Chicago River: I can't believe this picture is still around....

[brichter]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CT-Photo-Chicago-Lakefront-Festival-Boat-Races-1975-Fai-/260879658107?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cbda3ac7b

...stumbled upon it on ebay. My dad is in the boat, older sister and little brother in the middle, Terry Leatherby's daughter is at the far right, not sure who the girl is on the left but either DeGrenier's or Ingebretsen's daughter most likely. I know that none of them knew the photographer was behind them and we were all surprised when it came out in the paper about 36 years ago.

[Skoontz]

As I ecall, you guys were practicing around 7AM and whizzed right by Marina towers...In this time frame, Merc had the stackers and every one of the soon to be yuppie scum called to complain about the noise....I was watchinh boats, but the windows at thw towers were pretty interesting too...Every set of drapes in the joint was wide open by 8am....

[brichter]

Skoontz, This picture was 75, they outlawed stacks in OPC in 73, but you're, right in 73 a lot of complaints at most race sites which led to the demise of stacks.....

The course at this race was very short and the boats were always in a turn.
Here is a pic from that same race, no launch ramp, boats were put in by a crane.

[Skoontz]

I remember that too....they always would launch inboards with a crane, but the Chicago river was the first time I saw outboats launch from the crane as well.

[MN1]

The 1975 race was by Navy Pier. I think on the north side of Navy Pier. The year before it was by Marina City Towers. My mom took this photo in 1974.
Mark N
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/DelCraftChicago1.jpg

[Skoontz]

The 1975 race was by Navy Pier. I think on the north side of Navy Pier. The year before it was by Marina City Towers. My mom took this photo in 1974.
Mark N
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/DelCraftChicago1.jpg
If I am not mistaken, City of chicago moved it to NavyPeir because of the high rent district at Marina Towers...But at Navy Peir, they called it the Air and Water show, which still was going when I left in 2001.

I always thought combining an air water show in San diego would be brilliant, as north Island Naval Station and/or MCAS Miramar is a mile off the water where the boat races run....It would be a great way to slow the lag time between heats, set ups and so on....

[MN1]

Here's a couple more.
Mark N


http://stores.ebay.com/TribunePhotos__W0QQ_sacatZTribunePhotosQ5fQ5fW0Q51 Q51Q5fsasiQ5A1QQ_sasiZ1QQ_sidZ994416891?_nkw=Chica go+Lakefront+Festival+Boat+Races+&LH_TitleDesc=1

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/ChicagoRiver1973-2.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/ChicagoRiver1973.jpg

[brichter]

In the first picture #1025 was Marshall Penka, who was a salesman for Vampire, # 1144 which is barely visible with the Johnson motor, is John Stochl driving the same Sid that was #328 in the picture from the previous post. #519 is Jeff Anderson in a Checkmate hull. Looks like a McCall on the outside of the turn, I can't see the number but it could be Dick Ingebretsen.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

where I attended a race in the late 60's. It was put on by I am sure Outboard Club of Chicago, as it was an "Alky" race, although there may have been a few classes of OPC, I am not sure about that as we are talking 40+ years ago, and as the saying goes, I can't remember where I put my car keys this morning, much less that long ago, but sometimes the problem is the opposite. Funny how that works, or doesn't. ANYWAY:


The thing I remember most about the site was the pit access to the water, or lack of same. There was a VERY steep bank going down to the water, and I mean STEEP and like 15-20 feet from top of bank to water, took 6 to 8 crew members to get a boat down to the water so you could start. I don't remember racing there as I may have had engine problems as that was my 1st or 2nd year back after about a 10 year layoff and it took awhile to get my stuff together (some might say I never did) but I do remember the site and the hard way to the water.

Anybody remember or know where this site was??

[Bill Gohr]

In the first picture #1025 was Marshall Penka, who was a salesman for Vampire, # 1144 which is barely visible with the Johnson motor, is John Stochl driving the same Sid that was #328 in the picture from the previous post. #519 is Jeff Anderson in a Checkmate hull. Looks like a McCall on the outside of the turn, I can't see the number but it could be Dick Ingebretsen.

