In memory of racers no longer with us:

[J. Sherlock]

Dave Packer..#48

[J. Sherlock]

Driver: Warren Spinnenweber and Rider: John Sherlock Sr.

I was in the USMC and they borrowed my Switzer Shooting Star to run in the Albany to NYC Marathon. It was a tuff ride,,, a Switzer Star was not a good boat for this event. They finished and this was something to be proud of for that marathon.

[J. Sherlock]

Marty O'Neill
#250

[J. Sherlock]

In loving memory

Brandt Hilsen
1973 - 2004

Fatally injured racing CSH in Williamsport, Pa

[J. Sherlock]

Loss of a Legend
Friday, June 2, 2006
Legendary hydroplane builder Henry Lauterbach passed away last evening at a Virginia hospital.

[J. Sherlock]

FARMER Wilton T. "Will" Farmer Sr., 90, of Richmond, passed away Monday, December 11, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Elva Mae Farmer; his son, Wilton T. "Will" Farmer Jr. and his wife, Donna; two grandsons, W. Ryan Farmer and his wife, Michelle and Mark T. Farmer; one great-grandson, Michael; a niece, Shirley F. Hunt and her husband, Jerry; two nephews, Frank L. Farmer III and his wife, Kathy, and William F. Drumeller III; and his beloved dog, Cha-Cha. Mr. Farmer was a drummer and was a member of the Richmond Musicians Union. He played with many bands over a 70 year period including Barry McKinley and Skeets Morris. Mr. Farmer built race boats over a 30 year period. In 2000, he received the American Power Boat Association's highest honor, being elected to the Honor Squadron. He helped establish Farmer Machine Company in 1978 and served as vice president until the time of his death. The family will receive friends 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 3215 Cutshaw Ave. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 14, in Signal Hill Memorial Park.

[J. Sherlock]

BILL (Grandpa) SEEBOLD SR.

Very sad to hear this news. Always will remember his walking me over to the trunk of his car so he could give me a couple of props to try. I don't think anyone loved the sport of boat racing more than Grandpa. We had many, many, many good times.

[Mark Poole]

Danny Critchfield. Lost while testing a boat in 1987.

Great boat builder and driver.

[Beale Tilton]

John,
Was the Albany to NYC race your Dad ran in '65 by chance. I was there three times and that was the worse. When we rounded West Point I wondered if we had missed Ft. Lee and headed into the Atlantic. We finished second in FE running a flat bottom 13' Allision. If I had been smarter we could have won. Earlier in the race we passed the class winners Mike Quale and the late Herman Haggerman.
That's the only race I ever ran that I received a certificate from the state for completion.
What year did a certain college boy from Califorina brag the night before how fast he was going to run the river in a flat bottom DeSilva?

[J. Sherlock]

1965 - Steve Sherlock / 1964 - John Sherlock Jr. / I think my dad ran in 1965, same year as my brother.. My brother, Steve, was killed in Vietnam just a few years after the 1965 race.

[Beale Tilton]

1964 I believe was calm. I wasn't there, but I believe that was the year Ted March won FH and Bob Halstead won FI both in flat bottom Allisons.

[Ted March]

1964 Al Wood, 1st FI
Bob Halstead 2nd FI
Ted March DNF FH broke at Poughkeepie while leading

1965 Ted March 1st FH

1966 Ted March 2nd FH

All flat Bottom Allisons

[F-111]

Barbara "Bobbie" Eldredge 1957-2006

3rd generation racer- daughter of Marshall Eldredge, Jr.

1994 125ccH National Champion, 1100ccR National Champion (deck rider)
1980 ASH Region 5 Champion

We miss you Mom!

Jon Eldredge

[F-111]

Nick Davis & Gerry Drake

Both taken from us at Lake Depue, Nick in 500 Sprint Hydro last year and Gerry testing his 500 Hydro in 1994.

Guys I grew up with and looked up to, you will not be forgotten!



Jon Eldredge

[J. Sherlock]

Boat racer Jack "Doc" Welte passed awat last night at 7:30. He was surrounded by family and a few close friends.
Jack raced and was always around the Havre DeGrace racers of Steve Sharp, Bill Roberts and Stu Shane.

[J. Sherlock]

Ed Simms of the N-10 Ed's Capade fame passed away last week.

[Ron Hill]

Fred Bowden told me he was the first one to Joe after his accident in St. Louis. Fred said, "He knew he was dead." Capsules save lives...

Joe could drive THOSE VEE HULLS......like poetry..

Here is a picture of Joe driving a 380 Laser 380, like I NOW OWN, I always loved this boat, ESPECIALLY WITH JOE at the wheel...

We used his picture on our certicates, and I may reprint them again, if for no other reason but to honor JOE....

You can continue to rest in peace, Joe...Us OLD GUYS are still carrying on the battle!!! I'll never forget you!!!

[Michael J Gwaltney]

Fred Bowden told me he was the first one to Joe after his accident in St. Louis. Fred said, "He knew he was dead." Capsules save lives...

Joe could drive THOSE VEE HULLS......like poetry..

Here is a picture of Joe driving a 380 Laser 380, like I NOW OWN, I always loved this boat, ESPECIALLY WITH JOE at the wheel...

We used his picture on our certicates, and I may reprint them again, if for no other reason but to honor JOE....

You can continue to rest in peace, Joe...Us OLD GUYS are still carrying on the battle!!! I'll never forget you!!!
Joe was the smoothest Allison driver ever. He made the boat run like it was being pulled by a string.
At an Ohio OPC race Joe had just rigged a new white Allison with a Johnson GT-115. He asked me to check out the rigging. A lady came to the boat accompanied by a gorgeous blonde. Joe introduced them as his mother and sister. It was the first time they had seen him race.
So the race starts and when they came to the first turn several boats tangled with a big splash. The white Ally was floating upside down. Never forget his mother standing next to me "Wheres Joe?" He'll be okay, I said not really knowing. It seemed like five minutes before he swam clear of the boat and waved knowing his mom was watching. Joe was a great guy and we miss him.

[Ron Hill]

Just got off the phone with Chris Bush, he still is a little SLOW in the COMPUTER DEPARTMENT...But he did add, "That Joe Burgess was the best V -Bottom driver ever..." Coming from Chris Bush, I know Chris knows...

He added....Something too about Joe being small and low in the seat and Chris wasn't sure how he could see...but you could tell, that Chris had the greatest respect for Joe...

[Ron Hill]

I was told, a few minutes ago, that Ted Bravo passed away a month or so ago...

A moment of silence for me...

Then, I'll write a several lines about Mr. Ted.... AKA Teddy!!!

[Ron Hill]

Ted Bravo came to Parker and drove my Red Sleek Craft....not sure what year...after that we were friends forever///He offerd me an HST, he had for free...Ted March went and looked at it..I was considering driving to NY to get it...

Rest in Peace, Ted...

