September 23, 2025 • 38 mins
Charlie Grigg takes us behind the scenes of hydroplane racing sponsorship, revealing how what began as financial support for the U3 team evolved into profound friendships and becoming part of the racing family. The conversation with Charlie and co-host Mike Hall explores the human side of boat racing that fans rarely glimpse. Charlie shares how simple comforts like providing chairs and shade for the team created what they jokingly called their "palatial estate" at race sites. Through these small gestures and his growing curiosity about the technical aspects of the boats, Charlie transformed from sponsor to integral team member. Charlie's story reminds us that beyond the roostertails and racing, it's the relationships that make this sport truly extraordinary.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Ruchetel Talk, the podcast dedicated to everything
about the sport that we all love.
Hi, drew Blain-Reason.
I am your host, david Newton,and it's time once again.
So sit back, relax and welcometo Rooster Tail Talk Hail Top.
(00:48):
Hello race fans and welcomeback to the podcast.
Today is September 23rd 2025,and this is episode 163, part
two and the conclusion of theinterview with Charlie Griggs.
Now my call joins us once again.
We're going to pick up where weleft off last week and we're
(01:10):
going to talk to Charlie moreabout his sponsorship and about
his passion with hydroplaneracing, but this episode will
have more stories and anecdotesaround the sport of their
involvement with hydroplaneracing.
Now, if you haven't heard partone of this interview, please go
back to episode 162 and listento that before continuing on
today.
But if you have listened topart one, let's continue that
(01:33):
talk and listen in to theconclusion of the interview with
Charlie Griggs, alongsideco-host Mike Hall.
Well, in recent years I'venoticed that over in the
tri-cities there's more boatowners.
We got daryl vanessa strong,you've got uh ratchford now
owning a boat, and I noticedthat cooper's selling, um, his
(01:54):
stuff.
I'm just wondering you're gonnamaybe, you know, become an
owner as well, and bring thatprogram there no, not a chance I
don't have.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I don't have the uh.
No, not a chance I don't have.
I don't have the uh.
Well, number one, I'm ahands-on guy.
So if if I was going to own it,I would have to be working on
it and knowing more about it.
I've asked every question underthe sun and I'm sure it looks
at me sometimes like what areyou asking that for?
(02:23):
But I have to understand howthey work.
I couldn't work on an Allison.
I'm not a mechanic.
He's had me tear the front endof the engine, everything off of
it, because we were going toswitch engines, and I said I can
take it off but I'm not puttingit back on.
If I'm putting it back on,someone's going to look over my
(02:45):
shoulder and make sure I doeverything right, because I
don't want to blow this thing up.
I just don't have thatknowledge.
Um, I say it would be fun if Iwon the $500 million lottery.
I would.
What I would do is let themhave the money and and let them
run the boat, but then theywouldn't have to worry about
(03:05):
fixing it, hauling it, all thosekinds of things.
So if I could take that kind ofmoney and let Ed do it.
I would probably do that, butnot me owning it.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
You know those times that you know you got in a
couple thrashes with us and wewere taking things apart.
But that's what makes that teamso special, because it's not
like a turbine where it's a oneor two-guy job.
I mean to take that engineapart, you got five guys working
on it.
And those are the times Iremember more than anything just
(03:39):
the jokes going back and forth,just the small talk, the jokes
going back and forth, just thesmall talk.
And that's what, to me, that'swhat made that team so special
and that's why it's always beenso special to me, is just all
the friends and all the storiesI get to hear.
I've heard the same stories 20times and you know it's okay
because they're just as fun andeverybody respects each other
(04:00):
and it's just yeah.
And Charlie fit in so good withus.
You know, like he came in andwas taking stacks off and
cleaning oil hoses.
I remember I was telling Davidearlier, like you know, the
first year we came there, youknow you helped and you had some
gloves on.
Well, the next time we cameback you had stuff set up so it
(04:23):
would be easier for us to dojobs, like it would be easier
for us to clean the oil tank, itwould be easier for us to do
that and that went a long wayand we really appreciated
everything you did.
You know had chairs set out,had a little tent set up and all
that type of stuff went a longway with the crew guys and yeah,
(04:44):
we just loved having you around.
I mean, it's so fun.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, Well, it was.
It was funny when Rick, when Iasked him, I mean we had
everything set up and he said,is there anything I can do for
you guys?
And he said, well, could youbring some chairs and maybe some
shade?
And I thought, what do you mean?
Just chairs, some shade?
And I thought, what do you mean?
Just chairs and shade, that'sall you need?
I said, yeah, I can bringchairs and shade.
(05:09):
And I didn't know the story,that stuff, it just wasn't
allowed in the hauler.
I mean, somebody sneaks a chairin.
They had to get to a rest stopand find a chair.
You'd throw the chair out.
It wasn't riding with you.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, so I guess that was it.
So if it showed up at the raceside, as long as we didn't have
to haul it I guess you know hewe were able to have it and we
got to try cities.
It was like we had thispalatial estate.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It was pretty awesome .
I know barb appreciated a lotbecause barb hung out at the
table a lot and just uh that,just like it's that sense of
community and family.
Uh, yeah, that made that somuch fun, yeah, well and all I
did.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean I would take it back, I would just store it
in the warehouse, everything inin the uh on the pallets.
So the next year I had my listof everything that needed to be
brought.
When we discovered that weneeded something like that steam
cleaner to clean that ding oiltank, I just had it loaded.
It was there.
If we needed it.
(06:16):
We were going to clean it quick.
I didn't have to go get it.
Sometimes you have it just incase, or maybe to ward off the
bad, the bad juju on uh havingthe motor blow up.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
It's here, we're ready, so you no need for you to
blow up well, mike, you talkabout all these great stories
that you'd share at the races,but you got to have a charlie
story you could share real quickoh boy, there's a couple that I
don't really want to sharethough.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, I have to think , um, let me think about that
when I come back to you.
Um, but yeah, Charlie, we'vegot it.
We've got some really good onesthat, uh, they're kind of
nobody else would get them.
Uh, I will bring up this one.
I don't know if it was thefirst or second year we were out
there.
We sucked all day.
(07:08):
We did terrible.
I don't know what happened.
I was a little bit grumpy Imean not grumpy to other people,
but we get at the end of theday, and somebody that had
consumed more alcohol than twoof the engines that we blew up
that day did at the end of theday, and he was wanting to ask
(07:29):
who the head hydrodynamicengineer was on the team.
So Charlie just looked at me.
Well, it's him, that guy rightthere.
And Charlie probably knows theend of this because I just like
I lit into the guy.
I'd had a bad day and I didn'tfeel like hearing it.
But he was wondering why we hadthe propeller on the was it.
Did he wonder why we had thepropeller on the bottom of the
(07:50):
boat?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, why it was on the bottom of the boat.
It should be up on above theboat so that it can push the
boat through the air.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
That one was.
And Charlie, every time he justlike I never seen you get mad
before.
I was like, well, I wasn'treally mad, I was just like I'd
had enough.
Like we blown two engines up,we sucked all weekend and you
know, just wasn't used to that,I mean, and I'll tell you what.
So it was when, when ed kind ofset out that period of time,
(08:23):
you know, by the time we got toTri-Cities we had a lot of the
kinks worked out and the boatjust ran so good.
Well, with that being the firstrace I mean in any team, I'll
tell you that, like you know, wewe struggled quite a bit, uh,
but when it did run, it ranreally well, but yeah, so that
first year out, I mean, we juststruggled and uh, so yeah, so
(08:47):
Charlie got the.
