EVENTS:

• April 29-30 Dayton Testing.Dayton,OH.Contact: Jack Hines 937-898-0562. (rain dates May 6-7)
• May 13-14 Bass Lake Boat Fest.Bass Lake, CA. Contact: Don Edwards 805-688-5060
• July 1-2 Madison IN.Contact: Joe Johnson Contact: Drummerjoe55@yahoo.com
• July 7-9 Valleyfield Quebec, Canada.Contact: Ben Lemay 450-371-3291
• July 14-16 APBA Gold Cup.Detroit. MI.Contact: Alan Radue 248-616-1317
• Aug 18-20 Antique Raceboat Regatta.Clayton, NY.Contact: Charlotte Yehle 315-686-4104
• Aug 26-27 Celina Govenor’s Cup.Celina, OH. Contact: Ron Synder
• Sept 2-3 Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta.Wheeling, WV. Contact: Debbie Joseph 304-233-4738
• Sept 8-9 Bufallo Launch Club/Raceboat Reunion.Bufallo, NY Contact: Bill DeGlopper 716-733-6093
• Sept 22-24 Wyandotte Vintage Fest.Wyandotte, MI.Contact: Mike Cashin 734-788-1879 

REPORTS:
Getting the Word Out – Promoting V&H part I
By Alan Radue – Vintage & Historic Vice Chairman 

One thing I have noticed in the years I have been a member of the Vintage & Historic division is the incredible number of human interest stories there are surrounding what we do at every event. 
Whether it is the history of the hull through its racing career, the individuals brought together who one day decided they wanted to be boat racers, the story behind the builder of the hull, how the hull survived the elements before being rescued, or even the actual restoration work itself — there is always an interesting story to be told. 
This got me to thinking about the little promotional gold mine we are sitting on and wondering why we are not using it to its fullest potential. Here is a quick test each V&H member can take. I will warn you up front that I failed by not answering each question, “Yes”. 
After getting your vintage hull to an event and experiencing a little of what racing was like back in the day, did you attempt to completely document and understand its history? 
While most of us can tell the basic stories about each hull in our division (who owns it, who built it, sometimes even the year of construction, sometimes even the trophies it won) did you meet any of the former owners/drivers and write down the stories they told? 
Did race fans walking up to your hull have the opportunity to understand what a 280 Class hydroplane means or what a Jersey Speed skiff even is, if you were not standing there? 
Can anyone looking at your restored little gem of a race boat comprehend that three years ago it was a rotting pile of wood behind a farmer’s barn in Pennsylvania? 
If you are not standing next to your hull, does the casual onlooker know what it is made from or how it is constructed? 
Many of these hulls look fast, but do you know how fast each one really went in its day? 
Did you answer yes to all of them? Congratulations if you did, but try the next one on for size. 
Another observation I made last year is that a very small percentage of each event is taken up by exhibition runs. While we like to think we have 100% water time at every event, most of the time your hull is sitting on the trailer except for the 10 minutes it is on the course. So when your hull is sitting on the grounds at the beautiful Buffalo Launch Club for 95% of the day, is it a self-promotional machine? The unfortunate answer is no. 
My point in running through all of these questions is that we are just barely scratching the surface on the largest marketing tool available to us. Even better… it is the largest FREE marketing tool available to us. We don’t have to restore it; we don’t have to change the oil in it; we don’t need a tow vehicle for it . . . all we need is a pencil and paper (or, as they say these days, a laptop, an ISP, Microsoft Word and a laser printer. 
What I have found out by putting this thought to the test last year in Detroit is that we are not connecting with our fans nearly as well as we could. 
While we know some tidbits about each hull, the basic facts we take for granted are a complete unknown to a person viewing your hull. However, when he or she learns something about it, their facial expression changes from idle curiosity to genuine interest in what they are looking at. 
Case in point: I’m standing in front of my hull watching two gentlemen read the sign I have in front of it. One of them gets down to the point where it says this is the first hydroplane ever owned by Unlimited racing legend Ron Snyder. So he bumps his friend’s shoulder and says, “Check this out. This is Ron Snyder’s first hydroplane.” They find this a very cool fact, just as I do. So what have we created here? — a knowledgeable fan, who will point out during an exhibition run every piece of knowledge he has about this obscure little racing hull. 
This IS the absolute building block of creating a fan base, isn’t it? 
When you go to a NASCAR race you don’t say, “Hey look at the Jim Beam red/white car with #7 on it!” You start downloading facts at a nauseating pace to your friends about the racing team, the performance setup, where the driver was born and anything else you can think of. To some it becomes a way of speaking and in even a way of life (i.e.: The car you drive to work being covered in NASCAR stickers). 
We Vintage owners are not celebrities like NASCAR drivers, although our autograph signings are very popular. I’m not sure anyone would really care where I was born, and I am positive that I am not going to see an “I love the Agitator” sticker on a bumper anytime soon. Nonetheless, somebody will appreciate the fact I have an all original matching numbers 1956 265 Chevy V8 in my hull, and the reason it is in there is worth knowing. When I consider the virtual laundry list of possible information (some call it “hull pedigree”) I shake my head, knowing that only a select few actually know it all. 
Have I not convinced you that we all need to document our hulls? Try this reason on for size (it is not at the top of my list but it may be at the top of yours): The history of your hull is actually worth cold hard cash. What in the world do I mean? Case in point: I have a hydroplane for sale for X dollars, or I have a 5-time national champion, straightaway record holder, first hull built by Dick Sooy, original race setup, with a scrapbook of its racing history, painstakingly restored, etc. etc., for sale for X dollars. 
Do you see the gigantic difference between the two sale prices? 
After spending a little bit of your time reading this article, I hope it inspires a few of you to trace the history of your hull, tell everyone you know and get those history boards and restorations boards rolling. 
You say you are inspired, but don’t have the money or time to make the boards? 
Stay tuned for “Getting the Word Out – Promoting V&H part II,” which will focus on making the restoration/history boards for practically nothing!
 

Bill John III Report
I spent last Monday in my shop, edge-bonding the deck of my beloved Obsession and I could feel the cold going right through me. I spent the next couple of days on the couch, working the cold through me, and working on the new Webpage for our Clayton Antique Race Boat Regatta 2006. Clayton is the birthplace of our APBA Vintage & Historic Division, having held our first antique boat regatta there in 1992. Clayton continues to be the biggest event on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit. This summer's regatta expands to 4 full days with addition docking. Over 150 vintage race boats are expected, and will be running demonstration laps on a course setup in front of the Museum. So, if you want to see lots of vintage race boats running at speed, you’ve just got to come to Clayton 2006. Make no mistake about it - Clayton is going to be THE vintage event this summer, so mark your calendars now for August 16th-18th. Here is the link for all the details: 
http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com/Clayton2006.htm 
 

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT: 
The Bass Lake Boat Fest will take place on May 13-14, 2006 at The Pines Resort, Bass Lake CA. This event is the first of its kind for California. The unsanctioned event is a coming together of different hull and marine hardware manufacturers and boating and racing clubs. Efforts have been put forth by the various groups to avoid any date conflicts. Anyone that’s wondered - what would it be like if the various West Coast Vintage, Historic, Nostalgia, Ski and Race boats got together for one event? Well, May 13 and 14 you’ll be able to see for yourself! If you’ve been waiting for an “on the water” event in California, then you don’t want to miss this event. There will be a marine swap meet on Saturday with static display and flybys set for both days. Ramp launching fees apply and there will not be any crane for launching. For more details contact: Don Edwards 805-688-5060; Brian Lynch 559-322-9340 or email Harlan Orrin at woodboatharlan@sbcglobal.net