DISORGANIZED DRAG BOAT racing took a giant step forward at the 1965 APBA National Fuel and Gas Drag Championships. ..and for many of the spectators on hand they will probably never want to sit through a boat race again. While Bakersfield California's picturesque Lake Ming, site of the APBA meet, October 15 through 17, may be a great place to water ski. ..the general feeling of drag boat participants is that they wouldn't want to race there, anymore.
When it comes to dangerous water, Lake Ming could qualify as 'the lake most likely to succeed in destroying a drag boat." Small, deadly rollers, bouncing off a concrete dock wall, move silently back across the course. This action creates "holes" in the water that can bring complete destruction to a speeding boat and injury to the driver. But, the name of the game is racing and most of the competitors were previously aware of the trickey Ming straightaway shot. However, it does seem insane for a race driver, no matter what kind of racing, to deliberately have to stick his neck in a noose. Pre race propaganda announced that officials of the conducting Kern County Boat & Ski Club were preparing for a bumper crop of 300 Western States drivers to compete. Even with half that number showing up, the three day fiasco sputtered, fizzled and finally had to be called because of darkness. Eliminator title contenders, the boats that most spectators go to the race to see were seen sitting on the beach, some having only made one run during the three day meet. Condition of the water could be blamed for most of the delay. Officials were giving the faster drivers every opportunity to run on smooth water but it never came. And the "lunch break" lasted until 3:00.
All was not lost for any spectators that got out of bed early Saturday, October 16. Jack Seibuhr, Inglewood, California was making his debut in Miss Spico. Owned by Joe Glover, Bakersfield, California, Miss Spico was expected to shatter the existing APBA record time of 157.06 set by Barry McCown and Banzai in 1963. The engine used, a 392 cu. in. blown Hemi Chrysler with special Isky Cam, formerly rested on the record setting AA Fuel Dragster frame of the Warren/Coburn team. The hull is an impressive, cab-over hydro that closely represents a scaled down Unlimited. Unleashing this formidable combination off the starting line, Seibuhr knifed through the early morning calm with a thunderous roar that echoed for five minutes off the surrounding hillsides. The mountainous white-water roostertail that followed Miss Spico through the lights was still settling when the speed was announced at 163.93 mph.
Barry McCown grabbed what was left of the calm water but still managed to find the "hole in the middle" halfway through his qualifying run. Barry's Banzai, defending APBA record holder and 1965 NDBA Top Eliminator, burned through the lights at 154 mph. Tom Weeda in El Tigre was next to take his chances and he, too, kited his Chryrler powered Sanger over the "hole" to qualify at 143 mph. With a slight wind kicking up a chop and swell, Jean Jennewein, at the wheel of Mike Murphy's Miss Dragin, another Sanger glass hydro, took a spine-jarring trip midway down the chute, forcing him to shut down too fast.
The end result was a coughed valve for his powerful Chrysler and an afternoon on the trailer. Flat bottom contenders Dale McMichaels, Bakersfield and Del Briscoe found themselves boatless after each had flipped while clocking 90 mph. McMichaels suffered a badly broken ankle and Briscoe came away with bruises.
The balance of Saturday's action ended with Garry Brown, Oxnard, California running past all his challengers. Garry, who built his cracker-box styled boat, Rocket-Box, echoed the surprise of his 75-80 class win against the conventional styled ski boats by stating, "We just came up to see what her top speed would be. Sure didn't expect anything like this!" Garry also was awarded a new Tiger Trailer for his first big victory.
Sunday was "sit and suffer" day but, better water and weather opened the door for Howard Brown to grab a new flatbottom blown fuel APBA record in How Bout That. The Keith Black Chrysler powered Howard hull leaped out of the gate; covered the quarter mile at 122.44 and backed it up with a 119.65.
With the record book open, Ron Ehde. HydroFlite boat manufacturer from Costa Mesa, Calif., stepped in with double qualifying runs of 112.35 mph and 109.75, to regain the unblown gas hydro record. Ron's boat was also Chrysler powered. Following the rebuilding of Miss Spico's lunched engine, that blew on an early morning run, Jack Seibuhr pushed the fancy dancing hydro to the ragged edge. A gust of wind and those deadly rollers lifted the accelerating dragster off the water and Seibuhr was forced to pull his foot out of it. The gutsy driver was back on it after correcting the boat's attitude and still managed a 155 mph run.
As day drifted to dusk, Buzz Coats, No. Hollywood, buried his foot in Mortician, showing the remaining spectators a wild "water wheelie." The dual 301 Chevy powered Stevens torqued and twisted and in the next "guess-timated" 10 or 11 seconds. had tripped the lights at 111.80 mph.
With an APBA unblown fuel record hanging in the balance, Coats unloaded off the line in another crowd squealing wheelie, backing up his run with a 110.15-mph and dumping Rene Andre's Chrysler packing Hallett hydro.

