FOX-BODY SPOTTER’S GUIDE
April 10, 2024
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Spotlighter
Hot Boats at the Grand National Roadster Show 2025
The Most Insane Boats at GNRS 2025
If you thought the Grand National Roadster Show was just about hot rods and customs, think again. Tucked away in Expo Building 8 was a full-blown horsepower fest on water, with a killer lineup of vintage drag boats, Grand National circle racers, and custom-built speed machines that make as much noise as they do waves. If you love anything that rips, this was the place to be.
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
Icons of the Water
If you love loud engines, big speed, and boats with history, this was the place to be. The event was packed with legendary race boats, each with a story, a pedigree, and enough horsepower to shake the dock. Old-school racers swapped war stories, reminiscing about the days when competition was brutal, boats were built to last, and winning meant everything.
Big Power, Big Stories
Some of these machines were straight-up insanity—huge engines, crazy power numbers, and enough torque to rip the water apart. Racing DNA was everywhere, from high-stakes offshore beasts to flat-out drag monsters. The stories were just as wild—last-second victories, sketchy builds that somehow worked, and rivalries that still get the blood pumping. This was old-school ingenuity meeting modern muscle in the best way possible.
Custom Builds That Steal the Show
If factory boats don’t do it for you, the custom builds at this show were pure mechanical art. Mahogany decks, turbocharged monsters, and crazy one-off designs all screamed for attention. Whether it was vintage style with modern power or just something built to go stupid-fast, every ride here had personality.
Honoring the Legends
This wasn’t just a boat show—it was a gathering of the people who made high-speed boating what it is. Racing legends were there, telling stories and keeping history alive. The event also paid tribute to the greats who are no longer around, proving that their influence—and their boats—still inspire.
The Past and Future of High-Speed Boating
This was a full-throttle mix of nostalgia and innovation. Classic race boats reminded everyone why the old days ruled, while futuristic builds pushed the limits of speed and engineering. One thing’s for sure—whether it’s a vintage legend or a brand-new beast, the obsession with horsepower and speed on the water isn’t going anywhere.
El Cid—Grand National Power with a GT40 Soul
Some boats race, but El Cid rules. Originally built in the late ’60s to early ’70s, this Grand National legend carries a name inspired by Brian Ewald’s boat and has been fine-tuned under Mike Stock’s ownership into a 2,000+ HP beast capable of 150+ mph. With a Dave Hadley-designed tunnel bottom, later refined by Duff Daily and his father, it’s been reworked for next-level hydrodynamics and razor-sharp handling. The GT40-inspired paint job isn’t just for show—it’s a lifelong dream brought to life, turning heads at the Grand National Roadster Show, where it took first place in Best Comp Unlimited.
El Cid isn’t just a domestic threat—it’s taken on the best in Australia, proving itself on the international stage. With Motorsports Hall of Fame nominee Duff Daily in its corner, this boat keeps pushing boundaries, setting records, and tipping over when the limits get tested. As it gears up for the 2026 K-Boat Challenge, El Cid continues to evolve, proving that in the world of high-speed boat racing, true legends never slow down.
A Survivor—A 1966 Hallett with Racing in Its Blood
Some boats are built to last, but A Survivor has lived it. This 1966 Hallett Ski Boat isn’t just a machine—it’s a rolling tribute to the golden era of water-ski racing, with a history that stretches back to the 1966 LA Boat Show, where it was first assembled as a display piece. But this boat wasn’t meant to sit still.
Sold at the end of the show to Bob Denz, it hit the water hard, racing for a year before passing to George Stewart of the Pasadena Speedboat Club. From there, it carved its legacy in SK Class circle racing and ski races all over Southern California. By 1972, it landed in the hands of Susie and Richard Mansfield of the San Gabriel Valley Boat and Ski Club, where it continued to see action.
Fast-forward to 2016, and instead of fading into history, Mike King and Lynn Youngs took on the mission to preserve it as a tribute to the heyday of water-ski racing. This boat isn’t just a survivor—it’s a living piece of history, still carrying the stories of the legends who raced it.
Twilight Zone—A Kurtis 500 That’s Out of This World
Step into the Twilight Zone, where speed meets style, and this 1980 Kurtis 500 is the star of the show. Owned by Brandon Brasca, this machine isn’t just a boat—it’s a Keith Black-powered rocket that blurs the line between reality and full-throttle madness.
Under the deck? A 540ci Keith Black beast, built to unleash pure chaos on the water. The paint? Another Billy B masterpiece, laid down with the kind of detail that stops people in their tracks. Brad King handled the striping, and Don Mumma took care of the rigging, making sure every inch of this boat is dialed to perfection.
