Last Time Thunder Was On The Water

[@benjroof]

Nice video,thanks.

[@jimimiddlefinger5722]

I miss that sound.

[@hunterjones9822]

Always impressed to see that Cooper hung in there with the 12 cylinders and after YEARS of work got them competitive with the turbines.

[@madcapper6]

This the same boat as the Cooper's Express that won the Columbia Cup in the Tri-cities in 1989? Cockpit looks different but there's definitely some similarities aside from the name.

[@madcapper6]

Nah, nevermind. Not the same boat. Sponsons are different on this boat with a much newer look, along with the bridge in front of the cockpit.

[@bobbysanders7725]

I remember when they won and after years of being beat up by the turbines it was fantastic. Then the URC tried to put restrictions on them to slow them down and the owner basically gave them the middle finger.

[@madcapper6]

@@bobbysanders7725 Restrictions on a piston boat, are you friggin kidding me? So they wanted to put limits on an unlimited. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it? I might be a little biased but I'm not altogether sure the end of the piston (aka thunderboat) era is what killed the sport in the long run. The noise was the biggest draw for a lot of people. I rooted hard for Bernie Little in the latter days of the Griffon Bud as he held the torch for the piston boats until the end. Then when a piston boat rises up and wins a race, they want to put restrictions on it. Any idea why?

[@cmsracing]

Beautiful music!

[@russg1801]

Probably way more dangerous than auto racing. NO BRAKES and the water surface can be entirely unpredictable.

[@andyharman3022]

The hydroplane guys need to figure out a way to bring back piston boats. Not necessarily to run against the turbine boats, but as unlimited piston boats. The Allisons, Merlins, and Griffons have all been wonderful to see and hear in the boats, but the last of them went out of production in the late 50's or so. The last Allison was manufactured in 1948. The dwindling supply of parts for these engines should be saved to keep warbirds flying. Boat and aircraft racers turn up the power too much and kill them in a 10 minute race. A 1200 cubic inch V12 or V16 with supercharging could make 2500 HP, and a pair of them could last a season. They wouldn't be as fast as the turbines, but if they had a large field of boats making great noise and having close competition, it would pump new life into the sport.

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

As much as I love the sound, there are only so many of those engines. And they are being eaten up by the warbirds as well.

[@philipdutton9831]

Sounding really healthy!

[@kwang6291]

Ed, come back to Madison, please.

[@crossram509bbc8]

Love this boat

[@jayarmstrong9878]

Not the last time at all. They ran H1 in 2016.

[@Icepacalapse]

This video was posted in 2013 so...............

[@stevenhill4122]

Last time at Madison?

[@independentthinker8930]

Sad parts are so scarce

[@carolwickowski7169]

I seen on the internet about companies re-engineering these beasts of motors With a little enginuity, re-calculating and fresh ideas, even new materials, prop design & anti-blowovers- the roar could RETURN Turbines don't like salt water! PISTONS don't care ! I'm a designer & feel their is room for improvement on these engines in all areas Look at the progress & performence of the "TurbineNATOR" Ed Coopers express put this boat back in the 1990 - 2000 - 2010? Would have been something to witness Would have gave all those early turbines a run on SALT WATER Would have been a very different outcome

[@independentthinker8930]

Imagine that engine, blown running nitro in a drag boat!

[@russrogers3106]

That would be a lot less impressive than you are thinking it would be...

[@independentthinker8930]

@@russrogers3106 doubt that

[@russrogers3106]

@@independentthinker8930 there are v8 drag boats that make double the power with engines that are half the weight. An Rolls Royce Merlin weights over 1300#'s and turns very little RPM. MAYBE 4k one. Good run. Doubt me all you want but go do some reading on drag boats. You are taking completely different engines built for completely different purposes.

[@independentthinker8930]

@@russrogers3106 fully aware, problem child is my favorite one, yes they are as higher rpm than v12, but top fuel is a different animal entirely