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The Vintage Hydroplanes
2000
I
started searching for information and history of limited-class, inboard hydroplane
racing on the internet. I found very little. I had always liked computers
and thought it would be fun to start a website about the restoration (actually
a rebuild) of my 7-Llitre class hydroplane that I had recently acquired.
I thought others might get a kick out of what I was doing. Soon after the
first few pages were published on March 24, 2000, other folks started sending
me photographs on their hydroplane restoration projects and the website pretty
much took off from there. The other thing that helped my motivation
on this project was after attending The Antique Race Boat Regatta in 1998
& 2000 in Clayton, NY. I met many of the great owners & drivers.
And who couldn't love seeing all of the old race boats restored to their
former racing days running at speed, to boot. While attending I also met
Phil Kunz, hydroplane photographer and APBA inboard historian when I asked
him if I could sit at a table he was eating lunch at. I didn't know who he
was and we started up a conversation and ever since, have become very good
friends. I also manage his website that is also chocked full of inboard hydroplane
history - Phil Kunz Photography. I am honored to help preserve some
of boat racing's history through these websites for others to enjoy and I really appreciate everyone who has contributed
to The Vintage Hydroplanes with their photos and information. 2003 2009 webmaster backgound
I was born in 1961, which is the
first
year my vintage hydroplane, Moonshine Baby
started racing. So I am no authority, on this sport's history. In fact, I
hate to type this, but I did not pay much attention to boat racing until
1996 when I found an old inboard hydroplane to restore.
The closest I was to boat racing was that I my brother Larry raced
for 2 years as the throttle man on a 43' Offshore powerboat. My father's
brick & stone supply business was one of the boat's sponsors.
My name is Phil Spruit. My wife is Joni (Sooy). We have two grown kids and two grandkids. My wife, son, and I are originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. We moved to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in 1988. I took a job to start up a new subsidiary for Colwell Industries - Technical Finishing Services. This company mfgs wood & paint samples for office furniture and coating manufacturers. One of the best parts of working there is that I get to work with my son (for the last 20+ years). The owner of our shop gave me Moonshine Baby and that started this neat road on this website adventure. My previous job prior was a 10 year gig at The John Widdicomb Company. They were well known for producing some of the finest residential furniture in the world. They were often referred as the Rolls-Royce of furniture makers and was one of the oldest furniture companies in North America started before the Civil War. They reproduced period-style furniture in the classic designs. I dropped out of school, lied about my age, and started working there when I was 17 year's old. I worked my way up to be their Finish Designer. I developed old-world, period-style wood and paint finishes. I always considered working there a privilege (as well as my college education). The trades that could be learned at this fine institution were incredible. Sadly, after 144 years, they went out of business in July 2002. I spend my spare time playing my drums and working on these restoration
projects:
As you can probably tell, I've
always liked
working with my hands and try to maintain a lifestyle using them.
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