At this point, the officials halted the "draggin" session because of darkness ...and the pains of being a hard working, devoted, (and non-paid) racing official increased. It was approximately 9:30 p.m. when the decision was made to award top eliminator money to the fastest overall time. Then. that decision was changed and their was no clear-cut winner determined. And to make the official's job more uncertain, the crowd or many irate bystanders had numerous "bench racing" suggestions ...etc.,etc When cooler heads prevailed, a notice was sent out stating since top eliminator runs were not made at the APBA Nationals due to darkness, a special race would be held at the November 27 and 28 drag races at Lake Ming. Hydro drivers eligible to run off for a $600 cash prize were Jack Siebuhr in "Miss Spico", Barry McCown in "Banzai" and Tom Weeda in "El Tigre".. Another cash prize or $400 was put up ror top eliminator/flatbottom that included Howard Brown's "How Bout That", Don Presson in "Sling-shot", a Chrysler powered Sanger, and Larry Schwabenland driving Todd Raleigh's Dodge powered "Hot Toddy's Ghost". In an attempt to better his record November 28, Howard Brown rocketed through the traps at 123 plus miles per hour "How Bout That", the Howard built hull, suddenly was air-borne and out or control. As the boat twisted over, Brown was slammed against Lake Ming's angry surface, his body cart, wheeling through the water. The boat continued its roll over and burst apart upon impact with the water. Unbelievably, Howard escaped with bruises but, "How Bout That" ended an era of record setting runs in a cold, watery graveyard for boats. Tragedy struck again that day, as Larry Schwabenland paired off with Don Presson for the Top Eliminator! Flat bottom title, "Schwaby" was out of the hole like a shot, pouring the "soda pop" to "Hot Toddy's Ghost", Presson, who is rarely caught flat footed at the start, punched his big Chrysler into action, gobbling up the watery distance of the "Ghost's lead. Suddenly the air and water were filled with Presson's exploding "Sling shot", Don was hurled through the air like a rag doll, crashing and bouncing across Ming's rippling face, Schwabenland, glancing back as he clicked through the lights, saw the spray still settling, and raced back to assist in Presson's rescue; holding his face out of the water until patrol boats took over. Badly bruised and shaken, but, amazingly, not seriously injured, Don was taken to a Bakersfield hospital for observation ana released a few days later. Barry McCown was next in line for misforutne as he powered "Banzai" across the treacherous quarter mile. A blown prop and resulting shattered engine left him coasting through the lights at 126 mph. Top hydro award was all Seibuhr and "Spico", clocking a 153 plus run without mishap. Disappointing as the first Ming meet might have been, this Bakersfield "crash bash" turned sour when it was learned that no APBA sanction covered the race. Meaning that: The special effort put forth at this meet by Todd Raleigh and Larry Schwabenland to put the record time of 124.90 mph for blown fuel flatbottom into the books will not be recognized. 
If there be any lessons learned from the two meets it should appear in future runs at Lake Ming. The air will probably be filled with suggestions from all camps on how to improve the quarter mile strip that has claimed so many boats this year. Hopefully, some of the suggestions will be taken. Until that time, however, we can only think of the two cartoon characters, leaned back in their chairs, feet propped up on a large table, and saying to one another: "Next week we'll get organized!"
 
