NOTES:
Ceil Sooy of Mays Landing, NJ finds it necessary to sell all of Dick’s remaining hydroplane inventory, which includes the cabover 280 hydroplane that Dick built from his original plans the Double Eagle.  She also has a fiberglass 2.5 stock hydro and Dick Kelly’s 2.5 Mod Last Chance, along with aluminum castings, rudders, quadrants and wood patterns. She has to clear out the shop as soon as possible. Ceil can be reached at (609) 625-5151 or email her at DixceeEagle@aol.com
Floyd Watterson found and purchased an unidentified Lauterbach 280 hydro in Quebec City, Canada, but he has too many boats in his garage so the Big Chief, A-11 is available. Floyd can be reached at (315) 686-3267.

CHALLENGES:
Joe Winkler would like to know whatever happened to Jack Colcock? Is he still living? If so, how can he be reached? Jack (who I am pretty sure was from the Northwest), designed the Challenger 7 Litre in the early 60’s.
Steve Roskowski of Mooresville, IN is getting ready to restore Bob Tucker’s 91 ci, a Colcock designed hydro, L-91 The Topper. Steve is looking for information on The Topper’s history and photographs of the boat in its original colors? His phone # is (317) 831-5318.

RACE SITES:
June 2 - 4  Toronto, Ontario. Ontario Place Contact person Bill Sine (905) 876-5237 tells us that they are having three Vintage events this season. August 11 thru 13 and September 8 thru 10. 
June 17 & 18  Dayton, Ohio Jack Hines  (937) 898-0562 or nhines8891@aol.com
July 6 thru 9    Detroit, MI: Chrysler APBA Gold Cup. Time is running out, send your requests for registration to me. This is an invitation only event. Run on the historic Detroit Gold Cup course. 
August 17 - 20   Clayton, NY: Antique Raceboat Regatta 2000. Our largest vintage event. Not to be missed!

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT: PEE WEE’S BIGGEST ADVENTURE
Winning an APBA class National Championship is quite an accomplishment and winning it twice in back-to-back years certainly stands out. Bill Dale of Maywood, CA was able to pull off double wins in the 266 hydroplane class with his boat Pee Wee, 25-F in 1952 and ’53. To get an idea of just how big an accomplishment this was, one needs to look at where the 266 class stood in 1952.
The 266’s were the fastest limited inboard class, faster than the 7 Litres by 20 mph! Paul Sawyer stunned the boat-racing world by clocking 120 mph in his 266 Alter Ego in 1951. The prestigious Gulf 100 MPH Club included 11 limited hydros and all but one was a 266. The class caught the attention of some of the nations best racing engine builders, such as: Clay Smith, Keith Black, Howard Johansen, Lou Senter and Barney Navarro. Although the 1950-52 Ford and Mercury 255 ci Flathead V-8’s held the records and reigned supreme, engine builders began experimenting with the new Desoto Firedome OHV V-8. The 266 class was the cutting edge for inboard racing technology.
The odds were stacked against Bill Dale repeating his National Championship in the Senter prepared, Merc powered, Wickens Pee Wee at Salton Sea in October of ’53. For one thing, Johansen’s Desoto powered Mixmaster was already knocking on the record door with 120+ mph unofficial clocking and was a favorite to win. And Sid Street had purchased Joe Guess’ current 121 mph record holder, and replaced the flathead with a Smith/Sykes Desoto in Guess Who. What transpired is called the “luck of racing”.
The first heat (two heat formats were used back then) was stopped when Kenny Gilbert was tossed unhurt from The Witch, 11-F when she collapsed a sponson and flipped. The restart of heat one gave driver, George Mattucci, who had been left at the shore frantically trying to fire-up Mixmaster, a second chance. But it was Sid Street who ran off with the first heat win in the Guess Who and now looked to clinch the 266 Nationals with a two heat sweep.
The staccato rasp of the Flatheads, the Wayne-Chevy whine and deep roar of the Desotos rose in unison as the pack charged toward the first turn of heat two. Then a sudden crash by Guess Who sent spray, plywood and driver Sid Street flying through he air. Ollie Prather slowed his Lil Injun, 7-F to jump into the water and help the unconscious and seriously injured Street, Nearby the sinking Guess Who was demolished beyond repair. (It would be three years before Street was able to return to racing). Once again, a restart was called for, but this time the drivers weren’t quite as aggressive. Pee Wee raced to an overall first and repeat Nationals win over second place Thunderbolt, 66-F driven by Ernie Bender and an ailing Mixmaster 14-F.
Salton Sea hosted the 266 Nationals in ’54 as well, but the only lucky thing about it was that officials could get the heats run off at all. The wind blew and the first place race was between Texan Jim Townsend in his Eight Ball Sr., F-99 and Florida’s Ray Gassner in Sunshine Baby III, F-57. Gassner’s expert driving of his Lauterbach in the rough chop, over the faster Eight Ball Sr., gave him his first 266 Nationals. Dale in Pee Wee beat all other California entries in the ten-boat field and took home a third place trophy. Once again the Flatheads prevailed, but their end was near. While the Desoto went on to set future speed records, it was the 1955-56 Chevrolet 265 ci V-8 engine that first appeared in Bill Ritner’s Wa Wa Too that announced the end of the Flatheads time.

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH:
Photographer Herb Rose captures Bill Dale in Pee Wee, 25-F returning to the pits at Salton Sea after winning the 266 hydro National Championship in 1953. Powered by a Lou Senter built Mercury Flathead V-8, the Fred Wickens built hull won back-to-back Championships in 1952 and 1953.

PHOTO CAPTION:
Mike MacFarlane’s restored 48 ci hydroplane CY-37, Miss Vandercook.

©2000 Tom D'Eath