WHERE THE 1965 APBA Inboard National Championships the "greatest ever?
There are those with opinions pro and con. Let's consider, for a moment,
some of the highlights of the Aug. 20-22 event at St. Petersburg, Florida.
[1] Two new world records were established in the E Service Runabout
and SK classes.
[2] Two contests were so tight that one title was settled by a difference
of one second (in the 266 Hydro finals) and another by six seconds (the
SKs).
[3] Of ten class crowns at stake, eight were bestowed upon new title-holders
with only two drivers successfully defending their championships (ESR and
SK).
As for the location of the Nationals, drivers unanimously praised the
selection of Lake Maggiore, many ecstatically calling it the best racing
water in the nation. And, few Nationals have ever moved along through three
days of action so smoothly and proficiently, thanks to an exceptionally
well supervised pit area. Now, let's look at the debit side of the ledger.
Three class championships: the 7-Litre, E Service Runabouts and F Service
Runabouts were run for the benefit of four, or less, competitors. Thus,
in several cases, every entry was assured of at least a third place title
simply by finishing two heats. In view of the fact that many classes required
entries to qualify for starting positions by first getting through eliminations,
and then fielded as many as eleven boats in each championship heat, this
situation rather discredits honors so easily obtained.
Because protests were lodged in the 145 and 280 cu. in. Hydro classes
following their championship heats, fans walked away from the Nationals
without knowing for certain who had actually won the events. Over a month
later, the American Power Boat Association had yet to announce final, official
standings in those classes.
There were other grumbles, too, aired by other dissentient observers.
Was the press poorly handled? Pit passes and other credentials had been
liberally supplied to families, friends, and free-loaders of St. Petersburg
Yacht Club members but were out of supply by the time most out-of-town
journalists arrived. And official copies of results were never made readily
available except for a typewritten carbon copy of incomplete statistics
posted on a clubhouse bulletin board.
Some wondered also whether drivers should have been publicly applauded
for attempting to rescue other competitors who had been thrown from their
crafts. In many quarters, racers are sternly warned before events from
interfering with patrol boats delegated to carry on established rescue
operations. Yet, twice at the Nationals, drivers took their own course
of action, stopped their boats in mid-course to lend a helping hand.
Pro and con, such was the background of the 1965 Inboard Nationals.
These were the results:
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Bill Sterett, of Owensboro, Ky., took "Miss Crazy
Thing" to two heat victories in the 7-litre finals to end a two-year
domination of the class title by Art Asbury and "Royal Canadian."
Lack of competition (only three boats ran in the final heat) did not detract
from Sterett's victory.
7 Litres.
It was Bill Sterett all the way after mechanical gremlins had reduced
the starting field to four entries. Sterett, a 40-year-old sewer contractor
from Owensboro, Ky., won both heats with his "Miss Crazy Thing,"
posted the fastest clocking of the meet at 86.705-mph. Missing from the
action, though present, was '64 defender "Royal Canadiana," out
with a magneto rotor malfunction. (2) Ray Gassner, St. Petersburg, (3)
Dave Thomas, Kettering, Ohio.
Aubert Brillant's Candian racing stable - including the 7 litre title
defender - went winless this year.
Above, Marcel Laberge piolts "Le Canadiana" in the 280 class
280 Hydros.
Walter Struzek, of Norristown, Pa. ("Vagabond") and Virgil Elder,
St. Petersburg ("Miss St. Petersburg") are both still awaiting word
from Detroit as to which is the '65 champion. Struzek was first exonerated
from a judge's disqualification, then nailed down by a driver protest for
cutting off boats around a turn. If Struzek is cleared, Elger will end
up in second place and Roy Wilson, of Gretna, La., (who filed the protest),
third. |
Gordie Reed in "Iroquois Chief" and Jerry Silva in "Plata
Rey"
wait for the 266 Hydro 5 minute gun. Reed took seventh overall.
Phil Kunz Photography
Mike Thomas helped make the 266 Hydro finals one of the all-time greatist
shows at the Nationals.
Driving "Miss Washington DC" he tied Skeeter Johnson and the
"Wa Wa Too" for the title,
lost it by a split second decision.
Phil Kunz Photography |
The 266 Hydro championship was boat racing at its finest.
Like the SK class, victory was decided by heat clockings after a tie
resulted for first place.
A one second winner was Skeeter Johnson, of Cambridge, MD in "Wa
Wa Too."
Missing from the 10 boat contest was '64 defender, Laird Pierce.
Phil Kunz Photography |
266 Hydros.
Despite a large turnout in the class, fans expected a close battle
between Skeeter Johnson, Cambridge, Md., and Mike Thomas, Harvey Cedars,
N.J., for the crown. They were not disappointed. Johnson took the first
heat in "Wa Wa Too" clipping off an average speed of 84.034-mph
(second fastest of the meet), Thomas won the second in his "Miss Washington,
D.C." When not winning, each ran second. Tied on points, Johnson squeaked
out a title by a one second difference between their heat clockings.
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Another crown changed hands in the 150 Hydro Championships
as Ronnie Hearns of Hampton, Va. drove "Rudy's Comet" to a pair
of firsts, besting defender Johnny Landaiche and "Belle" who ran
second in both heats.
Nine boats competed in the finals following eliminations from the original
entry list of 12.
Phil Kunz Photography
150 Hydros.
This class produced another new title-holder with Ronnie Hearn, of
Hampton, Va. (in "Rudy's Comet") twice leading defending champ Johnny
Landaiche, of New Orleans (Belle) across the finish line. (3) Doc
Moor, Hialeah, Florida, driving "Southern Air VI."
