April will see the Miami Marine Stadium open its doors to powerboat racing action for the first time since its closure in 1992. Click here to read more.
According to APBA Oct 1963 Propeller: The new stadium will be used for the first time for the APBA sanctioned Orange Bowl Regatta, Dec. 28-30 and Jan. 4.
Does the guy who built this thing know something we don’t?
Anyways he built the Ark (510′ length x 80′ high, sorry don’t know what that is in cubics) from lumber sourced and treated by Accoya (google it). We made samples for this company years ago and it is impressive how they treat the wood so it won’t rot. I am amazed that more wood boat builders haven’t started using this treated wood. Their claims are: Lasting 50 years above ground, 25 years in ground/freshwater Class 1 durability, surpassing even teak, Virtually rot proof, 70 year minimum service life stated by TRADA
Dayton, Ohio: Race Town – new book by our good friend, Phil Kunz.
The Race Boats & Hydroplanes Chapter has over 40 images and covers all the folks who were involved in boat racing in the Dayton area.
The book (134 pages) is produced in cooperation with the Dayton Area of Chamber and is already in its second edition.
The book is 100% made in the USA, is only $29 and the profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the Dayton Auto Race Fans – Injured Driver’s Fund.
Click here for more info.
The FEBRUARY issue of the UNLIMITED NewsJournal is now online
It may be February, and cold and wet in most places but we have a jam-packed winter issue for fans of the unlimiteds everywhere.
The complicated business of funding a race and the boats by Andy Muntz.
Acting H1 Unlimited Chairman Charlie Grooms brings us up to speed with what’s going on.
The Unlimited Racing Group announces sponsors.
Remembering Keith Jackson.
From the UNJ vault:
Part 2 of “Bill Muncey talks about driving the Miss Thriftway”
Owner’s loyalty or driver’s longevity? by Jim Sharkey.
HydroFile Report – Race Team News from Lon Erickson.
Our editor’s view in Andy Muntz’s My $0.02 Worth.
Click image and when that opens, click full screen and sit back & relax.
If the pics are going by to slow for ya (still a racer, huh?), you can hover your mouse to the right side and click on the forward (>) button and you can move on to the next program cover.
Note – these pics in the slideshow are only the Program Covers taken from our “Official Race Programs” webpage. I did include a few posters, but I didn’t include any pics from the many newspaper and magazine articles, etc.
I also added about 18 more program covers recently into our database, with thanks to Tom & Dawn Alligood for scanning /emailing their program covers in.
Keep ’em coming folks. Some of these covers really were somebody’s work of art and I enjoy looking through them. Send in ’em and let’s add them to our database, so everyone can see them.
Sally Shaffer writes in and wants to know if anybody knows anything on this boat and her father’s career driving it for Buddy Byers.
Click on Sally’s name to send her an email or reply here.
Note from the Editors:
Al Shaffer is driving Miss DeSoto II, H-34– a Rich Hallett built hull.
The hydro in the background is more than likely – Miss DeSoto III, H-33 – a Henry Lauterbach built hull (and a very early one at that).
Race site is Columbus, Ohio on the Scioto River.
If anyone has a photo of the very first, Miss DeSoto, we certainly would like to see it.
Owner/Driver was Brent Nixon of Summerstown, Ontario.
Ron Jones 280 hydroplane
(also featured this pic in February’s monthly calendar)
Interview with George Babcock by Eileen Crimmon – Powerboat Magazine, August 1971
Haggerty Insurance did a story on this collection as well.