[J. Sherlock]

In memory of Art Kennedy:

[tthibodaux]

One of my favorate racers of all time. Great guy and one hell of a racer. When I was a kid we use to stay with him and his family at their house in St. Louis on race weekend. I remember how happy my dad was when Art won the 1986 F1 race in Pittsburg.

[J. Sherlock]

One hell of a driver and boat builder:

[J. Sherlock]

FAST, FAST, FAST and faster:

[J. Sherlock]

One of the best:

[Ron Hill]

Cesare had won Havasu....

[SandyPlummer]

Eight years ago today, my dad, Ray Nydahl, lost his 17 year battle with emphysema. As he did throughout his life, he accepted the consequences of his actions with dignity and integrity.

Up until his death he remained a motor sport enthusiast, reading and watching anything he could find on boat and car racing. His favorite NASCAR driver was Dale, Sr. About 2-3 weeks before he died, his health took a sudden drastic turn for the worst. We all knew, including Dad, that the end was very near. A few days before he died, he told us he was going to “stick around” until Sunday so he could watch Earnhardt win at Talladega. Only half of that prediction came true. Dad died around 9AM and #3 won the race later that afternoon after a dry spell of more than a year.

When Dad started racing in the early ‘60’s, he started with the Midwest Powerboat club. I have memories of many from that club who are no longer with us.

Jack Dodge and his wife, Jeanne, were like uncle and aunt to us. I’m not sure if Jack ever raced but it seemed he was always at the races helping make things happen. Jack raised Dachsunds and occasionally had a litter. He had decided that “Nydahl needs a dog.” One weekend in the spring of ’75, Jack and Jeanne came for a weekend visit and brought Dad’s first puppy with them. He was immediately hooked! If I remember correctly, Jack died in the early ‘90’s. I haven’t heard anything about Jeanne in several years.

Fred Lonsdorf always had a huge smile for everyone. Ralph Stahl was always a soft-spoken gentleman. Dave Shaughnessy was a faithful and close friend. I remember Bob Smith pulling into a race site with a HUGE trailer piled high with boats that he towed with a Trans Am. I can still recall Don Tarnowski, the club announcer, saying over the PA, “The next class of the day is “D” as in dog hydro.”

I am looking forward to attending the reunion at Depue this year. A few weeks ago my husband asked me what I wanted to do for vacation this summer. My reply: “I don’t care what else we do as long as we make it to Depue!” Mom is looking forward to being there, also. Of course, Pete and his family will be there. As a kid, Depue was the highlight of my summer because it meant we would see people that we usually only had a chance to see once a year. Depue was one of our closest races, but it was so great to see people who came from places like California, Tennessee, Washington, Long Island, Florida, Texas, . . .

If Dad was still alive, I’m sure he would love BRF. He would be reading every post! A while back, my husband found me (yet again!!) checking out the action on BRF. His question to me was, “Are you missing your dad?” . . . Yes, I am.

Sandy (Nydahl) Plummer

[geodavid]

What a nice post about a very nice man and brilliant racer. Sandy, you hit it right on about looking forward to seeing people once a year at DePue. There was nobody I enjoyed seeing more than Ray. Racing Ray was a great driver, real electronics innovator and best of all great father and husband. I am laughing because he was so deadpan when he would tease you. I can still hear him ask me if I felt secure about my job pumping gas. We sure do remember him on this day. I'm going to put a bratwurst on a stick and roast it in honor of Ray.
Sandy, we all miss him too.

[NERSTROM]

Sandy,
What a wonderful tribute to your dad. To those of you who knew Ray you can imagine what it must have been like for a new engineer, just out of school, to work with Ray. At OMC, Ray had the isle bench right behind the tool crib and Bruce Summers was right behind him. I had just been assigned the new 135Hp V4 and Ray was going to be my technician. At that time, Ray knew more about outboard engineering than I though I could ever learn. One of the first things he taught me was that "fishing engines" were called "G.. D.. Gas Burners"; now if that wasn't enough to scare a young engineer, when Ray got a little upset he started talking to himself - out loud. At which point I would usually assume I did something dumb and go for a cup of coffee. You had to earn Ray's respect, titles meant nothing. If you wanted to lean he was an excellent teacher, if you were full of BS he would happily let you hang yourself.
Over the years we became good friends and when I think back I too miss Ray. I always looked forward to seeing Ray at a race and loved the banter we had between Alky Burners and Gas Burners. As I am writing this I remember an Alky race where Ray was walking through the pits will a cold one in each of his pockets. As he passed someone he knew he would hand one out. One of the best Cold Ones I ever had!
To all who are no longer with us, rest in peace - we miss you.

[SandyPlummer]

I can envision it all!! I can't stop chuckling! I definitely knew what he thought of someone if he referred to a person as a Gas Burner! Another thing he always made clear was that it was a racing engine and NOT a racing motor. Motors are electric!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I have great memories of Ray and one of them was that he told it like it was. We had only been racing 4 years and at Alex in 1969 Ray Hardy and Harry Pasturczak had told us about this fantastic CD ignition. That was when we first met Ray Hardy and Harry. At that time my Dad and his partner were OMC distributors and your Dad, Sandy, had adapted the OMC ignition to fit the Konigs. He had the cast mounts and everything.

At that time, I was still learning how to get through the turns without getting wet down. We tried all kinds of plates over the carbs, but I still got towed in a lot. Well, this ignition offered a lot of promise. 50,000 volts, and my Dad figured that would be enough to burn water.;) I don't know what we were doing wrong, but that turned out to be our worst year ever. I would be going along great then the engine would just quit. Sometimes it would quit, start, quit and start again. We stuck with that ignition through the final race at Alex. Even a slight mist and the engine was dead. I know a lot of people had some success with it later one, but maybe there were bugs we never got worked out. We just took everything off and sent it back to Ray. Then we bolted new Konig ignitions back on. Sometime during that year Tim Chance, as well as Powerboat did a big spread on the Nydahl ignition.

When we got to Lakeland the next year one of the racers, I forget who, came up to us. My Dad and you Dad were talking in the pits and Joe and I were standing there. This racer says "Hey Ray...you need to sell Baldy some of your ignition kits." Without hesitation and that deadpan style he said "Hell....I sold him a thousand dollars worth and he gave me the G.D. things back in a box".:D We all laughed. My Dad was never upset over any of that and neither was Ray. We tried it. We had problems. But that was racing. Ray never minced words. And him and my Dad always remained friends. Ray was one of the names I always looked for in my qualifying heats of F Hydro because I knew he was going to be in the finals and there would be one less spot open.

[racnbns]

Jim--
Lots of truth in what you say. He was always there when I needed help. Before I had my own mill,lathe and heli-arc I'd ask Ray if he could help me out and he always replied-you know where the tools are, get up here and do it!

