1977 Decatur

We hope you are enjoying the videos from past races. This one is 1977 Decatur.

1980 Augusta GP race

Phil Kunz had all his 8mm film converted to digital format. Our first video was the Kilo record runs in New Martinsville filmed during the early through mid 1970s (scroll down to see that link).
This GP Hydroplane race that took place in 1980 from Augusta, Georgia is our 2nd one. We will be posting all of them on YouTube as we get them completed. There is lots of film that was shot from the 1970s and 1980s inboard hydroplane races and we will be posting each race as we get them done. I think these old 8mm films look pretty good on the big screen TVs. While you’re kicking back and watching these old races, keep in mind that some of the boats that attended the race may not have been filmed, or had little footage, so don’t get mad if you don’t see a boat you know was there. We’re putting in some of Phil’s photos of boats he snapped at each race and you will see those sprinkled in the video. Example would be the pic of Long Gone above (pic I took as I was watching on my big TV). The film only had a few shots of Long Gone running, but the great pic above, Phil snapped at that event. Also keep in mind that most of the film was not taken by Phil Kunz (as he was pretty busy shooting the still shots with his camera).
If you have a smart TV, simply search on YouTube for “The Vintage Hydroplanes” channel. If you subscribe to our channel it makes it easier to find out when we post more film from the old races.

2022 Monthly Calendars

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The first quarter for 2022 is posted.

We also added another photo slideshow video to our YouTube channel featuring all the photographs that appeared on our monthly calendars from 2015-2020. We already have another video on our channel that featured photos used from 2005-2014, so this new video is just Part II.

1970s New Martinsville Kilo Speed Record runs

Filmed at the New Martinsville, West Virginia Kilo Speed Record runs in the 1970s and narrated by Phil Kunz. This film has inboard hydros trying to set World Speed Records while running through a 1 kilometer straightaway course. To have an official speed record run, you would need to make 2 runs through the speed trap in both directions and within a certain time frame. Your speed and times were an average between the 2 runs through the straightaway course (1 kilometer in length). This would become your official speed. Plenty of fast old hydros running through the trap.

1964-66 Drag Boat races

I found some extra photos of the Drag Boat races taken by Bob Foley in 1964-1966. I put the pics in his Photo Album that was originally posted in 2005 on this website.
I also put together a video slideshow using all those photos taken on YouTube. All the pics were taken at Ski-Land (near Perris, California close to Riverside & March Air Force Base). Ski-Land was built as a pay-to-water-ski place and turned out to be a good drag boat venue.

HELTER SKELTER

Go for a ride with Ron Snyder driving HELTER SKELTER E-686. This 280 cu in class vintage hydroplane owned by Phil Kunz was filmed by W. Reed Beckjord while running an exhibition flyby at Rocky Fork, Hillsboro, Ohio in 2012.

Monthly Calendars

The last quarter for 2021 is posted. APBA Vintage events are listed.
Many thanks to Phil Kunz for allowing TVH to use his photographs.

J Class 1979 St Pete

J-777 IMAGE A brand new Staudacher owned by Bobby Howard but driven by Marty Niles in St-Pete in 1979. This is the first photo from a sequence of 13 photos taken by Phil Kunz. Watch a video photo slideshow to see the sequence pf photos taken in order. You’ll note that Marty had some damage occur to the boat but did not back off in the next 2 photos (even with parts flying off), then the wreck occurred. He was okay and the hydro was rebuilt to run again.