September 1999
VINTAGE RACERS REDISCOVERED:
After many years of trying, I have been able to purchase the Z-Z-ZIP from Carl Schmidli of North Tonawanda, NY. Carl stored this 1955 Joe Guess raceboat in his polebarn for the last 20 years. He bought the Z-Z-ZIP from Gordie Reed, with the intentions of racing it, but that never happened. To my surprise the boat was kept in beautiful condition. Thanks to her previous owners, Al Brinkman, Gordie Reed and especially Carl. To me the most remarkable aspect is that all the original parts are there and intact. Including the Hi-J record holding propeller, the original aluminum cowlings, and the record setting Clay Smith, Bobbie Sykes and Keith Black DeSoto crossram fuel injected V-8 engine with a Wilber Houghton custom built gearbox. Would you believe that even Sid Street’s aluminum paddle was still in the cockpit!
     I’m a firm believer of giving credit where credit is due. The story here is Joe Guess. To say that Joe just built the boat is an under-statement. This truly is a work of perfection. Joe carefully planned his boats and the labor assumed the proportion of a career. One year, two years, whatever it took, time meant nothing. This is a masterpiece that equals anything seen at Indianapolis in the way of top quality craftsmanship. The result was a world record in 1958 at 146.945 mph. Joe Guess built five boats. His first boat, a 135 hydro, was built prior to the WWII. After the war, Joe built two GUESS WHO 266 ci hydroplanes. Bobby Sykes drove the second GUESS WHO to a world record of 121.703 mph in 1952. Another one of his creations was the COPPER HEAD, a 225 ci hydro. The final Joe Guess hull was the Z-Z-ZIP built for Sid Street. Well that about does it. You would have to see the Zip to fully appreciate it. Better yet, see it in action at our Vintage events 2000.

NOTES:
I’ll be leaving for the Concours d’Elegance Lake Tahoe in two days with the Wa Wa Too. On my way out I am going to stop and see Joe Guess who lives in Carlsbad, CA. He is 82 years old and full of memories and stories. Can’t wait!!! Bob Sykes, the original Z-Z-ZIP engine builder lives in Los Molinos, CA. Bobby, also in his eighties, can still turn a wrench with the best of them.

VINTAGE TRIVIA:
Daniel Murphy writes us that the article about Edison Hedges brought back many memories for him. He goes on to say “Before the war, over the Labor Day weekend, races were held Saturday at Stone Harbor, Sunday at Margate and Monday, Labor Day, at Ocean City. Hedges used to participate in all three regattas. I raced against him twice before the war and, am not sure, I think once after the war. These were in the Fite Memorial Race. It was a 23-mile, open to all, race from Ocean City to Mays Landing and back, most of it on the Egg Harbor River. In 1949, I placed 2nd with my 7 Litre, the Dee-Jay IV behind Joe VanBlerk in his AL JO. On Memorial Day 1950, I won it in the unlimited, Dee-Jay V. Hedges when he ran this race, used to take short cuts because he knew every side waterway in New Jersey. The participants were to use the marked channel, but no strict rule was enforced. So he got away with using the short-cuts or side waterways, thus being able to cut the distance by one or one and half miles. He was a shrewd one. 
 Other boats that competed in the race at that time were the big ZITO-PLANE owned and driven by Sol Zito. It was very fast and used to win the free-for-all at the end of each regatta. Another was WINGS, don’t remember the owner, but she was a big “K” black runabout that went like the hammers of hell. It had an unusual whine, not a roar and usually finished behind the ZITO-PLANE. Another series of famous boats from that time and place were the EMANCIPATORS of S. Mortimer Auerbach. They were 225’s, beautiful and fast. During those three days, one of the interesting match-ups was two E-Service Runabouts. One was owned and driven by John Charles Thomas, the baritone, and young John Wanamaker, heir to department store fortune. A bit of trivia about Hedges, he was an attorney and for a wedding gift to his close friends he gave a certificate which entitled, either of the parties, his free services, should they ever decide to sue one or the other for divorce.
 Incidentally, it was 50 years on Memorial Day since the Dee-Jay V, first hit the water.”

CHALLENGES:
Dave Johnson from Madison, IN is looking for a vintage conventional style raceboat to restore, preferable a 225, 266 or 7 Litre. If you have knowledge of one for sale contact him at (812) 265-5265. 

 The year 2,000 is scheduled to be one of our best years to date. Everyone is gearing up for Clayton 2000. Peter Kreissle and myself have come up with a unique challenge. If all the 135 hydros that we know of in existence were restored and ready to run, we could have our own HEAT race at Clayton. “Our challenge is for the owners of these boats to have them ready for the millennium”. Jim Peele has two 135 Ventnor hydros UNCLE SAM and TOMMY BOY. Jim Hawver owns a 1940 Ventnor, A-87. Rusty Welchman has the 1948 Ventnor FLYING BONES. Scott Courts owns the 1959 Lauterbach GALE. Peter Sloan from Detroit has the Tommy Hill hull, HOT STUFF. Keith Brayer and John Culver have been working on their Wickens replica, YANKEE DOODLE. Dr. Vesley has a Century THUNDERBOLT. Skip Gillam owns THE ROWDY, a Lauterbach. Gene Fleming has his 1956 Fleming hull, A-46. Peter Kreissle has newly acquired the Dragon, a 135 Ventnor. Coupled up with my SOUTHERN STYLE, a Lauterbach and THE FLYING DEBRIS, a Wise hull, what a line-up. Along with all the 135’s that are completed. Image what an event we could have.

 Phil Spruit of Isanti, MN is looking for an early 60’s Ford 427 engine to install in his MOONSHINE BABY H-54. He would like to use this engine for nostalgic purposes. Phil can be reached at (763) 444-9622.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH: 
On December 29, 1958, along old HWY 84, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, I as a 14 year old boy, stood on the shoreline and watched in amazement as Sid Street’s 266 cubic inch hydro, Z-Z-ZIP, F-4 broke the World Mile-Straightaway Record to an unheard speed of 146.945 MPH. The records that this Joe Guess raceboat set still stand today as historical performances.

PHOTO CAPTION:
The second happiest day of a man’s life is when he sells his boat. Carl Schmidli smiling as the Z-Z-Zip leaves his polebarn and heads south with her new owner.

©1999 Tom D'Eath