Charlie really never got to bein it when it was like just
hauling along and we didn't blowup anything and everything went
well, it was.
He was always that first raceof the year where we're kind of
fighting through some things, uh, but yeah, that was one of the
funnier things.
And Charlie, to this day, I sawhim in San Diego last year and
he's still riding me about that.
(09:07):
So good fun, good fun.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Yeah, you snapped, I snapped, you were having none of
whatever he had to say.
I'm like whoa, mike, mike, mike, oh, just chill.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I'm typically not that way, but yeah, I'd had
enough that day.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Well, I mean things aren't going right.
But the cool thing about it isit's not going right together,
and I mean all of us, all of uswere in it together either.
It works, it doesn't work.
But you know, nobody's mad atanybody, it's everybody.
You know when, when, when aprop breaks, joe is the first
(09:56):
one, that's.
I mean, god, I picked the wrongone, it just broke.
I mean it's not your fault, itjust it just broke.
Um, but you know, nobody got onanybody about anything like
fault.
It just broke, but nobody goton anybody about anything like
that.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
We were just there having a good time putting on a
show.
Well, in recent years I'veheard that you've had a bigger
role with water follies.
I'm curious what your role hasbeen and what you've done.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Not really with not really with water follies that
we've been putting on theRichland regatta, which is which
is in June, and that's alimited boat race.
I I do help out with the waterfollies.
I mean they've asked.
I've had different ones askedme do you want to be on the
board?
Nope, that'll ruin all my fun,fun.
(10:51):
I'm having a good time downhere with either ed or with
mitch.
But I mean, like the uh, therescue group.
The rescue group is helping uswith the regatta and they came
out and volunteered and did agreat job.
Well, I want to make sure thatthey're appreciated.
So anything that they need I'vebeen taking care of For their
meals and stuff.
I wrote them a donation whenthey need parts for their rescue
(11:14):
sled, be able to tow otherthings.
They call me.
I'll go down to the store andget what they need at night and
bring it back to them so they'reready for the next day.
And bring it back to them sothey're ready for the next day.
But as far as water follies,I'm having fun with my friends
(11:35):
down there.
I really don't want to getsuper involved with it, where I
have a responsibility and takefun.
I mean I've got lots ofresponsibilities at work, and
for me this is a break.
I'll be able to go down with myfriends and do something that
is actually fun.
It's not work.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Well, that is fun.
I mean, you're indirectlyhelping in a lot of ways, right?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah, I'll do anything.
I mean if they need something.
I mean if they need something,I'm happy to help need something
.
I mean if they need something,I'm happy to help.
I just don't want to beresponsible for for running
anything, because I do.
I mean I do that every day,right, every day, all day right.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I haven't had a chance to go to the richland
regatta yet.
I'm hoping to maybe next yeargo to that.
For whatever reason, it'salways have something else going
on the same weekend.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Well, we've struggled with it because we've had it at
the first of June, we've had itat the end of June.
Everywhere we put it.
If we put it at the first ofJune, we run into weather.
The flow starts coming out ofthe mountains and we've got too
much water flow.
We've had it at the end and nowyou're conflicting with we were
(12:47):
conflicting with Guntersvilleand you really don't realize how
many people that have limitedboats that are working on
unlimited boats.
So if Guntersville race is thesame weekend, you're
automatically missing half theboats because they're all in
Guntersville.
(13:07):
So we've been chasing that,we've been talking, we're trying
to figure out a better time todo the race.
Although John and Culver and Iare probably getting closer to
being done running the race,then we just need to find other
people to step up for it.
Culver and I are probablygetting closer to being done
running the race than than, uh,we just need to find other
(13:27):
people to step up for it.
Um, it's, it's a lot of work.
It's fun to do.
It's fun to see the fans comeout and enjoy a free race.
Uh, it's televised.
I mean, we're doing all thestuff.
That's.
That's right for the sport, butit takes a lot of effort from a
(13:48):
few people to get to the raceweekend.
Then we end up with a lot ofvolunteers that help during the
race and then they're gone andit's back to a couple of us
doing a lot of it.
So we're trying to figure thatout as to whether we're going to
keep doing it or just let therace either someone else step up
(14:08):
and do it or be done.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Well, hopefully it's not done.
Hopefully someone will pick upthe torch and help you with that
.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Sometimes you have to quit in order to get somebody
to step up and I've had to dothat with other endeavors.
They're just fine with youdoing it and you have to tell
them look, this is the lastmeeting.
If someone else doesn't takeover, we're done.
And then people tend to jump inbut we may be at that point
(14:40):
having to say someone else'sturn.
And I took over for JohnMosteller when he died.
I had no intention on running arace, but when he passed away,
everyone was kind of lookingaround like, all right, now,
who's going to do it?
And it ended up being me.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Did you find the same enjoyment of running the race
as you did as sponsoring theboat?
No, that was quick.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
The same enjoyment of running the race as you did is
sponsoring the boat.
Uh no, the again that becomes.
I mean, it becomes a job andand I, when I do something, I
want to do it well.
And again, same with john.
(15:27):
I mean, we're, we're doing,we're putting that race on and
we're trying to make it the bestrace that you've ever been to.
When we don't, it's hard.
I mean, every year I've got alist of 20 things that we need
to improve for next year.
Then, like I say, you put a lotof work into the race and the
racers show up and their racersand owners are whining about how
(15:49):
come you did this, or why didwe have to run heats first, how
come we couldn't be second?
Oh, my God, man, we're tryingto do something for you and, uh,
you, you're, just you're,you're barking at us and that
takes the fun out of it.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, and unfortunately, whatever,
whatever class of racing it is,you can never please everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I found that out over the years no matter how much
you do, and and usually I meanif you take the time and say
something to them and I've hadthat before someone's just
chewing me and it's like youknow, we're putting a lot of
work in here for you to comerace your boat, it's, I'm not
getting anything out of this,and and they usually yeah,
you're right, I'm sorry, it'sOtherwise you don't have a race.
(16:37):
But you have to point it out tothem and you don't like to do
that, but sometimes you just addit up Like being the
hydrodynamic engineer.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
So Charlie is the hydrodynamic engineer.
I relinquished that title onceI got chewed out and lost my
mind, apparently that Charlie isthe hydrodynamic engineer for
the U3.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
From now on, and that's what I always say when
people ask me what I do with thethree I'm in charge of making
sure that water is wet.
I go put my hand in the river.
It's wet.
I did my job.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
You know, and I've even noticed, so you've picked
up duties.
You know, because I didn't comeout with Ed the last few years
just with family obligations andother things that I've got
going with the Grand Prixs andnow formed the F1 with Dylan
Like I just couldn't make thatcommitment for that weekend.
But I've noticed like you'vepicked up, I mean you're doing a
(17:37):
lot of different stuff on theboat now.
So you're, as far as being acrew guy, you're doing as much
as everybody else is.
So and I'm sure that that mustbe neat for you.
I'm sure you must enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Oh yeah, I mean I love it.
It's it's a lot of hard.
I mean hard work when you'redown there it's hard, it's all
those things, but at the end ofthe day I had a great time.
I mean I'm learning stuff.
Like I say, I ask Ed probablythe dumbest questions in the
world because I'm not getting itwhy something works the way
(18:11):
that it works, and he just keepsexplaining it to me until it
finally goes oh all, right, nowI get it Well.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
and then one thing about Ed is as I had him in
school.
I had him in school for twoyears and he is one of the top
three teachers I ever had, andthat still goes to this day.
So he's very patient, andthat's another thing.
