 |
Sleeper M-2
A converted 1931 Chris Craft by Harold Bauer and Bill Burgess. Picture
was taken 1959 at Elizabeth City, NC.
Powered by Ford 390 & 427. Owner: Harold Bauer of Kenmore,
NY.
Driver: Bill Burgess of N. Tonawanda, NY. Riding mechanic: Fran Semenick
of Buffalo, NY.
We broke the around Grand Island Marathon record in 1961. 27 miles
in 22 mins. & 37 secs, averaging 70+ mph.
The riding mechanic for that race was Mike Thompson. We campaigned
throughout the East Coast.
 |
Sleeper M-2
Same boat as above but wearing new colors. Picture was taken at Isle
View in 1962 at Tonawanda, NY before a 60 mile marathon.
Driver: Bill Burgess.
Riding Mechanic: Mike Thompson of Buffalo, NY.
First service boat powered by Ford 390 engine. Harold Bauer acquired
it directly from Ford. When I brought the boat into Washington, DC for
the President Regatta, it spun a few heads. I made all the marine conversions
including the manifolds. It was the talk of the east coast and it ran.
I really loved that boat....was my start to a boat racing career. This
boat was restored & owned by Tom Freuheim of Buffalo, NY.
I acquired the boat in 2004.
 |
M-9 Seabiscuit VI
Prowler hull that was built by Forest Johnson. Raced as F-Service.
Powered by Cadillac & Chrysler.
Picture taken at Isle View in 1962 at Niagara River, Tonawanda, NY.
Bill Burgess driving, Fran Semenick, riding mechanic.
Owned & Driven by Al Brinkman who campaigned for years. Bill Burgess
took over when Al Brinkman retired and drove for two years.
The boat was
a record holder for the around Grand Island Marathon in 1960, high point
champion, etc.
Boat was somewhere in Buffalo, NY.
| |
E-65 & SK-165 Torgre
Built by Bob Patterson of CA. Originally raced as E-Racing Runabout,
then converted to SK Racing.
Powered by Chrysler. Picture was taken in 1964 at Pop Schroeder's lift
in Wheatfield, NY.
Driver: Bill Burgess. Owner: Ralph Barker, Grand Island, NY.
E-65 - Won Divisional, Kankakee, IL, 1965.
SK-165 - Won Canadian, 1965 Nationals, Montreal, Quebec.
Campaigned as SK class all throughout the East coast. We almost
had the 1967 Nationals at Dayton, OH
but had the misfortune of rolling it over. Winner in 1967 Presidents
Cup Regatta, Washington, DC.
Winner of many closed course races. I am told the boat still exists
somewhere in Illinois.
Bottom 2 photos of SK-165 are from the Niagara River, testing
in 1967, in front of Pop Schroeder's dock, Niagara Falls, NY.
A Bob Warren - Hurricane hull from California that was owned by Clyde
Schulte of Tonawanda, NY.
I was driving this at the Isleview, Niagara River in the early sixties.
The boat was short, light and quick, but unfortunately blew the motor
that day.
It was the first time it was ever raced. |
 |
Chartered SS-201
Super Stock class. Built in 1967 by Len Schiada of Gardena, CA.
Owner/Driver/Engine builder: Bill Burgess of N. Tonawanda, NY.
Powered by 427 Chevrolet. This picture was taken in 1970 at Valleyfield,
Quebec.
Boat won Super Stock Eastern Divisional first time in the water at
Isle View in Tonawanda, NY in 1968.
Boat campaigned as far as Ogden, UT for Nationals, Canada, all
of the east coast to Florida.
Held numerous course records. We almost had the 1972 Nationals at New
Martinsville, VA, but lost a valve.
Sold the boat in 1973 and it now resides somewhere in Canada.
Hampton, Virginia 1961. I had the pleasure of competing with Edgar
Jones, in the Miss Bee Bee.
The E and F service were classes were combined. The first picture is
the Sleeper, Bill Burgess driving,
riding mechanic Fran Semenick in the first turn with Edgar Jones in
the Miss Bee Bee.
(Bob Jones photo)
Hampton, Virgnia 1961.
Sleeper M-2, Bill Burgess driving, Fran Semenick riding
mechanic.
The Miss Bee Bee E-4 with Edgar Jones.
Bill Pratt's EZ Duzit E-8, driven by Harold Sauterfield.
(Bob Jones photo)
|
© 2003-2004 Bill Burgess
Back to photo albums
Home
|
