EVENTS: 
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
Sept 29                Lakeport, CA.  Bob Silva 707-964-1711   
 
 
ON A SAD NOTE:
Long time Region 11 racer Arne Bailey Sr., of Fremont CA, passed away on May 18, 2007 at age 80. A professional motorcycle racer, Arne switched to inboard boat racing in 1966 when he and his wife Georgia purchased a 280 hydro they named SPLINTERS. In 1970 the Baileys ordered a new Rich Hallett built 280 they campaigned as BLUE FIN. The Baileys truly made boat racing a family affair and sons Arne Jr. and Leroy also raced hydros. Cards can be sent to his daughter Caroline Laue at 100 Brook Terrace, Fremont, CA. 94538. Godspeed Arne.   
 

BOB SILVA’S WEST COAST REPORT:
The copy of the 1955 Ted Jones designed MISS THRIFTWAY, U-60 has been completed and a successful trial run on Lake Washington was conducted June 7, 2007 by builders Vashon Unlimiteds. The purchase of an Allison V-12 in the summer of 2002 started the five year project. Ron Jones Sr. provided the original plans and a set of full-scale templates for construction. More than a dozen people volunteered their time and talents for the faithful construction of the 28.5 foot hull.
The  original U-60, built by Les Staudacher for Willard Rhodes, was first launched in March 1955 and was one of the first Ted Jones designed Unlimiteds since the success of the Seattle based SLO-MO-SHUN IV and V of the early 1950’s. The brand new MISS THRIFTWAY nearly captured the 1955 Gold Cup, losing on elapsed time to GALE V by only 4.53 seconds. A Seattle hometown favorite, she went on be a two-time Gold Cup winner (1956-57) and competed in thirteen regattas before being destroyed in a tremendous crash at the Madison, Indiana Governor’s Cup on Sept. 29, 1957, injuring driver Bill Muncey. 
A new Ted Jones designed hydro, again built by Staudacher, was readied for the 1958 season. Driving the second MISS THRIFTWAY, in just her forth race of ’58, Muncey experience another hull destroying and horrific ride when the U-60 lost her rudder and plowed into a Coast Guard cutter sinking both hulls in Lake Washington. 
The third MISS THRIFTWAY (also campaigned as MISS CENTURY 21) was built by her crew in 1959 with Ted Jones supervision. The most successful of the three U-60’s, Bill Muncey drove her to two Gold Cup victories (61-62), three APBA Unlimited High Point Championships (1960-61-62) and a 1-mile record of 192.006 mph winning, 18 regattas in three racing seasons.
The boat was retired in August of 1963 and later restored by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum of Seattle. Owned by Barbara Carper, the most successful of the U-60s now tours the vintage circuit as MISS CENTURY 21 driven by Ike Kielgass in exhibition runs. It has been on display at the Clayton Raceboat Museum since 2004.  
The first MISS THRIFTWAY always held a special place in the hearts of race boat fans, with two Gold Cups wins, the popularity of her personable driver Bill Muncey and, no doubt, the memories of building a scale model of their favorite boat.
 

VINTAGE HOT BOAT OF THE MONTH A young Bill Muncey stands on the bow of MISS THRIFTWAY, U-60 after qualifying for the July 1957 Mapes Mile High Gold Cup in Tahoe City, CA. Muncey drove the Ted Jones designed hydro to a second place finish just two months before the boat was destroyed in a crash in Madison, Indiana. Photo by Tommy Hill   ©2007 Bob Silva & Bill John III