People think Ed is acantankerous old man and all
this, but he's a very patientperson.
(18:38):
He's a great listener, yeah,and I think Charlie would tell
you the same.
I mean, he doesn't mindanswering dumb questions.
And Charlie, you don't reallyask dumb questions.
I think you're being a littlehard on yourself.
But yeah, I mean it's juststuff.
If you don't know, you don'tknow hard on yourself.
But there, yeah, I mean it'sit's just stuff.
If you don't know, you don'tknow and as, as crew guys and
guys that work on boats, we loveanswering that stuff I mean I,
(19:02):
I love I, and david would tellyou this.
You know david, and david didn'tknow me from adam till like
last november and I talked todavid all the time.
Now so we've become good friendsand it's just that common.
You know that common thing ofthis this whole boat thing in
the community and all of my bestfriends, like the, my best
(19:23):
friends in the world are allfrom boat racing.
Now, you know, and I couldn'thave said that 20 years ago but
the people that I know that careabout me and I get calls when I
was hospitalized and all that.
Then that's the people thatcalled me and checked up on me
and do I need to fly out, do Ineed to do this or you know
whatever to help you.
And so that's the coolest thingabout this whole boat racing
(19:47):
thing and I think Charlie'sprobably got the same experience
as me is just these lifelongfriends.
And you know you're goodfriends with Mitch Evans too.
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah.
Mitch was the first one that Imet.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Yeah, and what a just the best guy in the world.
So just I saw on.
You know you had told me aboutyou getting a ride in the blue
chip.
You want to talk a little bitabout that Because that's
something Mitch is going to.
He's my son, mitch, who I named.
You know I named my son afterMitch Evans and Mitch is wanted
(20:24):
to take my son out in that boat.
And I saw you got to take aride in Tri-Cities.
Was it everything that youexpected it to be?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
There's a story that goes along with the story prior
to it.
I got to ride in the Miss USwith Jack Schaefer.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
I didn't know that, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
That was up at Mahogany and Merlot and they
called and asked if I wanted togo for a ride.
And I said, sure, I'm in.
And they said that they weredoing it because Ed had been so
helpful to them in getting theirboat running.
And Ed wanted nothing to dowith riding in the boat, but I
(21:10):
had been helpful in getting Edback.
And they wanted me to go for aride.
I said, sure, I'm in.
And so Mahogany and Merlot,they're explaining to me how
everything starts.
I mean, here's the switches,here's how you start it, here's
how you stop it.
And I thought, man, they'regoing into this in way more
detail than I thought they would.
(21:33):
And so we get out in the boatand Jack takes off and all of a
sudden Jack cuts through thecourse where he wasn't supposed
to turn and the guys in therescue boats eyes were big as
saucers as he's buzzing theirboat and I'm like I don't know
(21:54):
what he's doing, but he's, Imean he's way off where he's
supposed to be.
We were out in the swim buoys onone side and it was all over
the place.
Mitch was, mitch was behind usand I'm looking over my shoulder
trying to see where mitch istrying to point at buoys for for
jack and I say it was the.
It was the craziest thing I'dever been a part of.
And we get back and Jay askedme about it.
(22:19):
He said tell me about that ride.
And I said, oh, he waseverywhere.
Well, that was Jack's last drive.
I mean the dementia had startedand they wouldn't let him drive
anymore.
That day I think Mitch ended updriving the boat for him the
rest of the weekend anymore.
That day, I think Mitch endedup driving the boat for him the
rest of the weekend.
So this time, going with Mitchagain the first one was a little
(22:45):
scary because I thought I mayhave to stop, I mean pull the
kill switch on the boat, becauseI wasn't sure I mean I was
steering to keep him goingstraight.
He's trying to turn and it wasjust the weirdest thing.
So this time with mitch uh,number one being the first guy
that I met with the three team,uh, and him being a friend, it
was so much, it was so much morefun just because of our
(23:07):
friendship.
Uh.
And then I he knows me, I knowhim.
He's like how fast you want togo?
I said as fast as you want togo, I mean, I'm good with it.
However, if you want to put thehammer down, you're gonna feel
safe yeah yeah and and uh.
So the only thing we had to dois try and keep the uh, the
other boat that was out there at180 degrees from us, so we had
(23:30):
to be at the opposite point forthe course.
But when we came around thesecond lap, we were finishing
the second lap or we were at theend of the corner and they were
just they were still in thatsame corner.
So we came off at that pointbut I don't know what we were
going.
130.
He said.
But it was.
It was so much fun just becauseit was riding with Mitch and
(23:52):
you know, seeing the tri-citiesfrom that, seeing the tri-cities
course from the boat, and howquick everything was going by,
was was awesome.
I recommend it to anyone whowants to do it.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
So when you were out there, did you have any?
You know this.
You know, like when I was a kidout in the driveway, you know
it's five seconds to go and I'vegot a.
You know I've got the ball andI'm going to shoot the winning
shot.
I mean, was there anythinggoing through your head like
that, or was it just pure?
Hey, I'm getting a ride with mybuddy Mitch.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
It was more than I mean.
I was so relaxed.
I mean I had my arm on theoutside.
It's like you had your arm upin the window when you're riding
down the road.
I just had my arm sitting onthe one side and the other arm
around his shoulder.
We're not small guys trying toget two guys in that cockpit.
I never had.
(24:47):
It was just a great experience.
It wasn't scary, it wasn't toofast, it was just like I say
with a friend of mine, riding ina hydroplane was awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Well, as I say, it's a good thing you weren't
thinking about all the differentspots in the course where boats
crashed over the years.
This is where the tide wentover.
This is where the gram wentover.
This is where the bud went over.
Yeah, and remembering all thoseLike, this is where the tide
went over.
This is where the gram wentover.
This is where the bud went over, you know.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
So, yeah, and remember in all those.
I mean that no, I didn't.
I didn't think about it once itwas just I was looking at the
shore and saying that I grew upover there and you know he's got
a bigger skin fit on that boatthan was on it when they were
original.
So that thing just turnednicely.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
It hopped a couple of times but it was pretty well
glued to the water.
Yeah, he's done a really nicejob of every year making that
boat better.
And he didn't know if he wasgoing to get to run it in
Tri-Cities, so I'm glad that hedid.
I'm glad that he was able to.
(25:51):
Well, both did happen, madethat happen, and so yeah ed and
mitch.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Both were calling me.
Hey, I want to go.
And so I called waterfall isn'ttalking to aaron, I said,
because aaron stevens is therace director, john culverver is
back helping Aaron.
And so my sales pitch was Aaron, if you don't get Mitch's boat
there, then Ed and I and a wholebunch of other old guys don't
(26:21):
have anything else to do exceptfor bother Culver.
And he called Mitch the nextmorning and said Mitch, you're
in.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Well, I remember Aaron used to help.
He was a young kid helping Johnwhen I first started going to
Tri-Cities, so I didn't realizehe had taken over that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Yeah, he's race director and John has gone back
to helping as race director sothat Aaron can do, you know,
helping as race director so thatAaron can do.
You know, now there's two ofthem doing the job and John
refuses to go to board meetingsand things like that.
He's doing what he enjoys.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
put the race on and then home at 6 o'clock.
Yeah, because Tri-Cities hasalways been the seems to be one
of the most well-organized andeverything just always seems to
be right, and it's because guyslike John Culver are there.
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
That's good to know I did want to tell you.
So we were having aconversation about you know how
many boats were in theTri-Cities seven this year, and
there used to be.
You know how many boats were inthe Tri-Cities Seven this year
and there used to be.
