1971 Rogers Cyclone Project

« **on:** March 09, 2007, 02:43:49 PM »

So the project officially got started today. I needed to get the legal work taken care of first so I headed down to the DMV. After 2 hours, I left with the boat registered and the trailer has a temp registration so I can bring it in for them to verify the numbers on it since they could not find it in the system. (which is funny because the trailer has 2000 tags on it, the boat had '84). I need to re-wire the entire trailer before this is done. I am just happy I got the boat registered with no serious problems. She did try to change the Hull ID Numbers, but I talked her out of it since the ID Numbers hold historical value to the boat itself.

Also, last night I sanded down on the bow where there was some racer names painted. I revealed the boat's owner was Jeff Millet, the Captain was D.J. Millet, and the crew was K____ Millet. So does anyone know the Millet family? I'd love to get some pictures of this boat when it was in its prime.

The actual grunt work of this project is pretty far out. I wont get started on it for some time.

...more later...

Edit: Heres a link to a thread on hotboat where I found the original owner and he chimed in with a bunch of cool old stories about the boat...

http://www.hotboat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143406

« **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2007, 03:27:16 PM »

Congrats on the registration and the detective work.

I know someone somewhere knows this boat 'cause it kicked their ass. It had a lot of good HQ parts on it before I got to it.

« **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 04:44:17 PM »

What all did it have on it?

All I can remember that you told me about (that is significant to mention) was the SS impeller and the transom holes have been bored out to 4" ports, along with the messy surprise under the bow.

« **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2007, 05:56:23 PM »

All was very old school, probably assembled in/from the 70's. A rectangular port big block Chevy, tunnel ram, huge (unknown actual size) double pump carb, ss "B" impellor (high RPM's), ancient looking loader grate, a wedge on the pump to tune it's plane, ? 10 quarts of race oil in the bow, a really old school race scoop (which I have), and I don't know what else. It just seems that's a lot of high end parts when you consider when they were (probably) put on the boat.

Have you been able to talk with anyone who knew/may have raced against this boat?

« **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2007, 06:37:39 PM »

ok Brad we need pics now dammit, i'm stoked for you bro. bring that damn thing out and race it like the good old days.

« **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2007, 07:14:54 PM »

just saw the rogers over on the other site WOW that thing is BAD ASS im so f-cking jeolous Brad. i'd allmost give my left nut for that thing.

« **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:07:22 PM »

I found the owner:

http://www.hotboat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143406

this guy has a bunch of cool stories about this boat.....well worth the read.

« **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:52:21 PM »

Priceless...

"... We used to take co-riders back then and in my first circle race at Castaic I had my hi-school chum Craig Peterson in the boat. We had a good start and true to form, the Raspberry left the other boats well behind. We got to the first turn after the long first straight ahead of the pack and started the turn. The Raspberry dropped the nose, hooked and spun 360--twice. On the first turn, my co rider went out. Having a death grip on the steering wheel, it took me a little longer, and I went out on the second turn. Peterson surfaced yelling "my watch is gone" and then "my wallet is gone too." He also lost his shoes, but we found one about a year later in the bow of the boat. We didn't know any better, we just got into the boat street dress and all and raced. That was my first time in the water in a race. I was really sore for several days..."

« **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2007, 11:03:57 PM »

Did you get your eyes on this

-beerjet-

« **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2007, 11:10:28 PM »

yeah, i just read that article rod....this guys stories are amazing.....im getting a whole hell of a lot more then i expected .....i sure opened a nice fat can of worms.

beerjet - yeah, i saw that boat.....my jealousy makes me go into a rage. it should be a crime to own a boat that sexy.

« **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2007, 12:37:20 PM »

Here it is....one of the first pictures I have gotten of this boat in its original condition...

« **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2007, 12:42:21 PM »

Wow , that is awesome!! Congratulations on getting a sick boat with such bad ass history!! (for dirt cheap)!!

