NOTES:
Dave Erickson of Denver, Colorado contacted us. He is presently writing a book about growing up in Seattle. Dave is looking for information on the early Gold Cup races in Seattle. You can contact him at (303) 674-7262.

VINTAGE TRIVIA:
I was searching thru some rediscovered papers of my father, Al D’Eath, who was a Marine Proprider President and Region 6 Chairmen. I came upon some original correspondence and an original APBA 280 class rule document. During the formation of the stock 280 c.i. Hydroplane class, the recommendation committee called the class by a different name. Do you know the original name of the class.? Answer will follow next month......
 I think that the last trivia question regarding Gold cup and Indy 500 winner Joe Boyer, may have been too hard for the membership. There were no responses to the question. Are you reading this article out there? If you have an opinion or vintage history, please contact me. I will be glad to print any response.

CHALLENGES: 
Former driver of the 225/280 Hallett, Allan Ford, reports that California Kid was last seen on a Santa Rosa car lot. 
 Thanks to Scott Schatz for the info on the following challenge:  Howard Arnett still has his 150  Hallett Invader IV. Fred Galente sold his 225 Hallett Catskinner to Bruce Beard. The 266 Aquaholic was sold by Mike Waters to Lloyd Marshall and raced as Mai-Tai, then sold to Jon Van Winkle and raced until 1990 when Jon moved to New Jersey. Did the boat move too?. Hydrophobia, a Wickens sister ship to Aquaholic, was sold to Spencer Miller, shipped to Australia, and raced until destroyed in a crash.  The 150 Lauterbach, Hale Storm, was renamed Mega Bucks and not seen since last racing in Region 12 in the late 1970’s.
 Former 280 driver, Billy Williams reports he has found a Crosley engine. The engine has been used to power a generator since 1953, and the whole set-up can be had for $400. Billy’s phone #(916) 265-2938.

RACE SITES:
 Detroit, MI: Chrysler 1996 APBA Gold Cup - May 30 thru June 2.  This race is open to ALL classes of vintage members. If you would like to run here please call me or send me a letter. SODA will issue invitations to those who request to attend. 
 Dubuque, IA: Thunderfest June 8th -- 9th, 1996
 Sylvan Lake, MI: Tentative Vintage Event  -  July 21, 1996
 Clayton, NY: The Antique Race Boat Regatta ‘96 - August 15-18.
 Race Promoters: If you plan to hold a Vintage Event this year, please contact me so that I can get this information printed in the Propeller magazine.

FAMOUS NAMES OF THE PAST:
We are losing our heroes. Who is going to take their place? This past December and January months have been particularly hard on our heroes. Harold Wilson from Ingersoll, Ontario, the owner and driver of the famous G-8 , Miss Canada. Winner of the 1939 President’s Cup and a Harmsworth challenger passed away. As a child sitting on the Detroit Yacht Club docks during race week, I remember the beautiful Doug Van Patten designed and Tom Greavette built step hydroplane. This craft skimmed along so smoothly and quietly with a long low roostertail as compared to the other Unlimiteds of the day. He was the Canadian and the American crowd’s favorite competitor. This graceful craft sped down the straight-aways and smoothly handled the race course turns. The craft was truly as close to poetry on water as a boat could be. By capturing the hearts of fans on both sides of the border, this race team surely melted Canadians and Americans together like brothers and sisters.

 Another hero passed away on January 22, 1996. Wild Bill Cantrell, the stocky legend, not only raced Unlimited Hydros around the country but also in the Ohio Valley, Bill was blessed with the rare opportunity to drive the Big Championship open wheel cars. He competed at the Indianapolis 500. I know that there is not a racer alive that would not jump at an opportunity to race at this famous track. Bill won the 1949 Gold Cup in My Sweetie the last step-hydroplane to win the cup before the three pointers took permanent possession of the Trophy. Bill was always there to share information and advice with the rookies. I remember him telling me to share my driving knowledge with my competitors, because as Bill said ‘Help make your Competitors more knowledgeable. This might save your life.’ I have never forgotten his words.

 On a final note, Larry Lauterbach and his sister, and also my brother Roger and myself, lost our No.1 fans. Our Moms... Through the good times and the bad, in victory and defeat, they were always there to support us. We will miss you and no one will ever take your place.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
When I think of early prop riding 3-point hydroplanes, a West Coast boat designer/builder and racer comes to mind. His name was Tommy Hill and the 3-pointers that came out of his Alameda, California shop were the boats to beat in the 135 and 225 divisions in the mid-1940’s.
 In November of 1945, when boat racers returned to the famous Salton Sea, following World War II, Tommy Hill was there with a Fred Hallett prepared Ford V8-60 in a 135 hydro of his own design. During the 1 Mile trials Tommy driving the Ly-Bee, proceeded to smash the 135 hydro record by a whopping 27 mph, with an average speed of 80.178 mph. This speed not only set a record for the 135’s but was also 3 mph faster than the more powerful 225 Div. 1 class. Following Tommy’s record breaking performance, an East Coast boat racer, Edison Hedges, bought the boat on the spot.
 In the early 1950’s Hill retired from active boat racing and turned his talents to becoming a first rate boat racing photographer.
 Don Sea of Martinez, CA may have the only remaining Tommy Hill built hull. Don found this boat in 1965 through a classified Ad in a local paper. The boat had been framed into the basement of an old house in Oakland, and a wall had to be torn down to remove it. The deck was burned off and some of the frames charred. The boat sat on an old junky trailer but still held the V8-60 engine. “My wife thought I was crazy for buying it”, Don said. “And I covered the boat with a tarp so the neighbors wouldn’t complain of an eyesore.”
 This particular hull turned-out to be one of Hill’s own racers, and ran as a 135 to Region II High Points in the late 1940’s. It was later sold to Hart Chan and renamed Ding How II before being campaigned as a 136 called Lil Miss Iodine. Then the boat sat in storage for 15 years, until Sea found it. Don restored the boat as a 136 hydro, renamed it Eight-Beat, and ran a stock V8-60 engine. “I also deepened the sponsons to add more lift, but other than that it’s pretty original,” explained Don. The boat raced for several seasons after restoration before he retired it from racing in the early 1970’s.

HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
1949 Gold Cup winner designed by John Hacker, U-3, My Sweetie, driven to victory by Bill Cantrell. This was the last step-hydroplane to win the Gold Cup. 

Photo # 1
 Tommy Hill works on his Fred Hallett prepared V8-60 engine in his 1945 record holding 135 Hydro. Tommy Hill helped develop the prop riding 3-point hydro with designs in the 135 and 225 Divisions.

©1996 Tom D'Eath