 CLASS RESULTS: 
50-55, T. W. Hawk, Port Hueneme, Calif.; 
55-60, Jim Galvin, La Cresenta, Calif.; 
60-65, Lynn Weeks, Fresno, Calif.; 
65.70, Phillip Goeshl, Woodland Hills, Calif.; 
70-75, Robert Barnes, Orange. Calif.; 
75-80. Garry Brown, Oxnard, Calif.; 
80-85, Ken Kinsman, Granada Hills, Calif.; 
85-00, Dean Lundquist, Stockton. Calif.; 
90-95, Cal Lombardi, No. Las Vegas, Nev.; 
95-100, Gary Hansen, Monterey Park, Calif.; 
100-105, Gary Clamp, Panorama City. Calif.; 
110-115. Don Presson. Costa Mesa, Calif. 
115-120, Larry Schwabenland, Fresno. Calif.; 
120-125, Howard Brown. Bellflower, Calif.; 
140-145, Tom Weeda. Tustin, Calif.; 
150.155. Barry McCown. Altadena, Calif.; 
160-165. Jack Siebuhr. Inglewood, Calif.

TOP TIME -FLATBOTTOM: Howard Brown, How 'bout Tlmt, 122.44; 
TOP TIME -HYDRO: Jack Siebuhr. Miss Spico, 163.93; 
TOP TIME -OVERALL: Jack Siebuhr. Miss Spico, 163.93; 
TOP TIME-OUTBOARD: Ken Scoville, Jr., 79.29; 
HYDRO-BLOWN FUEL: Jack Siebuhr. Miss Spica, 163.93; 
UNBLOWN FUEL: Jim Powell, 103.32; 
BLOWN GAS: Ted Phillips, 122.11; 
UNBLOWN GAS: Ron Ehde, 112.35; 
FLATBOTTOM: BLOWN FUEL. Howard Brown. 122.44; 
UNBLOWN FUEL: Buzz Coats, 111.80; 
BLOWN GAS: Tony Waters, 108.04; 
UNBLOWN GAS: Nick Sfetku, 99.55.
 

NEW RECORDS ESTABLISHED
FLATBOTTOM-BLOWN FUEL: Howard Brown. How 'bout That, Howard. Chrysler. 122.44; 
HYDRO-UNBLOWN GAS: Ron Ehde, Charger, Hydronite. Chrysler, 112.35; 
FLAT BOTTOM - UNBLOWN FUEL: Buzz Coats, Mortician, Stevens. 2 Chevys, 111.80.
 
 

Modified cab-over hydro design by Ted Jones, "Miss Spico," piloted by Jack Siebuhr, Inglewood, California. Powered by port-injected, Isky-cammed 392 cu. in. Chrysler owned by land dragster team of Jim Warren and Roger Coburn, the miniature "thunder boat" captured APBA National title with speeds of 163.93 and 155 mph. The fast moving drag boat is owned by Joe Glover, Spico boat manufacturer. 
 
 
 

"Hot Toddy's Ghost" owned by Todd Raleigh and piloted by Larry Schwabenland, suffered big disappointment 
when record breaking time of 124.90 set Nov. 28. was unofficial because of no APBA sanction of race.
 
 

Don Presson escaped serious injury when "Slingshot," a Keith Black Chrysler powered Sanger hull scattered itself over the treacherous water of Lake Ming Nov. 28, during elimination run offs. The boat, this year's NDBA Top Eliminator Flatbottom Champion, was completely destroyed, while Presson suffered bruises.
 
 

The end of an era came to "How Bout That," a Howard hull, Chrysler powered, when it flipped and shattered during a 123-mph run at Lake Ming. Howard Brown, owner and builder of the boot, had set an NDBA record with "How Bout That" at 137.82.mph and established an APBA record for Blown Fuel Flatbottom at 122.44 during tbe October 17 Nationals. Brown escaped serious injury in a spectacular flip.
 

Thanks to Bob Foley for providing the magazine.