| |
European Vintage Hydroplanes On Display
The Alfa Romeo Centennial Celebration was held in Arese
and Milan during June 2010 with many events. Automobiles from around the
world shared the stage with three vintage hydros powered by 4 and 6 cylinders.
A testimonial of so many hard fought victories. Roberto Romani |
My Darling Lolita A-5
Scott Courts 14 year journey to restore a 1959 Henry
Lauterbach hydroplane ends with his maiden voyage at the Lake Minden vintage
event put on by the California Speedboat Association in conjuction with
the Northern California Outboard Association. This boat was commisioned
by Bob Baxter and campaigned as Gale. In 1967, Roger D' Eath raced it as
PSST! in the 145 class and in 1968 he raced it as Bachelor One when he
won the 1968 Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami. Roger sold it the Huey Long
who campaigned it well into the 1970s. |
Tiger Too 86-S
Ron Morrison and his 136 cu in Ron Jones Sr. restored
hydroplane powered by a 1940 Ford V8/60 running at this year's Neil Yapachino
Memorial Regatta at Spanaway, Washington. A real nice restoration
and very detailed. Photo by Julie A Sparrowgrove. |
Fat Chance N-52
Royce Richards's beautiful 225 cu. in. Lauterbach hydro
was displayed for the first time at the "Quake On The Lake" regatta in
Waterford, Michigan. It has been restored perfectly to the exact way it
was when last raced in the mid 1960's. Royce was the owner/driver in the
late 1950's. The restoration was done by Dave & Scott Wresinski at
their business "Marine Services Unlimited" in Houghton Lake, Michigan. |
Wild Willie 78-P
This hull was built by Fred Wickens and was powered by
a 241 cu in Dodge running 6 Stromberg 97 carbs. The owner/driver was Jerry
Ballard and riding mechanic was Bob Stender. Jerry Ballard was also the
original owner of the 280 Hallett built hydroplane Tijuana Taxi now restored
and ran by Jay Marshall. Thanks to Bob Stender for providing this photograph
taken
in 1965. |
Ron Musson - Portage Lakes race in Akron, Ohio - early
1950s
The boat in the background was his Dauntless Plumbing
and Electric hull. My dad and Ron started outboard racing together.
Ron went into inboards and my dad went up to the D stock hydro class. For
only a very brief time (less than a year), they were partners in campaigning
Chromium
and
Chromate. I think both were US-1's in both 135 and 266. Ron
and my dad remained close friends throughout his Unlimited career. Miss
Bardahl spent a night in my dad's machine shop where some blower gears
were repaired after the 64 or 65 Detroit Gold cup. I am the little kid
in the picture showing Ron my balsa hydroplane. I am now 66 and my model
hydroplanes got a little larger. They are in the Models section
of the Vintage Hydroplane website. My race career started with JU's and
ended in a D stock hydro. I guess racing never leaves your blood. Jim
Osborne |
So-Long 10-G
Lou Fageol and a rider/mechanic in his G class
Ventnor hull.
Circa 1946 |
Calypso Too 9-E with Bob Osborne at the helm.
Mira Slovak at the wheel of Bill Boeing's Wee Wahoo. Green Lake
in Seattle. Slovak also drove Bill Boeing's Wahoo on Lake Washington
for the Gold Cup that weekend. This photo just happened to be inside a
1959 Seafair Gold Cup race program that Bob Bolam purchased. |
