NOTES:
We want to thank Allen Blide and Ike Kielgass for sending us vintage reference magazines and old APBA rule books. We are still in need of prewar APBA rulebooks. If anyone wishes to donate any of these rulebooks please send them to me.
Reading, PA’s Steve Webster tells us that Chris Hall Jr. and his father from Hampton. VA purchased the 150 hydroplane Coal Cat within two weeks of the November Propeller hitting the street. Chris Hall SR, Chris JR and Earl will be restoring the hull to mint condition along with Henry Lauterbach’s assistance. 
The ground has been cleared for the site of the Antique Boat Museum’s new Gold Cup building. Bill Danforth has scheduled a spring construction start with completion in year 2000. The building will house some of the museum’s collection of Gold Cup boats such as the 1904 PDQ; 1908 Dixie II; Miss Canada III, G-8; the Californian G-2; Miss Los Angles G-60; Miss Detroit VII, T-37; U-4 Something Else. Early indications are that the year 2000 Antique Raceboat Regatta is going to be the biggest one ever.

CHALLENGES:
Ed Kropinski from Eastpointe, MI wishes to locate and purchase an authentic autograph of Gar Wood’s riding mechanic “ Orlin Johnson”. Ed, a loyal race fan and member of Unlimiteds Detroit, can be reached in the evening at (810) 774-8378.

RACE SITES:
July 6 - 9    Detroit, MI: Chrysler APBA Gold Cup. Contact me if you wish to attend this millennium event.
August 17 - 20   Clayton, NY: Antique Raceboat Regatta 2000

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
Skippy, 40-A   APBA’s 135 cu.in. hydro class (now 2.5 mod) was frequently referred to in 1950’s boat racing programs as “the class that separates the men from the boys’. Competition was close and fast with full fields of 10 to 12 boats at many races. The engine of choice was the modified 1940 Ford V8-60 flathead, running two Stromberg 97’s on methanol and propelling the 13’6” hulls up to 100 mph. Many drivers who chauffeured Unlimiteds previously spent seat time in a 135 hydro and because some of boat racing’s best drivers competed in the 135’s it was very gratifying to bring home a victory. The 1950’s West Coast result sheets show just how tough it was to consistently place in the top three, let alone take home a first place trophy.
One name that stands out is that of a tough little 5’4” driver from Dos Palos, CA known as Johnny Corea, who drove Skippy, 40-A.  Featuring a mahogany Hallet hull with bronze cowlings, Skippy was not the fastest 135 on the straight-a-ways but with Corea at the helm she was one of the best competition boats on the West Coast. (Corea’s talent at the wheel also showed in his 266 hydro Skippy Too, 40-F, 1952-54). Running against record holders like Screaming Eagle 6-A, Cumon Baby 15-A, Holiday 23-A and Avenger 99-A helped Corea hone his driving skills to a championship status. On July 24, 1955 Skippy was able to defeat a large field of 23 entries to win the 135 National Championships at Guntersville, AL.
The following year Johnny Corea decided to retire from boat racing and sold Skippy to long time 135 rival Fred Galente of Visalia, CA. The muscular Galente drove 40-A, now renamed Joey IV, to more race wins. When the class increased the cubic inch limit to 150, Galente and his son installed aluminum Buick Special (while most converted to Falcon Six or Chevy II power plants) and continued to run up front until an ill-fated windy July day on Lake Yosemite in 1965. It was one of those days when all of the 150 class “hot dogs” showed up to race and the air was charged with electricity from not only anticipation but a windy and challenging race course. On the first lap while leading the pack into the back chute turn Doc Eastman’s brand new low-profile cabover Piranha 55-A, driven by his son Victor, blew over narrowly missing Cumon Baby who was running along side. At the same moment, only 100 yards behind them, Galente was fighting to control Joey IV as she sheared a sponson and went into a barrel roll. Luckily, neither driver was seriously injured but both boats were instant junk and sank to the lake bottom The badly damaged 40-A was retired and Galente moved on the 225 class with a new Hallet called Catskinner.
Skippy was one of the winningest 135 hydroplanes and if you look closely at the I.E. Debbold Marine Hardware advertisement in the 1950’s Speed and Spray magazine you’ll see Johnny Corea in his racing “football” helmet behind the wheel of a prop-walking 40-A.

BARBERA CARPER’S SPECIAL REPORT:
Thunder shook Madison, Indiana when vintage Unlimiteds roared for the filming of “Madison.” The movie, due to be released for Labor Day 2000, is based loosely on Jim McCormick’s 1971 Gold Cup win. Saviar’s Mist stars as the Miss Madison with Dave Williams, Executive Director of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum playing stunt double to Jim Kavesel (Thin Red Line) as McCormick. Williams ran over 700 laps for the filming.
Todd Yarling piloted the villainous Miss Budweiser (Bob Shroeder’s U-3 Tempus). Other hulls used in the filming were the Museum’s U-4 Miss Burien (playing Towne Club, Pay-n-Pak, and the 1999 commercial opportunity “Cat’s Pride”). Jerry Kingen’s newly restored 1967 Miss Budweiser (as Notre Dame and Miss Budweiser); John Freeman’s Little Buzzard/ Atlas Van Lines (as Atlas); and Barb Carper’s Miss Thriftway (playing itself on a flashback scene). Additional stunt drivers included Fred Alter, Mark Evans, Jerry Hopp, Ernie King, Ike Kielgass, Jerry Kingen and Ken Muscatel. Over 50 Museum volunteers worked as pit crew along side crew chiefs Peter Orton, George Greer, Randy Hoyle, Roger Newton and Ken Washer.
Cameras were mounted on helicopters, chase boats, the “Mist” Madison and the 1967 Budweiser. The result of this group effort is over 50 hours of race footage that captures the unique thrill of boat racing at its best.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
Miss Thriftway  U-60. February 16,1960, Bill Muncey driving Willard Rhodes’ Miss Thriftway set the One Mile World Record for propeller driven boats at 192.001 mph. This boat also raced under the name of Miss Century 21 and won the prestigious Gold Cup in 1961 and 1962. The boat has been completely restored to running condition and is presently owned by Barbara Carper of Seattle, WA. 

PHOTO CAPTION:
MADISON, IN: Stunt driver, Ike Kielgass guiding Miss Century 21 back to the pits after some filming for the movie “Madison”.

©2000 Tom D'Eath