You know, in the teens and wewere having a conversation about
how much that H1, or the boats,get paid to show up at a race
(27:44):
and apparently in the 80sthey're still getting paid the
exact same number of dollarsfrom the 80s that they're
getting paid in 2025.
And I looked at it they weregetting paid $8,000 a race to
show up, tow money, and therewas prize money.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
And.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
I looked at it, they're still getting paid the
$8,000 or so.
And but if, if you've hadequivalent money for me from the
eighties to now, they would begetting $30,000 a race to show
up.
And if they were getting that$30,000 and say they had a just
even a sponsor in each city, allof a sudden there's enough
(28:33):
money that you're going to have17 boats, but at $8,000, I mean
that doesn't cover airfare orgas to get somewhere.
So I mean people look at thedecline of it and wonder why
that is there's no money thereof it and wonder why that is
there's no money there.
It's a good thing that Daryland Ratchford have stepped in
(28:58):
and bought boats because theyhave the money to do that, but
it hasn't always been that way.
It's been guys that I mean theywere making money racing the
boats.
They had their tow money andthen there was prize money and
they could make it.
And now it's just you're justspending money.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Yeah, I remember the first race that it was really my
first big road trip was down toHouston.
I think it was 89, 90, 89 or 90.
I can't remember, but we hadqualified in the top three and
we had actually finished in thetop three.
And I saw the check.
I'm not going to tell you whatit was, but it was way bigger
(29:40):
than we probably got for analmost an entire season seems
like.
And I remember Ed taking us toa place called the flying
Dutchman in Houston.
We were eating.
We were eating shrimp meals forshrimp appetizers and yeah, I
mean we just had a great time,but we only had three crew guys.
There was three people, thatwas it, and we ran the whole
(30:02):
team.
And now you see a boat and it'san army of 20 guys.
Yeah, and the sports justchanged.
It's just changed and I don'tknow if it's evolved or devolved
or whatever, but it's justdifferent now yeah, for the, for
the good bad ugly, it's, it iswhat it is.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
It is what it is.
But that's why you would see,like in the 90s, like fred
leland, he would as many boatsas he built, he would bring them
all to Tri-Cities and Seafairbecause the tow money would
cover a lot of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Yeah, and, like I say , a minor sponsor.
But if you got your in the 80s,you got your $8,000, you won
$20,000.
You could leave there with$28,000.
In the 80s it was a lot ofmoney, I mean that's.
But $28,000 in the 80s it was alot of money, but $28,000, if
(30:55):
you could leave with $28,000, orif you got $28,000 in 2025, not
a lot of money.
It's tough to go out there andagain, with Ed you break the
boat.
There's a lot of expense in himfixing expense in time and
(31:16):
fixing a boat, um, and that'scan he.
Would he race, uh, if he didn'thave to worry about, uh, you
know, busting the boat up?
Maybe?
But I mean, I think again, Ihe's, he's just's done.
I hope somebody buys it,whether they turn it into a
turbine or do it with Allison, Ijust would like to see the boat
(31:41):
out there.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, I mean you've been around the boat to know.
I mean it's a beautiful piece.
I mean there's not another onelike it, it's super light.
I mean there's not another onelike it, it's super light.
Yeah, I just wish somebodywould step up and buy it,
because it would still be one ofthe better boats out there
regardless.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
So yeah, yeah, I mean it's nice if you could take a
turbine and put it in it.
You don't have to worry aboutit.
You can run that same motor allyear and never take it out of
the boat, but again it loses the.
For me, what makes the boat arethose Allison's, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Well, I got one last question for you, charlie.
You talked about your power toget the Mitch's boat out here
for Tri-Cities.
You got to have some and youhave some power with that, but
you got to have some power withMitch.
Is there any way you can gethim to paint that boat or put a?
Speaker 2 (32:36):
wrap on it, so it's not just white and blue.
It was actually the family withand I can't think of the name
of the tooling company, butthey're the ones.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Dick Gordon is the Gordons from Fairlane Tool.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
They're the ones that sponsored it, so they had it
wrapped because they wanted itat Detroit, so he hauled it out
to Detroit and his dad haddriven that boat, so that's why
it stays as the blue chip.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
But there was more paint on it when it ran as a
blue chip.
It was yellow and it was blueand it wasn't just white like
that.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
So, david, let me tell you a little bit about the
u3 and paint.
So when we first had it, we hada company called alvy sign
company paint it for us and ithad this zz top type type theme.
So if you look back in 88, youlook at the sponsons, the guy
that painted it was a big zz topfan, so he painted basically
(33:31):
that ZZ Top on the side of theboat.
Okay, and we didn't have toworry about it.
They painted it.
So, but when I started takingover the painting and Ed started
, when we started doing itourselves, all of a sudden it
started losing colors.
It went from red, yellow,orange and white to just red,
yellow and white, then red andwhite and now just red.
(33:53):
And Mitch was part of that andhe doesn't like painting as much
as the rest of us.
So I can't speak for Mitch, butI don't think you'll see any
other.
We all can paint, but if youlive in Indiana and you try to
(34:13):
paint something, you have todeal with the heat, the humidity
, the bugs, everything else, andyeah, so that's why any boat
that's associated with the U3will probably only have one to
two colors on it.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
I saw a picture of them painting the boat.
I found it in mitch's facebookstuff and it was he had, they
had the forklift and tad deanlaying on a pallet, laying on
the pallet and they're sprayingand mitch would back up so he
could spray and then he'd pushforward and back up and push
forward.
But uh, yeah, you find thoseagain.
(34:51):
And I met the Buffalo Brothersand their sticker is on the blue
chip too.
But if I can remember theBuffalo Brothers when I was a
kid in the 70s and they had thatland yacht and I'd see them up
there partying on that landyacht and I wanted to be one of
the cool kids.
And now if you walk down we godown to their tent area Again
(35:14):
they're all my age or a littlebit older and they're down there
just having a great time.
But it's funny that, being apart of the three-team, what it
has led to with other groups andgetting to know them.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Yes, the three-team is well-welcomed at the Buffalo
Brothers.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Oh yeah, it's like you walk in and it's like, hey,
it's like Norm walking into thebar and cheers yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Well, fun Well.
I really appreciate the timewe've taken today.
Charlie, it's great talkingwith you.
And again, great having you onMike as well.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Oh yeah, Thank you.
All right, Knuckle and againgreat having you on Mike as well
.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Oh yeah, thank you.
Alright, knuckleheads onceagain.
That's all the time we have forthis week.
I hope you enjoyed the talkwith Charlie Griggs alongside
co-host Mike Hall.
It was a lot of fun to get toknow Charlie more.
I've always seen him in thepits and seen his name on the
boats and I know he has a hugeimpact on the region of
Tri-Cities.
But it was great to get abetter understanding of his
(36:15):
background, his passion of thesport and just knowing all the
support he's given the sport inthe past decade plus Really
appreciated having Mike Hall onas well.
Love having a guest host on ittakes some of the pressure off,
but just love having people onthe podcast that share that same
passion for hydroplane racing.
Hopefully we have Mike Hallback on as another co-host as I
(36:38):
feel it gives another flavor tothe podcast.
Well, we've got one more weekin September.
I've got some fun surprisesalong the way.
Over the summer I tried tostockpile some interviews.
I've got a Gold Cup legendarydriver who I interviewed back in
July.
He'll be coming out next monthon the podcast.
I also found digging through myarchives.
(36:59):
I found an interview that Iforgot that I had made back in
my first year in 2019.
I'll get that out there as wellnext month, and a few other
surprises along the way.
