WELCOME TO RIVER DAVES PLACE

1962 Mandella

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
Sorry, for the boating content But I just had to share.

I got invited to go to Pine Flat lake with family friends when I was 14.(55 now) The Buckley’s owned a pristine 62 Mandella short deck with a 392 Hemi. Their kids were mostly grown, and I became their surrogate kid. They had a second round of teenagers through the lake, with me and my friends.

Dee and Dave were amazing in every way.

I fell into life long love with with the lake and the boat, the very first trip. I never missed another trip. When I finished college, I moved closer to the lake (from So Cal).

Got married. Had kids. Made a houseboat. Bought land at the lake. Wakeboard boat, Sanger Mini Cruiser for fun.

And then the email arrived last week. Father Time is a prick. We had a Memorial service for Dee this past summer, and now Dave wants the boat back at Pine Flat. He knows I’ve always loved it. Sooo- down I went . She needs a little love and will get it.


here’s a few pics:

Down to Monrovia to pick it up. New tires and bearings for the ride back home. And at the rest stop at the top of Grapevine
 
Last edited:

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
BA026A5A-FF9F-4B96-8C2A-4AC05A00B7F9.jpeg
8C679F9B-8B8D-4934-A23F-163B3688A224.jpeg
 

73mandella

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 8, 2010
Messages
954
Reaction score
1,117
That gelcoat looks great for a '62. I'm partial to red and white and have a '73.

It's always great to see a Mandella on the boards! Thanks for sharing.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
That gelcoat looks great for a '62. I'm partial to red and white and have a '73.

It's always great to see a Mandella on the boards! Thanks for sharing.

It’s actually Imron paint. The boat was crushed in a landslide around 1980. Carson Brummett put it back in the mold and repaired it.
On the hunt to find someone who can repair the Imron shortly. Prolly end up in Nevada for repairs, I’m guessing. Oh well!
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
Couple more from the 80’s. Me In my UCR sweatshirt riding the nose to launch it in the morning. Lol! Who wanted to ride in the truck to the launch ramp? Pfffft . Barely a quarter mile... Saved a step.
2080443F-1B31-417A-ADD1-402339FE94C3.jpeg
10564BD0-15F1-4B94-ABDA-ABF994E0E45A.jpeg

Every morning. Wave to the cops or the Rangers on the way by. Times have changed.
 

4Waters

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
30,213
Reaction score
75,054
It’s actually Imron paint. The boat was crushed in a landslide around 1980. Carson Brummett put it back in the mold and repaired it.
On the hunt to find someone who can repair the Imron shortly. Prolly end up in Nevada for repairs, I’m guessing. Oh well!
What's the story behind the landslide
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
What marina did you grow up at? I grew up at Lakeridge the same years you were at the lake.
We were at Trimmer then.

Houseboat was ALWAYS in the first cove past Swinging Bridge (the cove that had SS relief, just past Trimmer in those days.

We still call it Buckley Cove.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
What's the story behind the landslide


The boat was stored on their property which is basically against the mountains. (Bears on the property and the like- crazy for So Cal).

Mix in an El Niño winter and there you go.
Mud slide. Crushed Mandella. And an unusual project for Carson.
 

obnoxious001

Engine building character
Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
6,464
Reaction score
3,815
Yeah, I guess Lou Brummett was kinda weird too. (liked Fords) .
Crazy luck (I guess), how he managed to win so many races.
Big block Chevy engines were a brand new thing in 1965, and only 396 cu in. Lou's Fords were put together buy Louis Unser and Bud Gilbert, so no luck involved there! I may be wrong, but in the back of my mind it seems like Carson may have finally talked his dad into trying a Chevy, but of course Lou unfortunately was killed in 1970 at Elsinore.
 

