Boats Under Restoration:
Ted Glover of Burnt Hills, N.Y has purchased a late 50's early 60's
vintage 136 hydro. From his pictures it appears to be a Sooy hull with
the number S-110, Miss Catskills. Anyone with information regarding
this boat, please contact him. He is
also requesting advice on whether he should continue his search for
a V8-60 or replace this engine with a 265 Chevrolet. Ted, my recommendation
is to put in the V8-60. This is the correct engine size for the hull. Several
of our members, such as Bob Moore, Rich Willim and others can help you
with your search.
Rick Atterberg of Keokuk, Iowa, and his son Rick II of Fairchild
AFB, WA are presently restoring a 1960's Ted Jones 225/280 inboard
hydroplane, N-35 Bandito. They have acquired two
aluminum Buicks and hope to have the boat in good condition as time permits.
They have also purchased a 266 hydro F-28 Miss JoAnn from the Chesapeake
Bay area. Although this is a Jones designed hull, all the hardware and
cowlings are Lauterbach. Both Rick and his son have been active in the
antique mahogany runabout hobby for a number of years and have ventured
into the hydroplane arena. Welcome aboard!
NOTES:
I received a letter from Davi Greene of Seattle, WA, in response to
the Vintage & Historic article that appeared in the
May Propeller, He disputes the fact that the Flying Eagle owned
by Edison Hedges was the first hydroplane. He brings to our attention that
the first hydroplane appeared around 1907 based on an article written by
Melvin Crook. This information is technically correct if you define the
word hydroplane as a hull with steps, or lapstrakes on the bottom. I apologize,
I should have made it clear in my article that I was talking about a 3-point
hydroplane with two sponsons riding on a cushion of air,
ground effecting between the hull and the water, with the third point
of suspension being either the transom or the propeller. My information
on the Flying Eagle was obtained through the Mariners Museum Library
of Newport News, Va. I still stand by my statement that this hull was the
first 3-point hydroplane in our racing history. Dave, thank you very much
for your interest and response. Keep up the good work We need more history
buffs like you responding to our articles.
Lee Dixon of Santa Ana, Calif., advised me that he has a never-launched,
1952 possible Staudacher 19 ft. 266 inboard hydroplane for sale. This hull
has been stored in the Detroit area since new. It is almost unbelievable
that a boat like this could have been built and never launched, but seeing
is believing. I have seen pictures of the boat and it looks like a mini
Miss U.S.1 which was an Arena hull. If anyone is interested,
feel free to contact me.
Grand Prix driver Ray Miller of Winter Haven, FL, dropped us
a note. He had bought the A-14 Avenger VI from Bud Wiget in 1971.
It was a Hallet hull with Chew II power. The sponsons were bolted on! The
boat had been campaigned by Randy and Bud Meyer from the Southern California
area to a 150 cu. in. hydro National Championship. Miller sure wishes
that he had stuck the boat away in a barn some place, but sadly he
stripped the hardware off and burned the hull. "It sure would have been
fun to spiff it up and take it to the Antique events each year," wrote
Miller.
Recently, I received a very large packet of photos, programs and racing
memorabilia from Ray Mut of Arlington, Texas. The
information is too much to review in this article, but we will have
a special report ready for next month.
Challenges:
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a 265 cu. in. Chevrolet marine racing
engine, stock or modified for sale, please let me know. We also have members
looking for Ford V8-60 engines, parts and antique race boats (from outboards
to unlimiteds).
Famous Names Of The Past:
Dave Sloan, Jr. of Sarasota, FL had the enjoyable job as Marine Racing
Representative for the Gulf Oil Corporation from 1946 to 1951. Gulf's last
presentation was at the Hall of Fame luncheon in Miami in 1971, and Sloan
attended as a guest.
"Subsequent changes in our management structure resulted in the
dropping of any interest and consequently, any follow-up on trophies for
which we had a co-lateral responsibility. We should have kept track but
I am afraid that we dropped the ball. This may have been true for the Gulf
Gold Cup which was awarded each year (since January 1950) to the driver
voted by his/her peers as the outstanding one." The whereabouts of
this trophy is unknown today. If you have information regarding this
trophy, please give me a call. Sloan stated that the June column really
raised nostalgic memories with our names of the past. He also recommended
the following names for our review: Paul Sawyer, Bobby Rowland,
Guy Lombardo, Preston Henn, Joe Palmer, Dan Arena and Sammy
Crooks.
With our mention of the Gulf 100 MPH Club,
Sloan thought we might be interested in some background regarding it.
In 1950, at the instigation of Joe Van Blerck, Guy Lombardo and several
others, Sloan was successful in persuading his company to establish a club
to recognize those drivers who had officially recorded a speed of 100 mph
in an APBA race or mile trial. Gar Wood had achieved this before World
War II and others were beginning to record this speed. Sloan had the pleasure
to announce the formation of this club at the January 9, 1950 banquet.
He presented certificates to the eight Charter Members: Dan Arena, Bill
Cantrell, Horace Dodge, Stan Dollar, Lou Fageol, Guy Lombardo, Harold Wilson
and Gar Wood. All were present except Dollar and Wood.
Sloan still has the photos of this charter group and individual presentation.
The members of the Vintage & Historic division and myself really appreciate
letters such as Sloan's which give us the background on our racing heritage..
Vintage Hot Boat Of The Month
Alfo V F-12, the owner and driver Joe Van Blerck.
Ventnor 266
cu. in. hydroplane, racing primarily in Regions 3 and 4.
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©1994 Tom D'Eath |
