Boats Under Restoration:
Bob Walters from Okoboji, Iowa, stopped by my shop on his way home.
He had just purchased Gene Bramletts' 266 ci hydro Jade Dragon,
from Jim Dernoncourt. The raceboat was originally an all birch beauty with
green trim that raced out of
the Miami area. Bramlett won the Orange Bowl Regatta with the famous
engine builder Russ Burke turning the wrenches.
Walters is an active collector. He also has a 1934 Single Step
Hydro called Mr. Lucky with an outboard mounted transom rudder.
The hull was built by Schumacher and may very possibly be a one of a kind.
The craft is powered with a Ford V8 Flathead with a McCulloch Supercharger.
Walters also has two other Lauterbach's in his collection: a 1 Litre, ThePachanga, and a 6 Litre, the late Durb King's Bon Bon.
Notes:
On the personal side, I would like to thank Mildred Fouike for supplying
us with vintage pictures, newspaper articles and magazine stories. These
have been of great value to our column. Thank you again, Mildred!
Will Muncey, the son of the late Bill Muncey, has developed an
interesting concept for competition in the V & H Division. In order
to win a particular event, each team would be scored or judged perhaps
on the following criterion:
equipment, appearance, safety observation, test fire, engine installation,
running performance, launching, starting, docking, retrieving, crew appearance,
etc. I would like input from all our members because this certainly is
something that will be discussed at the national meeting in November. Thanks
for your input, Will!
For those that are unfamiliar with Will Muncey, he presently
owns two Vintage Unlimited hydroplanes.
In Bob Walters' travels he has found a classic pre-war Ventnor
style raceboat, The Why Worry, which was driven by Bill Cantrell.
The raceboat is currently in Pilot Knob, NY and is owned by Capt. John
Hilton, Jr.
Joe Frauenheim of Issaquah, WA, dropped me a nice note to let
us know that the plans for the famous Apel designed My Sin/Tempo VI
hydro are now available. Any of our members who are interested can contact
either Frauenheim or myself for further information.
Henry Maicki from South Dakota (originally a Detroiter) inquired
on how to join in the Vintage category. He thinks that the V & H Division
is absolutely fantastic. Maicki rode in the Dukie Unlimited hydroplane
and has also raced his Miss Fit 280 c.i. hydro E-69. This is the
Mickey Mouse from the Chicago area that raced back in the sixties.
Personality Of The Month:
All of you must know of a racer who influenced your life in some way.
Won't you send us a short story that we could share with our readers?
Challenges:
Attention J.D. Smith! Your challenge has been met. Kenny Sikes of California
has informed us that Fred Wickens is living at 370 West Exeter, Gladstone, OR 97027. His telephone number
is (503) 656-7266. Ed and Dixie Sims of Oregon, also responded with information
about Fred. Their telephone number is (503) 635-2672.
Drew Sygit from Royal Oak, Mich. has issued a new challenge.
He needs information regarding a 225 c.i. Hydro N-24 Volare built
around 1956. The boat is still in good shape, but Sygit is just lacking
racing history.
Diane Schaller is looking for Roger & Justin's 225 c.i. Colbalt.
This was a Ted Jones designed race boat, built by the Schallers. Its last
known location is Buffalo, NY, or the Grand Island area. Anyone with information
should contact me.
What happened to the Ventnor Unlimited owned by Harry Lynn called
the LaHaLa II?
Famous Raceboats And Names Of The Past:
48 cu. in. Runabout:
Z-144 Mickey Mouse - Ruby Scull.
48 cu. in. hydro:
Y-9 SIS - S.E. "Sunny" Jones; Y-22 Pooper - Sammy Crooks;
Rackett III - Jack Colcock; Piranha - Henry Eastman;
135 cu. in. Hydro:
A-36 SkidDo III -John Cramer; 13- A Ranger - Kenny Ingram;
A-87 WhoDat - Don Wilson; A-160 Gee Whiz - Sid Street; A-147
Pop's Tops - Pop Cooper;
225 cu. in. Hydro:
2-N Copperhead II- Loren Pennington; N-97 Skedaddle -
Jerry Powell; N-33 Warrior III - Ray Erickson; N-7 Jay Cee
- Clyde Fox; N-56 Miss Kress - John Kress & Danny Foster; N-88
Double Trouble - Bob Schroeder;
266 cu. in. Hydro:
F-222 My Son - William Muncey; F-29 Ballyhoo - Bob Ballinger;
P-II Mr. Dockit - Dr. Walter Robinson; F-29 WHIS - Wilfred
"Bill" Stroh; F-52 Aguila - Norman Lauterbach;
7 Litre Hydro:
H-2 Peg-A-Lee - Dan Arena; H-90 TommyAnn - Joe Taggert;
H-ll Mercury - Oliver Elam Jr.;
G Class Unlimited:
G-60 La Ha La II- Harry Lynn; G-25 SkipaLong - Stanley
Dollar;
Racing Runabouts:
4-B Senorita - Lou Burke; U.S.1C - T.M. Special - Edmund
Thompson; 10-1 Copperhead - Al Lodwick; Class D Baby Loon
George Trimper.
Aspecial thanks to all the great racers of the past. Our sport is indebted
to you.
Vintage Hot Boat Of the Month
Copperhead 10-E an E Racing Runabout from the 1948-49 era.
Owner/Driver
Al Lodiwick from Lakeland, FL.
|
©1994 Tom D'Eath |