Billy you need to stop by

[Dan M]

Bill Van,

That Chicago race was held in the lock basin where the Chicago river meets Lake Michigan. It was the second race I ever attended. It was held there for a couple of years. The water was very strange due to the quick rise and fall when the locks were operated. Made for some tough currents and swirls. It was the only time I ever saw Homer Kincaid go out of a boat. He was running his C and caught a roller in the first corner. Lot's of memories from that era.

Dan:)

[MN1]

where I attended a race in the late 60's. It was put on by I am sure Outboard Club of Chicago, as it was an "Alky" race, although there may have been a few classes of OPC, I am not sure about that as we are talking 40+ years ago, and as the saying goes, I can't remember where I put my car keys this morning, much less that long ago, but sometimes the problem is the opposite. Funny how that works, or doesn't. ANYWAY:


The thing I remember most about the site was the pit access to the water, or lack of same. There was a VERY steep bank going down to the water, and I mean STEEP and like 15-20 feet from top of bank to water, took 6 to 8 crew members to get a boat down to the water so you could start. I don't remember racing there as I may have had engine problems as that was my 1st or 2nd year back after about a 10 year layoff and it took awhile to get my stuff together (some might say I never did) but I do remember the site and the hard way to the water.

Anybody remember or know where this site was??

I remember being in Chicago with my parents as a kid and hearing the Alky boats from where ever we were in Chicago. We begged and begged to go watch the boat races. Finally our parents gave in and we followed the sound to the races. I don't remember much but being in the pits and seeing and smelling those cool motors.
Mark N

[brichter]

Here are a couple of shots of the pits from the Chicago race.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Love those shots in the pits.

[ProHydroRacer]

where I attended a race in the late 60's. It was put on by I am sure Outboard Club of Chicago, as it was an "Alky" race, although there may have been a few classes of OPC, I am not sure about that as we are talking 40+ years ago, and as the saying goes, I can't remember where I put my car keys this morning, much less that long ago, but sometimes the problem is the opposite. Funny how that works, or doesn't. ANYWAY:


The thing I remember most about the site was the pit access to the water, or lack of same. There was a VERY steep bank going down to the water, and I mean STEEP and like 15-20 feet from top of bank to water, took 6 to 8 crew members to get a boat down to the water so you could start. I don't remember racing there as I may have had engine problems as that was my 1st or 2nd year back after about a 10 year layoff and it took awhile to get my stuff together (some might say I never did) but I do remember the site and the hard way to the water.

Anybody remember or know where this site was??

Hey Bill,
No OPC at the OCC race. This was the worst place I ever raced, rollers where two to three feet high. It was so rough that the Konig died out as I came to the start on the back field. The pack jumped the start and I was able to restart the Konig. I ended up winning the "B" (350) race, and won 200 or 300 dollars. The winning paid for the Konig I got from Ray Hardy's freind John (?).
My old V-15 (V-13 Kurps)

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Hi Bill:

It is John Winzler you are thinking about? Harry ZAK was his daughters Godfather. Either she or John got interested in model boats when she was a teenager (probably John although he said it was hers) and Harry built a small expansion chamber for the little glowplug engine that was in it. This was along the same time frame he made the "ZAK PIPES". (mid/late 60's) First little engine I ever saw with a pipe. Up to then all I was familiar with was an open slot for the exhaust port.

If it was that rough, then I probably did not get out because of engine problems. I would have remembered it if I was able to race.

[Gene East]

I have been watching this thread to see if the Alky race in Chicago would come up before I added my 2 cents worth.

Larry Latta told me the Coast Guard would not sign off on the sanction permit until the Admiral was told Mayor Daley #1 supported the race. Such was and still is the power of the Daley name.

I echo any negative comments about the Alky race in Chicago. Terrible pits, tight course. A Navy (Reserve?) ship was moored just off the first turn. I kept waiting for somone to swing wide and crash into the ship.

The tight course did produce some action that the spectators enjoyed.

As mentioned in an earlier post Homer Kincaid went out of the boat there in C-hydro.

He had some help!

Jim Schoch and Homer put on quite a show in C-hydro that day swapping the lead several times.

They touched on the last lap and Jim's steering bar poked a hole in the side of Homer's boat. The crowd cheered wildly as Jim crossed the finish line and Homer slowly sank.