I'll get that out there as wellnext month, and a few other
surprises along the way.
In the meantime, check us outonline our website's,
rucheteltalkcom, and on socialmedia as well, on the platforms
(37:21):
of Facebook and Instagram.
Well, that's all I got fortoday, so until next time, I
hope to see you at the races.
Ruchetel Talk, the podcast dedicated to everything
about the sport that we all love.
Hi, drew Blain-Reason.
I am your host, david Newton,and it's time once again.
So sit back, relax and welcometo Rooster Tail Talk Hail Top.
(00:48):
Hello race fans and welcomeback to the podcast.
Today is September 23rd 2025,and this is episode 163, part
two and the conclusion of theinterview with Charlie Griggs.
Now my call joins us once again.
We're going to pick up where weleft off last week and we're
(01:10):
going to talk to Charlie moreabout his sponsorship and about
his passion with hydroplaneracing, but this episode will
have more stories and anecdotesaround the sport of their
involvement with hydroplaneracing.
Now, if you haven't heard partone of this interview, please go
back to episode 162 and listento that before continuing on
today.
But if you have listened topart one, let's continue that
(01:33):
talk and listen in to theconclusion of the interview with
Charlie Griggs, alongsideco-host Mike Hall.
Well, in recent years I'venoticed that over in the
tri-cities there's more boatowners.
We got daryl vanessa strong,you've got uh ratchford now
owning a boat, and I noticedthat cooper's selling, um, his
(01:54):
stuff.
I'm just wondering you're gonnamaybe, you know, become an
owner as well, and bring thatprogram there no, not a chance I
don't have.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I don't have the uh.
No, not a chance I don't have.
I don't have the uh.
Well, number one, I'm ahands-on guy.
So if if I was going to own it,I would have to be working on
it and knowing more about it.
I've asked every question underthe sun and I'm sure it looks
at me sometimes like what areyou asking that for?
(02:23):
But I have to understand howthey work.
I couldn't work on an Allison.
I'm not a mechanic.
He's had me tear the front endof the engine, everything off of
it, because we were going toswitch engines, and I said I can
take it off but I'm not puttingit back on.
If I'm putting it back on,someone's going to look over my
(02:45):
shoulder and make sure I doeverything right, because I
don't want to blow this thing up.
I just don't have thatknowledge.
Um, I say it would be fun if Iwon the $500 million lottery.
I would.
What I would do is let themhave the money and and let them
run the boat, but then theywouldn't have to worry about
(03:05):
fixing it, hauling it, all thosekinds of things.
So if I could take that kind ofmoney and let Ed do it.
I would probably do that, butnot me owning it.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
You know those times that you know you got in a
couple thrashes with us and wewere taking things apart.
But that's what makes that teamso special, because it's not
like a turbine where it's a oneor two-guy job.
I mean to take that engineapart, you got five guys working
on it.
And those are the times Iremember more than anything just
(03:39):
the jokes going back and forth,just the small talk, the jokes
going back and forth, just thesmall talk.
And that's what, to me, that'swhat made that team so special
and that's why it's always beenso special to me, is just all
the friends and all the storiesI get to hear.
I've heard the same stories 20times and you know it's okay
because they're just as fun andeverybody respects each other
(04:00):
and it's just yeah.
And Charlie fit in so good withus.
You know, like he came in andwas taking stacks off and
cleaning oil hoses.
I remember I was telling Davidearlier, like you know, the
first year we came there, youknow you helped and you had some
gloves on.
Well, the next time we cameback you had stuff set up so it
(04:23):
would be easier for us to dojobs, like it would be easier
for us to clean the oil tank, itwould be easier for us to do
that and that went a long wayand we really appreciated
everything you did.
You know had chairs set out,had a little tent set up and all
that type of stuff went a longway with the crew guys and yeah,
(04:44):
we just loved having you around.
I mean, it's so fun.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, Well, it was.
It was funny when Rick, when Iasked him, I mean we had
everything set up and he said,is there anything I can do for
you guys?
And he said, well, could youbring some chairs and maybe some
shade?
And I thought, what do you mean?
Just chairs, some shade?
And I thought, what do you mean?
Just chairs and shade, that'sall you need?
I said, yeah, I can bringchairs and shade.
(05:09):
And I didn't know the story,that stuff, it just wasn't
allowed in the hauler.
I mean, somebody sneaks a chairin.
They had to get to a rest stopand find a chair.
You'd throw the chair out.
It wasn't riding with you.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, so I guess that was it.
So if it showed up at the raceside, as long as we didn't have
to haul it I guess you know hewe were able to have it and we
got to try cities.
It was like we had thispalatial estate.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It was pretty awesome .
I know barb appreciated a lotbecause barb hung out at the
table a lot and just uh that,just like it's that sense of
community and family.
Uh, yeah, that made that somuch fun, yeah, well and all I
did.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I mean I would take it back, I would just store it
in the warehouse, everything inin the uh on the pallets.
So the next year I had my listof everything that needed to be
brought.
When we discovered that weneeded something like that steam
cleaner to clean that ding oiltank, I just had it loaded.
It was there.
If we needed it.
(06:16):
We were going to clean it quick.
I didn't have to go get it.
Sometimes you have it just incase, or maybe to ward off the
bad, the bad juju on uh havingthe motor blow up.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
It's here, we're ready, so you no need for you to
blow up well, mike, you talkabout all these great stories
that you'd share at the races,but you got to have a charlie
story you could share real quickoh boy, there's a couple that I
don't really want to sharethough.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, I have to think , um, let me think about that
when I come back to you.
Um, but yeah, Charlie, we'vegot it.
We've got some really good onesthat, uh, they're kind of
nobody else would get them.
Uh, I will bring up this one.
I don't know if it was thefirst or second year we were out
there.
We sucked all day.
(07:08):
We did terrible.
I don't know what happened.
I was a little bit grumpy Imean not grumpy to other people,
but we get at the end of theday, and somebody that had
consumed more alcohol than twoof the engines that we blew up
that day did at the end of theday, and he was wanting to ask
(07:29):
who the head hydrodynamicengineer was on the team.
So Charlie just looked at me.
Well, it's him, that guy rightthere.
And Charlie probably knows theend of this because I just like
I lit into the guy.
I'd had a bad day and I didn'tfeel like hearing it.
But he was wondering why we hadthe propeller on the was it.
Did he wonder why we had thepropeller on the bottom of the
(07:50):
boat?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, why it was on the bottom of the boat.
It should be up on above theboat so that it can push the
boat through the air.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
That one was.
And Charlie, every time he justlike I never seen you get mad
before.
I was like, well, I wasn'treally mad, I was just like I'd
had enough.
Like we blown two engines up,we sucked all weekend and you
know, just wasn't used to that,I mean, and I'll tell you what.
So it was when, when ed kind ofset out that period of time,
(08:23):
you know, by the time we got toTri-Cities we had a lot of the
kinks worked out and the boatjust ran so good.
Well, with that being the firstrace I mean in any team, I'll
tell you that, like you know, wewe struggled quite a bit, uh,
but when it did run, it ranreally well, but yeah, so that
first year out, I mean, we juststruggled and uh, so yeah, so
(08:47):
Charlie got the.
Charlie really never got to bein it when it was like just
hauling along and we didn't blowup anything and everything went
well, it was.
He was always that first raceof the year where we're kind of
fighting through some things, uh, but yeah, that was one of the
funnier things.
And Charlie, to this day, I sawhim in San Diego last year and
he's still riding me about that.
(09:07):
So good fun, good fun.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Yeah, you snapped, I snapped, you were having none of
whatever he had to say.