I remember one race I had with Ray at Lake Zurich where it was dog eat dog all the way. I could out-turn him but he had speed on me. He beat me by a couple of boat lengths. After the race Jim, you came up and said "I thought you guys were buddies,it looked like you're going to run over each other". We always were buddies OFF THE RACE COURSE.

Sandy--
I saw your mom and Pete and the family at Lake Wales. Looking forward to seeing you guys at De Pue.

Bruce

[Michael J Gwaltney]

Jim--
Lots of truth in what you say. He was always there when I needed help. Before I had my own mill,lathe and heli-arc I'd ask Ray if he could help me out and he always replied-you know where the tools are, get up here and do it!

I remember one race I had with Ray at Lake Zurich where it was dog eat dog all the way. I could out-turn him but he had speed on me. He beat me by a couple of boat lengths. After the race Jim, you came up and said "I thought you guys were buddies,it looked like you're going to run over each other". We always were buddies OFF THE RACE COURSE.

Sandy--
I saw your mom and Pete and the family at Lake Wales. Looking forward to seeing you guys at De Pue.

Bruce
I will always remember returning to engineering after running the Miami-Nassau race as Co-Driver with Dr. Bob McGoon. I was telling Ray about nose diving the boat, Bob was knocked out and I was able to get us back underway and we finished 5th. Ray listened to the story then said, So you never made it to the first turn in a boat race yet? NOPE I said and he laughed. Reminded me of that for years. The "Hot Setup" was also a favorite term of his. Great Guy and a super tech.

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2042&highlight=Nydahl

Don't forget The Nydahl Family Post...

[lilabner]

Known as Bugger Red, passed away on July 20, 2007..

[J. Sherlock]

Butch, is that a 15C? I have a 15C and a pair of 800DR's with speedmasters, would like to restore it and it would be nice to represent something with history in memory of Earl.

John

[lilabner]

It sure is a 15C..This was Chucks boat, and it had a lot of numbers..40, JJ40, JJ4, Chuck won everything in that boat..I got to run it as pictured in Blue Ridge, Ga around 1962..got beat on the turns..first time I ever raced a Cat, ended third. I blew by them on the straights, and got hosed in the turns..That guy from Alabama that raced Powercats won.. Then we went to Mississippi where Bugger had worked up enough nerve to drive it finally..It ran just over 80 as pictured..It was a E ticket ride back then..would float like a hydro flat out..

Butch

[lilabner]

Here is a picture of the same motors on the PowerCat Hydro Red bought from Chuck.. second picture is Red right behind my Raveau, in the spray..We just passed the Switzer thing..LOL:D :D

[lilabner]

Sad to say we lost another one..all you kneeldowners should remember him..

William Hutchins
William T. "Hutch" Hutchins, 85, of Lake Placid died July 16, 2007. Born in Wilkesboro, Pa., he had been a resident of Lake Placid for 29 years.
He flew crop dusters for Del Monte Foods and at the same time managed several small airfields. He flight instructed future combat pilots at Sparta Field. He joined Pan American World Airways as a pilot in 1951, flying the South American and European routes. He retired as a captain in 1982 with over thousands of flight hours. He served as a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He flew the China-Burma route known as "The Hump."
He was a builder of many national championship outboard racing engines. He was a member of the Airline Pilot Association, American Power Boat Association, the Model Airplane Club and the Lorida Trap and Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Lois; children, Lois Edwards of Crystal Lake, Ill., Bill of Lake Wales, Jeff of Land O' Lakes and Carrie Fish of Miami; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to the evening hours Saturday at the family home.
Memorial arrangements are being handled by the Michael A. Brochetti Funeral Home, Lake Placid

[Tomtall]

Recieved this information from Anne (Finkl) Donaldson. I would like to pass it on to Buds fellow boat racers. Gods speed Bud. You had a very full life.


BUD FINKL passed on in May. He enjoyed the information I told him about this web site. Bud
was an avid boat builder who started building boats at 13, on the Fox River, IL. In Sarasota, FL, he later built luxury river boats called Packard. His 27' Packard Classic Heritage model was in the "Speed Movie", with Sandra Bullock. In 2001 his boat business was sold. Bud was a hydroplane racer in the
40's,50's & 60's, he won dozens of Racing Titles. Bud had a full life and now is at peace.

[ferv888ipba]

I grew up in and near Depue and remember Bud showing up with Pink and Black boats and was always animated in his actions and re-actions. He was always a competitor and won his share for sure.

I remember he and Homer Kincaid as arch rivals and watched Bud challenge Homer to a one on one race at Depue. I do not remember the results or even if it took place, but Bud was adamant that he would beat Homer one on one.

If you remember anything about Homer he was a winner. One weekend in Indiana he won all 12 classes run that weekend.

Ray

[Bud Finkl]

;) :D
I grew up in and near Depue and remember Bud showing up with Pink and Black boats and was always animated in his actions and re-actions. He was always a competitor and won his share for sure.

I remember he and Homer Kincaid as arch rivals and watched Bud challenge Homer to a one on one race at Depue. I do not remember the results or even if it took place, but Bud was adamant that he would beat Homer one on one.

If you remember anything about Homer he was a winner. One weekend in Indiana he won all 12 classes run that weekend.

Ray

Wow, Joan Carter, Bud's oldest daughter lives in Sarasota FL., remembers Homer Kincaid to be a nice man. They raced konig B & C.

Joan said, Bud would always stop to say something to the guys that came by his burgundy & grey trailor. Not that many girls were interested to stop by but she loved the boat races and thought they were really neat. Bud raced in Mexico in the 40's, Lakeland, FL, and AZ. You pinned Bud well he was adamant about a lot of things and such a charactor. He was an older boat racer that came back after leaving.

Anne:

[Master Oil Racing Team]

We were at the NOA North South Championships in Knoxville in 1967 and someone had a laydown boat. It was the first I had ever seen. Someone later told me Bud had imported it from Europe. I knew of him, but never actually met him for some reason. RIP.

[F-12]

These are two gentleman I always heard about because my Dad was friends with them from the old days. My first exposure to a laydown boat was, I think a C Schultze (?) that Bud had and really got with the program. Very fast and very unique. Every year when we arrived at DePue they were they first guys my Dad looked for. Enjoyable times together.

[J. Sherlock]

Dave died Aug 15, 2007:

Dave was Director of Engineering at Merc Racing until 2005 when he was forced into early retirement by Merc Racing.

RIP DAVE..........You are a good friend. ;)

[J. Sherlock]

The life of a great person concluded today, as Pop Augustine has passed away. The Augustine Family, the boat racing community and anyone whoever was fortunate to refer to Pop as his or her friend, has lost a great person in his/her life. I will always value my innumerable memories of Pop. His heart and generosity knew no bounds. I cannot imgagine a better father, friend, mentor or role model. I do not know of anyone who had a greater passion for boat racing.

Pop lived a full life without doubt. I hope that we all can share many wonderful memories.

Our thoughts are with one of the finest families in boat racing.

