NOTES: 
 Gil Magraw from Pittsford, New York sent us some nice pictures of the vintage boats running on the Detroit Gold Cup course.  He also sent pictures of the Detroit Hydroplane Museum Pre-Race party that was hosted by Dave Bartush, an APBA Vintage Member.
 Dayne Bennett of Maitland, FL dropped us a note. He has acquired an early Ron Jones round bow cab-over that was originally built for Bob Bagley of the Detroit area. The boat was known as Magnus Too. It is nice to see some of Ron’s early work is still alive and well.
 Vintage member-to-be, Doug Bernstein sent us some great photos of Geoffery Magnuson’s It’s a Wonder and Ann Fitzgerald driving Tom D’Eath’s restored Bill Ritner’s Wa Wa Too at Detroit.
 Bob Walters of Okoboji, IA mailed us a letter. He really enjoyed the old boat doings held in conjunction with the Gold Cup. He tells us “This was one of the few times that Barb,(his spouse), has gotten wound up where what I was doing with a race boat really interested her."
 We would like to publicly thank the Detroit Yacht Club for the hospitality and courtesy extended to our Vintage members over the Gold Cup weekend.
 John Fitzgerald of Rio Grande, NJ has loaned us some family 16 mm. Films that include boat racing segments. We haven’t viewed them yet, but they have got to be some real treasures. After we see them, we will give you a report.  Thanks John.
 Sorry, you East Coasters, but we have not received a report from Bob Moore so we do not know what is happening out there.  Drop us a line!!  Bob must be too busy running his boat. 
 We are looking for advertisers for the Propeller Magazine so that we could increase the size of our report by another page. If anyone is interested please call Michele at the APBA offices. Make sure that you let her know that this is in response to the Vintage request. 
 If you are interested in giving to a good cause, the APBA Historical Society needs your help. All donations are tax deductible.  If you would like to contribute, please contact Libby at the APBA office (810) 773-9700. Thank you for your consideration.

CHALLENGES: 
Jim Peele of Midland, MI is still looking for additional information regarding his Ventnor hull #552. He did find out that this boat may have been previously owned by a Mr. Richards of Clarksburg, WV and at that time it had a Ford V-8 60 engine. The boat was raced extensively around the New Martinsville area. If you have additional information, please let us know. 
Keith Andrews of Moncton, N.B. Canada (506) 384-6071 is trying to locate films or tapes of Grand Prix Inboard races from the 1970’s thru 1980’s.  Anyone who can help Keith out, please give him a call.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:             SLOW BOAT -- GOOD COOK
Although he was a native born American, Hart Chan was known during his time as the only Chinese speedboat driver in the world. He began racing in the Pacific One Design Hydro (P.O.D.H.)  class in 1944. He later purchased a Tommy Hill designed 135 hydro and won the Region 11 high points for that class in 1948. During the 1953 and 1954 racing seasons he moved into the newly founded 136 cu. In. stock class. Chan had an endless enthusiasm for boat racing and a wonderful sense of humor. He named his boats after the restaurant he owned in Oakland, California - Ding How, which translates into ““The Best” or “Number One”. Across the stern of his red and white boat were the words “The Slow Boat To China”. Even the newspaper advertisements for his restaurant said “Slow Boat - Good Cook”.
In 1957, Chan purchased a 7 Litre Class Hydro, hardly a “Slow Boat” in any sense, the Ding How III. It was powered by a supercharged 392 Chrysler Hemi. Chan found himself in some real fast company in the 7 Litres, including Henry Kaiser’s 32-H, Restless, driven by Barney Navarro; the Hallet - Black - Greer team with their 73-H Seven Grand; and Roger Murphy’s 20-H, Galloping Gael (which set a 1 mile record of 131 mph and upped the 5 mile record to 90 mph).
On February 6, 1960, Hart Chan passed away after a long illness, at the early age of 46.  He left behind a great spirit of camaraderie and loved racing for the thrill of the ride.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:  Hart Chan in H-19, Ding How III, a Hallet Hydro and Roger Murphy in the Wickens 20-H, Galloping Gael, running together at Merced, California circa 1958.

©1995 Tom D'Eath