Bill Mehan of Manchester, NH finished his restoration of the 1960 Will Farmer, S-50, Tipback, a 145 ci hydro which he located in southern California. The hull was restored by the Muller Boat Works in Sunapee New Hampshire. The engine is original and was rebuilt by Brian Milazzo. Bill is grateful to Henry Lauterbach for all his expertise which he graciously shared. The before and after pictures that Bill sent us, really show the marvelous restoration job that was done on this hydro.. Congrats!!

NOTES:
 Bill Northup dropped us a line telling us that Keith Brayer has just finished restoring Bascom Grooms’ 48 cubic inch hydro Tinkerbell. They are taking her to the Mt. Dora show. Afterwards they are going to Key West to show Bascom the finished product. Bill will send us photos and a story for a later edition of the Propeller.
 Roger Newton from Renton, WA wants to build an R/C model 1/6th replica of the original My Sweetie, U-3, the 1949 Gold Cup Winner. Roger needs plans or pictures for this project, especially dimensions for the bottom of the boat. These R/C models with lots of attention to detail, use weed eater type motors. Roger tell us they run Great!! He can be reached at (425) 228-6028.
 Fred Giese, son of Ron, would like to find a home for his father’s early seventies Ron Jones, 7 Litre hydroplane. Fred tells me that this boat and trailer are in great shape. Fred’s number is (941) 549-0386

FAMOUS TROPHIES OF THE PAST: 
Jim Hawver, a collector, buyer, fixer upper, driver & seller of vintage powerboats, from Rochester, NY has a question for our members. The Webb Trophy was a perpetual trophy given out by The Mississippi Valley Powerboat Association. Jim documented its history from 1910 to 1928. “What ever happened to the Webb Trophy? Does anybody know who won it after 1928 and where is it today?” The Mississippi Valley Powerboat Association no longer exists. Can anyone tell us when it was disbanded?

CHALLENGES:
The following is the answer to Bob Silva’s challenge regarding the Jack “Pop” Cooper trophy. APBA records show that the Pop Cooper Trophy was retired in 1967 to Wayne Thompson with his Cumon Baby, for multiple fast heat times throughout the years in the 150 class. Wayne Thompson was inducted into APBA’s Honor Squadron in 1970. Wayne was severely injured while driving his 266 hydro at San Diego in 1969. He raced successfully for 28 years, winning championships and setting records. Another three time winner of the Pop Cooper Trophy was Sid Street, 1949, 1950, and 1959. The California 135’s certainly garnered this trophy more than any other Region. This writer does not know the deed of gift or the criteria for the retirement of this trophy. Someone must have this information. Let us know.

 Dave Bartush with the Detroit Hydroplane Museum is restoring Don Ryan’s Lauterbach Special, 7 Litre. He is in need of a Grand Prix style Casale Gear Box to complete his restoration project. Dave can be reached at (313) 393-3366.

RACE SITES:
 Detroit, Michigan.  This is last call. All who wish to participate in the vintage portion of this year’s event, must send in their letter of intent, ASAP. This event is by invitation only. 

BOB JENSEN’S NORTHWEST REPORT:
The action continues up here in the great Pacific Northwest. A boat featured two or three years ago in this column has been restored and is back on the water. The craft was specially built for Oliver Elam of Ashland, KY. It came out of the Ventnor Boat Works shop in 1948. In a relatively short racing career, MERCURY earned several impressive titles and a permanent place in the history books.
 Power comes from a motor developed by Fageol Marine. Originally used in tandem to power busses, five or six of these engines were re-configured just for racing applications. Fageol Marine wound up with a 400-plus cubic inch all aluminum motor using direct-driven superchargers to stuff as much fuel and air into the cylinders as possible. When the initial testing was complete, Fageol Marine claimed their engines would produce about 335 horsepower. Boat owner Ike Kielgass has driven MERCURY out on the water and estimates the horsepower output at "a heck of a lot more than that." Much of the research and development work on the motors took place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the late 40's. Casting marks on the engine indicate MERCURY'S cylinder head is the exact same one used by "Wild Bill" Cantrell on the car he raced at the Brickyard in 1948 and '49. Did I mention that MERCURY is packed with history?
 So, what do you do once you've built a bunch of 400-plus cubic inch hot rod motors and you like boat racing? You start a new class and call it. ...Uh....How 'bout  7 liter hydro.
 First raced in 1949, MERCURY quickly found success, winning the 1950 High Point Championship and the 1953 National Championship. Last race for the hull was around 1954, when Mr. Elam retired her to a barn and took up some other projects and pursuits. MERCURY is Ventnor hull #567 and is believed to be the one and only 7 Liter class Ventnor hydroplane still in existence today.
 Ike Kielgass, who lives southeast of Seattle in the Renton/Maple Valley area, acquired the boat after extensive discussions with Oliver Elam. The result of Ike's labor is a truly magnificent, one of a kind and irreplaceable piece of boat racing history. Mr. Kielgass is also a cornerstone member of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum out here in Seattle. He is not unfamiliar with restorations and old raceboats, having managed or been deeply involved with work on Miss America VIII, Slo-mo-shun IV, Hawaii Kai and on and on.
 If you or I had done for hydroplane history, what Ike has accomplished, we might stop and take a little rest. Not Ike. He is rapidly approaching the "wet part" in his total restoration of Racket III, a 48 ci hydroplane. By the time you read this, Ike will have picked up a Crosley motor down in Florida and should be zipping across Northwest waters before the start of summer. Watch for pictures and details in a future issue of Propeller, or see his latest work up close and in person at the 1998 Antique Raceboat Regatta in Clayton, NY 

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
MERCURY, H-11, Oliver Elam’s Ventnor, 7 Litre hydro, was powered with a Fageol engine. This pioneering raceboat won the 1950 High Point Title and the 1953 National Championship. The MERCURY was restored to its original racing condition by its current owner Ike Kielgass from Renton, WA. Ike participates in many vintage events around the country.

©1998 Tom D'Eath