This ain’t just another go-fast lake toy. Twilight Zone is a one-way ticket to the edge of insanity, where speed rules and nothing else matters.
Kornowski’s Kustom Marine—Old-School Soul, New-School Firepower
Take a ’78 Eliminator Bubble Deck, throw in a 2024 Southward bottom, and you’ve got a boat that blends classic style with modern aggression. Owned by Scott Kornowski, this Eliminator Bubble Deck is pure Kornowski’s Kustom Marine craftsmanship—built to rip, built to last, and built to turn heads.
Under the deck, it’s all business—a 500ci Mercury Class 1 Chevy, topped with 14° Big Chief heads, fed by a dry sump oiling system, and punching power through a Peterson Berkeley jet. This isn’t just a river runner—it’s a fire-breathing lake missile.
Rolling on a modified Ellis trailer, stitched up with Jettrim upholstery, and dialed in with cargo steering, this build is everything you want in a modern jet boat—old-school roots with next-level performance. When Kornowski puts his name on something, you know it’s gonna haul.
The Hobbit—A Race Boat with a Legacy as Big as Its Power
Some boats are built to win. The Hobbit was built to honor a legend. This 18-foot custom race boat, crafted by Chuck Jr., is more than just a machine—it’s a tribute to his late father, Chuck Sr., blending the designs of three of his race boats into one stunning, fire-breathing beast.
And this thing isn’t just about looks—it’s got 1,180 HP of Rick King-built fury under the deck, pushing it to a blistering 120-135 mph on the water. The paint? A three-year masterpiece by Billy B, featuring jaw-dropping Hobbit-themed artwork by Matt Hutchinson, with pinstriping laid down by Brad King.
This boat isn’t just a one-man effort—it’s been touched by some of the best builders in the game, each adding their expertise to make it something truly special. A tribute, a weapon, and a work of art all in one, The Hobbit isn’t just running races—it’s carrying on a legacy at full throttle.
Golden Dancer—A 1976 Hondo T-Deck That Steals the Show
Some boats are built to race, some are built to cruise, but Golden Dancer? This 1976 Hondo T-Deck is built to own the water with a perfect mix of power, craftsmanship, and show-stopping style. Owned by Dave & Kris Gall out of Lake Havasu City, AZ, this machine is more than just a boat—it’s a floating masterpiece.
Everything about it is dialed. The gel coat, floors, and stringers? All handled by Scott Kornowski of Kornowski Kustom Marine. The custom dolly trailer? Yeah, that’s Kornowski Kustom too. Rigging and fabrication? Tom Peterson of Peterson Boat Specialties worked his magic to make sure everything fits and functions like a dream.
But the real kicker? 565 cubic inches of Redline Performance Racing fury, throwing down a nasty 930 HP. That’s the kind of grunt that turns heads and shreds water. Topped off with Jettrim upholstery, this isn’t just a boat—it’s a gold-plated missile built to go fast and look good doing it.
Bees Knees—A 1966 Mandala That Still Stings
Some boats race, some boats cruise, but Bees Knees? This ’66 Mandala Short Deck is a straight-up time capsule of vintage ski-racing glory, rebuilt to bite just as hard as it did back in the day. Restored by Eddy’s Marine, this machine isn’t just a showpiece—it’s a Ford-powered bruiser with serious attitude.
Under the deck, it’s packing a 514ci Ford, cranking 11.8:1 compression, with hand-ported Trick Flow heads, roller rockers, and a set of custom 700cfm Holley carbs feeding the beast. That’s old-school muscle, tuned to perfection, ready to roar.
Owned by Joey Lainson of Tucson, AZ, Bees Knees isn’t just another pretty vintage ride. It’s a restored racer with a sting, ready to rip across the water and remind everyone why Mandala boats were built to fly.
Honcho K32—The Undisputed King of Pro Comp
Back in ’75, John ‘Pete’ Peters out of Phoenix, AZ, built Honcho K32 to be a K-Class killer, but fate had other plans. Instead of mixing it up in K-Class, this Arizona ski boat went undefeated in the Pro Comp season, proving it didn’t just belong on the water—it ruled it.
With a big-block Chevy from Al Cerny and a killer Jamie Jameson paint job, Honcho came out swinging. By the late ’70s, Jack Rohr took the reins, renumbering it PC23 and bolting on Crower fuel injection to keep the boat ahead of the pack. Through the ’80s, Honcho changed hands, got stashed away, and disappeared—just another legend lost to time.