I'm like whoa, mike, mike, mike, oh, just chill.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I'm typically not that way, but yeah, I'd had
enough that day.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Well, I mean things aren't going right.
But the cool thing about it isit's not going right together,
and I mean all of us, all of uswere in it together either.
It works, it doesn't work.
But you know, nobody's mad atanybody, it's everybody.
You know when, when, when aprop breaks, joe is the first
(09:56):
one, that's.
I mean, god, I picked the wrongone, it just broke.
I mean it's not your fault, itjust it just broke.
Um, but you know, nobody got onanybody about anything like
fault.
It just broke, but nobody goton anybody about anything like
that.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
We were just there having a good time putting on a
show.
Well, in recent years I'veheard that you've had a bigger
role with water follies.
I'm curious what your role hasbeen and what you've done.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Not really with not really with water follies that
we've been putting on theRichland regatta, which is which
is in June, and that's alimited boat race.
I I do help out with the waterfollies.
I mean they've asked.
I've had different ones askedme do you want to be on the
board?
Nope, that'll ruin all my fun,fun.
(10:51):
I'm having a good time downhere with either ed or with
mitch.
But I mean, like the uh, therescue group.
The rescue group is helping uswith the regatta and they came
out and volunteered and did agreat job.
Well, I want to make sure thatthey're appreciated.
So anything that they need I'vebeen taking care of For their
meals and stuff.
I wrote them a donation whenthey need parts for their rescue
(11:14):
sled, be able to tow otherthings.
They call me.
I'll go down to the store andget what they need at night and
bring it back to them so they'reready for the next day.
And bring it back to them sothey're ready for the next day.
But as far as water follies,I'm having fun with my friends
(11:35):
down there.
I really don't want to getsuper involved with it, where I
have a responsibility and takefun.
I mean I've got lots ofresponsibilities at work, and
for me this is a break.
I'll be able to go down with myfriends and do something that
is actually fun.
It's not work.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Well, that is fun.
I mean, you're indirectlyhelping in a lot of ways, right?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah, I'll do anything.
I mean if they need something.
I mean if they need something,I'm happy to help need something
.
I mean if they need something,I'm happy to help.
I just don't want to beresponsible for for running
anything, because I do.
I mean I do that every day,right, every day, all day right.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I haven't had a chance to go to the richland
regatta yet.
I'm hoping to maybe next yeargo to that.
For whatever reason, it'salways have something else going
on the same weekend.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Well, we've struggled with it because we've had it at
the first of June, we've had itat the end of June.
Everywhere we put it.
If we put it at the first ofJune, we run into weather.
The flow starts coming out ofthe mountains and we've got too
much water flow.
We've had it at the end and nowyou're conflicting with we were
(12:47):
conflicting with Guntersvilleand you really don't realize how
many people that have limitedboats that are working on
unlimited boats.
So if Guntersville race is thesame weekend, you're
automatically missing half theboats because they're all in
Guntersville.
(13:07):
So we've been chasing that,we've been talking, we're trying
to figure out a better time todo the race.
Although John and Culver and Iare probably getting closer to
being done running the race,then we just need to find other
people to step up for it.
Culver and I are probablygetting closer to being done
running the race than than, uh,we just need to find other
(13:27):
people to step up for it.
Um, it's, it's a lot of work.
It's fun to do.
It's fun to see the fans comeout and enjoy a free race.
Uh, it's televised.
I mean, we're doing all thestuff.
That's.
That's right for the sport, butit takes a lot of effort from a
(13:48):
few people to get to the raceweekend.
Then we end up with a lot ofvolunteers that help during the
race and then they're gone andit's back to a couple of us
doing a lot of it.
So we're trying to figure thatout as to whether we're going to
keep doing it or just let therace either someone else step up
(14:08):
and do it or be done.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Well, hopefully it's not done.
Hopefully someone will pick upthe torch and help you with that
.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Sometimes you have to quit in order to get somebody
to step up and I've had to dothat with other endeavors.
They're just fine with youdoing it and you have to tell
them look, this is the lastmeeting.
If someone else doesn't takeover, we're done.
And then people tend to jump inbut we may be at that point
(14:40):
having to say someone else'sturn.
And I took over for JohnMosteller when he died.
I had no intention on running arace, but when he passed away,
everyone was kind of lookingaround like, all right, now,
who's going to do it?
And it ended up being me.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Did you find the same enjoyment of running the race
as you did as sponsoring theboat?
No, that was quick.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
The same enjoyment of running the race as you did is
sponsoring the boat.
Uh no, the again that becomes.
I mean, it becomes a job andand I, when I do something, I
want to do it well.
And again, same with john.
(15:27):
I mean, we're, we're doing,we're putting that race on and
we're trying to make it the bestrace that you've ever been to.
When we don't, it's hard.
I mean, every year I've got alist of 20 things that we need
to improve for next year.
Then, like I say, you put a lotof work into the race and the
racers show up and their racersand owners are whining about how
(15:49):
come you did this, or why didwe have to run heats first, how
come we couldn't be second?
Oh, my God, man, we're tryingto do something for you and, uh,
you, you're, just you're,you're barking at us and that
takes the fun out of it.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, and unfortunately, whatever,
whatever class of racing it is,you can never please everyone.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I found that out over the years no matter how much
you do, and and usually I meanif you take the time and say
something to them and I've hadthat before someone's just
chewing me and it's like youknow, we're putting a lot of
work in here for you to comerace your boat, it's, I'm not
getting anything out of this,and and they usually yeah,
you're right, I'm sorry, it'sOtherwise you don't have a race.
(16:37):
But you have to point it out tothem and you don't like to do
that, but sometimes you just addit up Like being the
hydrodynamic engineer.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
So Charlie is the hydrodynamic engineer.
I relinquished that title onceI got chewed out and lost my
mind, apparently that Charlie isthe hydrodynamic engineer for
the U3.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
From now on, and that's what I always say when
people ask me what I do with thethree I'm in charge of making
sure that water is wet.
I go put my hand in the river.
It's wet.
I did my job.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
You know, and I've even noticed, so you've picked
up duties.
You know, because I didn't comeout with Ed the last few years
just with family obligations andother things that I've got
going with the Grand Prixs andnow formed the F1 with Dylan
Like I just couldn't make thatcommitment for that weekend.
But I've noticed like you'vepicked up, I mean you're doing a
(17:37):
lot of different stuff on theboat now.
So you're, as far as being acrew guy, you're doing as much
as everybody else is.
So and I'm sure that that mustbe neat for you.
I'm sure you must enjoy that.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Oh yeah, I mean I love it.
It's it's a lot of hard.
I mean hard work when you'redown there it's hard, it's all
those things, but at the end ofthe day I had a great time.
I mean I'm learning stuff.
Like I say, I ask Ed probablythe dumbest questions in the
world because I'm not getting itwhy something works the way
(18:11):
that it works, and he just keepsexplaining it to me until it
finally goes oh all, right, nowI get it Well.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
and then one thing about Ed is as I had him in
school.
I had him in school for twoyears and he is one of the top
three teachers I ever had, andthat still goes to this day.
So he's very patient, andthat's another thing.
People think Ed is acantankerous old man and all
this, but he's a very patientperson.
(18:38):
He's a great listener, yeah,and I think Charlie would tell
you the same.
I mean, he doesn't mindanswering dumb questions.
And Charlie, you don't reallyask dumb questions.
I think you're being a littlehard on yourself.
But yeah, I mean it's juststuff.
