1998 Antique Raceboat
Regatta
George Greer from Seattle, WA guides his hydroplane Miss
Havana E-54
down on the trailer after completing a flyby on the course.
This is a wonderfully restored 1956 Lauterbach 280 cid class hydroplane. |
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Fancy Dancer Y-21
Shake, Rattle & Roll A-43
owned by Mike Taggert
A mid-1950's, 135 cubic inch hydroplane running a 2 carbs on a Ford
Flathead.
Miss Canadiana CF-11 Longtin hull owned by Art Asbury.
Big Chief A-11 is a 150 cubic inch class 1972 Lauterbach running
a fuel injected Chevy.
Miss Catskills S-110 is a rare Sooy 136 cubic inch class hydroplane
owned by Ted Glowa.
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Chrysler Queen H-1 is a mid-1950's Lauterbach
7 Litre class hydroplane. Owner/Driver George "Buddy" Byers went on to
compete in the unlimited classes of hydroplane and was well known for his
aggressive style of racing.
His supercharged Chrysler powered hydroplane was a 6 time National
Champion. This hydroplane also is the world's record holder of 168.2 MPH
for this class. You will notice this hydroplane carries the #1 after the
Letter "H" for his race number. If you win the national championship that
year the following year gave you the right to carry the designated "1".
The Potvin supercharger on this vintage hydroplane is being driven from
off front of the motor. That is one reason while the engine cowling is
so long. The little hand pump you see on the drivers right side cowling
is seen on alot of the older vintage hydroplanes. This is used to push
the gasoline in the fuel cell up to the motor when you first start the
engine. Bob Cunningham was the long time crew chief and mechanic for this
fine example of a winning vintage hydroplane. |
Heavy Duty H-202 was immaculately restored by Dave
Wrzeesinski for owner Bob Wynn of Boyne City, Michigan.
This Lauterbach 7 Litre class hydroplane was found as GNH-21. Even
the trailer of this fine hydroplane exemplifies the hydroplanes name.
Opechee E-222 is a 266 class hydroplane.
This is a rare Hallet hydroplane built in 1965 and is owned by Hal
LeDuc.
The Irishman GP-317 awaits to be hoisted into the water
1971 Lauterbach Gran Prix class vintage hydroplane with 427 Chevy
power
The owners are Bill & Judy Fisk
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Before the Classic era of the wood hydroplanes, the Golden years sported
the beautiful wood planked runabouts
Many unique styles of these eloquent hulls pushed the waters with brute strength from pre and post WWII motors.
Geoffrey Magnuson's replica of Gar Wood's Miss America VII.
Twin Rolls Royce V-12 engines
Joe & Marie Fraunheim's 1937 Ventor built hull.
Guy Lombardo owned and drove Tempo VI G-13 to a Gold Cup win
in 1946.
Mark Howard's Scotty G-17
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Jack Hines sent in the following information on this classic: "This
old hydroplane was called Frankies Boy. It used to be owned
by the Wermes brothers and Bill MacTague of Cincinnati, Ohio. Several years
ago, we went down and looked at it. Framing was made out of oak, probably
the only reason it lasted so long. Ran around here in the late 40's and
50's. I think it ran in the 225 class/division 1. The hydro was powered
by a flathead 6 cyl motor, GMC I think. Interesting part of this boat is
the hand hammered aluminum cowlings, ala sprint car and midget construction
of the day. Very high quality work on the cowlings.The boat had been purchased
by someone in Florida and then went to Clayton. I had seen the boat listed
in box results in old racing programs from this area."
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Atlas
Van Lines
The 1998 Antique Raceboat regatta had a convential hydro
from the major league players of the unlimited class.
The sounds heard at the regatta are as much of an attraction as the
viewing the boats.
Spectators literally run to the course when these big engines are fired
up. There is soomething about the sounds from these ex-aircraft motors roaring
to life across the water. One of the reasons why the unlimited hydroplanes of yesterdays are referred
to as: Thunderboats.
Open headers on an internal combustion
motor. Ya gotta like.
Tempus U-17 is a another unlimited that ran flybys throughout
the weekend event.
This hydroplane has the picklefork style that started to enter into
the hydroplane designs near the end of the 1960s.
Nice to have enough motors & propellors to select from with the different water
conditions at the race courses. This owner is prepared to get an advantage over the other boats in these outboard classes.
Riggs Smith's 36 class outboard runabout Comet 12-N
was
a featured outboard at the regatta. Circa mid-1950's.
A cedar stripped outboard runabout called Stripfire.
Thanks for visiting the 1998 Antique Raceboat
Regatta pages.
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