REPORTS:
Judy and I recently attended the Seattle Seafair 2000 especially to witness the Pemco Classic vintage exhibition. Dave Williams from the Seattle Hydroplane Museum was instrumental in bringing back the “Thunder” to Lake Washington. Six unlimited vintage hydroplanes reenacted the 1960 Gold Cup 3 lap final heat from Lake Mead that was never completed. The vintage raceboats and their drivers were Miss Bardahl, Billy Schumacher; Nitrogen Too, Dave Williams; Miss Century 21, Ike Kielgass; Miss Burien, Jerry Hopp; Miss Bud, Dixon Smith; and Hawaii Kai III with Dr Ken Muscatel. Certainly, the Seattle hydro fans appreciated the site and sounds of the vintage Unlimiteds on Lake Washington again.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:  HYDRO FEVER
When I returned to CA after attending the 5th Clayton, NY Antique Raceboat Regatta, I was running a fever..."hydro fever". I knew exactly where I caught it, too. It was from driving Tom and Judy D'Eath's, WA WA TOO and from being exposed while riding in Geoffrey Magnuson's, MISS AMERICA VII. I can't thank them enough for passing the 'hydro fever' on to me. 
Imagine sitting at the transom and looking directly at 1200+ horses with 12 Zoomie exhaust stacks coming off of the two Rolls V-12s of, MISS AMERICA VII. It's start-up time and unknowing spectators jump at the sound when the left-side engine fires. Seconds later...SURPRISE-Woom!...the right side engine fires. Sound deadening ear muffs are an option...no, thanks, I'll take the full sound effects but I'll opt for the "Gar Wood" goggles and cloth helmet. Magnuson deftly operates the pull-me, push-you gearbox controls and we idle out onto the vast St Lawrence. Geoff has to stand up to see over the bow of the 28-ft. VII. When he sits down, the real action begins. Pushing the dual throttle hand controls forward makes the V-12s roar. I can clearly hear the mechanical workings of the two engines. The heat from the exhaust pipes is like a hot "Santa Ana" wind. The water condition would be too rough for a 3-point hydro but this 28-ft., single step eats it up. Geoff charges through a big pleasure boat wake, full-tilt...I expect the bow to rise but instead, VII plows through the wake and I feel the transom kick up...I start looking for a place to hold on with both hands. We go roaring down the river. It's a wet ride at 60, maybe 70 mph? With no dashboard as a buffer I've got the whole range of VII's mechanical sights and sounds in my face. Teddy and Bruin, the replica Gar Wood good luck bears, are tied to the engine right in front of me, their little red ribbons whipping in the wind. I recall reading of Gar Wood's biggest fear, that he'll "die-suddenly due to a vibration cycle high enough to kill a man." Back in the 1920s, no one knew if such a vibration existed. But Magnuson's VII is surprisingly smooth. The turns at speed are smooth too, throttling back on the inside engine, giving a turn to the bow mounted rudder and around we go. I can feel the boat on its step, kicking up over the choppy water. The pedal-shaped brace for the passenger's foot comes in handy. All too soon the ride is over and we idle up to the Museum dock. I have a whole new perspective on the heroics of Gar Wood and his riding mechanic, Orlin Johnson. They clocked 93 mph in the original MISS AMERICA VII, while venturing into unknown waters. 
Three days later I found myself sitting in the cockpit of the WA WA TOO. The 1953, Henry Lauterbach-built 266 has been restored by Tom D'Eath, and it's immaculate. The 16' 9" hull has the classic 50's narrow transom with a small skid fin mounted inside the tunnel, against the left sponson. It's an honor just to sit in this boat, as a kid I grew up reading about Bill Ritner's WA WA's. Tom tells me, "If it catches on fire, pull the drain plugs and jump out."... If it catches on fire!-I'll pull the plugs and go down with it ("Oh yeah, Bob Silva, he was the guy who destroyed WA WA at Clayton"). Ignition on, pump once, hit the starter button-WAAAAA! I vaguely remember being in a situation like this 25 years ago...driving a 280 Hallett...but the water was a heck of a lot smoother than this. This is like Lake Merritt's back chute. Suddenly, I'm passed by Aussie, Dave Pagano, driving like the throttle's stuck wide open, (in Floyd Waterson's, BIG CHIEF II, A-11). Dave said he likes to sing rock n' roll songs out loud while driving a hydro...he must be belting out the Beach Boy's, "Ride-Ride-Ride-the Wild Surf"...I wouldn't be surprise to see MISS AMERICA VII go by next. At least I can slide past the turn buoys and hold the inside. This is Fun-Fun-Fun! But it's time to bring her in. Thanks, Tom and Judy, for trusting me with this treasure! Hydro fever-catch it!
I missed seeing Chuck Boothby and his Uncle, Art Asbury at Clayton. Best wishes to Art on recovering from his surgery. 
The "Madison" movie was a popular topic of conversation. I'm looking forward to seeing the big hydros up there on a 20-ft. silver screen. Will it create more interest in vintage raceboats?  This year I've taken a vow to learn more about outboard racing and bought two of Peter Hunn's books. The West Coast Report welcomes additional information from outboard racers, too. 
The mahogany Gold Cuppers were stunningly beautiful while floating dockside and the drivers, " put their foot into it", out on the rough St. Lawrence, too. 
Wow! Danny Foster was at Clayton. Danny was "the man" during the 1940's and 50's. In 1955 alone, he won 5 Unlimited races in a row driving Guy Lombardo's new Staudacher, TEMPO VII. It was great to see him honored at Clayton. If you love raceboats, try to attend Clayton's next raceboat regatta, in 2002. There is nothing else like this regatta in the world! Whether it's the sight of old raceboats running, examining the craftsmanship of the wood hulls or hearing some exotic marine engines run, the atmosphere is special. You may just come away with, "hydro fever". 

ON A SAD NOTE: 
APBA lost a vintage member, Ben Lowell of Bloomfield Hills, MI. Ben, in route from his home to the Clayton Antique Raceboat Regatta, was killed in a one car accident. Ben owned the beautiful 1937 Ventnor E Racing Runabout Alpha 33-E. We wish to express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Our prayers are with you. 

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH: 
Billy Schumacher driving Ole Bardahl’s green dragon Miss Bardahl U-40  to victory in the Pemco Classic. In lane two is Dave Williams in Nitrogen Too, U-79 and Lane 3 Jerry Hopp driving Miss Burien, U-4, on Lake Washington, Seattle.  Photo credit: Jon Osterberg.

©2000 Tom D'Eath