Eight Beat S-134

Eight-Beat S-134
Eight Beat S-134, one of only 3(?) Tommy Hill hydroplanes left in existence, and is being restored by new owner George H. Smith of Pleasant Hill, California. This hydro was designed and built in 1946 in Alameda by Tommy Hill. This particular hull turned-out to be one of Hill’s own racers and ran as a 135 to Region II High Points in the late 1940’s. It was later sold to Hart Chan and renamed Ding How II before being campaigned as a 136 called Lil Miss Iodine. Then the boat sat in storage for 15 years, until Don Sea found it and fitted/restored the boat as a 136 hydro, renamed it Eight-Beat S-134, and ran a stock V8-60 engine. The boat raced for several seasons afterwards before Don retired it from racing in the early 1970’s. The new owner, George Smith is completing a full restoration. Click here to go to the webpage and check it out.

Scott Pierce – Mr. Pringles goes airborne at Detroit 1989

1951 YACHTING

Added a Kent Hitchcock newsprint article from 1951 YACHTING magazine with ALL AMERICAN voting results to our OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAMS,
NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE ARTICLES, FIRST HAND EYEWITNESS STORIES section.

I added a magazine article written by Kent Hitchcock for 1951 Yachting magazine which had results for their ALL AMERICAN racers for 1950.
These and other OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAMS, NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE ARTICLES, FIRST HAND EYEWITNESS STORIES can be found here.

2024 Monthly Calendars – Last Quarter

Miss September
Miss September
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The last of our Monthly Calendars for 2024 are posted here.
Thanks to Keith Koether for allowing us to use 3 of his photos from 2024 Wheeling, West Virginia. I highly recommend a visit to his website to see many more of his photos he snapped at Wheeling this year as well as many other racing events.

The 100th running for the APBA Gold Cup

The APBA Vintage & Historic group helped with their fleet at the 100th running of The APBA Gold Cup in Detroit in 2004. Phil Kunz captured all these great photos.

100th running for the APBA Gold Cup Detroit 2004

A Phil Kunz photo slideshow of all the Unlimited class hydroplanes running at the 100th Anniversary of the Gold Cup in Detroit 2004
U-10 MISS EMCOR finds the hole in the backstretch at Madison on the Ohio River inboard hydroplane race in 2003. All photos taken by Phil Kunz.

U-10 MISS EMCOR & Mike Weber – Madison, Indiana 2003

Mike Weber driving U-10 MISS EMCOR coming down the front stretch and went airborne. Mike was okay but the hydro was done racing for the weekend. All pics taken by Phil Kunz.

Gene Bird – INJUN RIG

My father raced in the 280 class from 1973 through 1988. He first drove INJUN RIG and then LOCO MOTION. As a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, he is one of the only Native Americans to have competed in the 280 hydro class. He won a number of races in Montana, Idaho, and Washington. He was a 6-time winner of the Copper Cup Regatta held in Polson, Montana. After retiring from racing when he was 55 years-old he took his boat for a “spin” to celebrate his 60th, 70th and 80th birthdays. His grandson, Clay Bird, is now the owner of LOCO MOTION. Dad was unwilling to have a sponsor for his boat, which meant he put a lot of heart and money into the sport. Many people remember the exciting races held in the Pacific northwest and, in particular, the man who thrilled them driving INJUN RIG and LOCO MOTION.
Sincerely,
William Bird
P.S. Dad is still active on the Flathead Reservation.