Stardust E-21 is a Fred Wickens designed, E racing Runabout hull built by Wes Knudsen of Provo, Utah circa 1958. 
The hull frame is oak covered by marine plywood, fiberglass cloth polyester resin.

Records show that she won her first APBA District Championship (APBA District 18) in 1959, probably the first year that she was raced.
The search for power paid off as Stardust set one world speed record after another, starting in 1962 and continuing on with new records in 1963, 1964, 1969, 1971 and 1977. 
 

APBA Kilo Record Certificate

The latter setting the incredible 107.570 MPH world record. Stardust was the first E racing Runabout to ever top 100 MPH and only the second flat bottom in history to do it. In 1960 she won the first of five APBA E Racing Runabout National Championships at Pinewood reservoir in Ogden, Utah. Additional National Championships followed in 1963, 1965, 1971 and 1972. Stardust was "US-1" in 1964 winning the U.S. Competition Championship that year at the APBA National Championships at Willard Bay - near Ogden, Utah.
 
 

UIM Kilo Record Certificate
 

Initially the powerplant in Stardust was a Hillborn fuel injected, double OHC Jaguar in-line six cylinder.
This motor set the first records and won the first championships, but after a time a need was seen for greater power than the Jaguar could produce.
 

Jaguar engine ripping up the lake.
 
 

Wes posing with his trophies alongside Stardust with the Jaguar engine.
 
 
 

Engine rule change allowed the Chevrolet 327 cu in engine
 
 
 

Notice the 6 Stromberg 97 carburetors; one of many intake and carbureation changes over the years of setting records. In response to a cubic inch limit increase, subsequent motors used in Stardust were highly modified 327 Chevrolet Corvette motors capable of over 620 horsepower. A series of 327s went through many developmental modifications in attaining such power, and no effort was spared by Knudsen in attempting to gain all the horsepower obtainable for these engines. They were in and out of California speed shops in the off seasons, always searching for a bit more horsepower.
 

Notice the stacks are different and an early engine cowl.
 
 

Guntersville in the 1960's 
photo by Charles Marshall
 

Roaring around the corner at Green Lake
 Photo by Lloyd Swanson

Different exhaust stacks and tunnel ram manifold with Holly carbs

 
 

San Diego, California
June 1973
 
 

1975 Nationals - Green Lake
Phil Kunz photograph
This from Kelly Stocklin, "Oh by the way.....I am just on his inside driving a white Javelin. My helmet is just above Wes'. He pulled out in front of all of us and turned left. First wash down in my career and it was a dandy!"
 
 

Repaired Stardust after Wes' flip on Utah Lake. 
Notice the bolts and washers on the hull sides where reinforcement wires attach across the hull to stiffen it up.
 
 

Knudsen campaigned Stardust all across the country for twenty-plus years; 
from Guntherville, AL to Kanakakee, IL, to Parker, AZ, to Seattle, WA, to Lincoln City, OR where the last World Speed Record Stardust set, with many, many races in between. Stardust is a true "National Champion" having taken on challenges from all across the country and most often coming out on top. Indications are that 1980 was the last year that Stardust was raced.  She was retired and stored indoors undercover. Today, she is in as raced condition, just as Knudsen left her - nearly 26 years ago. Stardust was on display for 2 years at the Tahoe Maritime Museum.
  

Stardust E-21 Racing Runabout. 
Wes Knudsen. He also was an 'outboarder' 

Wes Knudsen 1965 member - Gulf Oil Corporation 100 MPH CLUB
Gulf Oil Corporation 1949 - 1968
The 100 Mile Per Hour Club is conducted by the Gulf Oil Corporation. It was established in 1949 to recognize those who have driven a power boat 100 mph or better in APBA sanctioned regattas on a course approved for records. The requirements for membership are included herein for the information of APBA drivers who may wish to qualify. Awards are made annually by the Gulf Oil Corporation. Nominations for membership in 100 MPH Club must be submitted by referee to APBA National Headquarters prior to December 1. 
1. In order to be eligible to compete in a time trial for entry into the 100 Mile Per Hour Club, the boat must have finished first, second, or third in a heat scheduled for the class in which the boat is registered and at least four of the contesting boats must have been of the class for which the heat was scheduled. This qualification to compete in a time trial for the 100 Mile Per Hour Club can be made in the same regatta where the time trials are held or at any A.P.B.A. sanctioned regatta within the past twelve months where the boat was raced under the same measurement certificate at the time of the trial.
2. In order to be eligible to drive a boat in a 100 Mile Per Hour Club time trial, the driver must have qualified the particular boat that he is using in the 100 Mile Per Hour time trial as set out in paragraph 1
of this rule. 
(Reproduced from the American Power Boat Association 1962 Rule Book & Official Directory) 

1965 MEMBERS
Howard H. Benns Carl Eugene Henderson Bill Phelps V. Paul Bequette George R. Hendrix Louis A. Schneider
Rex Gale Bixby William Hollinsworth Sylvester S. Singer Harrison R. Boggs, Jr. Bob Karner Tery Alan Sterrett Leslie M. Brown  Wes Knudsen, Chester L. Stierli Thomas M. Cocker John Koch Michael Stieerli Deon Guerine Robert Marsh Tommie Turner Hayden H. Harris Tim Moriarity

The boat needs some work but not a lot.....namely a new deck, however it is still serviceable. 
There was also a 'Marine Survey' done in  July 2003.
 

© Randy Wold

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