Miami Marine Stadium

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    Friends of Miami Marine Stadium
   Newsletter #67   October 9, 2013
In This Issue
Marine Stadium Exhibit
News
If Seats Could Talk

Dade Heritage Trust
Dade Heritage Trust (DHT) is the foremost organization in Miami Dade County devoted  to historic preservation Formerly, DHT was the parent organization to  Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, providing important advocacy and  support and an administrative umbrella. Since 2011, Friends of Miami  Marine Stadium became an independent 501(c)(3) not- for-profit  organization.For more information on Dade Heritage Trust, click here.
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# of people on Friends of Marine Stadium email list..2706
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 If Seats Could Talk: Miami Marine Stadium and a Real Marine 
Since May of 2009, we have been collecting memories of the Marine Stadium for our book “IF SEATS COULD TALK.”
We feature a memory in the main section of our newsletter this week. Please respond to this email if you would like to contribute your memory! # of memories for IF SEATS COULD TALK
………..186

Marine Stadium Presentations
The Miami Marine Stadium continues to attract not just local-but national attention. As we move into fundraising mode, it is important for us to get the word out.
If you know of a group that is interested in a presentation about the Marine Stadium, please reply to this email.
# of Marine Stadium presentations made to date……………..76
To: Miami Marines    
Brace yourselves…for an incredilbly busy fall!

  Marine Stadium Exhibit at the Coral Gables Museum                               Opens October 17 
[Official Exhibition Trailer] Concrete Paradise: Miami Marine Stadium
        Official Exhibition Trailer Concrete Paradise: Miami Marine Stadium

Our exhibit celebrating the Miami Marine Stadium, “Concrete Paradise”, opens Thursday, October 17 at 7:00 PM at the Coral Gables Museum. Tickets for the opening, which will benefit the exhibit and our effort to save and restore the Marine Stadium, cost $25. To purchase your tickets, click  here.
The opening event will be spectacular, featuring parkour athletes, a performance by VJ Psyberpixie, Bacardi cocktails,
and even racing hydroplanes parked out front! In preparation for over a year, this first-ever exhibition is devoted to the
Miami Marine Stadium’s flashy past, its edgy present, and its
 spectacular proposed comeback as a world-class sports and performance venue.
 Curated by renowned author and architectural conservator, Rosa Lowinger, this interactive exhibit will bring the glory days of Miami’s most daringly modern structure back to life through stunning video footage, rare photos and keepsakes, original art installations, photo murals of the stadium’s infamous graffiti, and an antique hydroplane. It will conclude with a special section dedicated to the stadium’s next chapter featuring never before seen site renderings and opportunities for museum visitors to share their vision for the structure’s future.
The exhibition is being presented by American Express. We wish to thank our partners, the Coral Gables Museum and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the tremendous job they have done. Finally, we’d also like to acknowledge our Cliff Mezey, a member of our Board who came up with the idea for the exhibit almost two years ago.
In addition to the exhibit itself, we have a  full lineup of programs we will be highlighting in future notices to you. Coming up soon:  October 24-The Future of the Miami Marine Stadium-a panel discussion and on  November 6-Boat Racing in Miami-Past and Future-a panel discussion.

   Marine Stadium News    
                  

 Gloria Estefan and Hilario Candela at the Never Quit Challenge at Miami Marine Stadium photo (c) Carlos Betancourt, Inc. 

 

The Marine Stadium continues to be in the news. The Stadium was the first stop at the Never Quit Challenge, an event benefiting charities working with Veterans and their families. The participants were greeted by a crowd that included Gloria Estefan and  Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. At the event, Gloria was able to discuss her vision for Miami Marine Stadium.
The Clyde Fitch Report, a blog that deals with the intersection of Art and Politics, featured a very thoughtful article about the importance of the Marine Stadium entitled Miami’s Quest for Global Standing.
CNN ran a story entitled Six Imperiled Sports Sites; the first site in the article was the Miami Marine Stadium. This national story generated the most web traffic we have had on any one day in the last three years.
Finally, there is a recent article in The Miami Herald which featured an interview about the Coral Gables Museum exhibit with curator Rosa Lowinger. We are expecting a lot of press coverage about the exhibition.

