Helter Skelter in West Virginia

Madison Vintage Thunder

PRESS RELEASE – Upcoming Sports Event

Announcing the second annual “Madison Vintage Thunder” – hydroplanes in Madison, Indiana.

A group of Vintage Hydroplane owners formed a club called “5ToThe5” that will put on the second annual “Madison Vintage Thunder”.  Come to see these refurbished hydroplanes that raced over the years and are now on the water again with the roar of the engines, and water “roostertails” flying high in the air.

With support of the Madison community, the group obtained the A.P.B.A. sanctioning necessary to sponsor vintage hydroplanes on the Ohio River. The event sponsors are expecting between 40 to 50 hydroplanes to provide spectators with hours of hydroplane action on the water.  There will be Unlimited hydroplanes, and several classes of vintage limited raceboats on display and providing action on the water.

Additionally, on the shore there will be a vintage car show, including a Corvette club.  On Saturday evening there will be live bands performing music on the riverfront.  Food vendors and activities for the kids will be on hand for a complete “Family Oriented Event”.

Honored at this event:
The late Graham Heath, former owner of the Miss Kentuckiana Paving hydroplane.  Graham Heath was also the lead mechanic on the very first Miss Madison hydroplane back in the 1960’s.

The late “Wild” Bill Cantrell will be honored as the former Gold Cup winning driver of the My Sweetie and driver of the Miss Kentuckiana Paving.  Bill Cantrell also was an Indianapolis 500 auto driver and his “Indy” car will be on display on the riverfront.

Ken Warby, the “Fastest Man on Water”. In 1978, Ken Warby set the World’s Speed Record on water with a speed of 317.58 MPH.  Madison Mayor Damon Welch will be giving the “Key to the City” to Ken Warby as this will be the last event Mr. Warby will be driving.  Ken plans on retiring from raceboat driving this event in Madison.  Ken’s future plans are to go to Australia to assist his son, David, who is building a hydroplane currently in an attempt to beat the worlds speed record on water currently held by his father.

Everyone is invited to Madison, Indiana on both Saturday and Sunday, September 23th and 24th.
Admission is FREE TO THE PUBLIC – (donations will be accepted).
For additional information: http://www.5tothe5.com or
https://www.facebook.com/5tothe5vintagehydros/ or by calling
812-571-0330

Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta

Margaret Myers catching some serious air in Phil Kunz’s Helter Skelter  Sunday afternoon at Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta.
Photo by Keith Koether.

Bill Pearson

In case anyone hasn’t heard or read, Bill Pearson was tragically killed running his Edelweiss GP-444 last weekend at Rideau Ferry vintage event. Bill was from Minnesota.
Bill had Larry Lauterbach build him the Edelweiss hull a few years back. Click on the Edelweiss name above to see pics as the hull was being built.

The opening pic on the website was taken in 1975 of Bill by Phil Kunz.

Bill also owned 2 different Walter Milosovich built hulls that he campaigned for many years under the name – Bull Of The Woods.

Celina, Ohio 1966

New Martinsville, WV 1969
Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, MN 1978        (2nd Milosovich hull)
BULL OF THE WOODS  Minneapolis, MN 2004 at the North West Power Boat Association’s reunion event at Bob Leckner’s shop                       photo by phil spruit

 

RIP Bill Pearson

Regatta Program Covers

With thanks to David Guetzlaff, 16 more Regatta Program covers have been added to our place on the website that has all the “OFFICIAL RACE PROGRAMS, plus other publications, news reports & articles”  in our database. Stop in, click on some covers and reminisce when you have time.

Wayne Thompson