As I recall, Homer wasn't nearly as thrilled about the results as the crowd was. However; being the gentleman he was, Homer came over to our pits and congratulated Jim.

Interesting note, both drivers were piloting white Schultz 4-point hydros.

Has anyone ever seen a Schultz that was not white? We never did paint ours yellow like all the other Quincy boats.

It took forever to find the setup on that boat. When we did, it was never very fast but it performed very well in rough water and went through the turns like it was on a rail.

So did Homer's!

Homer Kincaid was a super star! If my memory serves me correctly Homer is the only man in history to win every heat of every class of a sanctioned regatta.

Hopefully someone can confirm this statement and provide the details of this amazing accomplishment.

[ProHydroRacer]

Hi Bill:

It is John Winzler you are thinking about? Harry ZAK was his daughters Godfather. Either she or John got interested in model boats when she was a teenager (probably John although he said it was hers) and Harry built a small expansion chamber for the little glowplug engine that was in it. This was along the same time frame he made the "ZAK PIPES". (mid/late 60's) First little engine I ever saw with a pipe. Up to then all I was familiar with was an open slot for the exhaust port.

If it was that rough, then I probably did not get out because of engine problems. I would have remembered it if I was able to race.

No Bill, the John I bought the Konig from was one of Ray & Jean Hardy drinking buddies. This John was afraid of racing the engine, I started racing in 1966 and never seen John (?) race.
I remember the night before the first race, the Chicago cops tried to run us out of the pits, they thought we where all a bunch of driffer looking for a place to sleep.

Do you remember the Navy Ship right after turn one?

Dan is right about the location, but I thought it was called the "turning bason". The large ships could use it turn around before going into the lake.

During one of the races a large ship went by and the rollers must of been four foot high!!

[Mark75H]

Homer Kincaid was a super star! If my memory serves me correctly Homer is the only man in history to win every heat of every class of a sanctioned regatta.

Hopefully someone can confirm this statement and provide the details of this amazing accomplishment.


That's correct. It happened sometime in the early 1960's. The next time I find the article that relates to it, I will start a thread on it with the location and exact date.

[ProHydroRacer]

I seem to remember that Outboard Club of Chicago ran the first two years and then the OPC ran on the river and the Offshore ran a year or two later in the lake.

There was also a drag race that Ray Hardy and I raced. It was near the zoo in a rowing canel. It had stone sides 3 or 4 feet high. All kinds of boats ran, there was even a hydro inboard. Was that KOOL!!!! We all had a hard time turning around after each race. The canel was about 20 feet wide.

My picture was taken at that race by someone and was used for years in an ad for Florida property.

[brichter]

I don't know who drove this boat, but I thought I would post it here as it is definitely the same 1975 Chicago race as the previous posts.

[hydroplay]

The 1970 Chicago PRO race was going on at the same time as the Stock Nationals in Beloit WI. I was pretty new to racing and had a horrible elimination heat at Beloit in DSH so when I missed out on qualifying for the finals, I turned my attention to the Chicago race. Being just a kid then, it was a challenge just to get there. Driving along on the subterranean Lower Wacker Drive towing a race trailer felt like driving through catacombs. I don'r remember what classes I raced besides F Hydro and B Runabout. The prize money was $ 99 first place per heat so the money was really good. I came home with over $ 300 more than when I left home and thought this boat racing was a pretty good deal

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

The 1970 Chicago PRO race was going on at the same time as the Stock Nationals in Beloit WI. I was pretty new to racing and had a horrible elimination heat at Beloit in DSH so when I missed out on qualifying for the finals, I turned my attention to the Chicago race. Being just a kid then, it was a challenge just to get there. Driving along on the subterranean Lower Wacker Drive towing a race trailer felt like driving through catacombs. I don'r remember what classes I raced besides F Hydro and B Runabout. The prize money was $ 99 first place per heat so the money was really good. I came home with over $ 300 more than when I left home and thought this boat racing was a pretty good deal

Sam, The pro or as they were called then Alky nationals were in Depue. I was there finishing 4th in AOH & COH.

[Ron Hill]

I have been watching this thread to see if the Alky race in Chicago would come up before I added my 2 cents worth.

Larry Latta told me the Coast Guard would not sign off on the sanction permit until the Admiral was told Mayor Daley #1 supported the race. Such was and still is the power of the Daley name.

