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| Chiro III F-89 aka - High Winder F-71 aka - Miss Ottawa F-53 Chiro III F-89 
"My father, Mitch 'Doc J' Jabczenski and my Grandfather (Mitch Sr.) were Chiropractors in the Detroit area and were very active with hydroplane racing in the late 1940s to 1960. They had 3 boats that they campaigned through those years. I did see a picture of the first boat and I know they burned it in a field because it was so heavy and not competitive, so they purchased the next 2 boats: F-89 Chiro III was a Lauterbach and was driven by Bud James. Bud was my Dads Mechanic. Bud James also made it into Gulf's 100mph club in the Chiro III, F-89. Bud is the person in the photo wearing white pants standing on the deck of F-89. Chiro Too F-93 was purchased from my father's friend Bill Muncey, who campaigned it as Chevrolier F-222 (story from Jim Jabczenski, son of Mitch 'Doc J' Jabczenski) Note that the F-93 above was a Ted Jones design and was built by Les Stadaucher around 1955-56. Click here to see the story on Chiro Too F-93 
Chiro III, F-89 Lauterbach hydro was owned by Mitch (Doc J) Jabczenski and driven by Bud James. Photo by Phil Kunz 1958 or 1959  Photo by Phil Kunz High Winder F-71 
Ed Morgan bought both Chiro Too and Chiro III from Mitch (Doc J) Jabczenski in 1961 and campaigned them both under the names High Winder. Above photo taken of the Lauterbach High Winder F-71 by Phil Kunz at Ecourse, Michigan 
Here's Ed Morgan leaving the pit area in his High Winder F-71. Photo taken at Swan Creek, Michigan in 1961 by Phil Kunz Miss Ottawa F-53 
Gene Whipp driving Miss Ottawa F-35 at Aquapladium, Illinois They put the Miss Ottawa F-35 hydro in and made a few runs around the course to determine if the fast 266 class could race at this site and it was decided that this class of hydros would be just to fast to safely run there. Photo by Phil Kunz 
Miss Ottawa F-53 Pete Weock (sp) from Ottawa, Illinois (wearing sunglasses) becomes the new owner and the boat is renamed: Miss Ottawa F-53. Davy Thomas is the driver (sitting in the boat). Photo by Phil Kunz at the Ecourse, Michigan 1962  Miss Ottawa F-53 Note the 3 carbs peeking up through the cowling on the Chevrolet 265 and the unique shape of the chromed zoomie headers. They had a rather unique sound to them too. Photo taken at New Martinsville, West Virginia 1962 (click on pic to take a closer look) 
Davy Thomas in the Miss Ottawa F-53 and Wa Wa battling down the backstretch for the lead at New Martinsville, West Virginia 1962. Photo by Phil Kunz 
Miss Ottawa F-53 Davy Thomas at the wheel. Note the hydro is sporting a new paint job for this racing season. Photo by Phil Kunz taken at Celina, Ohio 1963 
Davy Thomas and the Miss Ottawa had an unusual barrel roll at Columbus. Photo by Phil Kunz 
Miss Ottawa F-53 Here's the boat coming up out of the river after the barrel roll at Columbus, Ohio 1963. Riding up with the damaged hydro is the engine builder George English. Phil Kunz photo 
Miss Ottawa F-53 Colonel Jack Brown taking over the driving duties in the Miss Ottawa in Madison, Indiana 1963. In this photo Jack is in the lead heading down the front stretch and in about 1000' (and a few seconds away) from having what was a great race, to something no driver ever wants to happen. Phil Kunz photo 
Miss Ottawa F-53 Colonel Jack Brown hits a semi submerged log while driving wide open, tearing off the rudder and the hydro starts it's pre flight. 
The hydro is standing on it's transom and starts to twist in the air. Note the rudder is still attached by the steering cables and you will see it whipping around through all these photos. A rudder flying around like that in a flip is a dangerous thing as well. Amazing it didn't hit the Colonel. Phil Kunz photo 
Hydro comes back around in a very precarious position and Jack Brown is trying to jump ship. 
The Colonel has the hydro land on top of him. Jack ended up breaking both of his legs unfortunately and ended up spending a couple of months in a Louisville hospital. Phil Kunz photo (and autographed by his friend Jack). 
Part of the sponson was all what was left of the hydro at the race site that weekend. Phil Kunz photo 
These next 3 photos were taken after the weekend race and after the divers recovered the hydro. 
The damage doesn't look so bad if you were only surveying it from this angle. 
Note the hydro's transom and aluminum skin is still attached, even after the rudder bracket snapped (and part of it is still attached). The carnage on the starboard side though is very extensive. © Phil Kunz back to the boats |