IF Seats Could Talk The First Boat Race at Miami Marine Stadium
                                

Photo By Phil Kunz
We are rapidly approaching the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Miami Marine Stadium – in December, 1963.  We recorded a great story from Phil Kunz, who drove down from Ohio to attend the first boat race at the Marine Stadium. Phil and his friend didn’t have a place to stay, so they actually snuck in and slept at the Stadium!
We’ve already collected 186 stories about the Stadium as work continues on our book, IF SEATS COULD TALK.  If you would like to contribute a story for our book (we’ll be happy to interview you or follow up on a recommendation),  just respond to this email.

Conclusion
During one of Phil Kunz’ visits to Miami in the 1960s, he picked up this flag at the Marine Stadium. Phil has graciously loaned it to us and it will be on display at our exhibit at the Coral Gables Museum. The exhibit will not only feature memorabilia and history about the Stadium’s years of operation, but it will also display how it has inspired current artists-and most important, it will help us imagine potential possibilities for its stellar future.
As we begin our “quiet” fundraising campaign, the important contributions you can make are to:  Support us by attending opening night on October 17, come to our related programs and events, and help us create a buzz about the exhibit by liking us on Facebook. We KNOW that after you have seen the exhibit, you will be even more inspired to help us restore the Miami Marine Stadium.
Yours truly,
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium www.marinestadium.org

Frankie’s Boy

1952_Frankies_Boy_Bruce_Smith_CincinattiPhil Kunz has this photo in his Scrapbook section of his website of the boat, dated 1952.
The boat was built by Don & Bruce Smith in the mid or late 1940s and Bruce campaigned it for a few years from the late 40s through the early 50s.

frankies_boy_unrestoredThe above photo was taken by Phil Spruit at the 1998 Clayton Antique Race Boat Regatta. Someone from Florida drove it up and it was for sale there.
Framing was made out of oak, probably the only reason it lasted so long.The boat ran in the 225 class/Division 1. The hydro was powered by a Flathead 6 cyl motor, GMC? Interesting part of this boat is the hand hammered aluminum cowlings, ala sprint car and midget construction of the day. Very high quality work on the cowlings.

The boat must have been retired by the mid 1950s and may have been “put out to pasture” into the field around the rural Cincinnati area.
Past owners were the Wermes brothers and Bill MacTague of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The photos below – show how how it looks today after Don Kelson beautifully restored it.
Not bad looking for a sixty-something year old race boat!

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Oh Boy!

S-25 – Looking for history, builder

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Hello, I have recently purchased a “1950’s” lay down hydro (you drive ’em laying down on your belly laying over the gas tank?) with identification number S 25. The story I got was at one time it raced around Springfield lake in Ohio. It was bought at a yard sale by the gentleman I got it from. Any assistance in this endeavor is greatly appreciated as I want to refinish it in the “original” colors. The pattern is still visible.
You can reach me @ boatcraft58@aol.com
Hope to hear from anyone and thank you.

Joe Hodges

F-90 Miss Peg

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After weighing the Miss Peg F-90 on race car scales they found that it was light on transom weight and O/D/B Jack Hines moved the battery back approx two feet. This made it easier to get up on plane and as you can see from the photos, the reports from New Martinsville were – she performed very well.

“S’cuse Me”, 88-B

The first race boat in the family, "S'cuse Me", 88-B in 1952. Owner/driver was my dad, Eddie Silva.
The first race boat in the family, “S’cuse Me”, 88-B in 1952. Owner/driver was my dad, Eddie Silva.
Bob Silva

Miss Daytona

1929 Miss Daytona Hydroplane from John Van Osdol on Vimeo.

Bruce Meyer purchased this vintage 17′ hydroplane race boat and flies to Bay City, Michigan to let it loose on the Saginaw River before transporting it to its next home in California

Black Dog Salvage

Hi Phil,
I found your website while researching a vintage Neal Hydroplane that we recently acquired – please see attached for photos. This came from a home in Fairmont, WV and came with a racing trophy from the 50s. Does anyone know if there is a market for this? If so, would you have any advice on a value or the best place to list it for sale? Any feedback would be much appreciated!
Thanks for your time,
Christa
blackdogsalvage.com
(540) 206-3269 direct
(540) 343-6200 main
Tune in to Salvage Dawgs, featuring Black Dog Salvage, on the DIY Network…. new episodes begin airing June 1st!
Find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/blackdogsalvage

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M.A.C.H. Series

When you have a moment, surf over to Phil Kunz Photography and check out the latest update he has made to his website. They are the point summary sheet totals for the MACH Series. Almost 30 years worth of points you can pour over. Check it out!