Thank you to David Weaver for this post......

[Gene East]

Add Ross Gibson to the list of racers no longer with us. Karen Cadle e-mailed me to say her Grandpa Ross left this world to race at Lake Paradise Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Rest in peace Ross!

[Gene East]

Karen called this morning. She and her brother Mike are Ross's only living relatives.
There will be no visitation or funeral. Ross is to be cremated and later when the weather is better, there will be a small memorial service at a secluded spot that Ross enjoyed.
We will then take him for one last boat ride and scatter his ashes over this place he loved so much.
Karen and Mike, the boat racing community extends it's sympathy and commends you on your selection of Grandpa's final resting spot.
Condolences may be sent to:

Karen Cadle
550 Post Road #1001
Ridgeland, MI 39157

Or

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cadle
703 S. Madison
Macomb, IL 61455

[J. Sherlock]

From:http://www.champboat.com
Powerboat Racing Champion, Kevin Ladd was tragically killed late Friday Feb. 15th while riding recreation snowmobiles in Michigan’s upper-peninsula.

Kevin was leading a group of powerboat racing friends for the annual ride when Ladd’s sled struck a tree at a high rate of speed, Kevin suffered fatal injuries. Ladd has been described as “one of the best and most experienced snowmobiler’s around” stated a close friend. “He was good and he had the experience, so it was simply a tragic accident”.

Kevin had a stellar 2007 rookie season in Champ2, where he won his first ever F2 race in Augusta, and finished third overall in the championship. Ladd was set to move up to the sports top level in 2008, F1 ChampBoat with a new team currently being assembled.

“Kevin was one of the most impressive young drivers we had in the sport, period. He had it all, talent, good looks, great work ethics, and he was truly a great ambassador to our sport as a whole”, stated series director, Mike Schriefer. “Our hearts and prayers pour out to Kelly, Kori and the entire Ladd/Pater family”!

[Ron Hill]

Al Copeland dies in Munich, Germany

by John Pope, The Times-Picayune Sunday March 23, 2008, 3:42 PM


Al Copeland, a hard-charging, high-living entrepreneur who built an empire on spicy fried chicken and fluffy white biscuits, died Sunday in Munich, Germany, of complications from cancer treatment. He was 64.

He had gone to Munich for treatment of his illness, which had been diagnosed in November, said Kit Wohl, his spokeswoman.

http://blog.nola.com/news_impact/2008/03/medium_1989.jpg1989 photoChicken king Al Copeland

