Plane Crash Kills Stead
Bill Stead, well-known power boat driver and flyer, was killed in the
crash of his plane during a practice flight over Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg,
Fla., April 28.
Stead, whose home was in Reno, Nevada, was killed when his plane failed
to come out of a 30-degree dive over Tampa Bay. He was on a practice run
for the Flying Midget race to be held the following Sunday at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Airport. It is reported that he had had engine trouble and was making a
practice flight to test the engine.
Stead, who was 44, is survived by his wife, Lila, two daughters, Miriam,
19, and Susan, 16, and a brother, David Stead.
Bill Stead carried the title of Unlimited Drivers' Representative in
the ranks of the APBA and behind his title was a list of achievements that
indelibly marked him as well qualified for his official duties.
It was in 1949 that Bill first took over the controls of an Unlimited
power boat as owner and driver of Fury, then Hurricane IV
and Mustang. He piloted two Mavericks for the late W. T.
Waggoner to national championships and All-American Racing Team awards.
In addition to having his name inscribed on the Gold Cup, Silver Cup,
Diamond Cup, Mapes Trophy, International Sweepstakes, Cooper Trophy, Apple
Cup, Driver-of-the-Year Gold Cup, and others, he was a member of the Marine
Racing Hall of Fame and the Seattle Hydroplane Hall of Fame.
Through the years 1956-59, he took part in all Unlimited events and
drove against the late Bob Hayward as the United States selection to defend
the International Harmsworth Trophy.
Stead organized Unlimited races at Pyramid Lake, Lake Mead, and the
Mapes trophy and the Harrah Cup race at Lake Tahoe.
His name was in the record book as holding the Gold Cup qualifying
mark of 119.9 mph on a three-mile course for three laps and one lap 120.3;
also the 90-mile race record of 104.5 mph set in Seattle in 1959.
His speeds of 107 mph in the 1958 Diamond Cup race, 107.9, set in 1959
in the Mapes Trophy at Reno, and a qualifying time of 124.3 for one lap
in the Chelan Apple Cup qualifying still stand in the record books.
Stead was also chairman of the Unlimited and Gold Cup technical committees
and a member of the Gold Cup and Unlimited Contest boards and safety committees,
among other APBA official offices.
1966 APBA CHAMPIONSHIPS
INBOARD NATIONALS
July 24, Merced, Calif.:
B Rac. Run.
July 29-31, Seattle, Wash.:
48, 145, 150, 225, 266, 280 & 7 Litre Hydros, Ski Rac. Run., Cracker
Box.
Sept. 11, Montgomery, Pa.:
44 Hydro.
Inboard Eastern Divisionals
July 9-10, Dayton, Ohio: 48, 145, 150, 225, 266, 280 & 7 Litre
Hydros, Ski Rac. Run.
July 23-24, Red Bank, N.J.: 44 Hydro, Jersey Speed Skiff.
Inboard Western Divisionals
June 18-19, San Diego, Calif.: 48, 145, 150, 225, 266, 280 & 7
Litre Hydros, B Rac. Run., E Rac. Run., Ski Rac. Run., Super Stock, Cracker
Box.
STOCK OUTBOARD NATIONALS
Aug. 18-21, Prineville, Ore.: All Classes.
STOCK OUTBOARD MARATHON NATIONALS
June 25-26, Needles, Calif.: AU, BU, CU, DU,36.
OUTBOARD NATIONALS
Aug. 5-7, DePue, 01.: All Classes, except F Rac. Run., M Hydro.
Sept. 11, San Francisco, Calif.: F Rac. Run., M Hydro. |
Marine Prop Riders
The Marine Prop Riders were confronted with the loss of our secretary
this month to another region. Tom D'Eath, our 1966 secretary, is moving
to St. Petersburg, Fla., with his father, Al D'Eath, and brother Roger.
They are going into the marina business in St. Pete. Region 5's gain is
our loss, because all three of these fellows have contributed a great deal
for many years to the sport of boat racing in the Michigan area.
Lynn Golds of Detroit is taking over the secretary's helm for the balance
of the year.
Some new developments are shaping up for the 150 class this year in
our club. Two fellows, namely Bill Bagley and George English, are putting
sleeved-down Buicks in their ISO's. I also heard of a sleeved 260 cu. in.
Ford also going into a 150. Joe Tate will have his new ISO with a Chevy
II ready about mid-summer. This should make for some interesting competition
in this class.
Danny Noth has purchased Denny Fox's 280. Denny has purchased Ed Morgan's
High
Winder 225. Ed Morgan has purchased a new 225 Jones soon to be delivered.
Sounds like a wild merry-go-round.
Mike Cashin is jumping from 48's to ISO's by purchasing Jimmy Mann's
high flying Nomad. This was always a front runner and should give
Mike a good ride.
The Marine Prop Riders sponsored regatta at Loon Lake, near Pontiac,
has been changed from June 26 to June 19. A big APBA approved regatta at
Guntersville, Ala., June 26, has interested enough of our members to want
to change our date to avoid a conflict with Guntersville.
The Ypsilanti Jaycee sponsored regatta at Ford Lake, July 3, is going
to be a smashing success, weather permitting. They have raised all the
money needed with tremendous local support. This is a new type event for
Ypsilanti, and as a result it has inspired many local citizens to donate
equipment and money through program sales. Best of luck for a safe, fun
racing season.
-Harrison (Hoddy) Quirk
RACE NEWS
Wolin Hits 130 MPH For New Outboard Record
Gerry E. Walin, Edmonds, Wash., set a new world speed record for outboard
boats at 130.929 mph, on Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border,
March 16, pending approval by UIM.
