I spend a fair amount of time inside of homes owned by those who have more money that most would know what to do with. All of these people seem to be a bit eccentric in some regards, but alike in many ways. There are only so many things one can put into a house.

I'm typically there for the safes/vaults/panic rooms. There are wine rooms. Fur coat closets. Arcades. Libraries. Bowling alleys. Bathrooms with showers large enough that they could be at the YMCA. You even see homes with car washes and garages to display the cars their owners collect.

Under normal circumstances I would never talk about where I was, what I was doing there, or what I saw when on site. This is one of those exceptions where the home was being sold, and so there is nothing to keep secret.

As I'm there the owner asks about some of the things I see when inside some of these houses. He then tells me that he has "something downstairs" that I've probably never seen in a home. After my work is complete he gives me the grand tour, taking me downstairs to the basement.

A 20 ton gantry crane system in his hidden "boat shop" where he would park his offshore racing boat. The entire tractor trailer could back into this garage and park. Complete with machine shop, parts room, and trophy cases.

So for your enjoyment, here's what one's basement would look like should one tinker with offshore racing boats as a hobby.

Does he "race" from the islands to Florida with "cargo"

quote:

Does he "race" from the islands to Florida with "cargo"

We talked about that too. He said that boat racing costs money, it doesn't make money. A hobby for those who enjoy it as a sport and have the funds to support it.

I suspect that some of those who are making money from racing boats might be the ones who are doing more than just racing.

Was in Key West when they had their offshore unlimited races,then a parade down Duvall street on their trailers. Impressive machinery to say the least.

quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie1:
Was in Key West when they had their offshore unlimited races,then a parade down Duvall street on their trailers. Impressive machinery to say the least.

I was there for that a few years ago. Very impressive and obviously very expensive. If I remember correctly the prize money wasn’t that great considering the time and money invested in the boats.

Amazing basement for sure. Lots of people in St Louis looking for that setup??

Swanky...

I've been onboard a couple of winning racing boats with the crazy cockpits and engines. Those things are amazing machines. A game for the wealthy.

And I've seen some monstrously sized houses with pretty absurd accoutrements, myself. Once incomes get beyond a certain level people do hilariously ridiculous shit just because they can. From rockstars to rednecks to royalty just the same.

Wow!

The topic of boat racing reminded me of Magnum Marine. In the 70s I worked for a division of Apeco who also owned Magnam They built offshore racing boats. The CEO Don Aronow, led an interesting life as an offshore racer, designer and builder.


Magnum, Cigarette and a few others were companies developed by Aronow. I think he bought Magnum back from Apeco at some point.

Slightly setting this thread adrift, anybody know what the first offshore power boat race was? I think I know, and can't imagine one could be earlier unless it was in Europe.

okay so I'm seeing the "200 MPH" signs...does that mean he's running a boat at that speed?

I went aboard a racing sailboat once, but for a very short time and then left rather quickly…it sank as we pulled the people off into our 19’ rigid hull inflatable boat.

I’ve been around all kinds of areas people professional and regular joes work on their boats…but I’ve never seen one like that….wow

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
the home was being sold, and so there is nothing to keep secret.

Wow. If that place hasn't sold yet, I sure would like to see the listing. (No, I can't buy it... I just want to see the rest of the house!)

Thank you for posting that, a1abdj.

Ozarks or Lake St Louis? Neither is big enough for that much boat.

Reminds me of Under Seige. Did you see any Tomahawk missiles or Gary Busey lying around?

quote:

Wow. If that place hasn't sold yet, I sure would like to see the listing. (No, I can't buy it... I just want to see the rest of the house!)

It has sold, and the new owner is planning on ripping all of that out to make some more "living space". Apparently the other 20,000 square feet isn't enough.

I actually pulled that photo from the listing. You can see the rest here:

https://www.realtor.com/reales...O_63304_M81648-92098

quote:

Ozarks or Lake St Louis? Neither is big enough for that much boat.

The boat was raced in the ocean, I'm assuming in Florida. House is local in Whitmore. He told me that one of the premier fiberglass hull builders is located right here in Wentzville.

Impressive place. Looking at the pricing history , looks like the guy is losing his ass on the sale.

Fantastic house!

In the years prior to beginning my professional career with the Forest Service, my wife and I knew, or worked for a few mega-wealthy persons.

In the mid-80s, right after we were married, we moved to Central Coast California, in the area around Santa Ynez to work on a race horse breeding and training farm. The owners put $8 million into the new farm, and had a mansion in Beverly Hills and a beach house in Malibu. We stayed in the mansion, a bit much for my taste all tapestries and Louis XIV decor. My wife got to stay at the beach house, spectacular.

We got to know a couple in Arizona. He was reportedly a PE for Phillips Petroleum, and sometime just prior to WWII, developed non-flammable hydraulic fluid. They had their own airstrip, two airplanes, and a primary hangar with a turntable. He could taxi straight into the hangar, then spin the plane around so the nose was pointing out the door. They owned half an island among the San Juans, off Bellingham, Washington.

doesn't $3.1 mil seem awfully low?

I mean awfully awfully low

Thanks for sharing, I love seeing things like that.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
You can see the rest here:

Thank you. That place is incredible. Not really my style, but I could get into that 6-garage-plus-incredible-workshop plan. Wonder if the Bentley stays?

quote:

Originally posted by ugeesta:
Looking at the pricing history , looks like the guy is losing his ass on the sale.

Great Caesar's ghost! From $7.5 mil to 3.2? I've got to wonder what happens to a house like that to make it lose half its value in the past six years.

Does seem ridiculously low price. Heck it's worth $250,000 just to have your address be "1" Upper Whitmoor Dr.

Only 46k property tax.