Born in poverty, Mr. Copeland burst onto the scene in 1972, when he opened his first Popeyes fried-chicken stand, in Arabi. It was the start of a franchise that, under his leadership, had 700 outlets, not only in the United States but also in Puerto Rico, Panama and Kuwait.
The money he earned led to public displays of opulence such as speedboats, which he displayed in a glass-walled showroom along Interstate 10 when he wasn't racing them; a Lamborghini sports car parked outside his corporate headquarters; and, of course, his massive Christmas displays, which required sheriff's deputies to direct the traffic outside his Metairie home.
There also were two over-the-top weddings with such touches as fireworks and a model of Cinderella's pumpkin coach. These weddings ended in equally spectacular divorces; the divorce proceedings from his third wife wound up bringing down the original judge hearing the case as part of a massive federal investigation of courthouse corruption.
During Carnival, Mr. Copeland not only sponsored parade floats in Jefferson Parish but also rode, said Peter Ricchiuti, a Tulane University finance professor who saw Mr. Copeland in one such procession.
Ricchiuti said he overheard this exchange between two other spectators: One man dismissed the spectacle as an indication of new money, but the other man replied, "If I had money, that's what I'd do."
Not even bankruptcy -- the result of buying Church's Fried Chicken Inc. -- stopped him. Although Mr. Copeland lost ownership of his chicken outlets, he retained control of the company making the distinctive spice mixture, and he went on to open restaurants bearing his surname, as well as establishments featuring California cuisine, wrap sandwiches, cheesecake and Asian fare.
One such restaurant -- Straya on St. Charles Avenue -- triggered a noisy public feud in 1997 with the vampire novelist Anne Rice. She used her voice-mail message and a series of full-page advertisements in The Times-Picayune to attack the restaurant's decor, which included tasseled black curtains and a pair of sleek black-leopard sculptures flanking the entrance to the rest-room area.
"The humblest flop house on this strip of St. Charles Avenue has more dignity than Mr. Copeland's structure," she said in her opening salvo.
One reason she felt so passionately about the building at 2001 St. Charles Avenue, was that she said that the Vampire Lestat, her dominant character, left her there, before Straya opened, after seeing his reflection in the window of what had been a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Rice also said she had planned to open a restaurant, Cafe Lestat, in a Magazine Street building she owned, but that never materialized.
Mr. Copeland's response, also in a full-page ad in The Times-Picayune, was good-humored, offering to treat her to dinner and to help her find Lestat. He even spoke of launching a month-long "Find Lestat" promotion and dressing his staff like vampires.
But he also filed suit, claiming that she had defamed him and that she violated fair-trade laws because "her comments were made in the context of her being a business competitor," Mr. Copeland's lawyer said.
Civil District Judge Robin Giarrusso threw out the suit. Mr. Copeland, accepting defeat, invited Rice to dinner. Rice, who did not accept his offer, moved to California in 2004, settling in Rancho Mirage after brief stints in San Diego and La Jolla. Straya, a phonetic spelling of "strella," the Spanish word for star, has become a Cheesecake Bistro.
This wasn't Mr. Copeland's only high-profile skirmish. In December 2001, he got into a fistfight with Robert Guidry, a former casino owner, and his sons in Morton's The Steakhouse, an upscale restaurant.
The two multimillionaires had been rivals for a riverboat-casino license in 1993. Mr. Copeland lost, and he blamed Guidry. Guidry, who had built much of his fortunes on tugboats, contended Mr. Copeland had relied on connections to delay his hearing for the license.
Guidry eventually won the license with the help of then-Gov. Edwin Edwards, but only after paying an Edwards aide $100,000 a month, amounting to more than $1 million. Guidry, who pleaded guilty to an extortion conspiracy and was a key prosecution witness against Edwards, was sentenced in January 2001 to three years' probation and ordered to pay $3.5 million in a fine and restitution.
Each man accused the other of starting the brawl, in which Mr. Copeland suffered a blow to his left cheek. Guidry and two of his sons spent the night in jail. No charges were filed, and customers requested the Copeland and Guidry tables for months after the fight.
With Mr. Copeland that night was Jennifer Devall Copeland, his fourth wife. They had gone to the restaurant to celebrate their first anniversary.
According to papers filed last year, when she and Mr. Copeland were divorced, his net worth in 2004 was about $319 million, and his annual income was about $13 million.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, Mr. Copeland learned he had cancer of the salivary glands, a rare form of the disease that strikes no more than 3 people per 100,000 annually in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
Despite his illness and subsequent hospitalization, the Christmas display outside his house in an upscale Metairie neighborhood went on as scheduled, featuring thousands of lights, animated figures and house-size representations of a teddy bear and Raggedy Ann.
Mr. Copeland was "a classic entrepreneur," Ricchiuti said. "He had disappointments, things that didn't work out, but that didn't stop him. You can't teach that in a business school. It's something inside you. Maybe it comes from a tremendous desire to succeed against all odds."
Copeland, whose family lived for a while in the St. Thomas public-housing complex, never got to business school because he dropped out before he finished high school.
He told friends that the competitive spark hit him when he was working the beverage counter at a Schwegmann's Super Market in Gentilly.
His colleague never stopped drumming up business. When Mr. Copeland asked why, the young man replied, "I'm out to prove I'm better than everybody," said Wohl, also a local author and artist.
When he was 18, Mr. Copeland sold his car to get capital to buy a doughnut shop from his brother Gilbert, and he turned the stand into a moneymaker.
Then he watched what happened when a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet opened nearby. Inspired by the amount of business the store did, Mr. Copeland decided to start frying chicken.
After two years of testing recipes on friends and family, he opened Chicken on the Run in Arabi in 1971. Its slogan was "So fast you get your chicken before you get your change," and Mr. Copeland stood on the neutral ground handing out fliers.
But the fledgling business struggled -- perhaps, Wohl said, because Mr. Copeland was flavoring it with a mild recipe after friends had told him that the spicy version he had prepared just wouldn't sell.
Realizing that bland fried chicken was going nowhere, Mr. Copeland started using the spicy recipe. To show that he was operating a new enterprise, he decided to change its name. According to corporate lore, he was stumped until he saw "The French Connection," in which Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his portrayal of Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a brusque, no-nonsense New York City policeman.
At that point, Mr. Copeland knew the business had a name: Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken. There is no apostrophe in the name, Mr. Copeland often joked, because he was too poor to afford one.
In an industry known for its high mortality rate, the restaurant started turning a profit in three weeks. Because business was so brisk, he added "Famous" to the title, Wohl said. The biscuits came later to the outlets and the corporate name after Mr. Copeland worked with the chefs Warren LeRuth and Gary Darling to devise a recipe.
The Popeyes craze was on, fueled by a wildly popular jingle -- "Love that chicken from Popeyes" -- that Dr. John sang. In 1977, franchising began, and within a decade Popeyes was the third-largest fast-food chicken chain in the country, behind KFC (the new corporate name for Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Church's.
Along the way, Mr. Copeland was married twice -- the first time to Mary Alice LeCompte, his childhood sweetheart, and the second time to Patty White. Both marriages ended in divorce, and the first Mrs. Copeland died in 1995.
As he built his business, Mr. Copeland developed his public persona, and he was elevated to the status of a local icon. He was a man who could be counted on to show up in a flashy car wearing flashy -- usually black -- clothes and looking perpetually tanned and youthful, generally sporting an earring or two. His 50-foot powerboats roared around Lake Pontchartrain, and when he raced in the United States and abroad, he met such luminaries as the deposed King Constantine of Greece, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Donald Trump and the actors Chuck Norris, Kurt Russell and Don Johnson.
Besides winning a shelf full of trophies, Mr. Copeland set up the Offshore Professional Tour, which not only became a star-studded event but also benefited charities.
Mr. Copeland became what he called a "secret Santa," underwriting gifts for 1,000 needy children that Santa Claus delivered after dark on Christmas Eve.
And this man who never finished high school established the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at Louisiana State University. Mr. Copeland's money also supported the National Food Service Institute and Delgado Community College's apprentice program for aspiring chefs.
Some of his wealth went to set up a Christmas display in his front yard that grew bigger each year -- and generated so much traffic that his neighbors sued in 1983 to have it removed. They also groused about his annual party for hundreds of guests featuring a vast menu and a dance floor over the indoor swimming pool.
The outdoor spectacle was staged elsewhere around East Jefferson until 1991, when a scaled-down version returned to Mr. Copeland's home on Folse Drive.
Coincidentally, 1991 was the year in which Mr. Copeland's business audacity seemed to catch up with him. In 1988, he made a $296 million bid to buy Church's.
The next year, the firm agreed to be bought out for $392 million. But to finance it, Mr. Copeland had to borrow about $450 million from a group of lending institutions.
In November 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises, the umbrella organization for Mr. Copeland's activities, said that it was in default on $391 million in debts and that it would be bankrupt if a lender demanded payment. In September that year, it had failed to make payments totaling $7.5 million.
The banks that had lent money for the Church's deal filed an involuntary chapter 11 petition, putting Copeland Enterprises into bankruptcy. While Mr. Copeland relinquished control of his fried-chicken enterprise, he kept control of the spice supply, a move Ricchiuti regarded as brilliant.
"He was dealing with some of the smartest bankers in the world, and he knew what to keep," Ricchiuti said. "It might look like an insignificant component, but he outfoxed some pretty smart people."
The bankruptcy filing came two months after his blockbuster nighttime wedding to Luan Hunter on Valentine's Day in the New Orleans Museum of Art. Fireworks, including the display "Al I'll love you forever Luan" lit up the sky, and the Popeyes helicopter, known as the chicken chopper, hovered low enough to scatter rose petals -- and blow up a mini-dust storm.
That marriage, which actually had begun with a Las Vegas ceremony nearly four months before the museum extravaganza, lasted nine years and ended in a bitter custody fight over their son, Alex. Overshadowing that, though, was the guilty plea of Ronald Bodenheimer, the original judge presiding over the case, to charges that he promised a custody deal favorable to Mr. Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits.
As a result of a federal inquiry called Operation Wrinkled Robe, Bodenheimer and two of Mr. Copeland's associates went to jail for participating in the conspiracy. Bodenheimer served slightly more than three years at a low-security prison camp in Alabama. After serving time in a halfway house and home confinement at his Metairie house, he was put on three years' probation in September. Mr. Copeland never was charged.
Even though that union ended messily, Mr. Copeland headed down the aisle one more time, in December 2000, to marry Jennifer Devall. The aisle was in St. Louis Cathedral, a fact that set tongues wagging about the propriety of such an event for the multiply divorced Mr. Copeland. However, an archdiocesan spokesman pointed out that the ceremony respected canonical rule because only one of Mr. Copeland's weddings -- his first -- occurred in a church, and his wife from that wedding had died, thereby dissolving what the Catholic Church regards as a lifelong marriage bond.
The wedding had a fairy-tale beginning, with the newlyweds arriving for the reception at Mr. Copeland's house in a horse-drawn pumpkin coach and walking beneath a line of crossed sabers held aloft by people dressed like wooden soldiers.
Despite that sparkling launch, this marriage, too, dissolved into acrimony. Mr. Copeland was arrested on a charge of domestic violence battery, and, in court papers filed in the divorce, his wife admitted to an extramarital affair.
The divorce was granted last year.
Mr. Copeland stayed busy. In addition to restaurants, he had invested in three comedy clubs and three hotels. At his death, Wohl said, a menu for a Brazilian-style restaurant was being tested in two cities in the Midwest.
That relentless activity was typical of him, Ricchiuti said.
"Once he made it, it was never enough," he said. "Most people get top a certain comfort level, but that didn't appeal to him at all."
Survivors include five sons, Alvin C. Jr. and Christopher Copeland, both of Metairie, Alex Cody Copeland of Folsom and Chandler and Chaz Copeland, both of Madisonville; four daughters, Bonnie Copeland, Alisha Catherine Copeland and Charlotte Copeland Womac, all of Metairie; and Cassidy Copeland of Madisonville; a brother, Gilbert Copeland of Covington; and 13 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.

