NOTES:
We would like to bring to your attention that APBA is starting to prepare now for its 100th Anniversary celebration. The Historical Society has decided to establish a Century Club. Their goal is to have 200 individuals or members contribute $200 each. The proceeds will be used for the APBA celebration. If you are interested and would like to participate just send a check to Detroit. A flyer is being prepared which will explain in detail the Anniversary plans and the benefits to the Century Club members. 
Don Edwards from Santa Barbara, CA informs us that the third annual Boat Racers Reunion will take place in 2003. He also thanks Bob Silva for his nice article on this year’s event.

CORRECTION:
In response to our February article on model boats, Fred Harris e-mailed us. He tells us that the company’s proper name is “Replicast”. They are alive and kicking, busy making models of many Water Speed Record boats, including Lee Taylor’s (All-American) Hustler. His new release will be Gar Wood’s awesome Miss America X. Check out Replicast’s website address at www.merseyworld.com/replicast. 
Also, Mike Tanny e-mailed us on the same subject, including information on the French firm Provence Moulage. They are at www.mafma.com/provence_pricelist.htm. Most of P-M’s models are of racing cars, so many of its boats are auto related: powered by Bugatti, Alfa or Ferrari engines. Or, they are boats that have appeared at the Retro-nautique show in Paris. P-M’s next boat will be the newly restored 1936 Gold Cup Racer from France, Rafale VI, which was the star attraction at this year’s show. 
On this same subject, Bill Wooding of Wilson, NC informs us that Alterscale of Woodbridge, VA (703) 490-6649 produces and sells exact scale models of miniature outboards of the ’50s and ’60s. These scale engines are highly detailed. 

CHALLENGES:
Joe Marshall from Tennessee is trying to identify an early ’70s Jones 280 cubic inch hydro. The name on the boat is Mr. Fabricator. Jay Stevens’s name also appears on the hull, and the racing number E-13. If you can pass on any information to Joe his number is (865) 983-3115. 
Sylvain Demers of Quebec and Ralph Barker from Buffalo both called regarding our February challenge about the fate of the Grand Prix raceboat Sudden Seven 7 Litre. It appears that this raceboat, also known as the Miss Crazy Thing or Miss Budweiser, was burned after being removed from the pole at the Cocagne Yacht Club, New Brunswick, Canada. 

EVENTS:
April 25 - 27 Daytona Speedway, FL. Vintage Raceboat Static displays. Contact Martin Sanborn at 252-493-0138 or MSanborn271@compuserve.com 
June 15-16 Brockville, Ontario - North American Championship / Vintage flybys. Contact Bert Henderson (613) 345-6751 or hydromarine@hotmail.com 
July 5 - 7 Madison, IN. Contact Joe Johnson at (812) 866-8940 or drummerjoe_55@yahoo.com 
July 11 - 14 Detroit, MI - APBA Gold Cup Vintage & Historic. If you wish to participate you must contact me at (941) 792-7554. 
August 9 - 10th Lake George, NY Vintage Powerboat Regatta. Contact Teri Hoffman at (518) 371-8683. 
August 16 - 18, Clayton, NY Antique Raceboat Regatta. Contact Charlotte Yehle at (315) 686-4104. 
Sept 6 - 8 Buffalo Launch Club - Vintage. Contact Bill DeGlopper at (716) 773-6093 or email: squeegeede@adelphia.net

ON A SAD NOTE:
Don Hollister (73) of Clinton Township, MI passed away in February. Don was certainly a friend of Inboard hydroplane racing as long as I knew him. Among other things, he made the cowlings and molds for the Miss US IV, the Miss Thriftway/ Century 21, the Miss Bardahl and others. Don’s creative ideas were instrumental to the development of encapsulating ignition coils in epoxy resin for the Mallory Corporation. In the ’sixties, Don raced 266 class hydros. In the early ’60s Don showed me plans that he had drawn for a 266-ci hydro outrigger, including his drawings for a new honeycomb core wood panel he was developing to build the boat. 
In 1994, Don helped me with the machining and welding on the restoration of the Wa Wa Too. I will miss him.

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
1950s 135 HYDROS - 
In 1952, spectators jammed the Lake Merritt shoreline by the thousands to view start of the 135 ci Hydroplanes at Oakland’s 22nd Annual Fourth of July Regatta. 
Two of only three California 135s that qualified for the exclusive Gulf 100 MPH Club were a 1949 Canadian Peerless High Point winner, and a future 135 National Champion. 
Bill Dugranrut of Fresno pumps up the fuel pressure in his RIC-O-SHAY, 25-A, as the 135s slow to avoid “jumping the gun.” Bill handmade the beautiful aluminum cowlings for his 1951 built Hallett and did the entire engine work on the Ford V-8 60 as well. At Salton Sea’s 1-Mile Trials, Dugranrut’s first pass through the traps was a stunning 105 MPH. A slower return run dropped the average to 101.241 MPH, just shy of the 1954 class record but fast enough to join the Century Club. The RIC-O-SHAY was sold to Texan Doc Triplett in 1955. 
Johnny Corea’s SKIPPY, 40-A was often featured in magazine ads for I.E. Debbold Marine Hardware and Champion Boat Plans (despite the fact it was a Hallett hull!). The Dos Palos, CA, driver defeated 23 entries at Guntersville, AL to become 1955 National Class Champion. The boat was sold to Fred Galente in ‘56, renamed JOEY IV and later was destroyed in a 1965 crash. 
In 1953 SCREAMING EAGLE II, 6-A was the first to break the century mark for the 135s. On Seattle’s Lake Washington, owner/driver William “Buddy” Holloway clocked 100.620 MPH only to lose the record to Fred Neeley’s CUMON BABY, 15-A at 101.254, later in the year. However, Holloway did win the distinguished Pop Cooper Memorial Trophy for recording the year’s fastest 135-ci hydro Competition Five-Mile heat. Piloting a new Hallett hull for 1954 and running an Arvel Lankford built V8-60 in SCREAMING EAGLE IV, Buddy reclaimed the record at Salton Sea with an average of 101.373 (retiring the record when class upped ci. to 150). During the 1955 Seafair Regatta, the boat was seriously damaged, and Holloway “knocked cold,” when it shed both sponsons at 90+ MPH. 
Visalia’s Fred Galente was considered one of the best 135 drivers in the state by many of his California competitors. Outclassed by the later designs of Rich Hallett, Galente was still competitive in his 1948 built Kenny Ingram hull, JOEY III, 73-A. This same hull won the Canadian Peerless Oil High Point Trophy in 1949, for the most points scored in five Canadian races. Galente sold the Ingram hull to Allan Ford who raced the bright orange boat as NONCHALANT II, 94-S in the 136 class. Galente then purchased John Corea’s SKIPPY.
 

©2002 Tom D'Eath