Steve Lindo's 280 VAGABOND, a Dick Sooy design, participated in 3 major 2004 APBA vintage regattas. Four fresh coats of Epifanes varnish and fresh lettering have since been applied at the Vintage Race Boat Shop in Wolfeboro, NH. The former world record holder is ready for the 2005 vintage season.
 
NOTES:
Ned Crimmin has been busy processing the vast material left to him by his late mother, Eileen Crimmin. Eileen’s writing had a great impact on the sport of boat racing as she was one of the best in her journalistic field. She and famed photographer Bob Carver worked together as a team many times. Eileen was also a published photographer. Ned has undertaken the task of cataloging about 1800 slides shot by his mother (Unlimiteds from the early 1960's – 1974). In addition, three private collections of about 400 photographs taken at limited and outboard races in the Pacific Northwest have been donated to him. 
Ned Crimmin can be contacted at: nedcrimmin@yahoo.com 

VINTAGE RACERS REDISCOVERED: 
This vintage raceboat hung from the rafters in the designer/builder’s garage for 45 years until being restored by his son. We’re talking about Frank Neely’s CUMON BABY II, 15-A, not the full size 135 hydro but the quarter scale model that the late Frank Neely built before starting construction on the full scale hull. The model was beautifully restored by Wil Neely and can be viewed on Phil Spruit’s Vintage Hydroplanes website under “Racing Models.”
  
VINTAGE TRIVIA: 
Correction: In the February 2005 issue of Propeller I mistakenly reported in “Tidbits from the Past” that it was Ron Schneider who drove an early 225 cabover in California. It was Harry Schneider NOT Ron that was the owner/driver of the 225 hydro, TIGER TOO, N-86. 

EVENTS: 
Mar.17-20:    Mt.Dora FL.(ACBS show)
Apr.23-24:    Dayton OH. Dayton testing: contact Jack 937-898-0562
June 10:      Pomona CA. Boat Racer’s Reunion: contact Richard Parks RnParks1@juno.com
June 10-12:   Kent Narrows MD. Kent Narrows Vintage Regatta: contact Larry Lauterbach 410-643-4521
July:15-17:   Detroit MI. APBA Gold Cup: contact Alan Radue 248-616-1317
July: ???:    Waterford MI. Quake on the Lake: contact Tom Bertolini 586-716-4490
Aug.13:      Columbus OH. Scioto Riverfest: contact Kevin Klosterman 614-336-3590
Sept.10-11:  Grand Island NY. Race Boat Reunion: contact Bill DeGlopper 716-773-6093 or squeegeede@adelphia.net
Sept.15-17:  Wolfeboro NH. Vintage Raceboat Regatta: contact Bill John 603-569-5824 or vintageraceboatshop.com 
    
REPORTS: 
Bill John III has a superb recap of APBA's 2004 Vintage circuit on his website. The recap is a treasure chest of photos of those who helped organize and conduct the Detroit, Madison, Clayton, Buffalo and Lake George events, along with participants and their boats. If you'd like to see why the Vintage/Historic division is APBA's fastest growing division or get yourself geared up for the upcoming 2005 vintage season, go to Bill's website at: www.vintageraceboatshop.com/APBAVintageCircuit.htm

The five year wait to see the Hollywood film MADISON, about the 1971 Unlimited Gold Cup, may finally be over with a limited release date set for April 22, 2005. “The release date is 100% locked”, said one of the film’s executive producers, Carl Amari. The independent film, directed by William Bindley, stars Jim Caviezel and will rely heavily on word of mouth for its success. Vintage Raceboat owners are eagerly awaiting the release with plans to displaying boats in front of participating theatres.  

ON A SAD NOTE:
Drag boat racer “Diamond” Jim Annin, who drove LIL DRAGON, passed away peacefully in his sleep Dec. 22, 2004. He was 65. A memorial gathering, in celebration of Jim’s life was held at the NHRA Museum on Jan. 16th. Cards and shared memories can be sent to: The Annin Family, 3965 Sourdough Rd., Acton, CA. 93510

Well known Midwest inboard driver, Tom Skelley passed away Dec. 22, 2004, losing his race with cancer. Tom drove in the 150 hydro class during the 1960’s-80’s piloting Chuck Willim’s, SNAFU V; Joe Tate Sr.’s, FOUR PAC and Bill Wanderer’s, MISS COLENE. 