If you don't know, you don'tknow hard on yourself.
But there, yeah, I mean it'sit's just stuff.
If you don't know, you don'tknow and as, as crew guys and
guys that work on boats, we loveanswering that stuff I mean I,
(19:02):
I love I, and david would tellyou this.
You know david, and david didn'tknow me from adam till like
last november and I talked todavid all the time.
Now so we've become good friendsand it's just that common.
You know that common thing ofthis this whole boat thing in
the community and all of my bestfriends, like the, my best
(19:23):
friends in the world are allfrom boat racing.
Now, you know, and I couldn'thave said that 20 years ago but
the people that I know that careabout me and I get calls when I
was hospitalized and all that.
Then that's the people thatcalled me and checked up on me
and do I need to fly out, do Ineed to do this or you know
whatever to help you.
And so that's the coolest thingabout this whole boat racing
(19:47):
thing and I think Charlie'sprobably got the same experience
as me is just these lifelongfriends.
And you know you're goodfriends with Mitch Evans too.
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah.
Mitch was the first one that Imet.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Yeah, and what a just the best guy in the world.
So just I saw on.
You know you had told me aboutyou getting a ride in the blue
chip.
You want to talk a little bitabout that Because that's
something Mitch is going to.
He's my son, mitch, who I named.
You know I named my son afterMitch Evans and Mitch is wanted
(20:24):
to take my son out in that boat.
And I saw you got to take aride in Tri-Cities.
Was it everything that youexpected it to be?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
There's a story that goes along with the story prior
to it.
I got to ride in the Miss USwith Jack Schaefer.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
I didn't know that, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
That was up at Mahogany and Merlot and they
called and asked if I wanted togo for a ride.
And I said, sure, I'm in.
And they said that they weredoing it because Ed had been so
helpful to them in getting theirboat running.
And Ed wanted nothing to dowith riding in the boat, but I
(21:10):
had been helpful in getting Edback.
And they wanted me to go for aride.
I said, sure, I'm in.
And so Mahogany and Merlot,they're explaining to me how
everything starts.
I mean, here's the switches,here's how you start it, here's
how you stop it.
And I thought, man, they'regoing into this in way more
detail than I thought they would.
(21:33):
And so we get out in the boatand Jack takes off and all of a
sudden Jack cuts through thecourse where he wasn't supposed
to turn and the guys in therescue boats eyes were big as
saucers as he's buzzing theirboat and I'm like I don't know
(21:54):
what he's doing, but he's, Imean he's way off where he's
supposed to be.
We were out in the swim buoys onone side and it was all over
the place.
Mitch was, mitch was behind usand I'm looking over my shoulder
trying to see where mitch istrying to point at buoys for for
jack and I say it was the.
It was the craziest thing I'dever been a part of.
And we get back and Jay askedme about it.
(22:19):
He said tell me about that ride.
And I said, oh, he waseverywhere.
Well, that was Jack's last drive.
I mean the dementia had startedand they wouldn't let him drive
anymore.
That day I think Mitch ended updriving the boat for him the
rest of the weekend anymore.
That day, I think Mitch endedup driving the boat for him the
rest of the weekend.
So this time, going with Mitchagain the first one was a little
(22:45):
scary because I thought I mayhave to stop, I mean pull the
kill switch on the boat, becauseI wasn't sure I mean I was
steering to keep him goingstraight.
He's trying to turn and it wasjust the weirdest thing.
So this time with mitch uh,number one being the first guy
that I met with the three team,uh, and him being a friend, it
was so much, it was so much morefun just because of our
(23:07):
friendship.
Uh.
And then I he knows me, I knowhim.
He's like how fast you want togo?
I said as fast as you want togo, I mean, I'm good with it.
However, if you want to put thehammer down, you're gonna feel
safe yeah yeah and and uh.
So the only thing we had to dois try and keep the uh, the
other boat that was out there at180 degrees from us, so we had
(23:30):
to be at the opposite point forthe course.
But when we came around thesecond lap, we were finishing
the second lap or we were at theend of the corner and they were
just they were still in thatsame corner.
So we came off at that pointbut I don't know what we were
going.
130.
He said.
But it was.
It was so much fun just becauseit was riding with Mitch and
(23:52):
you know, seeing the tri-citiesfrom that, seeing the tri-cities
course from the boat, and howquick everything was going by,
was was awesome.
I recommend it to anyone whowants to do it.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
So when you were out there, did you have any?
You know this.
You know, like when I was a kidout in the driveway, you know
it's five seconds to go and I'vegot a.
You know I've got the ball andI'm going to shoot the winning
shot.
I mean, was there anythinggoing through your head like
that, or was it just pure?
Hey, I'm getting a ride with mybuddy Mitch.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
It was more than I mean.
I was so relaxed.
I mean I had my arm on theoutside.
It's like you had your arm upin the window when you're riding
down the road.
I just had my arm sitting onthe one side and the other arm
around his shoulder.
We're not small guys trying toget two guys in that cockpit.
I never had.
(24:47):
It was just a great experience.
It wasn't scary, it wasn't toofast, it was just like I say
with a friend of mine, riding ina hydroplane was awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Well, as I say, it's a good thing you weren't
thinking about all the differentspots in the course where boats
crashed over the years.
This is where the tide wentover.
This is where the gram wentover.
This is where the bud went over.
Yeah, and remembering all thoseLike, this is where the tide
went over.
This is where the gram wentover.
This is where the bud went over, you know.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
So, yeah, and remember in all those.
I mean that no, I didn't.
I didn't think about it once itwas just I was looking at the
shore and saying that I grew upover there and you know he's got
a bigger skin fit on that boatthan was on it when they were
original.
So that thing just turnednicely.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
It hopped a couple of times but it was pretty well
glued to the water.
Yeah, he's done a really nicejob of every year making that
boat better.
And he didn't know if he wasgoing to get to run it in
Tri-Cities, so I'm glad that hedid.
I'm glad that he was able to.
(25:51):
Well, both did happen, madethat happen, and so yeah ed and
mitch.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Both were calling me.
Hey, I want to go.
And so I called waterfall isn'ttalking to aaron, I said,
because aaron stevens is therace director, john culverver is
back helping Aaron.
And so my sales pitch was Aaron, if you don't get Mitch's boat
there, then Ed and I and a wholebunch of other old guys don't
(26:21):
have anything else to do exceptfor bother Culver.
And he called Mitch the nextmorning and said Mitch, you're
in.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Well, I remember Aaron used to help.
He was a young kid helping Johnwhen I first started going to
Tri-Cities, so I didn't realizehe had taken over that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Yeah, he's race director and John has gone back
to helping as race director sothat Aaron can do, you know,
helping as race director so thatAaron can do.
You know, now there's two ofthem doing the job and John
refuses to go to board meetingsand things like that.
He's doing what he enjoys.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
put the race on and then home at 6 o'clock.
Yeah, because Tri-Cities hasalways been the seems to be one
of the most well-organized andeverything just always seems to
be right, and it's because guyslike John Culver are there.
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
That's good to know I did want to tell you.
So we were having aconversation about you know how
many boats were in theTri-Cities seven this year, and
there used to be.
You know how many boats were inthe Tri-Cities Seven this year
and there used to be.
You know, in the teens and wewere having a conversation about
how much that H1, or the boats,get paid to show up at a race
(27:44):
and apparently in the 80sthey're still getting paid the
exact same number of dollarsfrom the 80s that they're
getting paid in 2025.
And I looked at it they weregetting paid $8,000 a race to
show up, tow money, and therewas prize money.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
And.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
I looked at it, they're still getting paid the
$8,000 or so.