« **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:02:35 PM »

Awesome!! You should paint it a gay ased color, put a windshield on it, and then a strap-on hanging off the back. Or, you could just restore it to what it once was. Hmmm...

I'd also like to point out that it has a single four barrel tunnel ram on it. I got a single four barrel tunnel ram with it when I bought it. I wonder if it's the same one? I emailed Craig asking him but he never replied. It's on eBay (it was listed before you found the original owner) and it is eBay Item number: 110101415741 . Just thought you might want to see it.

Also kind of interesting, I got a really old school scoop with the boat, which I still have, and just knew it was the original scoop for that boat. It's not.

« **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2007, 07:21:52 PM »

that's a rad picture. now that you found the original owner, the pictures will help with the restoration. like a pheonix from its ashes, the Rootin' Tootin' Raspberry will rise again

« **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:26:33 PM »

This project is gonna be one for the history books . I'll have a single four TR for ya just to keep it period correct . You dont know how lucky you are to have found a previous owner.

-beerjet-

« **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2007, 09:01:00 PM »

"... single four TR..." WTF?

Damn that thing needs a lot of work done to it, pretty much everything except stringer/transom replacement. But the potential, as a finished project, is huge!

« **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2007, 12:26:45 PM »

Today I got to hang out with Craig and Tom (The original owner and his childhood friend). They had many stories, pictures and magazine articles to share about this boat.

Here is a picture of craig, myself and the painting of the boat he gave me.

Some really cool guys with stories that go on forever.

Thanks again guys!

« **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2007, 12:40:42 PM »

That is a sick ass painting

« **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:01:47 PM »

OMFG

That is beyond belief! You have to be one in a million and totaly stoked for it!

« **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:07:15 PM »

In the painting it shows a two carb tunnel ram (tr - got it

), in the old photo it shows a single tr, did you get any history on that aspect of it? Did you ever find out if that tr on eBay is the original tr for that boat? Has Craig shown any interest in getting the project from you? And lastly, I think you should paint it tan with gold sparkley trim.

LMFAO

« **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:12:06 PM »

Quote from: hotrod56cars on March 14, 2007, 01:07:15 PM

In the painting it shows a two carb tunnel ram (tr - got it ), in the old photo it shows a single tr, did you get any history on that aspect of it? Did you ever find out if that tr on eBay is the original tr for that boat? Has Craig shown any interest in getting the project from you? And lastly, I think you should paint it tan with gold sparkley trim.

LMFAO

he mentioned that it had several motors in it durring its time. I didnt get a chance to ask him about the TR that you have.

He hasnt shown any interest, but Tom cracked a joke about him being the 'Money Man' for the project.....Craig was quick to shoot it down referencing that hes already a 'Money Man' to his kids haha....

tan and sparkle trim? uhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeah, put down the crack pipe

« **Reply #21 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:17:01 PM »

"... tan and sparkle trim? uhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeah, put down the crack pipe

"

Hi marcsrollin!

« **Reply #22 on:** March 14, 2007, 01:51:52 PM »

Quote from: hotrod56cars on March 14, 2007, 01:17:01 PM

"... tan and sparkle trim? uhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeah, put down the crack pipe "

Hi marcsrollin!

Hey Rod stop trying to thread jack!!

« **Reply #23 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:01:14 PM »

i i captain

« **Reply #24 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:47:54 PM »

I can't help myself, but don't they kind of look like a father and his son?

Brad @ SCJB

hotrod56cars

Brad @ SCJB

hotrod56cars

Ralph Brunt

Ralph Brunt

Brad @ SCJB

hotrod56cars

beerjet

Brad @ SCJB

Brad @ SCJB

Marcsrollin

hotrod56cars

bigred

beerjet

hotrod56cars

Brad @ SCJB

Marcsrollin

hotrod56cars

hotrod56cars

Brad @ SCJB

hotrod56cars

Marcsrollin

hotrod56cars

hotrod56cars