4Waters

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
30,213
Reaction score
75,054
Big block Chevy engines were a brand new thing in 1965, and only 396 cu in. Lou's Fords were put together buy Louis Unser and Bud Gilbert, so no luck involved there! I may be wrong, but in the back of my mind it seems like Carson may have finally talked his dad into trying a Chevy, but of course Lou unfortunately was killed in 1970 at Elsinore.
My uncle was killed in his flattie (Sanger I believe) at Pineflat in 74 or 75.
 

4Waters

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
30,213
Reaction score
75,054
Sorry- this lake has always been our happy place. That would be tough to come back to.
Nah, just a little moment in time, I never met him as I was born in 76 but being a gearhead we would have enjoyed each other's company. My aunt had a houseboat up their for years that we spent time on, she sold it in 87ish, so it's been awhile since I have been up there, I would like to get back up there again.
 

Looking Glass

1 = Well = Known = Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2020
Messages
8,292
Reaction score
13,940
Great story!!, I wish there were more of these. Your mind imagines what was going on when you were telling your story. :cool:
 

old rigger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
2,642
Reaction score
6,557

That is a great story! I love that upholstered piece that wraps around, and it looks to be done in one piece. very cool.

If you get a chance can you see if there are any markings on that steering helm that might give me a clue who made them? I've been looking for one for years with no luck, I really like the built in shifter.

Just a heads up, Moon (mooneyes) still offers the 3 spoke steering wheels in white incase you wanted to go back the wheel in the early pics.
 

J DUNN

Unknown Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
1,529
Reaction score
4,037
Big block Chevy engines were a brand new thing in 1965, and only 396 cu in. Lou's Fords were put together buy Louis Unser and Bud Gilbert, so no luck involved there! I may be wrong, but in the back of my mind it seems like Carson may have finally talked his dad into trying a Chevy, but of course Lou unfortunately was killed in 1970 at Elsinore.

From what I understand this is correct about Carson and the Chevy influence.
 

Dkahnjob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
1,149
Reaction score
2,227
I always went to Pine Flat from the mid 60's through about 88. We had a house boat that we kept at Trimmer when Rick owned the marina and I had a Blue Sanger 17'10" flat bottom named "Porky Pig" (the old race boat) with a 426 Hemi in it, later re named it "Hephalump". Then after that a Yellow and white DiMarco Day cruiser with the same Hemi in it boat was named "Kahn Job". About the mid 80's Pine Flat was always out of water by July 4th and that is when I started going to Havasu. Never looked back, but it was fun times.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
That is a great story! I love that upholstered piece that wraps around, and it looks to be done in one piece. very cool.

If you get a chance can you see if there are any markings on that steering helm that might give me a clue who made them? I've been looking for one for years with no luck, I really like the built in shifter.

Just a heads up, Moon (mooneyes) still offers the 3 spoke steering wheels in white incase you wanted to go back the wheel in the early pics.
I don’t see anything. Thanks for the heads up on the steering wheel. Added to the list... The long and getting longer list
46AF1F31-1868-433C-9E35-650FDD25EB1C.jpeg
D0952206-D5BA-46F1-B1F8-DD1323ADCBDE.jpeg
27D77326-FD9C-4525-B08F-CA983350CE3D.jpeg
DDD0BFB7-203F-4780-9EE7-3A534085C98A.jpeg
46AF1F31-1868-433C-9E35-650FDD25EB1C.jpeg
D0952206-D5BA-46F1-B1F8-DD1323ADCBDE.jpeg
27D77326-FD9C-4525-B08F-CA983350CE3D.jpeg
DDD0BFB7-203F-4780-9EE7-3A534085C98A.jpeg
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
I always went to Pine Flat from the mid 60's through about 88. We had a house boat that we kept at Trimmer when Rick owned the marina and I had a Blue Sanger 17'10" flat bottom named "Porky Pig" (the old race boat) with a 426 Hemi in it, later re named it "Hephalump". Then after that a Yellow and white DiMarco Day cruiser with the same Hemi in it boat was named "Kahn Job". About the mid 80's Pine Flat was always out of water by July 4th and that is when I started going to Havasu. Never looked back, but it was fun times.
You had some seriously nice hardware!! I remember Hephalump and I’m almost certain I remember the cruiser. My memory (flawed ) says it had red/white/blue colors? We were an outside slip and there was a cruiser parked on an inside slip with the exhaust pointed at us a few times that certainly made an impression on a kid while it was warming up.

