CHALLENGES:
Dick Degener of Toledo, Ohio has sent us a great letter that issues a few challenges but also gives us a few facts. I thought you might enjoy excerpts. “Off and on over the years, I have tried to locate video or film copies of movies taken of Gar Wood’s Harmsworth series. I have never found a lead as to whether such films exist and/or how to go about geting copies." Can anyone shed any light on this issue?
 Dick is a long-time fan of the old piston-driven Unlimiteds, whose first race experience as an 8-year old was the 1946 Gold Cup won by Guy Lombardo. “Your recent article in June’s Propeller answered one of my questions of long standing: What kind of engine powered Tempo to victory in 1946? I think Lombardo was still using the Zumbach/Miller in 1946 -- is that correct?”  Yes, you are correct!!! “The 1946 race has faded a bit in my memory but I do have quite a bit of 8mm color home footage of the race. I believe it was the last one in which a 225 and 135 participated (Buckeye Baby, the 225; and Thumper, the 135)--am I correct? I think it also marked the official introduction of the Allison engine to Gold Cup racing in Miss Golden Gate III which nearly won the cup with a fabulous last heat until going dead on the last lap. Incidentally, I also have some great color footage of Lombardo trying for a straight-away speed record a year or two later on the Indian River (Florida), an autographed 8 x 10 of Bill Cantrell driving My Sweetie in the 1948 Gold Cup (before removing the rear 18” from the hull) and some photos on an unlimited I’ve never seen pictured anywhere else -- Gale III -- attempting the one mile time trials in Lake St. Clair at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (interesting boat -- one engine, two counter rotating props). Would you consider an article that tells us where we can find all the older and vintage boats that are available for viewing along with what happened to some of the other more famous hulls that apparently aren’t around anymore (Bluebird, K-4, Slo-mo-shun IV, etc.). One final note, last year I visited the British National Motorboat Museum in Pitsea, England where Miss England I and Miss Britain III are proudly displayed. It was a fascinating experience. I have photos available.” 
 “Incidentally, I’m a long retired mediocre C-stock Hydro racer from the mid-1960’s who still has my full outdated racing rig (Sayer hull, Mark 30-H, etc.) and still occasionally dreams of glory which will never be, but loves the sport in its every aspect. I love your articles in Propeller, keep ‘em coming.” Thanks for the great letter Dick, we hope that our members will try to answer some of your questions.

EDWARD H. NABB’S  SPECIAL REPORT: 
Coincidentally, I have received a letter from Ed Nabb on this topic. I would like to include some excerpts. “As you know John Hacker was the designer/builder of very elegant runabouts and roundly streamlined hydroplanes especially 225’s. John’s boats were all built of planks and I have heard it said that when he finished a boat it did not even need battens nor caulking. The boat in question -- Guy Lombardo’s Tempo -- was what is commonly known as a ‘Sedan.’ It had a streamlined top -- much like an automobile. The only time we got to see it was at the Red Bank, New Jersey Sweepstakes or on the rare occasion when there was a power boat race in or near Atlantic City. Guy would come cruising up dressed in his racing uniform. Lillibelle would be along in a beautiful silk sharkskin jumpsuit and she always had those white poodles. It was quite a show. I’m sure you know that Guy had a long history of racing hydroplanes -- particularly limited hydros -- and I believe this Tempo was number one. I suppose the height of Guy’s racing days came with the purchase of Zalamon Simmons My Sin. He was best known as ‘Zammy’ and managed to support his racing habit with his father’s famous Beautyrest Mattress business. Zammy had this large three pointer built by Ventnor in about 1936 and -- of course -- there were really no big engines to push the boats in those days. The biggest available was the Liberty which didn’t produce a great deal of power. Zammy had Offenhauser put together four of his 4- cylinder Indianapolis racer engines all on one crankshaft. That crazy thing turned out a tremendous amount of power with all those superchargers sticking out all over it.  Zammy -- who didn’t have a problem with finances -- had Offenhauser build a second engine just in case the first one blew-up. As I recall, Guy used these engines for one year -- maybe two years -- until the Allison became available.

RACE SITES:
 August 15-18     Clayton, NY:  The Antique Race Boat Regatta ‘96  This is the Big Event for 1996. Hope your suitcases are packed and you are ready to go!!
 September 8      Cincinnati, OH:  The Ohio Valley Motor Boat Racing Association’s 72nd Annual Regatta. The oldest club of its kind would like you to participate in their regatta at Fernbank Park. They are having flybys and static displays. If you are interested contact Bill McTague at 4031 Afton Elklick Rd. Batavia, OH 45103 or after 5:00 PM at 513-724-2766.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:                 THE RESURRECTION OF NOTRE DAME
 When sports car racer Gerard Raney and vintage car restorer Alec Giaimo acquired the Duesenberg W-24 marine racing engine from boat collector Alan Furth, they had no idea it would lead to the reconstruction of the Gold Cup boat it once powered in 1940. After researching the engine’s history, they discovered that Dan Arena, designer, builder and driver of the Notre Dame, lived only a few miles from their Redwood City, California shop. Much to Raney and Giaimo’s surprise, Arena still had the original plans for the single step hydro and he drew up full size plans using a CADD program.
 The Duesenberg W-24 engine is the only one left of two designed and built by the Duesenberg Brothers in 1927 for Horace Dodge’s Gold Cupper Delphine. Herb Mendelson then bought the pair of Dussie W-24’s for his Notre Dame (2nd). Designed and driven by Clell Perry, the Notre Dame (2nd) crashed and sank on the Detroit River in 1938. Medelson then hired 23-year-old Californian Dan Arena to design and drive a new Notre Dame using the remaining W-24 engine. In 1940, Arena won the President’s Cup and set a 1 mile record of 100.987 mph for the Gold Cup class (625 cu.in.) with the new Notre Dame/W-24 combination.
 After W.W.II, the boat was brought out of storage and Arena dove her to a 1947 Detroit Silver Cup win at a 73 mph average.
 Warren Avis (of Avis car-rental fame) purchased the boat in ‘48 and renamed her Miss Frostie, G-49. Joe and Lee Schoenith then purchased the boat and had Arena lengthen her and install an Allison V-12 to race in the Unlimited Class as Gale, U-50, with Al D’Eath driving in 1951. In ‘53 Frank Saile named her Miss Wayne. She was last raced as Miss Richochet, U-80 from ‘56 -- ‘59 before being scrapped.
 At this point in the Notre Dame project, the hull has been framed and awaits the mahogany-veneer plywood covering over its 22 foot length and needs the hardware installed. The Dussie W-24 will undergo a complete rebuild and dyno test. “We are looking for an Arena gearbox, photographs, and information from people who have seen the boat run," said Alec Giaimo. “We want to make this a concours reconstruction, right down to the faces on the gauges." You can reach Alec at 415-366-8086.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH: 
NOTRE DAME G-5.   The late Dan Arena (on right), and his brother Gene as riding mechanic, in the 1940 Notre Dame.  Note the 30 exhaust stacks protruding from the cowling! With 6 overhead cams and 24 cylinders, the Duesenberg used 3 rows of 8 cylinders, 3 Bosch magnetos and an aircraft 4-barrel carb with centrifugal supercharger to produce 900 horsepower at 5,000 rpm’s, and had an exhaust note that was a treat for any racing enthusiast’s ear.

©1996 Tom D'Eath