I echo any negative comments about the Alky race in Chicago. Terrible pits, tight course. A Navy (Reserve?) ship was moored just off the first turn. I kept waiting for somone to swing wide and crash into the ship.

The tight course did produce some action that the spectators enjoyed.

As mentioned in an earlier post Homer Kincaid went out of the boat there in C-hydro.

He had some help!

Jim Schoch and Homer put on quite a show in C-hydro that day swapping the lead several times.

They touched on the last lap and Jim's steering bar poked a hole in the side of Homer's boat. The crowd cheered wildly as Jim crossed the finish line and Homer slowly sank.

As I recall, Homer wasn't nearly as thrilled about the results as the crowd was. However; being the gentleman he was, Homer came over to our pits and congratulated Jim.

Interesting note, both drivers were piloting white Schultz 4-point hydros.

Has anyone ever seen a Schultz that was not white? We never did paint ours yellow like all the other Quincy boats.

It took forever to find the setup on that boat. When we did, it was never very fast but it performed very well in rough water and went through the turns like it was on a rail.

So did Homer's!

Homer Kincaid was a super star! If my memory serves me correctly Homer is the only man in history to win every heat of every class of a sanctioned regatta.

Hopefully someone can confirm this statement and provide the details of this amazing accomplishment.

I wasn't too happy with Homer Kencaid when I broke the C and D Runabout Kilo Records with Harry's new VC Konigs and Homer didn't approve the records because the motors weren't available til 1968 or some such BS. Harry Bartolomei, my sponsor, applied to UIM and both records became World Records, not APBA records. But, truthfully, HOMER DID THE CORRECT THING BY OUR RULE BOOK. There weren't as many classes in those days, but it was always said that Homer was only driver to every win ever class at a race.

Homer was always a real gentleman!

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

The 1970 Chicago PRO race was going on at the same time as the Stock Nationals in Beloit WI. I was pretty new to racing and had a horrible elimination heat at Beloit in DSH so when I missed out on qualifying for the finals, I turned my attention to the Chicago race. Being just a kid then, it was a challenge just to get there. Driving along on the subterranean Lower Wacker Drive towing a race trailer felt like driving through catacombs. I don'r remember what classes I raced besides F Hydro and B Runabout. The prize money was $ 99 first place per heat so the money was really good. I came home with over $ 300 more than when I left home and thought this boat racing was a pretty good deal

Sam,

I owe you an apology. I thought that you meant the Alky nationals that were held there. Gene East's post opened my eyes & brain. Sorry.

[racnbns]

Sam, The pro or as they were called then Alky nationals were in Depue. I was there finishing 4th in AOH & COH.
John

The Chicago race was a reg. 7 race and as Sam said had good prize money. The pits were in an old railroad yard, rocky and steep but for the big bucks nobody complained.
When you would shut off a LOOPER you could here the echo bouncing off the sky scrapers. A once in a lifetime event!
Bruce

[brichter]

I don't know who drove this boat, but I thought I would post it here as it is definitely the same 1975 Chicago race as the previous posts.

I was told that this #329 boat was driven by Frank Freeman in UJ class.

[brichter]

64561
This is a great pic by Sam Labanco of the MOD 90 Class that Mark Nelson sent me, Old Navy pier in the background. I can see Bill Richter Sr. behind the Blue Checkmate(?) that appears in the lead and Terry Leatherby is off to the left.
I thought this should go with this thread.
Thanks Sam and Mark!

[329Daughter]

Yes that's correct - that's him standing on the boat. It's my Dad.

[329Daughter]

I don't know who drove this boat, but I thought I would post it here as it is definitely the same 1975 Chicago race as the previous posts.

The driver of this boat was Frank Freeman-- that's him on the boat. He's my Dad.

[brichter]

Thank you for confirming that.. and welcome! I hope your dad is well and I hope you can share some of his racing pictures and stories.
My dad was #328 and he remembers your Dad. I might have some other pictures of your dad, I will look.

[brichter]

71211
Another shot from the Chicago race, Mod 90 class: Bill Richter Sr. in the Sid and and AJ Nardi, Miles Master/Mercury. Taken by Sam LaBanco.