BOATS UNDER RESTORATION:
Mike Taggart has bought the 225 Lauterbach hydro, TIGER from Carl Wilson.
Mike now has both the former record setting, 225 conventional, TIGER and
the Jones cabover that broke its record, JUST-A-PEST II.
Mike has contacted original owner/driver Sherman Pohlamus, now residing
in Santa Cruz CA. Sherman says the boat looked best during the last years
of his driving her during the 1976-77 racing seasons. Eb Wickes, who did
the beautiful, pain-staking detailed restoration on the JUST-A-PEST II,
will be bringing the TIGER back to its 76-77 look. Using photo slides provided
by Pohlamus, Eb will be using the same style decals, trim, etc. of that
period but, due to the faded Kodachromes, color matching will be a problem.
Mike and Eb would appreciate any help finding color shots matching that
time period. Once the restoration is complete, they would love to re-unite
Sherman and the 225 hydro, TIGER.
Challenge Answered: Ken Muscatel replied to our November issue challenge
(looking for owners of Tommy Hill built hydroplanes. Ken notes he just
acquired the TIME FLIES, a V8-60 powered 135 class hydro that he located
in Texas. Using the photo of CALIFORNIA KID as an accurate guide, he believes
his find to be a Hill built hull.
Ken is also looking for more information on the record setting Hill
135 hull LY BEE. What is known is that the boat was sold to Al D’Eath and
renamed PSST. The boat was sold by D’Eath and later raced by Edison Hedges
as CLAIRISSA, B-3. Do any of our readers know what became of the CLAIRISSA?
EVENTS:
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The 2nd Annual Bass Lake Boat Fest has a firm date of June 1st and 2nd
for 2007. The first Annual gathering had over 100 vintage V-Drive boats
and was a big success, thanks to the planning of Don Edwards and Brian
Lynch. Contact: Brian Lynch at 559-322-9340.
BILL JOHN III REPORT
We are back in the shop after a summer of fun on our beloved APBA Vintage
Race Boat Circuit; please join us at the shop for our Saturday Morning
Gatherings. The coffee and donuts are usually ready by 9:00, you can checkout
the two Jersey Speed Skiffs in front of the shop, a very special Dick Sooy
280 vintage hydroplane inside, and participate in our second planning meeting
for next summer’s NH Vintage Race Boat Regatta. It takes over 100 volunteers
and lots of sponsors to put on this APBA sanctioned vintage event, with
over 60 vintage race boats and 3 full days, so it is time to start planning.
Back in the shop, “Double Eagle” a 280 class vintage hydroplane was
delivered to the shop for a thorough survey, final rigging, complete refinishing
and prep for running. This is the last hydro built by Dick Sooy, to run
on the APBA vintage circuit. This boat has never been run, and is a replica/copy
that Dick made in 1994 of his first cab-over and 1959 Champion "Double
Eagle". But Dick left us way too early, and the boat was put away
in storage. Now, many years later, Forest and Susan plan to run Double
Eagle on next summer's APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit.
We have also been busy with lots of Website updates – lots of good
vintage stuff and many, many photos!
We also had a good turnout at our recent APBA Region1 Annual Meeting.
Our Region1 Chairman Brian Small kept things moving along nicely and even
got a special “Lake George Telephone Pole Award”.
And the weather gods were with us recently for our 11th Annual Wolfeboro
Car & Boat Rendezvous, a gathering of vintage cars and boats on a warm,
sunny, beautiful, fall day at the Wolfeboro public docks. Many thanks to
Rick Kourian for managing the car parking and to Phil Spencer, our dock
meister. Bill John and Donnie McLean managed the front gate and Gerri Prusko
did a superb job with all the car and boat registrations. A congratulation
to event co-chairs Joe Williams and Bob Morrissey for another great Wolfeboro
Rendezvous!
That's all for now Gang, gotta haul one more boat to winter storage.
BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
Please note I have changed my email address to: hiosilva@mcn.org.
VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH
The recent restoration of the 1960’s Australian built Unlimited hydroplane,
AGGRESSOR, VS-50 by owner Dave Pagano, provided for a great photo-op when
a World War II , P51 Mustang flew in to a local Aussie military airfield.
Pagano, an Aussie race boat collector and historian, is seated in the famed
hydro along side the fighter. The Rolls-Merlin V12 engine used to power
the P51 fighter planes was a popular choice for Unlimited hydroplane racing.
Photo by David Jones.
©2006 Bob Silva & Bill John III |
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