FROM A SPECTATOR'S VIEWPOINT, the 1966 National Inboard Championships July 29-31, at Seattle, was a smashing success. Onlookers basked in rare, fine mid-summer weather while surveying the rich blue waters of Lake Washington where some 150 racers battled it out for nine class titles. And, for those grimly anticipating spills, there was a total of 13 to prompt their oohs and ahhs.
For the participants, however, the warm clear days, the inspiring scenery and the thrills of competition were somewhat overshadowed by the dangers and disappointments created by the deceiving Lake Washington course. Pretty it might be, calm it might appear. But, there is little doubt that "holes," cross currents and gentle but tricky winds greatly handicapped the proceedings. 

Of new records, there were none; the closest timing to a record book figure being 3-mph off the mark. Flips may be expected at highly competitive events like the Nationals, but their frequency throughout the event attests to troubled waters. Clockings were another indication that all was not ideal; in many classes, timings were well off the norm, some incredibly so.
Yet, though the beautiful Lake Washington proved to be a villain in tranquil disguise, the show went on. And, when the spray had settled following the last SK championship heat, eight title-holders had been dethroned while only one had safely remained king of his class. 
 

Bill Sterett, who invaded the unlimited hydro circuit this season with a blown up version of his 7 litre hull, Miss Crazy Thing, was the only driver to retain a title at the 1966 Inboard Nationals. A Lauterbach hull is powered by a 426 Hemi Chrysler.

Hilton Hy-per-lube sponsored by Hilton Oil Products was the victor in the 280 cubic inch class. Driven by Don Benson, it earned a starting lane at the Nationals by sweeping both heats at the  Western Divisionals. The boat is a Lauterbach hull, runs a 265 Chevy.

266 CUBIC INCH HYDROS: Winner, Miss Parco, driven by Wayne Thompson, Reseda, Calif. Defending champion Skeeter Johnson and Wa Wa Too, Cambridge, Pa., finished sixth overall. The only double title winner at the 1966 Nationals was Wayne Thompson who followed up a victory in the 150 cu. in. class with another triumph in the 266 finals. Driving Laird Pierce's Western Divisional champion (and 1964 national class champion) Miss Parco, Thompson ran second in both heats. In the first, he followed the Eastern Divisional champ, Frank Kossow in Miss Ottawa across the line, and in the second heat, he finished behind Art Kastner, San Pedro, Calif., in Hydro Phobia. '65 national champ Skeeter Johnson in Wa Wa Too ran third in the first heat but jumped the gun in the second. Hydro Phobia was second overall in the standings, Miss Ottawa, third, and Suzy, driven by Don Atchison, of Portland, was fourth. In fifth place was Jim McGuire, Seattle, with Vendetta.  Winning times: first heat, Miss Ottawa, 77.653-mph; second heat, Hydro Phobia, 65.646-mph.

225 CUBIC INCH HYDROS: 
Winner, Misty IV, driven by Lynn Montgomery, Seattle, Wash. Defending champion Ed Morgan and Chip Winder, Trenton, Michigan, blew an engine in the first heat. The 225 class, for years dominated by entries from the Parker, Arizona armada of boats belonging to Marion Beaver, had perhaps the most unpredictable results of the entire 1966 Nationals. Beaver lost the championship last year to Ed Morgan and this year, Morgan's boat, Chip Winder, blew an engine while in the lead of the first heat. Beaver's hopefuls, Gummy's Ghost (the 1963 and 1964 national champion), flipped in a restart of the second heat with Wayne Thompson in the cockpit, and his Awful Gummy (1966 Western Divisionals class winner) went under in the second restart with George Hendrix at the wheel. Dave Thomas' Dayton, Ohio entry, Mai Tai, the Eastern Divisional winner, failed to make an appearance. That final heat was eventually run the following day with Misty IV, driven by Lynn Montgomery of Seattle, winning the title with first and second place finishes. Second overall was Thunderbird, with Max Stierli, Bellflower, Calif. off an 8-1 record; third was Miss Norwood driven by George Henley, Eatonville, Wash.; fourth was Awful Gummy; and in fifth overall ran Alouette Angel, piloted by Bill Allan, British Columbia. 
Winning timings: first heat, Misty IV, 74.013-mph; second heat, Thunderbird, 76.401-mph.
 

225 champion was Misty IV, owner by Paul Edgar of Seattle, and piloted by Lynn Montgomery. The craft is a Edgar hull powered by a 215 Buick. Unlimited driver Bill Muncey's entry Yum Yum, was driven by another thunderboat celeb, Chuck Hickling, finished ninth.

150 CUBIC INCH HYDROS:
Winner, Cumon Baby driven by Wayne Thompson, Reseda, Calif. Defending champion Ronnie Hearn, with Rudy's Comet, Hampton, Va., did not participate. A routine engine inspection following the 150 finals disqualified the apparent winner, La Cucaracha, driven by Robert Franzee, San Diego, Calif., when the powerplant was found to be one-half
a cubic inch over the legal limitations. La Cucaracha had compiled an identical 1-2 heat record with Cumon Baby, driven by Wayne Thompson (winner also of the 266 title), but a fractional difference in their collective timings had given the nod to Franzee before the disqualification. Second overall was Gee Whizz and Robert Johanson, Benton City, Wash., third was Hydro Static, Jim Benson, Bellevue, Wash.; fourth was Zot, Jack Hess, Seattle; and fifth overall was The Verdict with Jerry Bangs of Seattle. A flip hospitalized John Carlson of British Columbia, who suffered a broken pelvis when his boat, Shady Lady, spilled shortly before the start of a heat. 
Winning clockings: first heat, Cumon Baby, 65.934-mph; second heat, La Cucaracha, 68.965-mph.
 