The boat driven by Walin was a l7-ft. hydroplane, powered by an Evinrude
Starflite 100-S motor. The run was over a kilometer course in a trial sanctioned
by the APBA.
Walin, 26, a student at the University of Washington, has been racing
outboard boats since 1953. He holds the UIM world kilo record for A racing
runabouts. The stream-lined hydro he drove was designed by Hu Entrop, Seattle,
and was built by Wilbur McDonald, Portland, Ore. Owner of the boat is C.
W. Jones, Phoenix.
The record speed was certified by the APBA, official sanctioning organization
in the United States for the Union of International Motorboating. The speed
will be submitted toUIM for homologation as an official UIM Class I world
record for unlimited outboard motors. This is a new class, recently recognized
by UIM.
APBA officials supervising the trial were J. Otto Crocker, San Diego,
timer; Marion Beaver, Parker, Ariz., referee; Gaston Van Hyfte, also Parker,
inspector; and Glenn Davis, Venice, Calif., time trial representative of
the Special Events Committee which sanctioned the run.
| Gerry Walin, snug in the forward cockpit
of Starflite IV, takes off just before his record run at 130.929
mph at Lake Havasu, Ariz., a new record for UIM class I unlimited outboard. |
High Point Standings
INBOARD
280 Hydro
Miss Cottontail, Allen Reese, Miami, Fla. (4) .1500
Honey Bear, Norman Morris, Oakland, Calif. (3)1200
Giz Mo, Eddie Silva, Hayward, Calif. (3) 900
Imp Patient, Bob Hixson, N. Hollywood, Calif. (2) 700
Hydro Phobia, Bill Wayne, Modesto, Calif. (3). 675
266 Hydro
Miss Kathleen, Stan Irwin, Hialeah, Fla. (5) 1469
Jade Dragon, Gene Bramblett, Miami, Fla. (2) 625
150 Hydro
Woody Jr's Special, Elwood J. Pliescott, Jr., Cambridge, Md.
(3) 1100
Trample Too, Rod Maurer, San Diego, Calif. (2). 569
Avenger 7, Bud Meyer, N. Hollywood, Calif. (2) 525
Avenger VI, Bud Wiget, Lakeland, Fla. (2) 525
145 Hydro
Lanky, Alan A. Ford, Concord, Calif. (3) 1000
Scrappy, Harry L. Weimer, Carmichael, Calif. (3) 969
Volador, Glenn Brewer, Coronado, Calif. (3) 850
White Tiger, R. M. Minnich, San Jose, Calif. (2).. 469
Rawhide I, Bill Chilcott, Carmichael, Calif. (2) 450
91 Hydro
Pit Pass, Jack Sellers, St. Petersburg, Fla. (5)..1700
First Mortgage, Richard Cooper, Miami Beach, Fla. (4) 1096
Southern Air IV, F. C. Moor, Hialeah, Fla. (3) 869
The Topper, Robert M. Tucker, St. Petersburg, Fla. (3).. 752
48 Hydro
Southern Air IV Too, F. C. Moor, Hialeah, Fla. (5).1825
Alley Cat, Donn Curttright, Miami, Fla. (5) 1525
Sis, S. E. Jones, Miami, Fla. (5) 1394
Road Runner, Art McDougall, Orlando, Fla. (4) .919
Cracker Bax
Itch I Bon, Phil Shipley, Reseda, Calif. (2) 700
The Broker, Dick Maxwell, Van Nuys, Calif. (2) 700
Hot Knots, John Sherin, Covina, Calif. (2) 450
Super Stock
Cobra-A-Go-Go, Bill Boaz, Sunnyvale, Calif. (2).. 800
Poacher, Kenneth Tonkovich, Downey, Calif. (2) 427
Ski Rac. Run.
Blo-A-Go-Go, Bright Stevenson, Eastover, S.C. (2) 625
Cat Nip, J. D. Hunt, Columbia, S.C, (2) 527
B Rac. Run.
Jo, Wayland Fink, Patterson, Calif. (3) 1000
Lil Bee, Ernie Rose, Patterson, Calif. (3) 794
B-Girl, OIen Miller, Modesto, Calif. (2) 700
Joker, Jerry Gasper, Fremont, Calif. (3) 479
Lil Tara, Harry K. Bosworth, Geyserville, Calif. (2) 338
E Ser. Run.
Second Mortgage, Ben Pumo, Miami, Fla. (2) .625
Lady Caroline, S. C. Littlejohn, New Orleans, La. (2) 469
F Ser. Run.
Secret, Bill Bourne, Coral Gables, Fla. (3) 694
Scandal, Bill Bourne, Coral Gables, Fla. (3) .652
**SWAPSHOP**
USED BOATS
AND EQUIPMENT
Minimum $5.00
15 Cents Per Word |
FOR SALE -145 Hydro, Lloyd hull, complete, spare parts, Ford V8-60 inc.
trailer, jacket, helmet. Best offer. Contact Charles E. Sharp, Coatesville,
Pa.
FOR SALE -280 Hydro, Chev. engine, trailer, ready to race, $995. John
V. Lowman, Seattle, Wash.
FOR SALE-145 Hydro, Farmer Hull, Holman and Moody Falcon, Cary prop,
good custom built trailer. Lots of extra parts. Only two years old, raced
seven times. Complete price $1,195. Don Sowers, Hopewell, Va.
FOR SALE-145 Hydro hull, Renegade, with some hardware. Fast and
solid, will mount 60 Falcon or Corvair. Any reasonable offer accepted.
Bill Bunn, Baltimore, Md., 21226
FOR SALE-145 Hydro with 0.100 over V8-60, all running gear and trailer.
Stored last two years. $300 or best offer. Gaylord Newton, Lynnfield, Mass. |
