Custom Eliminator Powerboat

Lady Liberty

Entrepreneur and marine enthusiast Tom Gonzales had just purchased the 50th Anniversary Corvette Indy pace car, a nice addition to his already sizable pace and assorted car collection in Dayton, Nevada, when he led to a trip to the Palm Beach, Florida Barrett Jackson auction with friend, Bob Leach. Gonzalez wanted to “toy” with the idea of adding another 50th edition item to his collection, and Leach, the owner of Eliminator Powerboats in Perris, California, had just donated a 27’ Eliminator Daytona to the auction for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which combats spinal paralysis.

Aside from the recent marine industry slump, it was the second Eliminator Leach had donated to charity this year; the other was given to the Celebrity Ski event in Vail, which fights Cystic Fibrosis. Leach is a teddy bear kind of guy with a big heart, knick-named the “Godfather of Speed,” as he builds some of the finest custom powerboats on the market. Eliminator V-hulls and catamarans range in size from 27-40’ and are known for excellent performance and their beautiful gelcoat graphic schemes. Since the colors and designs are “in” the gelcoat, they never fade and boats maintain value and appearance for a lifetime.

Leach and Gonzales first became friends after Gonzales purchased his first Eliminator many years ago. He was then and he continues to be a connoisseur and owner of many fine boats, including a 36’ Eliminator, “Liberty”. Though the lady “Liberty” sits perched on Gonzales’ Shadow Yacht in Ft. Lauderdale at his Sail Marina, a development project adjacent to the Port of the Everglades, the aquatic beauty has never felt the sting of salt-water.

Also in the Gonzales collection is the recently completed 68’ Azimut, which he will take to “The Med” on his Shadow Yacht, the premium “Toy Hauler,” created from industrial cargo boats and converting them into practical, sport utility vessels. “I’ve had all the ‘cocktail yachts’” says Gonzales, “But there was never any room to carry all my toys! I’m a big kid and I like having things with me so I don’t get bored at sea.” On the 220’ Allure Shadow Yacht, Gonzales has enough room for a freshwater swimming pool, gym, helipad, movie theater, six state rooms with balconies, game room and yes, an entire deck dedicated to hauling big toys.

A man who loves flying, boating, motorcycling and cars all things fast and entertaining Gonzales spends much of his time frequenting places like Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Ft. Lauderdale, Lake Havasu and Lake Tahoe. At any of those locations, you might find him enjoying his very favorite boat, a 27’ Eliminator, “Jungle Boogie” that he tows to destinations on a solid, polished, stainless steel trailer. The exotically painted boat, with twin Mercury Racing 525’s may be seen hauling across the western lakes or tucked in a cove, watching the action go by.

Considering Gonzales’ love for the finest marine equipment the world has to offer, it was no surprise that Leach’s one-of-a-kind 27’ Daytona caught his eye. It was not only painted to commemorate the 50th Running Logo of the Daytona 500 this February, but it was also signed by every team who started in this historic NASCAR Sprint Cup event. Darrell Gwynn, in cooperation with the Daytona International Speedway, made sure that all the teams signed the hatch that covered a gleaming Ilmor V-10, a 625 horse-powered engine. This boat was indeed a great match for Gonzales’ new Corvette pace car.

Gwynn, a former NHRA top fuel racer, had a life-changing racing accident in 1990. Though a paraplegic, he had no time for self-pity. He fielded his own NHRA team, formerly sponsored by the NY Yankees, and created his foundation to do research to fight spinal paralysis and also to purchase wheelchairs, mostly for children, whose insurance does not cover the $8,000 to $10,000 expense. When Gwynn is on stage, giving youngsters their “first set of wheels,” independence and mobility, there is seldom a dry eye in the house.

Such was the case at the Barrett Jackson auction, which has supported the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, among many other charities, for years. The auction, known as “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Events” began as a charitable fundraiser in the 1960’s. As Craig Jackson assumed leadership of the family-owned auction, he expanded the events and their philanthropic role. This year alone, Barrett Jackson events raised over $750,000 for Gwynn, including in Scottsdale, where Tony Stewart donated a car for auction.

“These things don’t happen without a lot of cooperation,” Jackson states, “The manufacturers’ donations make it possible, then I donate the audience and television time; the sponsors help and the audience gets a unique item and the experience of buying it on TV live—the relationships benefit everyone!”

After Gwynn awarded a new wheel chair to 4-year old Seth Cohen of Davie, Florida, the bidding heated slowly for the Eliminator, with NHRA legend Joe Amato and Gonzales leading. The boat, valued at $250,000 retail got personal pleas from “Spanky,” the auctioneer, his wife, Gwynn and Jackson. Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig even threw in four tickets to the Daytona 500. The bids went on until at $137,000, Amato gave up and allowed Gonzales to walk away with another collector’s piece that may, like his other prized possessions, never see salt water. Currently, the boat’s only mileage has been on Lake Lloyd at the Daytona International Speedway where VIP’s got a short, but memorable ride. “This is a wonderful cause and this boat is the only one in the world. It was tremendous bargain.” Gonzales said with a smile.

While NASCAR fans dream of hanging that engine hatch in their living rooms as they tune in to the races, Gonzales has his treasure tucked away in a warehouse as a tribute not just to Gwynn and his foundation, but to Eliminator, the Official High-Performance Power Boat of the Daytona International Speedway, and to Leach himself. “I’m proud to call him my friend,” Gonzales says, “Now I have three Eliminators!”