[Michele G]

Thomas Richard Gouldstone......

One of the most stoic, loving, and all around outstanding father and friend

[Michele G]

I remember Doc, like it was yesterday......The sweetest old man :). Who through him us kids in region 11 got to start a new class in J Racing. J Pro Hydro. In Depue he was there for our first Nationals, his little white dogs. and his laugh from the belly laugh. Thank you for being patient with us kids, a few of us we're real brats. :D

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Michele G...I didn't know your Dad, but I did Doc Collins. From your brief description I can tell that you have the familiarity and and know what you are talking about. Why don't you give us some more family history on your Dad and your racing. Boat numbers, classes, years, etc. Photos would be great. And include as much as you can about Doc Collins.

[Mark75H]

Harry was involved in racing at least from the "Am-Pro" days of modified racing in NOA (1960's).

He wrote the famous "How To Modify Your Merc" manual, contributed numerous articles to The AOMC's "Outboarder" and supplied parts for modified racing

Godspeed, Harry

[Allen J. Lang]

Harry was a class act. Always enjoyed talking with him at the MOB and Constantine, MI AOMC meets. He always wanted you to be happy with any purchase when doing business with him.
He will be greatly missed by all who new him.
Our prayers are with his soul and family.
Ye Olde Desert Geezer

[Ron Hill]

Harry made some kind of rings, or heat treated them, can't recall, but my dad liked the rings and used them in our D Stocks, until the rule was changed that you could run any ring, then, and my dad made his own.

Didn't he also write and pamplet on how to modify an engine??...What we need is a GOOD Boat Racing Encyclopedia, so we could look guys like Harry up...

Rest in Peace....

[David_L6]

Rest in peace Harry. We'll miss you.


Harry made some kind of rings, or heat treated them, can't recall, but my dad liked the rings and used them in our D Stocks, until the rule was changed that you could run any ring, then, and my dad made his own.

Didn't he also write and pamplet on how to modify an engine?


Ron, the rings you're thinking of were called "No Drag" rings.



He wrote the famous "How To Modify Your Merc" manual...

[Allen J. Lang]

Ron- Harry did a book on how to modify your Merc. He did tell me it contained everything he did in the shop except cooling the intake charge.
You would have really enjoyed spending time talking with him. Great guy.
Ye Olde Desert Geezer :cool:

[Danny Pigott]

I Meet Harry At The Last NOA AM PRO Nat`s In Portsmouth Oh. 1971. He Was Great Person An Boat Racer. I Still Have Some Of His Rings,We Used Them For Many Years. May Peace Be With You Harry.

[Powercat]

James "Beaver" Tyler
1944-2008
Beaver Tyler, 63, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at his home.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Lockheed-Martin River Pavilion, 3400 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth.
Survivors: Wife, Donna Tyler; daughter, Tami Whitten and husband, Tim;
sister, Annette Estes and husband, Cary; grandchildren, Tyler Whitten and Alyssa Whitten; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 2/14/2008.

[Ron Hill]

Thanks for reminding me, the rings were called "No Drag" rings...It was long before the internet when we talked on the phone, but Harry seemed like a great guy.

Any chance of contacting his family and getting permission to print his "BOOK" here. I, for one, would be interested in reading it...

[Mark75H]

Any chance of contacting his family and getting permission to print his "BOOK" here. I, for one, would be interested in reading it...

With Harry's blessing and help Steve Roskowski has been working on an updated version.

It would be pretty hard to reproduce on line anyway ... Harry typed it on an IBM Selective Electric typewriter with a cursive ball on it, even the originals are hard to read.

[Ron Hill]

They didn't mention Rocky's boat racing in his obituary, but he raced GN and offshore in his time. I had made Brad Miller about ten GN props for $2500. Brad sold one to Rocky for $1,000.....

When I was Region 12 Chairman, Region 12 put on the APBA National Convention in Las Vegas. Bill Boyes, Sr, helped a lot with this convention..We held it a Cesare's Palace...But Rocky invitied all APBA members to his restruant and gave them free drinks and PuPus...for two hours...Of course, I'd ask Rocky to sponsor this party...but it was his money that did it..

I will always remember Edgar Rose and Jimmy Jost coming in an hour late to the party and hollering at each other....Edgar was saying, "I said the front door of the hotel...".....You can't win an argument with Edgar Rose...

It was a great party....Rocky got hurt right after this and quit boat racing...I've never been to a Benihana restaurant without asking if Rocky was in.....Then, I tell them, I made's Rocky's GN prop....(Nobody ever cared)...

69 doesn't sound old when you are 64!!!

Rest in peace ROCKY...I never ever saw you BACK IT DOWN when you were racing...He didn't invent the word Banzai.....but when he raced boats BANZAI was the WORD!!!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

We didn't have any Benihana Restaurants around here, or otherwise I would have supported it. I can remember reading about when he stuffed his cat. I was amazed how he survived. Seems like it was off the Pacific coast, but I can't remember for sure. He was good for the sport of boat racing. Articulate, willing to help promote, and got a lot of good press. Besides....he knew how to race. It's sad to hear that we've lost him.

[russhill]

I remember Rocky. He was a hard charging very enthusiastic guy. He was only about 5'5''. Of course, everybody is short to the Hill family. He was a hard racer, even his plate and throttle guy, whose name I forget, said Rocky was the hardest driver he'd ever ridden with. As I said, I forget his name but he was one of the most experienced and top rated throttle men.

Rocky first came to the US as a member of the Japanese Olympic wrestling team. When he returned to the US he set up what I believe was the first teppanyaki restaurant in this country. I don't know where is financial backing came from.

He started his Bennihana restaurant business in, of all places, New Your City. He slept in the restaurant's rest room for the first six months of operation and so the story goes, made a million buck in that 6 months.

He was kind of a tough luck guy. After he ruptured his heart in an offshore catamaran, he quit boat racing and went into something safer—hot air balloon racing. (I’d rather take my chances on water.) His balloon was super Bennihana advertizing, but somehow he crashed and broke both his legs. I think he quit balloons after that.