And I’m pretty sure Rick was a shell for Dr. Athan (sp?). He owned the marina before Rick and got into a grind with The Corp. After Rick, he sold to Adrian who then ran it into the ground. TheBuckley’s rented the property above Dr. Atahn’s and I remember a few cocktail conversations. Could be wrong?
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
Classic SW Dash. A driveline guard built to protect incase of nuclear incident. A seriously rusted generator and the wrap around splash guard with dash mounted pad for backward viewing when skiing( favorite part- spin around, back in the dash, legs over the back rest. And get ready for Dee and Dave to hurt my feelings while they skied further (and probably harder) than me...
 

Attachments

  • 45F0E5D2-5FFE-43C6-9DB7-1029188E6EBB.jpeg
    45F0E5D2-5FFE-43C6-9DB7-1029188E6EBB.jpeg
    221.2 KB · Views: 230
  • 25FB6E6C-7D76-4EB2-9FC1-8E9ADC9731E6.jpeg
    25FB6E6C-7D76-4EB2-9FC1-8E9ADC9731E6.jpeg
    280.4 KB · Views: 234
  • 8146CD36-A025-48E4-9489-B177E365D8CD.jpeg
    8146CD36-A025-48E4-9489-B177E365D8CD.jpeg
    181.6 KB · Views: 233
  • 59F697E8-1713-4001-8BE0-610023C4D29C.jpeg
    59F697E8-1713-4001-8BE0-610023C4D29C.jpeg
    191.5 KB · Views: 237

J DUNN

Unknown Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
1,529
Reaction score
4,037
I've actually known Carson since that time period and got that straight from him. My dad used to crew for his dad at the races.

Legend. Awesome. I wish I could have been around back then and witnessed the pits and races.
Yeah, I didn't doubt your credibility. Just thought I would throw in my support because you said, "in the back of my mind it seems like."
I don't go back as far as you. Just referencing the recent conversations and things I've learned in recent years. I like old stories like this and hearing how decisions get made and why, especially when they bring about great success.
 

oldschool

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
8,819
Reaction score
11,002
What a cool boat with a great back story. Should be a fun project. I picked up a Hondo Sprint project, but it won’t see Pine Flat or any lake for a couple seasons. Hope to catch up with you at the lake this summer.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
What a cool boat with a great back story. Should be a fun project. I picked up a Hondo Sprint project, but it won’t see Pine Flat or any lake for a couple seasons. Hope to catch up with you at the lake this summer.
Getting started this weekend. Gonna boroscope the cylinders, and then hopefully compression test(starter willing). We turned engine over by hand when picked up. It was stuck a little but then felt ok😱.
Fingers are crossed.
 

rrrr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
14,984
Reaction score
32,550
Classic SW Dash. A driveline guard built to protect incase of nuclear incident. A seriously rusted generator and the wrap around splash guard with dash mounted pad for backward viewing when skiing( favorite part- spin around, back in the dash, legs over the back rest. And get ready for Dee and Dave to hurt my feelings while they skied further (and probably harder) than me...


And the classic 8D battery holder.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
And the classic 8D battery holder.
Yep- every other season needed replaced like clockwork. Just part of the program.

Dave always said life in a flat bottom “was hard on the plates”.
 

old rigger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
2,642
Reaction score
6,557

Willie B

aberrant member
Joined
Sep 7, 2008
Messages
8,540
Reaction score
9,423
Classic SW Dash. A driveline guard built to protect incase of nuclear incident. A seriously rusted generator and the wrap around splash guard with dash mounted pad for backward viewing when skiing( favorite part- spin around, back in the dash, legs over the back rest. And get ready for Dee and Dave to hurt my feelings while they skied further (and probably harder) than me...
...Looks like a Borg Warner in and out and a Hallcraft V drive w/V-drive driven tac ...is the V-drive a parallel shaft???...
...There’s a real good chance that I was around that boat at Pine Flat in my youth???...
 