Joe Kreitzer Sr. of Kettering, Ohio passed away Dec.25, 2004 at the age of 86. Joe began racing inboards in 1955; in 1968 he won National High Points and the National Championship for the 145 ci hydro class with his LITTLE JOE. Contributions in the memory of Joe and be sent to the Dayton Area, Heart and Cancer Foundation or to the SICSA. 

Mrs. Jane Little of Lakeland, FL., wife of the late hydroplane owner and businessman Bernie Little Sr., died of heart failure Dec. 30, 2004 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 79. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation or Watson Clinic Foundation.

The Vintage/Historic Division wishes god speed to our fellow racers.
 

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:

THE BIRTH of APBA’s VINTAGE and HISTORIC DIVISION 
The first Clayton Antique Raceboat Regatta, in 1992, was co-sanctioned by APBA and the ACBS (Antique and Classic Boat Society) through the efforts of Fred Alter, Buddy Byers and Bob Schroeder. It was considered an APBA “special event”.  Tom D’Eath and his wife Judy were driving to the 1992 Canadian Grand Prix Gold Cup in Picton, Ontario, Canada when they decided to detour over to Clayton, New York and catch one day of the Antique Raceboat Regatta. “...as soon as we got near the 1000 Island bridge we started seeing race boats.” recalled Tom. “We saw boats on trailers, on the back of pickups, outboards...an old 225 being pulled by an old truck. It was almost like a time warp...we thought, Wow! This is pretty cool. You used to see boats {like that} on the highway in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.” Tom and Judy enjoyed the vintage event so much that they never did make it to the Grand Prix.
A year later, while attending memorial services for Lee Schoenith at the “Roostertail” in Detroit, D’Eath casually mentioned to Buddy Byers what a great time he’d had at the ’92 Clayton Regatta. The conversation turned to how APBA ought to start a division for vintage race boats. Byers, an executive member of APBA and its Historical Society, convinced then APBA President, Mike Jones, and the executive council to give the vintage boats their own division. Like any new APBA division, there would be a probation period, and there were some who doubted that the new Vintage Division would ever make it past two years. Three-time APBA Gold Cup Champion Tom D’Eath was asked to be the new division’s chairman and he accepted. “...timing is everything in life and it was the time for me.” said Tom. “We were told by APBA, if we came up with 25 members... they’d give us their blessings. Alter, Byers and Schroeder have to get credit for they were the ones who helped before I came along”, Tom was quick to add. He emphasized the importance of the ACBS, as they were the people collecting antique Gold Cuppers from the ‘20’s and ‘30’s. "They filled a nitch instantly with their mahogany racing boats.” Tom and Judy joined the ten-year-old ACBS and set about establishing a set of rules for APBA’s Vintage and Historic division. Judging of vintage entries was at first considered, but then it was decided that the focus would be on enjoying the raceboat ride and to share the camaraderie like the good ole’ days. In the end they took the best from the ACBS rules and APBA racing rules “...good rules that were developed by people smarter than me, from the 1940’s, ‘50’s and 60’s. We blended the rules a little, to make them fit and work...”. “We thought it would be a good idea to include anything...that was a race boat at one time or even replicas ....The rules are written, the way they are, to be flexible ...”, said Tom. “We’re having fun and that’s what it’s all about”, he added. 
Thanks to Tom and Judy D’Eath’s foresight and hard work, many miles of travel to promote the Vintage Division and their love of boat racing, the division has grown in leaps and bounds with APBA’s Vintage and Historic membership now at over 200 members. Tom D’Eath moved on to a new challenge in 2004, as President of the DRRA (Detroit River Regatta Association) and reviving the APBA Gold Cup. He appointed Tom Bertolini to take over the division’s chair and Vintage is like a bullet train, picking up speed, rolling into the 2005 season. Aren’t you glad to be along for the ride?