Boat racing is better off today as a result of Rocky Aoki having been in the sport.

Russ Hill

[Tomtall]

7-15-08


It is with heavy heart I must post the passing of my UNCLE JOHN. John was 96 years young.

John Webster was the crazy uncle of our family. John surved in WW2 as an air force pilot. Was a graduate of Ohio State Univ. and was introduced to the sport of powerboat racing when stationed in Europe during the war. He returned to the states and purchased his own equipment to race. He mentored many young racers. He stayed active in the sport till the late 1950's were he was a referee for APBA stock outboard races.

If it were not for my crazy uncle I would have never found interest in the sport. I saved anything regarding his racing days and actually have found articles here on BRF regarding races that he had worked in. I thank him for passing the love of the sport onto me as I have now done as well to my son.

"Rest in Peace" John and may your afterlife be filled with joy and a full tank of gas.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Our condolences Tom. Your uncle John was one of the Patriots that has helped our country remain free and helped us keep our liberties. Your thread about the old advertisments is one of my favorites, and it reminds me of the spirit and enthusiam that the guys returning from the war had. There was nothing that they could not do. It was their generation that pulled all of the Americans out of the doldrums of the Great Depression. God bless you and all your family on the loss of your uncle John.

[Brew56]

Here's some Outboarders I'd like to remember:

Bruce Deugo

Don Allen, Sr.

Harold Barnes

Dwight McClellan

Dennis McClellan

Paul Lloyd

Charles Young

Broom Kavoojian

Bruno Gervasi

Richard Engler

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Our prayers go out to the Kirts clan. Tom was one of the guys to beat in Pro runabouts. He was a great guy and will be missed. We pitted by or close to the Kirts frequently and got to know Tom well and considered him a good friend.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I created a thread on the Kirts family because I know some may be posting some fond memories and pictures of Tom. Those stories and pics need to be with the Kirts Family thread rather than here. It has nothing to do with David's post. Joe had read it earlier at another website and told me. We decided to see if anyone posted it here at BRF today, and if not then one of us would. Thank you David for doing that. What I told Joe was, when we have been losing our friends lately, all the pictures and stories are posted among the grievences for them. Some of the stories of recall of our departed friends are priceless. This thread about the Kirts family is for those stories and pics. David delivered us this sad news knowing that it was not something we wanted to hear, but we needed to because it happened.

[dlmurray]

Willie Kerjes passed away on July 30th. While the article says that it was July 17th, Willie was with us in Constantine, MI and then at the Pro Nationals, which ended on July 27th..

[Judi Cable]

Dave Potter # 226 of Seattle Washington passed away of cancer in 2006. He was a true "Weekend Warrior" racing his Mercury powered Molinari virtually every weekend with his dad Les in the Pacific Northwest from the late '60's to the late '70's. Dave first raced at Havasu & Parker in 1972 & continued racing until the Late '70's. A video in his honor has been posted in Outboard History titled " In Memory of Dave Potter # 226 "

[LilWick]

1944- 2008. Wayne passed away last September from Cancer. He raced in the north east, Pennsylvania mostly. His number was 83P. He raced C & D Hydro and C Alky during the mid 70s. He is survuved by his wife and three children. He was very good friends with Dick Reese and Red Yost Would love to hear any memories of him if anyone has any.

His son,

Alan

[Jeff Lytle]

Al Lytle



Al Lytle, the colorful and highly respected announcer of power boat regattas throughout Canada and the United States, died peacefully June 16, 2009 at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario after a brief illness. Al is survived by his loving wife Yvonne of 52 years, daughter Judi and son Jeff.



Al caught the boat racing bug in the 1940's as a teenager near his home town of Lindsay Ontario watching local regattas. He served as pit crew for a friend that was racing BOH and COH. During the early years inboards and outboards raced together at a lot of venues and one year, an announcer didn't show up at a race in Huntsville. The race organizers had to act fast, and for some reason the mike was passed to Al and his life long passion of announcing hydroplane races began.



Al announced countless races in Ontario and one of the highlights of his career was being asked to announce the 1960 Harmsworth Trophy races in Picton, Ontario. Shortly after, Al and his wife Yvonne made raising a family a priority and took some time off when their son Jeff and daughter Judi were born. Moving to Picton around 1970, the Lytle’s were back to racing with Al announcing and Jeff racing alky burners. A key figure in the rebirth of the Prince Edward Boat Racing Club, Inc., Al announced every Gold Cup Race from 1972 until 1993. His infectious smile, racing knowledge and booming baritone voice were a perfect fit for the microphone and fans alike.



My first encounters with Al began in the 1989 when I was in my rookie season of Grand Prix driving for Ron and Mary Brunner. We had a new Staudacher hull "Shopsmith" and struggled to keep engines together early on. Al, the voice of Grand Prix, always walked the pits in the morning to visit the teams and get insight in preparation for his days work. He would often give us encouragement with his big smile and tell us to “Keep up the fight”.



In 1990 we captured our first GP victory at the final race of the season in Davenport , Iowa. After completing inspection and the race officially declared final, our team began celebrating. About this time Al visited our camp to offer congratulations and I offered him an ice cold beer, he gladly accepted and at that moment our friendship was sealed and grew stronger through the years.



Alan and his wife Yvonne shared many special times with our crew having dinner, sharing family stories and celebrating as we traveled the Canadian Provinces and United States during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. On several occasions we had the privilege of being their guests at their lovely cottage on Balsam Lake. After the 2008 Valleyfield Regatta we again traveled West to the Lytle cottage to visit our dear friends. As usual, we sat on the back porch overlooking the lake and talked about the good old days, the drivers, the heats and friendships. The reminiscing only broken by Al's request to get a few more cold ones from the fridge. Upon our departure, Al and Yvonne gave us an antique mirrored window frame that had been saved from the original cottage. On the back was written "The Road to a Friends House is Never Long!!" ... with Love Al and Yvonne. It will hang in our home for all our years.



I have no doubt that Al is preparing for this weekend’s race upstairs with the old timers with the same professionalism, spirit and love he showed to the entire racing fraternity. The clouds will echo that unmistakable voice "Gentlemen, it's 5 to the 5 for the Final Heat of Grand Prix!"



Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lytle family!



Alan "BO" Schide

[Ron Hill]

Just got the call from Andy Dement. Don passed away at 3pm. Huge loss in the world today.

Rest in Peace Professor.

Tony (Scarlata)

When Chad was 12, someone told me Don Ermshar was a good attorney. I made an appointment to see this guy and drove an hour to Riversde to meet him...We talked boat race for two hours and I went home with a prop. Don was usually very fair with his fees. I donated several props for his wife's auctions.

