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Just a little history as I (Larry “Chop” Helms) remember. I started in the jet boats in the early 1980’s with a Wreidt Spoiler similar to a Taylor SS. My next jetboat was a 1978 Taylor SJ, and later purchased a 1985 Taylor and ran it until 1996 when I ran across and purchased my first Youngblood boat. It was a 1976 TX-19 Youngblood and it was in Baton Rouge La. with the Serial number of JBN 0011512076. At the time this was a bare hull and trailer in very rough shape. After purchase, I began to restore the old hull. With a lot of help from my wife Paula and after doing a lot of looking, we came up with a good paint scheme and started to work on the paint. I gathered pump parts and had a few since I had been working on them. I set the intake in the hull and built a pump. I designed my on seat and interior, beginning with Taylor seats, I changed the shape and size. I designed deck lids, that wrapped around basset headers and over the engine. Then decided I wanted a swim platform to make easy access in and out of the boat, for my family. I found a late model swim platform that is used on Tyler boats. Since I had a JG Berkeley, with a place diverter, I had to reroute cable to resemble a JE Pump. Installed carpet, rewired boat, installed gauges, built 454 engine that dynoed at 515 Hp on pump gas. In March of 1997 I made the first trip to the lake. I still have boat #911, “Pay me Later.” today. I have made some hardware and engine changesalong the way and I enjoy working on these jetboats! In 1996 Larry Welch and I started an organization called “Outlaw Boat Racing”. It was at Wright Patman Lake, Atlanta State Park in East Texas. We had a so called "Po boy" operation. We made a starting tree out of a Stop Light, mounted on a floating dock platform. We marked a 1,000 ft course off and set up brackets using radar guns at the finish line. We ran this for 3 years, once a month starting in April and ending in September. We had as many as 45 boats show up at one time. We still have a small group that carry the Outlaw Boat Racers Banner to SDBA and Smokin in the Cove Races. A little more about the boat #911 “Pay me Later” and “Helms Family Lake and Bracket Racing.” This boat rides the lake an average of 10 to 20 hours in the summer months. The boat runs 90mph on the motor and 100+ on nitrous. We ride the lake, ski and tube behind it. We also carry it to some races. The boat runs in the S.E. class (11 sec) at SDBA races. The course is ¼ of a mile long. It runs 9 sec at the Smoking In The Cove races on the ,000 ft course. The boat is used by the whole family at the lake and races. In a grudge match at Smokin in the Cove in 2004, between 2 outlaws boats, #911 “Pay me Later, and boat # 117 “Gambler”, the #911 boat ran 7.61 at 108.44 mph in 1,000 ft course. In 2002 at Smokin in the Cove in Malvern, Arkansas, Rusty Helms, my 15 year old son, driving the TX-19 boat #911 won 4th place in the 9sec class. He was the youngest driver to ever place in the history of races. In 2003 at a SDBA race in Ft. Worth Texas, Paula Helms, my wife driving the TX-19 boat #911 ran Rodney Hartline in 1st pairing and the clocks malfunctioned. They were called back to the ramp to run again. She lost with an 11.03. Rodney's reaction time was slightly better and he went on to win 1st place in the S.E. class. In 2003 at a SDBA race in Pine Bluff Arkansas, Larry Helms better known as “Chop” as the driver of the TX-19 boat #911, ran and won 1st place in 11sec S.E. class. In 2003 at Smokin in the Cove in Malvern, Arkansas, Larry Helms (Chop) the driver of the TX-19 boat #911, won 2nd place in the 2nd chance, in the 9 sec class with a redlighting in the final round. Note from the webmaster.... What Chop has not mentioned is that he is a noted pump builder. Larry has rebuilt and modified many pumps used in both pleasure and race boats in the Four States Area. He is very reasonable on his pricing and will do you a good job. He can be contacted at 903-585-5521 or e-mail him at Chop454@aol.com |
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