NOTES:
Bill Mehan has added another vintage boat to his stable. This time it is a 750 horsepower jet drive boat. 
Bill Northrup brought to my attention that we should included in our list of 48 ci Hydro Legends the driver Bascom Grooms, from Key West, FL. “He definitely was a thorn in Doc Moors’ side. Bascom’s Tinker Belle won many times against the legendary Doc Moore and his Southern Air.” 
Joey Nolan wanted to let us know that his dad Joe “Arabian Cajun” Nolan and Wesley Nickens were boat partners for 23+ years. “The 48 ci hydro was the only class in which they ever owned a boat, running the Piranha, Caribe and the Arabian Cajun. It was a great class and brought a lot of lasting memories to us.”
John Bohrman of Pewaukee, WI is looking for a new home for his Ted Jones 266-ci conventional hydroplane, Wham, F-111. John needs information regarding F-111’s racing history. Bohrman can be reached at (262) 369-0154
For those of you looking for a larger boat to restore, Bill DeGlopper has information regarding the 26 Ft. Longtin hull Canadiana Grand Prix, GP-222, formally driven by Art Ashbury. You email Bill at squeegeede@adelphia.net or (716) 773-6093.
If you want to look good at the APBA vintage events, visit the on line clothing store www.racing-images.com/apba or Marie Moore at (732) 747-1076. They have a full line of good looking, high quality clothing and hats. The vintage logo can be put on all items.

VINTAGE RACING HEROES:
Continuing on with some of the outstanding racers who have raised the bar of excellence by their performance on the racecourse. This month’s class is the 135/150 cubic inch hydroplane. I may have missed many. For any oversight that I may make, feel free to send me your additions. (Source: The APBA Rule books)

135 / 150 CUBIC INCH HYDRO       1946 THRU 1970
This class was established prior to these dates, but I have chosen not to go prewar, in order to follow the same format of the previous articles. The following people were the record setters, National and High Point Champions of this era. It almost looks like this could be the who’s who of inboard hydroplane racing. Many of these drivers went on to race successfully in other faster classes including Unlimiteds. In 1946, there were two stand out drivers: Edison Hedges from Atlantic City, NJ, who also raced in the prewar era and Southern California’s Tommy Hill, the one mile straight away record holder in his newly designed boat the LyBee. The 1947 National Champion was Merylyn Culver and his Yankee Doodle V and the mile record holder T. Caldwell in his Blue Blazes. Bob Sykes set a competition record in the Mighty Chevron. The following year Roy Skaggs the owner of Mighty Chevron upped the competition record and did it again in ‘49 driving his Skalawaggs. Pop’s Tops won the Nationals with Thom Cooper driving. Sid Street won the Highpoints in Gee Whiz and set a straight away record in 1950. Tommy Gore out of Detroit won High-points in 1950 and Rich Hallet designer and builder of many of the top boats in the nation was the National Champion in the Holiday. 1951 Chuck Powell in his Keno set a new mile record. Sam Owen (Ethel XX) won the Nationals while Curt Martins wrapped up High Points in the Mar-Bel. Morlan Visel set a competition record in his Little Joe. James Retif was the 1952 High Point Champion. Joe Wolf was the National Champion with Whooee, and Eddie Meyer in Avenger IV set a mile record. 1953 Donnie Wilson in the Who Dat was the National Champion and a new mile record was set by Duane Allen in the Cumon Baby. E.A. Letarde and Johnny Landaiche in the Belle wrapped up High Points. ’54 saw Buddy Holloway top 101 mph in the Screaming Eagle IV while J.C. Townsend in his 8 Ball won the Nationals, and Ron Musson driving Frank Hearn’s Chromium was Hi Point Champion in both 1954 and 1955. 1955 National Champion was John Corea in Skippy. 1956 saw Bill Ritner’s Wa Wa win Hi-Points with designer/builder Henry Lauterbach driving. 1957 & 59 saw Weldon Ropp dominate in his Miami Belle. Bob Hamilton took the Nationals with Shake, Rattle & Roll in ‘57. Frank Neely took the Nationals in 56, 58 & 59 with Cumon Baby. Allan Ford with Lanky set a new Kilo record in 1960. Johnny Landaiche set a competition record, won the Nationals and became the Hi-Point Champ. In 1961 & 1962, R.E. Maurer & Schroeder set a new kilo & competition record in Trample. Earl Kelly and his Wildcat wrapped up hi-Points. Wayne Thompson won the Nationals in 1961 and 1966 in Cumon Baby. John Siracusa in the Country Boy Too finished out 1961 by setting a competition record. 1962, Red Reeder in Helluva III set a new Kilo record. Swede Stromstedt won the Nationals in Lutefisk. Paul Flohn won Hi-Points with Rowdy. 1963, Avenger VI, Randy Meyer won the Nationals, Hi-Points and set a Kilo record. Finishing the year was Micky Remund setting a competition record in Red Reeder’s Helluva III. Tony Sanzone driving Johnny Landaiche’s Belle won the 1964 and 1968 Nationals. Jack Hess from Seattle clinched the 1964 Hi-Points with High Hopes. 1965 saw Ronnie Hearn win the Nationals in Rudy’s Gurley’s Rudy’s Comet. Woody Pliescott Jr. in the Woody JR’s Special won Hi-Points in 65, 66 and 68. In 1967, we saw the Kilo and competition records raised by Wayne Thompson in the Cumon Baby. 1967, the National Champion was Doc Roach in La Cucaracha. Hilton’s Hyper-Lube with Jim Benson garnered the Hi-Points title. 1969 & 1970 Nationals were won by Southern Style driven by Tom D’Eath who also upped the Kilo record by 10 mph. George English driving Royce Richard’s Fat Chance won the Hi-Points title in those same years. Finishing out the 1970 season, Comm. Glen Brewer driving Dr. Roach’s La Cucaracha set a competition record. These are just a few of the highlights covering the tremendous competition in this popular modified class.

