Stanford, Texas has never had much to brag about, even for Texans. It is a small farming community, 30 miles north of Abilene, identical to hundreds of others in the state. That has all been changed now. It is Johnnie Sanders' home town. The Outboard World Champion, who showed up in Stanford 36 years ago, didn't show up in a boat race until 1959. By then he was living in Dallas.
" I read about a 35 mile, outboard marathon in the local paper" says Johnnie, "and I decided to have a shot at it. It was pretty disorganised by todays standards, but was a lot of fun" I was running a 35-hp Gale on a fiberglass ski boat. I think the biggest engine in the race was a 45-hp Merc. It was a real wildcat operation with no sanction, no helmets, ski-belts for life-jackets and so on. I was running way back in about 6th place when I broke my boat. I didn't finish, but I got the bug. I've been racing ever since."
He sure has. With his pal Tommy Posey (and sometimes against him), he has logged wins at such immpressive places as Paris, Berlin, and Parker Enduro. At one time he held 7 or 8 NOA(National Outboard Assossiasion) competitive and straightaway records. Now, of course, he owns the big daddy- The Havasu Outboard World Championship. However, it has not all been wine and roses. "1972 was not as good a year as I have had. I went to a couple of local races and won them but, on the marathon curcuit, that old rascal Possey slapped it to me pretty good. We had some engine problems, but I finally got them ironed out"
Now a resident of sky-high Denver, Johnnie works for sales and service for his papa-in-law, Mac McCune, whose MaCune Racing Team is a familiar sight at most major races. At Havasu, he raced under the banner of the Johnson Factory Team, which is the best deal they have made for some time. "The Scotti-craft is a factory boat, but I rigged it myself. It's about as stable of a boat as I have driven and it doesn't give you any false indications. I runs a lot like a Molinari and will warn you if it's on its way over. As a matter of fact, I got pretty high at Havasu, but it came down all right. In the corners it can get a little high on the sides sometime, but it usually straightens right out. In a tough marathon like Havasu or Parker, you expect to get a little loose and give yourself a scare or two. On Saturday,( Day 1at Havasu) I was mainly concerned with finishing in the same lap as the leader. That way, I would start even with him on Sunday. The water was just too rough on Saturday to let it all hang out. I was hoping for good water on Sunday and we got it. The bad start (on Sunday) was my fault. I flooded the motor and had to crank it out. I really thought we had had it. Then, when it got going, I was half way across the lake before I remembered that I was supposed to turn right if the white flag was down(late start rule). So I lost a lap there.I decided that I had better get on it, so I ran it flat out for the next 2 hours. I didn't find out I was ahead of him (Bert Serra) until my last pit stop. After that, I cooled it a bit to conserve the motor. I guess I cooled it a bit too much because, with about 5 minutes left, he got within 15 or 20 seconds of me.They gave me a go sign from the pits and I floored it again."
Johnnie, who rates Tommy Posey, Jimbo McConnel and Billy Seebold as America's top single engine drivers, suggests that aspiring racers should begin in a smaller class such as Sports E (75hp). Although it is more expensive that way, he says, experience gained by working up slowly is the best insurance. His pet peeve is driver who get overconfident. "Most of the drivers on the circuit are really top notch but, once in a while, someone forms a bad habit. For instance, going into a turn without looking behind them. They don't really intend to shut the door on anyone, but that is just what happens. It is a dangerous situation for both boats and really unneccessary. It is a simple thing to do, to look before you turn". Racing is extremely demanding, more than non-racers realise. It means long hours of testing, making adjustments, and testing again. It is hundreds or even thousands of miles of slow trailering, nights without sleep, and empty wallets. All to often the reward is exhaust-inflamed tonsils, a broken boat or worse. Sanders made 6 trips to the Havasu World Outboard Championships before his breakthrough win in 1972! Although his score is better than most, he has had his share of defeats and injuries. What keeps him going in the lean years?
"Stubborn, I guess. Really, it's the one-on-one aspect of competition I like.Beating another driver who is closely matched to you is something worthwhile. It gives you a chance to prove something to yourself, too.Like pushing harder than you really want to, mastering yourself. It's a challenge and some people just have to accept a challenge. Me, I love it!"
Comments