And but if, if you've hadequivalent money for me from the
eighties to now, they would begetting $30,000 a race to show
up.
And if they were getting that$30,000 and say they had a just
even a sponsor in each city, allof a sudden there's enough
(28:33):
money that you're going to have17 boats, but at $8,000, I mean
that doesn't cover airfare orgas to get somewhere.
So I mean people look at thedecline of it and wonder why
that is there's no money thereof it and wonder why that is
there's no money there.
It's a good thing that Daryland Ratchford have stepped in
(28:58):
and bought boats because theyhave the money to do that, but
it hasn't always been that way.
It's been guys that I mean theywere making money racing the
boats.
They had their tow money andthen there was prize money and
they could make it.
And now it's just you're justspending money.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Yeah, I remember the first race that it was really my
first big road trip was down toHouston.
I think it was 89, 90, 89 or 90.
I can't remember, but we hadqualified in the top three and
we had actually finished in thetop three.
And I saw the check.
I'm not going to tell you whatit was, but it was way bigger
(29:40):
than we probably got for analmost an entire season seems
like.
And I remember Ed taking us toa place called the flying
Dutchman in Houston.
We were eating.
We were eating shrimp meals forshrimp appetizers and yeah, I
mean we just had a great time,but we only had three crew guys.
There was three people, thatwas it, and we ran the whole
(30:02):
team.
And now you see a boat and it'san army of 20 guys.
Yeah, and the sports justchanged.
It's just changed and I don'tknow if it's evolved or devolved
or whatever, but it's justdifferent now yeah, for the, for
the good bad ugly, it's, it iswhat it is.
Speaker 1 (30:21):
It is what it is.
But that's why you would see,like in the 90s, like fred
leland, he would as many boatsas he built, he would bring them
all to Tri-Cities and Seafairbecause the tow money would
cover a lot of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Yeah, and, like I say , a minor sponsor.
But if you got your in the 80s,you got your $8,000, you won
$20,000.
You could leave there with$28,000.
In the 80s it was a lot ofmoney, I mean that's.
But $28,000 in the 80s it was alot of money, but $28,000, if
(30:55):
you could leave with $28,000, orif you got $28,000 in 2025, not
a lot of money.
It's tough to go out there andagain, with Ed you break the
boat.
There's a lot of expense in himfixing expense in time and
(31:16):
fixing a boat, um, and that'scan he.
Would he race, uh, if he didn'thave to worry about, uh, you
know, busting the boat up?
Maybe?
But I mean, I think again, Ihe's, he's just's done.
I hope somebody buys it,whether they turn it into a
turbine or do it with Allison, Ijust would like to see the boat
(31:41):
out there.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Yeah, I mean you've been around the boat to know.
I mean it's a beautiful piece.
I mean there's not another onelike it, it's super light.
I mean there's not another onelike it, it's super light.
Yeah, I just wish somebodywould step up and buy it,
because it would still be one ofthe better boats out there
regardless.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
So yeah, yeah, I mean it's nice if you could take a
turbine and put it in it.
You don't have to worry aboutit.
You can run that same motor allyear and never take it out of
the boat, but again it loses the.
For me, what makes the boat arethose Allison's, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Well, I got one last question for you, charlie.
You talked about your power toget the Mitch's boat out here
for Tri-Cities.
You got to have some and youhave some power with that, but
you got to have some power withMitch.
Is there any way you can gethim to paint that boat or put a?
Speaker 2 (32:36):
wrap on it, so it's not just white and blue.
It was actually the family withand I can't think of the name
of the tooling company, butthey're the ones.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Dick Gordon is the Gordons from Fairlane Tool.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
They're the ones that sponsored it, so they had it
wrapped because they wanted itat Detroit, so he hauled it out
to Detroit and his dad haddriven that boat, so that's why
it stays as the blue chip.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
But there was more paint on it when it ran as a
blue chip.
It was yellow and it was blueand it wasn't just white like
that.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
So, david, let me tell you a little bit about the
u3 and paint.
So when we first had it, we hada company called alvy sign
company paint it for us and ithad this zz top type type theme.
So if you look back in 88, youlook at the sponsons, the guy
that painted it was a big zz topfan, so he painted basically
(33:31):
that ZZ Top on the side of theboat.
Okay, and we didn't have toworry about it.
They painted it.
So, but when I started takingover the painting and Ed started
, when we started doing itourselves, all of a sudden it
started losing colors.
It went from red, yellow,orange and white to just red,
yellow and white, then red andwhite and now just red.
(33:53):
And Mitch was part of that andhe doesn't like painting as much
as the rest of us.
So I can't speak for Mitch, butI don't think you'll see any
other.
We all can paint, but if youlive in Indiana and you try to
(34:13):
paint something, you have todeal with the heat, the humidity
, the bugs, everything else, andyeah, so that's why any boat
that's associated with the U3will probably only have one to
two colors on it.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
I saw a picture of them painting the boat.
I found it in mitch's facebookstuff and it was he had, they
had the forklift and tad deanlaying on a pallet, laying on
the pallet and they're sprayingand mitch would back up so he
could spray and then he'd pushforward and back up and push
forward.
But uh, yeah, you find thoseagain.
(34:51):
And I met the Buffalo Brothersand their sticker is on the blue
chip too.
But if I can remember theBuffalo Brothers when I was a
kid in the 70s and they had thatland yacht and I'd see them up
there partying on that landyacht and I wanted to be one of
the cool kids.
And now if you walk down we godown to their tent area Again
(35:14):
they're all my age or a littlebit older and they're down there
just having a great time.
But it's funny that, being apart of the three-team, what it
has led to with other groups andgetting to know them.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Yes, the three-team is well-welcomed at the Buffalo
Brothers.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Oh yeah, it's like you walk in and it's like, hey,
it's like Norm walking into thebar and cheers yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
Well, fun Well.
I really appreciate the timewe've taken today.
Charlie, it's great talkingwith you.
And again, great having you onMike as well.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Oh yeah, Thank you.
All right, Knuckle and againgreat having you on Mike as well
.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Oh yeah, thank you.
Alright, knuckleheads onceagain.
That's all the time we have forthis week.
I hope you enjoyed the talkwith Charlie Griggs alongside
co-host Mike Hall.
It was a lot of fun to get toknow Charlie more.
I've always seen him in thepits and seen his name on the
boats and I know he has a hugeimpact on the region of
Tri-Cities.
But it was great to get abetter understanding of his
(36:15):
background, his passion of thesport and just knowing all the
support he's given the sport inthe past decade plus Really
appreciated having Mike Hall onas well.
Love having a guest host on ittakes some of the pressure off,
but just love having people onthe podcast that share that same
passion for hydroplane racing.
Hopefully we have Mike Hallback on as another co-host as I
(36:38):
feel it gives another flavor tothe podcast.
Well, we've got one more weekin September.
I've got some fun surprisesalong the way.
Over the summer I tried tostockpile some interviews.
I've got a Gold Cup legendarydriver who I interviewed back in
July.
He'll be coming out next monthon the podcast.
I also found digging through myarchives.
(36:59):
I found an interview that Iforgot that I had made back in
my first year in 2019.
I'll get that out there as wellnext month, and a few other
surprises along the way.
I'll get that out there as wellnext month, and a few other
surprises along the way.
In the meantime, check us outonline our website's,
rucheteltalkcom, and on socialmedia as well, on the platforms
(37:21):
of Facebook and Instagram.
Well, that's all I got fortoday, so until next time, I
hope to see you at the races.
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