Last edited:

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
...Looks like a Borg Warner in and out and a Hallcraft V drive w/V-drive driven tac ...is the V-drive a parallel shaft???...
...There’s a real good chance that I was around that boat at Pine Flat in my youth???...
The boats been at Pine Flat since the early 60’s. It was dark red metal flake in those days.

and yep- velvet drive Trans with a hall craft vdrive. I know it’s not as strong as a casale split case, but I just love the whine of the straight cut gears. You could hear the whine long before you could hear the exhaust when the boat was coming toward you.
 

lionelgilbert

New Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2021
Messages
1
Reaction score
1

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
So- we pulled most of the boat apart. Made lists, loaded baggies with bolts and labels and started filling up my parts rack in the garage. But we were stressed about the engine. No plugs were in the heads and we had no clue for how long... Starter and carb were junk, so couldn’t do much on weekend 1. Rebuilt the carb and had the starter rebuilt. Changed the oil and compression tested. 6 cylinders at 165 and 2 at 150. Not perfect but not horrible. Put the plugs back in. Checked the wiring. Confirmed power to the coil and hit the starter. Sweet Baby Hemi! She’s alive! Now we have the path for rebuild.
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
Dunno if admin wants to move this to V drive? But I’m going to keep adding to this for my own fun, and I hope you all continue to enjoy!

301A1870-0465-4274-8A69-472C37B847EA.jpeg

Once the motor was run, could then pull it out as well and strip the steering out of the back. $50 Gantry for the win!

55F0EA4D-55E6-4D31-8540-3CF1EF18814B.jpeg

Steering pulley hardware was scary. Bolts almost 1/2 rusted though. Fun fact: the pulleys said Westinghouse Formica. A little google research determined them to be WW2 airplane surplus. Wow! I found that Aircraft Spruce sells identical new phenolic pulleys with the same dimensions. Cleaned up the tray, and reinstalled the new pulleys and grade 8 hardware.

FFCC0051-4318-4DAB-957A-6A8F8F746700.jpeg
7C97014F-66DF-4402-9131-D9D8B56A3177.jpeg

I called Dave Buckley re: the pulleys, and he said:” Yeah, there was a WW 2 surplus yard on Colorado Blvd( Pasadena) and Lou Brummett used a bunch of surplus where he could. That’s where the turnbuckles came from as well.” Sweet- back to aircraft spruce site I went and Yep- they have exact replacements. One less search down the road...
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
So I am currently trying to get ready for a big push the first week of April. My son is coming home from school to help work on the boat for a week. Gotta take advantage of his energy, youth, flexibility and ability to wedge his ass up in the bow for repaint... Plus rewire.

So I’m currently cleaning stuff, measuring stuff and ordering stuff.



My Lathe..(jealous?)
7906F288-27EA-4C5A-BCA5-22FF0F5072F6.jpeg

My nights work!
CE891F41-50DF-4D45-B571-A7AD318B6E79.jpeg

Clean stuff
518CE1D8-1723-4FE7-BCC1-11B326748186.jpeg

Not clean stuff... uggg
 

rightytighty

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
721
Reaction score
1,630
Update: Wiring is mostly done. After PM’ing super cool board member who is obviously THE wiring guru, we received a detailed list of materials to do a clean job. (Thanks Dave! ) . My buddy mocked up a dash and transom out of 2 x 4’ and got to wiring. Gages and transom all wired . Ready for final install and looming / pretty up after boat paint. Back in a storage box and ready for final install. I’ll post finished pics when installed.
C1F4BA59-80F3-4ADF-A35D-5CE5722B1379.jpeg
B1F36B78-3425-47C7-ACB3-46E1EB15FFFA.jpeg
E28267FB-7D8C-42C5-9A97-B2F8F6959D02.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Top