VINTAGE RACERS REDISCOVERED: 
Bill Kilian of Newport, Washington writes: I was looking through some old Propeller magazines the other day while working on my vintage 7 Litre hydro and ran across the Vintage, April 2003, “Hot Boat of the Month” article mentioning MISS LAPEER (aka MISS SPOKANE). 
Several years ago, while watching the Seattle Seafair on TV, there was a segment on the where-a-bouts of old Unlimiteds. A friend of mine, Ron Miller, and myself contacted owner Jim Herrington.  He said that he was about to destroy the MISS LAPEER because kids had ruined her while on display in the city park. He offered the boat to us if we would drive out to get her. Ron and I jumped into my Chevy 1-ton and drove to Lapeer, Michigan. Mr. Herrington had put new tires on the trailer, licensed it and basically had his mechanic make sure everything was road worthy. I drove to a local U-Haul shop and bought a new hitch for the truck and we loaded her up and drove back to Spokane. The boat was complete, even with a Rolls-Royce engine!  She now sits in a shed in Spokane, as I have moved out of town and my friend sadly passed away several years ago. 
I have now turned my attention to a 1970's vintage cabover 7-litre called COPY CAT and any information your readers can provide about COPY CAT would be would be greatly appreciated. 

CHALLENGES:
Californian, Spike Morelli, is restoring the 1965 Stevens flatbottom dragster, MORTICIAN. The boat was driven to five world records from 1965-67 by the late, Buzz Coats. Spike would like to do a faithfull-as-possible restoration in tribute to the late owner/driver. He would like to contact Coat’s two former partners, Tom Morgan and Bill Clark, and Buzz Coat’s wife or daughters. Any readers that can help Spike with this challenge, please contact this column.

Challenge answered: In a January 1996 Vintage column we featured a photo of a Pacific One-Design Hydro (PODH), EXCALIBUR,0-9. Thanks to Bob Braun and his son Kevin, we now know the driver of 0-9 is David Gogerty and the riding mechanic’s last name is McFadden. 
 
EVENTS: 
Apr.23-24:    Dayton OH. Dayton testing: contact Jack Hines 937-898-0562
June 10-12:      Pomona CA. Boat Racer’s Reunion: contact Richard Parks RnParks1@juno.com 
June 10-12:   Kent Narrows MD. Kent Narrows Vintage Regatta: contact Larry Lauterbach 410-643-4521
July 1-3:     Madison IN. Madison Regatta: contact Joe Johnson 812-866-8940
July:15-17:   Detroit MI. APBA Gold Cup: contact Alan Radue 248-616-1317
July:23-24:    Waterford MI. Quake on the Lake: contact Tom Bertolini 586-716-4490  
Aug.13:      Columbus OH. Scioto Riverfest: contact Kevin Klosterman 614-336-3590  
Sept.10-11:  Grand Island NY. Race Boat Reunion: contact Bill DeGlopper 716-773-6093 or squeegeede@adelphia.net
Sept.15-17:  Wolfeboro NH. Vintage Raceboat Regatta: contact Bill John  603-569-5824 or vintageraceboatshop.com 
   
REPORTS:
Bill John III Report:
Unbelievable! Here it is almost mid-March. We already got pounded earlier this week with a storm that dumped a foot of snow on us. Now they are forecasting another storm with another 6-12 inches of snow! In my New Hampshire shop we are making good progress on MISS LORI ANN, a Chris Craft Speedster owned by Ken Sandhage. The bottom is done and we are working on the build coats of
paint on the hull sides and varnish on the deck. We’re also making progress on the other boat in my shop - a 1929, 28 foot Chris Craft triple cockpit runabout -CORNELIA. Both hull sides have now been stripped, and next week we begin playing with filler-stains, to match the unique golden walnut color of the deck. We had a great APBA Winter Gathering in Detroit last weekend, with over 75 vintage addicts attending. This is always a fun social event, with lots of good friends, videos of vintage race boats and vintage banter that lasts well into the wee-hours. And this year, as usual, the food was absolutely incredible. Here is the link for a recap and photos. www.vintageraceboatshop.com/APBA-AnnualMeeting-2005.htm  

ON A SAD NOTE:
Valentine “Val” Lisk passed away at the age of 75 on Feb. 14, 2005. Val was the owner of a 5 Litre hydro driven by his son, Rob which they campaigned out of the Seattle area. Donations can be made to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, WA.  

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
Thanks to Kevin Braun for forwarding news clippings, a program and photographs taken by his father, Bob, concerning the 12th Annual Hearst Perpetual Gold Cup Regatta held at Long Beach, California in 1944.