One of two boats, "Wanton Dutchess V"
with Bill Brown or
"Chuck's Joy" (above) with Dean Chenoweth is the 145 Champion.
Phil Kunz Photography |
145 Hydros.
Richmond, Virginia, driver Bill Brown in "Wanton Duchess V"
won both heats in the 145 showdown, but failed to come out on top after
engine inspection. Brown has protested and APBA has yet to rule on the
matter. Dean Chenoweth, of Xenia, Ohio ("Chuck's Joy") ran second
twice, may move up a notch. Third or second will be Jim Roberts, of Dayton,
Ohio. Biggest surprise here was the downfall of defending 145 champion
George Cusick and his Cambridge, Maryland, speedster, "Red Top."
Cusick blew an engine before the races, missed the first championship heat
and barely had a new engine wired up in time for the Final. He placed fifth,
ended up a lowly seventh on the overall standings.
Richard Cooper, of Miami, whipped an all Florida feild
in the 91 cu. in. hydro class by winning both championship heats.
His boat, "First Mortgage", is an Alfa Romeo powered Lauderbach
hull. Twelve entries competed for the title, minus defending champion,
F. C. "Doc" Moore, of Hialeah, Florida.
Phil Kunz Photography |
91 Hydros.
Defending champion, F. C. "Doc" Moor, of Hialeah, had nothing but trouble
this year at the Nationals losing out with entries in the 91, 48 and 150
events. His 91 failed to make the starting line with a blown engine, leaving
the trail open for twelve Florida entries. Winner was Richard Cooper, driving
"First Mortgage." (2) Robert Tucker ("The Topper"), St. Petersburg.
(3) Sunny Jones ("Dragon"), North Miami, Fla., who was shaken up
after flipping in the second championship heat.
"Sunny" Jones set the pace in both 48 Hydro
heats with "Sis" to easily win the class title.
It's a Colcock hull powered by a Crosley engine.
Phil Kunz Photography |
48 Hydros.
S. E. "Sunny" Jones, piloting "Sis," became the first to win
a 1965 championship and, later, while competing in the 91 Hydro ranks,
the first become involved in a flip. Sunny took both heats handily, knocked
F. C. Moor and "Southern Air V IV Too" from his perch as defending
champ. (2) Tom Weaver ("Playtime"), Raleigh, N.C. (3) Paul Bauer
("Kat-N-Nan Too"), Deer Park, Ohio.
F Service Runabouts.
Strictly a Miami boat race, defender Del Daily lost his crown to son
Bruce in this four boat field. (2) Curtis Brayer ("Violator"). (3)
Lew Koehler.
E Service Runabouts.
No one ever has been able to beat Buddy Pumo, of Miami, and "Second
Mortgage" in this class but just for insurance, Buddy tossed in a new
world's record of 67.976 mph while winning his second championship heat
to safely preserve his ESR title again this year. (2) S. C. Littlejohn
("Lady Caroline"), New Orleans. (3) Bill Thomas ("High Hopes
Too"), Hayes, Va.
SK Runabouts.
IF PROFESSIONAL BOAT RACING ever needed a shot in the arm, it got it
a half dozen years ago with the introduction of the ski racing runabouts
into the ranks. Since 1959, when the SKs first officially became part of
the annual APBA inboard nationals, no other class has created more spectator
interest or generated more drama and excitement than these "hot rods" of
the waterways. True to form, the SK championship at St. Petersburg this
year was another spectacular. The class had the third largest turnout at
the nationals, and of the ten fastest timings recorded during the entire
event, the SKs accounted for six of them, three of which bettered an existing
world's record.
Winner of the 1965 title was defending champion Tony Maricich, a San
Pedro, California fireman who literally was forced to set a new class clocking
in order to hang on to the crown. Up until the final heat, fellow California
driver Dick Jones appeared to have the SK match iced-up with his Chrysler
powered Patterson hull, Ice Cube. In the second of the elimination
trials, Jones had Skyrocketed around Lake Maggiore at 82.644-mph to crack
the standing SK five-mile competition mark. Then, in the first of the championship
heats, Jones again poured it on, winning while writing another record at
83.877-mph. In second place roared Maricich, hot on the pace with his Corvette
powered Wickens, Suddenly, at 83.026.
Thus, the scene was set for a sizzling showdown in the Final. On hindsight,
the winning boat was actually determined before the field had passed the
starting line. As the gun sounded, Jones was pushing his foot through the
floor trying for a precisioned-timed, full-speed dash across the line and
hoping for an edge at the first turn buoy. But, for a decisive five seconds,
the engine failed to respond properly and Jones was momentarily lost in
the middle of the pack. Maricich took the lead and romped home first, breaking
the SK competition record for a third time at 83.955-mph. In second came
Jones, clocking 80.935.
With both drivers tied at 700 points each with a first and a second
apiece, the judges were forced to average out heat clockings to arrive
at an overall winner. The computations favored Maricich. Jones, manager
of Champion Spark Plug's West Coast racing team, had not only set and lost
a record twice, but had the SK title escape him, too, by a mere six seconds.
Yet, he managed to come through with a Champion out-look on the situation.
Said he, "At least the winner was using the right plugs."
Tony Maricich gives much credit for both his 1964 and '65 victories
to good friend, fellow fireman and co-owner of Suddenly, Don Dunsmore.
Together, their coolness during the pre-heat countdowns must have rattled
more than one competitor. Maricich, despite the hot and humid temperatures,
calmly sat behind the wheel with plastic helmet shield down while Dunsmore
patiently waited knee-deep in water holding the stern. In both championship
heats, Suddenly was the last to enter the course, though Maricich
had been the first to settle down in the cockpit awaiting the five minute
gun. He looked like anything BUT a fireman used to getting there first.
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