CHALLENGES:
Does anyone know the current status of the Lauterbach Grand Prix Sudden Seven? I’ve been told that she has been taken off the pole at the Cocagne Yacht Club, New Brunswick, Canada. Is the boat available to be purchased and, if so, who is the contact person? 
Mike Monahan of Toronto, Ontario who is presently the head of the Canadian Boating Federation tells us that Don McDonald’s Colorflame went to New York. Mike’s father raced the boat from 1972-75 in the Canadian 3 Litre Class under the name of United Van Lines. He then sold the boat to Richard McPherson from Ogdensburg, NY. The last name on the boat was RaceBoat Special. If any one can add further knowledge as to her whereabouts, please drop us a line.

EVENTS:
July 11 - 14 Detroit, MI APBA Gold Cup Vintage & Historic; Contact Tom D’Eath (941) 792-7554 
July 5 - 7 Madison, IN (tentative); Contact Joe Johnson home (812) 866-8940 or email: drummerjoe_55@yahoo.com 
August 9 - 10th Lake George, NY Vintage Powerboat Regatta; Contact Teri Hoffman at (518) 371-8683 
August 16 - 18, Clayton, NY Antique Raceboat Regatta 

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT: THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING HYDROPLANES - 
Don’t call these little racers toys! They’re up to one-quarter scale hydroplanes and driving one by radio control takes sharp reflexes, a steely calm and intense concentration. Just like their big sisters, these hydros require many months of construction and a mechanical aptitude to make them competitive in APBA’s R/C division. Many of these hydros are modeled after Unlimiteds and are so stunning in static display that they’ve become popular with collectors. 
Collecting the smaller Vintage/ Historic boats is becoming very popular. Model manufacturer Dumas offers scale wood kits of Unlimiteds Miss Circus Circus, Miller American and Bill Muncey’s Atlas Van Lines. Popularity of model hydros has spread to the owners of full-scale boats, as well. Ray and Curt Schmitt built a scale model of their former 150ci, Short Cut, A-87. The 1958 styled Lauterbach R/C model created such a stir that the Schmitt twins now offer a 1/4-scale kit for constructing a 150, 225, 266 or 280 conventionals with the classic cowlings. Craftsman model builder Hank Pyciak built GP-317, a scratch-built R/C duplicate of Bill and Judy Fisk’s Lauterbach, The Irishman. Keith Brayer spent two years building a 72” Tempo VI, G-13 from the 1937 Ventnor scale plans provided by modeler Keith Holm. The model sits in contrast to Brayer’s full size, nine foot, vintage 48ci. hydro. Bill Clack spent a year building a 1/3 scale Hallett of Paul Sawyer’s Alter Ego, F-1, from plans published in a 1952 Speed & Spray magazine. 
Before radio control the scale hydros were tethered to run in circles. These 1940s and 50s wood and Bakelite fuel-powered models, such as the Reuhl, are now snapped up for desktop display. The discontinued Dumas wood kits of Miss Thriftway and Thriftway Too, along with the colorful artwork on their boxes, are two of the most sought after tether style hydros. 
Outboard models aren’t overlooked, either. Collectors have long sought the 1952-62 all metal, battery powered scale motors. Johnson, Evinrude, Mercury and others looked upon the tiny units as great publicity tools. Fuel-burning scale outboard motors complete with sleek racing lower units such as the Allyn Sea Fury complemented Lindberg’s 17” plastic Flash hydro. 
Battery powered inboard hydros are offered in kit and built form. Casper Models manufacture over 20 plastic molded scale Unlimiteds from 1950-72 eras. The 1953 Italian 800kg record setter, ARNO XI is offered by Amiti. The highly detailed 1/8 scale kit features mahogany construction with beautiful red resin cowlings. 
Windup or spring motor driven tin and plastic hydros can fetch big dollars from collectors. Their bright colors and sometimes off-kilter attachments such as headlights, come in both inboard and outboard models. Although some of these have been remanufactured, the old Japanese tintype are the most collectible. The hard to find red-and-white, 1940s style Ventnor, Such Crust I and the faux 13” 1950s Slo-Mo-Shun VI, in green and yellow by Ideal, are two great plastic wind-ups. 
Not all the scale hydroplanes are powered models; some are built to exacting detail for display only. Guntersville race historian Butch Wood is constructing a scale version of the 1952 record holding Joe Guess built 266, Guess Who. Clayton’s 2000 Raceboat Regatta found Mike Taggart displaying a most incredible static scale hydro. Modeled after Taggart’s full size 135ci Lauterbach, Shake Rattle N’ Roll, the 13-1/2 inch copy of the 1957 National Champion was a painstakingly made exact copy, right down to the venturi of the miniature Stromberg 97 carbs. 
The all metal, diecast hydro models are the hardest to find because so few have ever been produced. The Seattle Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum commissioned 8” models of several Unlimiteds, but I don’t believe many were made for sale. The popular “Hot Wheels” did produce two different 1/64-size diecast Crackerboxes in 1998. (There are many electric and gas powered scale models available of Cracker boxes). 
Finally, there are the vintage plastic and newer resin and white metal, unpainted kits. The 1950s Monogram plastic model kit featured a kneeling driver aboard an outboard hydro. In the 1980s Testor’s produced the 1/20, all plastic conventional Miss Budweiser which displayed its Rolls V-12 power plant. Former KRR driver Ron Bolton offers a Blown Fuel Hydro, in resin, through his Mad Dog Models. Hard to find resin and white metal kits by defunct British modeler “Realist” include 1/43 Jet powered water record setters like John Cobb’s Crusader and Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird. Provence Moulage of France also offers 1/43 scale water speed record holders, such as Donald Campbell’s Bluebird and Buddy Byer’s 7 Litre, Chrysler Queen, H-1. 
On-line auction houses are the best place to search for some of these “incredible shrunken hydro” treasures. 
It would be great to see a “scale table” at Vintage Raceboat Regattas. Perhaps it’s time for one of the die cast, racecar model makers to provide collectors with a classic hydroplane; they might be in for a surprise!

©2002 Tom D'Eath