VINTAGE TRIVIA:
Did you know that when the 7 Litre Hydro Class was formulated in 1948 it was originally called the "Sweepstakes Class?”

 Question: Was APBA always the UIM authority for the US?
Answer: Courtesy of Fred Farley “The APBA was not always the national authority for the UIM. Before 1954 the Yachtsmen’s Association of America was the group set up by Gar Wood in the years prior to World War 11 to administer the British International (Harmsworth) Trophy races in the United States.”

CHALLENGES:
Richard Landaiche, the son of Johnny, is trying to locate his father’s 135-ci hydro the Belle. This Bush built hull was the 135 ci National Champion in 1960,1964 & 68. Whatever happened to this boat? You can email Richard at richard_landaiche@rittinerequipment.com.

 Bjorn (Bounce) Eyjolfsson tells us that it has been 21 years since he last saw the Das Fireschpittin Loudinboomer Again, SK-47. “This hull was purchase by Roy Hoffman who lived in Margate, FL. The boat was renamed Roy’s Toy, SK-115. Roy retired the boat when he acquired a Patterson hull. The Firespitter was one of the first boats Bounce worked on when he worked for Bill Barhart in Pompano and he still has a picture of it on his wall.”

VINTAGE EVENT SITES:
April 28, 29  Dayton, OH testing 
 July 6 thru 8  Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada
 June 23, 24  Hydromania 2001-North Tonawanda, NY
 July 13 thru 15  Detroit, Michigan - The Gold Cup
 Sept. 7, 8   Buffalo Launch Club Reunion & Vintage Event
 Sept 21-23   Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

ON A SAD NOTE:
Bernice Jones, previously from Miami, FL, passed away in January. Bernice was predeceased by her husband S.E.“Sonny” Jones. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Steve Jones and his family. Sonny and Bernice were life long members of APBA.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
Jim Benson’s Hilton Hyper Lube, A-555. The 1967 150 cubic inch National High Point Champion.

©2001 Tom D'Eath