Cumon Baby, a Neely hull running a Ford engine, was taken to the winner's circle by Wayne Thompson. The california veteran had a big weekend, going under with  Gummy's Ghost in the 225 runoffs, but garnering a second title with Miss Parco in the 266 Hydro class.

145 CUBIC INCH HYDROS:
Winner (unofficial), Frisky driven by Bill Ritter, Seattle, Wash. Defending champion Dean Chenoweth and Chuck's Joy, Xenia, Ohio, did not participate at the Nationals. Pending a committee decision by the APBA, the results of the 145 championships are unofficial. In question are several technical interpretations of the class rules, including the use of lifters from an early make 332 Ford used by the declared winner, Bill Ritter in his Frisky, from Seattle. Frisky won both 145 heats and if disqualified will be bumped by Volodor, driven by Commander Glen Brewer, Coronado, Calif., the second place boat in both heats. Unofficialy third overall is Cariboo Belle, Phil Shaffer, British Columbia; fourth is Six Pak (1966 Western Divisional champ) driven by Dick Sanders, San Diego; and fifth is Neat Pete, Dick Boyer, Germantown, Ohio. 
Winning timings: first heat, Frisky, 60.000; second heat, Frisky, 58.479-mph.
 

Bill Fritter's Frisky was one of four Seatlle area entries to win a class title, but in this case, it's still unofficial until the APBA resolves a technical protest lodged against it.  The 145er is a Nelson hull with a Falcon powerplant. Ritter was first in both heats.

48 CUBIC INCH HYDROS:
Winner, Voodoo IV, Jack Philpott, Seattle. Defending champion Sunny Jones and Sis, N. Miami Beach, Florida, placed second. First championship heat of the 1966 Nationals fielded the little 48's and the results of that opening race were to become routine for most of the following class runoffs. The first heat was cancelled by a flip and the eventual final standings revealed a new title holder. Defeated here was S.E. "Sunny" Jones and his Sis. Sunny placed third in the first heat behind Stan Masel, Renton, Wash., in Alky, and then ran second behind the new champion, Jack Philpott of Seattle in Voodoo IV. Overall results were: Voodoo IV; Sis; Alky; Mike Jones, Seattle, in Voodoo II; followed by Jack Cozine, Seattle, in Racket III. 
Winning clockings: first heat, Alky, 56.782- mph; second heat, Voodoo IV, 75.376- mph.
 

Voodoo IV, another Seattle based competitor, parlaid a first and second place to first  overall in the 48 cubic inch hydro ranks. The boat is a Colcock design and runs a Crosley. The smallest of the inboard classes, the 48s must be at least nine feet long.

CRACKERBOX CLASS: 
Winner, Mr. Magoo driven by Phil Shipley, Canoga Park, Calif. Defending champion Freddie Miller in Orangontang, Sherman Oaks, Calif., blew a piston in the first heat, did not start the second. Crackerbox class buffs were a wee bit disappointed in their rather lack-luster showing at the Nationals though nothing should discredit the performance of Mr. Magoo, which won both heats going away. Protests were filed on runner-up positions but announced overall results were: (2) Mashonit, driven by Tom Patterson, Van Nuys, Calif.; (3) Hot Cinders, Robert St. John, Gardena, Calif.; (4) Moonshine, Kay V. Johnson, Provo, Utah; and (5) Big Deal, Don West, Pleasant Grove, Utah. 
Winning times: first heat, Mr. Magoo, 67.976-mph; second heat, Mr. Magoo, 64.240-mph.
 

The Crackerboxes might well be changed in name to the Pattersons for most of the entries were built by California designer Bob Patterson. The winner was a Chevy powered Patterson driven by Phil Shipley, a member of the Crackerbox Racing Club and the SCSC.

SKI RACING RUNABOUTS:
Winner, Quicky Too driven by Ron Larsen, Chicago, Illinois. Defending champion Tony Maricich flipped in the first heat.
The name of the game is action in the SK ranks. Ron Larsen, a tough campaigner noted for his daring lead-footing, was a surprise winner. Driving Quicky Too, a Chevy powered Rayson Craft, he ended up in a point tie with former champ Don Towle in Haf Gast Too, a Chrysler powered Stevens. Both had a first and a third, but an edge in clockings favored Larsen. Len Shreenan put in one of the most amazing performances of the day to wrap up third overall after a loose battery cable resulted in a late start from the pits for the second heat. Piloting Conquistador, a Chrysler/Aqua Craft, Shreenan barely caught up with the field in time for the starting gun, zoomed up through the pack to finish a close second behind Towle. The SK final rounds were prefaced by two restarts of the first heat in which several of the class hopefuls were eliminated. Defending champion Tony Maricich in Suddenly and Tony Sigalos in Coffee Break both flipped, Sigalos after hitting the same "hole" that had spelled doom for the 7-Litre Miss Treated Miss in the preceeding heat. 
Winning clockings: first heat, Quickly Too, 77. 788-mph; second heat, Haf Gast Too, 76.986-mph.
 

Rudy Ramos, builder of the Rayson Craft SK's, had one of his hulls (John Stone's Spider) win the Eastern SK Divisionals and another, Ron Larsen's Quicky Too, take the National SK jackpot.  Larsen's craft was powered by a high performance 396 Chevy.

Thanks to Brent McLean for providing the magazine.