Famous mudmotors

[Dead Ringer]

Was watching "The Protector" (Ong Bak 2) tonight and there was a chase scene involving some Thai mudmotors on what look like gheennoes on steroids. A few jumps and powerslides saved the day. And you guys at mudfest thought I was just young and stupid: I was practicing in case I ever need to get away from a gang of Thai mobsters :p

[N. Cook]

I was not one of those curious about the first US mud motor "Devils" from LA. I had been riding the originals in Thailand since 1970 up and down the Pattaxxxxx (spelling?) river and in the nearby marshes....some work calls on customers, but also some nice hidden away resturants easier to reach by boats than in Bangkok traffic. Went out to the Kings Shipyard in one and saw them building the large traditional ornate rowed Royal boats....I have a model made from a water buffalo horn....16 or more oarsmen, a couple of little temples and a throne built on the decks. Same basic shape as the powered ones....just many times larger. I was selling them the adhesives used to glue the wood boats together, they used a traditional drill and wood dowell method to construct them. Thailand in the 70's and 80's was not a bad place to stop between Hong Kong or Manila and Singapore......lots of friendly locals!

[Phil T]

I was an oilfield diver in Indonesia in the 80's, we would sometimes hire local fishing boats that were around the platforms to take us to town. They were outrigger canoes with diesel longtails. They would fish around the platforms for days at a time. For those who claim that longtails don't handle big water I've seen them in 6-8 foot seas 20 miles offshore, no radios or pfd's.

[N. Cook]

Ahhhhh Phil, had many a "lost" nite with the oil guys in for RR at the Singapore Hilton......I can't remember all the spots but " Seaman's Paridise" down on the docks still sticks in my memory. Tough place. Xanada Disco in the Shangri La Hotel had the most beautiful girls in Asia....Class all the way...

[Phil T]

Used to "bounce" at the Boots & Saddles for free drink when I was in town and the Navy had shore leave, there weren't enough free drinks if the Kiwis were in port. Singapore was fun.

[Randy Clark]

those boats soud like the banca boats in the phillipines used to go diving out of subic and the boat would follow your bubbles pick you up when you where done