January 2006
by  Bob Silva and Bill John III
Rob Kaufman, of the Vintage SK-169, CAN’T WAIT, has been involved with boat racing for 50+ years. He would like to see APBA re-instate the old E Racing Runabout class. Writes Rob,” Many of us raced E Racing Runabouts in the 1950’s and 60’s (before rule changes made them too expensive and too fast and dangerous). We were around when the 280 hydro stock class was started and can see the possibilities for a semi-stock runabout class”. The exact details are yet to be determined but the proposal would include such changes as: a spec Chevrolet 350 ZZ4 Crate Engine, one 4- barrel carb using pump gas and a rev-limiter set at 6500 rpm. Hulls would be minimum 16 ft., weigh 1500 lbs, and use V-drives. The maximum boat speed would be 85-90 mph. “There are dozens of former SK and SS hulls around that could be re-powered by the 350 and offer safe , competitive, low cost racing”, offers Kaufman. The crowd pleasing, old rear-cockpit ERR, with direct-drive design, or any ERR registered prior to 1964 would be eligible, but limited to the new engine rules.
Imagine! The record holder, MY STARDUST, taken out of storage and throwing her roostertail all over the competition, once again.

Boat racing historian, Bob Foley of San Diego CA. is looking for an early 2006 release date for his two books: "Inboard Racing - A Wild Ride" and "Inboard Racing - A Color Album". Bob, involved with Inboard racing since the early 1960’s, campaigned a 48 ci hydro, FULL HOUSE MOUSE.   
 

CHALLENGES: 
Ken Muscatel offers this challenge:
“I've got a boat that was built by "Visel and Moore", likely in the late 40's. It is a 266 three point prop rider that is clearly a vintage piece. I have a pix of the boat running at Long Beach. Visel is certainly Morlin Visel of HURRICANE fame. The boat was known as PAIR OF JACKS in the 1970's in Ohio, and had a 265 Chevy at that time.”
Can any of our readers help Ken with info on his hydro?
 

EVENTS:

  • JAN 26-28 APBA Annual Meeting  Ft. Lauderdale Contact: APBA HQ 586-773-9700
  • FEB 25 Annual APBA Winter Gathering Detroit MI. Contact: Tom and Jacq Bertolini 586-716-4490
  • APR??? Dayton Testing Dayton OH. Contact: Jack Hines 937-898-0562
  • JULY 7-9 Valleyfield Quebec, Canada Contact: Ben Lemay 450-371-3291
  • JULY 14-16 APBA Gold Cup Detroit MI Contact: Alan Radue 248-616-1317
  • AUG 18-20 Antique Raceboat Regatta Clayton NY Contact: 315-686-4104
  • AUG 26-27 Celina Governor’s Cup Celina OH Contact: Ron Synder
  • SEPT 8-9 Buffalo Launch Club/Reunion Buffalo NY Contact: Bill DeGlopper 716-773-6093
  • SEPT 22-24 Wyandotte Vintagefest Wyandotte MI Contact: Mike Cashin 734-324-7605


REPORTS:
Harlan Orrin Jr. reports he just acquired a 1958-'59 Leonard Schiada wood flatbottom V-Drive. Notes Harlan,“The boat sat outside for several years. I will have to install a new wood deck. The hull is in good shape, and complete, less engine. There was a pair of Cad valve covers and an intake manifold with 4 bbl. carb. I will have to find a period Cad engine. . .“about 2 months ago I picked up a Howard hull in Hesperia, CA. It was in the desert, on the ground, stripped. I now have 14 boats.” 
 

Bill John III Report 
Gordon Jayne’s DINOMYTES, GP-1001 is For Sale. Yup! If you really wanna Rock & Roll on the APBA Vintage Circuit next summer, here is your express ticket. Back in the shop, we have just begun work on a very nice 21 foot Chris Craft Capri, BABE. The bottom has been well sanded and we are now focused on a few bottom/wood repairs. As always, you are all invited to join us on any Saturday morning here at my shop. The coffee and donuts are usually ready by 9:00.
 

ON A SAD NOTE: 
Frank "Rascal" Cichon, of Eastlake, Ohio passed away Oct. 30, 2005 at age 62. He was a past president and trustee of Great Lakes Offshore Powerboat Racing Association, member of Great Lakes Silver Cup Series and the APBA. Frank competed in powerboat racing around the country. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to 
Multiple Myeloma Research Program (Taussig Cancer Center, 9500 Euclid Ave., P.O. Box R-35, Cleveland, OH 44195) or to Lake County Humane Society, 7564 Tyler Blvd., Mentor 44060. 
 
Virginia Bauer, age 90, passed away Nov.1, 2005. Virginia had just turned 90 the day before her passing. She was the chief score keeper for most of the Region 6 races in the 1970's and 80's. Her husband Paul, who passed-on earlier this year, was twice elected to the Gulf Marine Hall of Fame. They were known to most people as “Aunt Virginia and Uncle Paul” by their family and many friends. 

Louie Andrews passed away Nov.11, 2005 from a heart attack. Mr. Andrews was part of the Morgan City, Louisiana Race Team and had been involved in the past with the Deluge Inboard hydroplane boats.

God Speed from the Vintage boat racing family. 
 

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT: 
Dick Maxwell’s, THE BROKER, a Ford powered, 1965 Bob Patterson built Crackerbox certainly created a stir by dominating the Chevrolet powered class entries during the 1967-68 racing season. Driven by Phil Shipley with Jim Blount as rider, the yellow 76-P set a kilo record of 91.300 mph, won the 1968 National Championship and set a Long Beach Stadium class record at 67.315 mph. The high winding, small block Ford was pushed to the limits by driver Shipley who was a crowd favorite with his hard charging, transom riding style. Renamed ZAP, by new owner Jeff Clune, the boat again made history at the Parker AZ. Kilo Trials, in 1975. While setting a new class record of 99.868 mph, the Ford powered 76-P clocked over 100 mph during one pass, thus becoming the first Crackerbox to officially eclipse the century mark.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH

Driver Phil Shipley and rider Jim Blount are shown on the way to another Crackerbox class win in Jim Maxwell’s THE BROKER, 76-P, at Long Beach Stadium. The Ford powered, Patterson built Cracker was the class of the field during the 1967-68 APBA racing seasons. (Hal Loomis photo)


Australian race boat historian, Dave Pagano, built this beautiful scale model of SLO-MO SHUN IV from scratch. 
Dave built the detailed model using blue prints sent by owner Stan Sayres to interested Aussies back in the early 1950’s. 
No stranger to Unlimiteds, Pagano is restoring the full sized, Merlin powered hydro, AGGRESSOR. (Suzie Aming photo)

©2006 Bob Silva & Bill John III