Dad always liked to float that boat higher then I thought was safe, but it was no where near a 10 degree angle. So I don't think it was him either. Not sure who that might have been back then hanging a gut over the steering wheel of a 250.

Every 250 Hydro Nationals & UIM World's (which were in the states) back in the 70's were one of the most exciting & incredible races to watch. There were AT LEAST a dozen guys back then that all had real fast rigs and were all doing around the same speed. Just watching all the 250 Hydro Qualification heats back then was almost as good as watching a Final heat.

Watching guys like Hoz C., Skip Berberie, Roy Conklin (My father), Melvin Cooper, Malcom Harden, Jim Stone, Denny Henderson, Danny Kirts, Gary Pugh, Gary Augustine, Dub Parker, Tom Small Sr. duke it out in a final was quite exciting.


Guy

[Joe J]

The 1100cc engine that Steve Litzell ran at Constantine and Depue this year is one that he has hand built himself.

I think, but am not positive that it uses 4 250cc Yamaha cylinders. When he has the time to figure it out, it should be interesting, it looks like it has a lot of potential.

Joe

[ian]

Potential to break you're arm. I tried starting that sucker in DePue.... We whe're looking for volunteers in the local gym.

[Dave M]

Yes, I knew it was something he created himself.... it was a beast of its own, I was curious as to what gearbox would keep the gears around the 1st turn........... :D

Ian, I am smarter than roping that thing, thats why I left early Sunday mornign, I was afraid Steve would hav eroped me into it....

[David Weaver]

Joe is correct that Steve built that engine himself.

I believe that the powerjets or main jets were not tight at Constantine last year, so it ran very rich.

Then at DePue it looked promising for a heat or testing, but it became finicky about starting in those cool and wet conditions.

As to roping it, be the first one there. Once it is flooded (holds a lot of fuel in there) forget it!!!

[pro350hydro]

Originally posted by Joe J
The 1100cc engine that Steve Litzell ran at Constantine and Depue this year is one that he has hand built himself.

I think, but am not positive that it uses 4 250cc Yamaha cylinders. When he has the time to figure it out, it should be interesting, it looks like it has a lot of potential.

Joe

This is the motor i was refering to in the above posts.

[Joe J]

Ian, quit being a wus. I roped it over last year at Constantine without a problem.

Then again, it was not flooded when I did it, unlike Depue this year.

Joe

[Dave_E71]

I held the **** thing up while they tried to start it, (like the Grinch, I think my arms grew three sizes that daY) there was no way they were going to trick me in to roping it. I'll pull Garys 700 but not that monster...

Dave