NOTES:
Ray and Curt Schmitt from New York have been searching for their 150 cubic inch Lauterbach Hydro Short Cut, A-87, for several years now. The twins made a scale model of their boat, passed out wanted flyers, and spent hours searching. At Clayton this year they brought their model and talked with many former racers and V & H members. Their dreams of restoration for this 1965 Orange Bowl Regatta winner have come to an end. As a result of their trip to Clayton’s Bi-Annual race boat regatta, Information was confirmed that their hydroplane, Short Cut, has gone to race boat heaven.

 Bob Gross from the NY, or New Jersey area is looking for a Sooy 145 or 280 cubic inch hydroplane or an older SK boat for restoration. He can be reached at 609-822-6309.

CHALLENGES:
We had no idea that our Challenge about the movie “Racing Fever” would bring so much response. We even heard from Bill Grefe the writer, producer and director who tells us that he could probably get video copies of the movie. You can reach him at PO Box 260214 Pembroke Pines, FL 33026.
 John Curtis from Washington State tells us that after reading the V & H report, he grabbed his 1997 copy of Leonard Maltin’s Movie & Video Guide. According to Maltin, the picture is not available on video or laser disc. “After reading Maltin’s review, you may not care to see the 1964 movie.”
 “Racing Fever(1964): BOMB D: William Grefe. Joe Morrison, Charles Martin, Maxine Carroll, Barbara Biggart. Torrid trash of speedboat racing, an accidental killing, and revenge.”
 Butch Stokes wrote us and commented that the movie was filmed in Miami in ‘62 or ‘63. The film featured mostly the 266 & 280 hydros, with Fuzzy Furlong, Johnny White, Bob Seaver, Al Mims, Lou Koehler and Sam Sarna driving. “There wasn’t much of a story plot - Rich kid has cocktails on yacht, jumps in race boat & gets killed, Ho Hum!

CLAYTON REPORT:
One of the highlights of the Clayton Antique Raceboat Regatta is the presentation of the Daniel J. Murphy award. APBA certainly appreciates all that Daniel J. Murphy JR has done for the V & H Division. This beautiful perpetual trophy is on display at the Clayton Museum. Daniel provides us with the keeper award for each Clayton event. The highest honor for the V & H Division is presented to the person who best exemplifies the romance and flavor of Powerboat Racing’s past. It is our pleasure to report that this year's recipient is “Bob Cunningham” of Columbus, Ohio. Bob is the mechanic responsible for the powerful Chrysler engines that were used in Buddy Byers’ famous Miss Desoto and Chrysler Queens 7 Litres. Bob was Buddy’s mechanic for over 50 years. His engines set many records and won many National Championships. Bob is certainly a mechanic’s mechanic. He is a perfect representative for all those mechanics responsible for keeping these beautiful boats running.

 I received a letter from Bruce Tracy of Holland, MI which represents the atmosphere for that whole weekend at Clayton. I want to share parts of his letter with you. 
 Dear Tom,
 I am the guy who was riding the emotional roller coaster following your dedication of the trophy to your mechanic friend.
 Tears of joy, tears of sadness - I’m 57 years old, a boater at age 4 and racer at 10. 7 1/2 Merc, 15 Evinrude to 20h with a Sid Craft. Then a B Jacoby, finally a D Raveau. School, jobs, family, pleasure boats etc. -But- Boat Racing will always be in my heart. The thrill of boating and racing can only be understood by those who have experienced it. Only a few have been fortunate to experience racing at the level you have...And so we live our dreams through you and other famous drivers.
 Finally our dreams come true in a very special way when we step back in time to a place like the Clayton NY Vintage Race Boat Regatta. I saw new boats that are exactly like the ones I labored over and loved in the 50’s.
 I said to you “ How can we save the boats?” with tears in my eyes and a choked voice. Perhaps I carry my emotions on my sleeve but I felt the moment the same as you did and I’m happy to know someone else loves racing and those great friendships, we made long ago.
 Now I’m old and still feel and act like a kid around these art forms called antique raceboats. I’ve never been to a place where everyone had the same mind set....It was wonderful.
  If we could only “can” all the conversations at Clayton among the racers and dreamers. What a story that would be!!!
 I’ll be at Clayton in 2000 with a boat!
Best Regards, 
Bruce Tracey

Bill Coberly from Bakersfield, CA also wrote to let us know how much his group enjoyed the Clayton Regatta. “What a great show of classic boats and people. It’s obvious there’s a serious interest and growth occuring in vintage race boats. Thanks to Bill Fisk and Floyd Waterson, we were provided facilities to work on the engine in am attempt to fix the Thundershower. Every APBA member, especially the younger ones, should attend this event in the future to view virtually every conceivable combination of boat and motor ever raced, from J runabouts to the Gold Cup runabouts and hydroplanes.”Thanks to Clayton for your hospitality and a great weekend.”
 As far as I am concerned these letters captured it all. There is nothing more that I can add.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
In the December 95 issue of Propeller, boat designer/builder Will Farmer, mentioned that the most valuable Farmer hull would be the 280 hydro Beverly Anne which Skeeter Johnson drove in the 1960’s setting a kilo record. The boat was sold in 1964 to Joel Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma who raced it as The Oklahoma Kid. I began to wonder ... Terry Turner of California drove a Farmer 280 called Sundance in the late 1960’s and early 70’s. Was Sundance the former Beverly Anne? If so, what became of the Sundance and thus, the most valuable Farmer Hull?

 Clayton West? The Lake Tahoe Yacht Club is moving ahead with plans to include Vintage/Historic race boats as part of its famous Concours d’Elegance. It’s still in the planning stages, but look for an early August 1999 date. One couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting to host a Vintage race boat show.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
JUNO, G-12, a 1936 Ventnor Gold Cup Hydroplane. The original owner/driver was Jack Rutherfurd of Palm Beach, Florida. On September 25,1937, Jack Rutherfurd driving the JUNO set the Non-Supercharged  Gold Cup Straight- A-Way Record at Washington, DC. This boat and driver combination went to Europe and won many of the their events. The Juno was restored to pristine condition by the present owners, George and Peter Kreissle of Sarasota, Florida.

©1998 Tom D'Eath