June 2007
by  Bob Silva and Bill John III

BOATS UNDER RESTORATION: 
   Harlan Orrin Jr. has sold the Wickens designed AGITATOR to Doug Whitley of Washington state. Harlan has removed the deck for clean up and to inspect for any structural damage that needs repair. Following sanding, new wood deck and varnish, the vintage 280 conventional will be delivered to the Northwest for region 10 V/H action.
   Bill John III reports that restoration of the Dick Sooy built 280 cabover DOUBLE EAGLE has been completed at his Wolfeboro, NH boat shop. On May 4th, Susan (Sooy) Elkins and her husband Forrest arrived for a final inspection, celebration and a last batch of project photos, before taking the E-78 home to Cape May, New Jersey. Forrest did a nice job restoring the trailer, evening match the Largo Blue paint on the front mounted tool box. Donnie McLean explained some of the nuances of the exhaust headers and the rudder assembly, and then Susan stepped into the cockpit, to make sure the newly upholstered seat fit and to check the placement of the relocated foot throttle. The smiles on everyone’s face made the many, many hours of restoration all worthwhile. Heart and soul was poured into this very special project, and when Susan and Forrest left the shop with the DOUBLE EAGLE in tow, there was not a dry eye in the house! 
 

EVENTS:

  • June 16 Lake Irvine, CA Boat Racer’s Reunion. John Sherin 951-943-2752
  • July 6-8 Valleyfield Quebec. Ben Lemay 450-371-3291 
  • July 13-15 Detroit, MI APBA Gold Cup. Alan Radue 248-616-1317 
  • July 21-22 Waterford, MI Quake on the Lake. Joe Schulte 313-885-5976 
  • July 21-22 Oroville, WA. Andi Fitzhum 509-476-4335 
  • Aug 18-19 Algonac, MI Silver Cup Regatta. Joe Schulte 313-885-5976 
  • Aug 25-26 Pateros, WA. Tim Hamilton 253-531-0500 
  • Aug 25-26 Celina, OH Governor’s Cup Regatta. Ron Snyder 415-628-4182 
  • Aug 31-Sept 2 Wheeling, WV Vintage Raceboat Regatta. Debbie Joseph 304-233-4738 
  • Sept 7-9 Buffalo, NY Launch Club Raceboat Reunion. Bill DeGlopper  716-773-6093 
  • Sept 9 Spanaway, WA. Jeff Bernard 253-307-3346 
  • Sept 13-15 Wolfeboro, NH Vintage Raceboat Regatta. Bill John 603-569-5824 
  • Sept 22-23 Utica, MI Streak on the Creek. Joe Schulte 313-885-5976
  • Sept 22-23 Lake Chelan, WA. John Walcker 800-962-8723 
  • Sept 28-29 Issaquah, WA.  Lenny Baker 425-776-1847 


BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT: 
   The late Fred Wickens designed and built his first inboard hydroplane in 1938, the 135 cu.in SUDS, 21-A and built one of his last, JO, A-23, just before retiring in 1970. During those thirty-two years Fred also designed and built Crackerbox runabouts, Pacific One Design Hydros (PODH), Unlimiteds and designed the “Whirlwind” ski boat produced by Aqua-Craft. The name “Whirlwind” is said to be derived from when Fred built wooden aircraft propellers during WWII. Fred also offered frame kits, and was noted to have sketched out a full size hydro on a bar room floor using chalk. In 1952 he built, perhaps, his most famous hydro, the 266 record breaker, MIXMASTER, 14-F; the Unlimited $BILL, U-21 being the most infamous. Coincidentally, both of those hulls met their demise after crashing on Seattle’s Lake Washington. Fred was a master craftsman, and his boats are highly cherished in vintage circles.
   
Creating a list of Fred Wickens designed hydroplanes, let alone the Crackerboxes, PODH’s and SK’s is quite an undertaking, but thanks to Phil Kunz a list has been made.

Fred Wickens Hydroplanes
M-1  New Zealand 1955
17-F $ Bill Bill Schuler 1953
U-21 $ Bill Bill Schuler 1959 
E-70 Agitator DeLoit Wolfe 1968
A-11 Alligator Sam Siracusa 1969
F-555 Aquaholic Mike Waters 1964
U-29 Atlas Van Lines Jim McCormick 
F-77 Barracuda Lou Butler/RaySmith/Tim Settle 1947
A-66 Belle Johnny Landaiche 1958
20-N California Kid Lon Graditi 1954
N-87 Commander Dick Garrett 1971
N-8 Country Boy Joe Siracusa/John Siracusa 1966
555-E Derelict Slim Beasley 1968
F-111 Doug’s Delight Doug A. 1977
20-H Galloping Gale Roger Murphy 1954
N-19 Golden Gidget Tom Doidge 1977
E-444 Hey Jude Roger D’Eath 1970
2-A Hurricane Morlan Visel 1947
G-2 Hurricane IV Morlan Visel 1948
F-27 The Hustler Tony Piazza 1964
69-F Hydrophobia I* Art Kastner 1958
69-F Hydrophobia II Art Kastner 1962
69-F Hydrophobia III Art Kastner 1965
A-23 Jo Wayland Fink 1970 16-A Jostle  1955
H-269 Kangaroo Kid* Spencer Miller 1962
U-7 Lincoln Thrift Bob Fendler/Gene Whipp 
F-555 Mai Tai 7* Brian Marshall 1977
21-N Miss Oakland* Richard Ciochon 1954
14-F Mixmaster Howard Joahanson/Lou Nuta 1952
F-65 Plata Rey Jerry Silva 1965
8-N Restless III Art Maynard 1952
S-148 Rudy Toot  1964
44-E Ruff-Nite Dick Christensen
E-147 Shazam John Prevost 1973
A-162 Sids Ace Sid Street 1948
44-N Slo-Poke Bob Hansen 1952
70-A Starfire Jack Kelly 1955
21-A Suds Gil Ozenne 1939
F-6 Sumpin Tommy Townsend 1965
A-6 Tex Fred Steed 1952
F-6 Tex Fred Steed 1954
42-A Texan Fred Steed 1947
F-007 Tin Horn C.Boudreux/Harry Bilbe 1969

* hull renamed


VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH

Fred Wickens designed and built over 40 hydroplanes, but only one hydro was ever built for the high powered 7 Litre class; 
CALIFORNIA KID, 20-H, was constructed in 1954 for owner, Lon Graditi and driver, George Mattuci. The Chrysler Hemi powered hydro was sold to J. Phillip Murphy in 1955 and renamed GALLOPING GALE SR., joining the Murphy family racing stable that included the 225, GALLOPING GALE JR, 22-N and Unlimited, BREATHLESS, U-22. Driven by his 20 year old son, Roger Murphy, the beautiful birch decked 20-H set a 5-mile competition record at 90.090 mph and 1-mile straight-a-way record of 146.913. The rare, Wickens built 7 Litre was retired in 1961, put in storage, and hasn’t seen racing action since.
 

©2007 Bob Silva & Bill John III