But legends don’t stay buried forever. In 2011, Honcho resurfaced, and by 2015, Jamie Abril of Tucson, AZ, put it in the hands of Eddie’s Inboard Marine for a full restoration. And get this—the original Jameson paint was saved. A rare beast, still wearing its battle scars, still looking for water to conquer. Honcho never just raced—it ruled.
’84 21’ Rayson Craft “The Judge”
GN99—”The Judge”—doesn’t just race, it lays down the law on the water. This 1984 21’ Rayson Craft, owned and driven by Steve Mitchell out of Torrance, CA, is a vintage bruiser built for high-speed justice. When it hits the throttle, it’s not asking for permission—it’s handing down a verdict.
Powering this courtroom on the waves is a 480 C.I.D. big-block Chevy, built by Billy Wood Racing Engines, throwing down some serious horsepower. And when that Ron Hill Marine prop bites, it’s case closed—the competition gets sentenced to nothing but roostertail and regret. “The Judge” doesn’t just race. It dominates.
ETicket—Ryan & Nicole Smith’s Timeless Hydro
Back in ’84, Sanger built a Ski Hydro that was destined for more than just the water—it was built to turn heads and take names. Fast forward to ’85, and it got its signature custom paint, a look that still holds strong today.
Under the deck, Ryan Smith’s ETicket packs a serious punch—a 582 cubic inch Reher Morrison powerhouse, built for speed and reliability. Inside, Concord Auto Upholstery delivered a period-perfect interior, blending vintage style with modern comfort.
But ETicket isn’t just a time capsule—it’s a statement. Smith’s commitment to keeping it period-correct makes this boat a rare breed in the drag racing scene. Whether it’s the history, the horsepower, or the unmistakable style, one thing’s for sure—ETicket isn’t just floating around. It’s here to make waves.
Lamborghini-Powered Speedboat—Born to Dominate
Now, this is the kind of machine that turns heads and shreds water. We’re talking about a Lamborghini-powered speedboat—yeah, you read that right. Originally built for Dubai’s elite offshore racing teams, this beast was engineered to dominate. High performance, cutting-edge tech, and straight-up menace on the water—that’s what these boats are all about.
But this particular rig? It’s got a story. Packing an 1100HP Lamborghini engine, it landed in the hands of its current owner after a hard-fought victory over a Dubai racer. And with that kind of power under the hatch, it’s not just fast—it’s brutal. The perfect fusion of Lamborghini’s legendary automotive engineering and a sleek, purpose-built hull makes this thing an absolute weapon on the water. Fast, reliable, and downright wicked.
Blown Alcohol Hydro—Mike DeClark’s Water Rocket
Some boats race. Others rewrite the rules. Mike DeClark’s Blown Alcohol Hydro, better known as Lil White Lie, is one of the latter. Built for extreme racing conditions, this hydroplane isn’t just fast—it’s a missile on water, capable of blasting past 200 mph like it’s nothing.
Running under the number 537, Lil White Lie has left its mark on drag boat racing, dropping brutal passes like a 4.42-second rip at 198 mph during the KDBA Diamond Nationals. But that was just the beginning. One of its nastiest runs? A 4.267-second pass at 205 mph at the NJBA Dash for Cash—numbers that don’t just impress, they dominate.
With DeClark at the helm, this high-horsepower monster continues to be a fan favorite, a race-day threat, and a machine that refuses to be ignored. When Lil White Lie hits the water, one thing’s for sure—it’s not here to play. It’s here to conquer.
1972 Mandella Long Deck “Brown Sugar” – Eddie McPheeters’ Endurance Icon
Mandella boats weren’t just built to race—they were built to last. Designed by Lou Brummett in the 1960s, these endurance warriors earned their reputation for handling rough waters at high speeds. And thanks to Eddie McPheeters, that legacy is still alive and kicking.
McPheeters, the mastermind behind Eddie’s Inboard Marine, has dedicated himself to preserving and pushing the Mandella name forward. His 1972 Mandella Long Deck, “Brown Sugar,” recently proved its worth at the Parker Enduro, where smart strategy and top-tier engineering secured a strong finish.
This isn’t just a vintage rebuild—it’s a performance machine. With fiberglass reinforcements, a fire-breathing 427 Chevrolet engine, and advanced fuel management, Brown Sugar blends old-school toughness with modern efficiency. But for McPheeters, it’s about more than just speed. Every restoration at Eddie’s shop focuses on reliability, making sure these legends keep racing, not just resting in a showroom.
Looking ahead, McPheeters plans to refine Mandella designs with modern materials while keeping their classic soul intact—ensuring these boats keep making waves for years to come.