Chad at 12 made mold for Don's drag boat and that winter, I talked Don into running capsules in his boats...He used Ron Bracksma mostly on his props....We still use that prop mold today, 20 years later. A few years back Don got wind that I was helping Tony Scarlata. And we actually had angry words. I tried to tellI was only doing Tony's K props.... I haven't seen Don for three years.....

I still loved him like a brother though....over the years we spent as many hours talking boats as we ever did legal stuff... His office always had blowers, pistons...gaskets laying around...looked like a race shop, not a law office.I always figured we were one call away of being friends again.

He did some great legal work for me. I'll bet he wasn't angry with me when he took that last ride....

RIP Don!

[AZOutlaw]

I remember my father taking to me to my first out of town boat race, an NJBA race at Parker, AZ in 1978. As most 7 year old kids are very impressionable, their was one team that caught my eye right away. Don and Jim's Blown Alcohol Flatties were the coolest thing a kid from Arizona had seen on water. I always loved seeing an Ermshar boat on the water at almost every IHBA Firebird World Finals I have attended since the early 1980's, and even last April.

Thanks for the unforgettable memories.....RIP Don

A link to a cool onboard video sequence of Don in his Flatty....http://dragboatracing.com/Media/Videos/WatchVideos/tabid/83/VideoId/173/Get-On-Board-With-Don-Ermshar.aspx

[Ron Hill]

Sad news, Deck Hogan, DU and DSH driver from Modesto died last Thursday, he
> was 87. I don't know any details at this time.
>
> Steve (Wilde)

When I first strated racing, the name Deck Hogan from Modesto was a big name in Stock Racing. Seems he ran A-D at different time. As I recall in the 1960's he had a bad car accident going to a raced and kind of dropped out after that.

Seems he had a daughter named Cindy, that used to write Jimbo McConnell letter and Jimbo wrote her. Jimbo was living with us then, and it seemed like a daily letter came for Jimbo. I don't think they ever really dated. At the Cal Cup Regatta, Jimbo and I stayed at Lucky Grant's house, seems Deck lived around the corner from Lucky. As I recall, Lucky Grant's daughter, Cindy, Jimbo and I cruised the main of Modesto, 1962, right were American Graffiti was filmed.

Deck was quite a music man, had a trio or something like that, Deck Hogan's Band...

It had been awhile since I saw Deck, in fact, it was 1979 at Stockton. We were parked in the parking lot, and deck came by all dressed to play music, I think he played the trumpet. We had a couple of beers, Broom Kavoojian, Julie Seaman and me.

Deck had some how ended up with my A-B Sid Craft that I'd bought from Dave Mayer. I told Deck I wanted that boat boat to run a Yamato 80 on, and he said, "Come and get it." I never quite got around to getting it, but thought about it, just about every time I went through Modesto.

He always seems "HAPPY GO LUCKY" and always had a smile on his face.

God speed, and thanks for the memories.

[Ron Hill]

Charles Dexter Hogin

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E-mail (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/modestobee/obituary-email.aspx?n=charles-dexter-hogin&pid=137639555) Visit Guest Book (http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=416749467267&cid=full)
http://mi-cache.legacy.com/legacy/images/Cobrands/ModestoBee/Photos/173592_20091222.jpgCHARLES DEXTER HOGIN JAN 10, 1922 - DEC 10, 2009 Charles Dexter Hogin, Deck'' to his family and many friends, passed away at Memorial Hospital on December 10, 2009 after a brief illness. He was 87. Deck was born in Modesto to Gratton M. and Kathryn (Davis) Hogin, the youngest of seven children. He attended Washington and Lincoln Elementary schools, Roosevelt Junior High School, Modesto High School, Modesto Junior College, and finally College of the Pacific. Deck was a proud Navy Veteran, serving in the Pacific during World War II. As Musician First Class he played for USO shows, at the Officers Club, and daily Reveille and Taps. He and the band also broadcast a radio show on The Mosquito Network''. After returning from the war, he married Leeroyce Dillard and they had four daughters. Deck was in the beer business'' most of his working career, beginning with Burgermeister, and later working with Budweiser until his retirement in 1987. Though Deck enjoyed many hobbies, music was his passion. He loved and understood music, but he especially loved playing music. Any opportunity to take out his axe'' was reason enough to play. He knew any song requested of him and he played them beautifully. Since his retirement, nearly every day, Deck could be found on the tennis courts at Graceada Park, or taking in 9 holes of golf with boyhood friends. In his younger years he raced hydroplanes and served as a referee and umpire for basketball, football, and baseball games throughout the valley. Deck is survived by his wife of 63 years, Leeroyce, brother Gerald O. Hogin (Bobbie) of Elk Grove, his daughters Cathy Smith (Evan), Cynthia Cozort (James), Christy Walker (David), and Casey Hogin. Grandchildren Jon Jackson, Amy Plimpton, Jeffrey Palleson, and Alexandra Palleson, Alex Walker and Sally Walker, four great-grandchildren, one great- great- grandchild, and his dog ''Pug''. He was Uncle Deck'' to his many nieces and nephews. He is preceeded in death by his parents, infant son Frank Hogin, brothers James E. Hogin, Peyton M. Hogin, Davis Hogin, Gratton Pat'' Hogin and sister Kathryn Winifred Hogin. A memorial celebration will be held Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Senior Citizens Center at 211 Bodem St., Modesto from 12:00 pm-5:00 pm. A traditional ''New Orleans'' style processional to the Modesto Citizens Cemetary will take place during that time. Memorial donations may be made to a Modesto Dixieland Jazz Society or to Animal Place, 3448 Laguna Creek Trail, Vacaville, CA 95688. www.modbee.com/obituaries (http://www.modbee.com/obituaries)


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[Joe J]

I just heard that Lon Stevens passed away within the last day or two. Lon was the master of the Mercury Alky engines, and anyone who has ever heard one of his "side-carb 6's" will never forget the sound.

Lon was 92.

Joe Johnson

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5975&highlight=rich+fuchlin

Lon was a great guy.

ADD: http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8060&highlight=stevens+jeff+lewis

[Ron Hill]

I think it was either the first or second time I was at Depue about 3 or 4 years ago and the F runabout race came up and there were at least 4 maybe more Mercs went out Fuschlin won the race against Thirlby and the sound of those motors especially Lons gave me goosebumps and there was this gentleman in a wheelchair just beaming at the end of the race. I said who is that and was told that is the guy who made that motor the LON STEVENS. I went up introduced myself and thanked him for the motor. I will never forget that race , thanks LON. Regards John Lawrence

Lon "Invented" the ignition that ran with a light bulb. I'm sure Rich Fuchlin or Fred Hauenstein could explain how Lon's ignition worked, but I never fully understood it.

Lon told me, the last time we really talked, that when he was building power on the "SIX BANGERS" that his engine would develop a HARMONIC, somewhat like an opera singer when they break a glass. This HARMONIC would destroy his motors.

Wth his light system ignition, Lon could vary the timing on each cyclinder, by milling slots in his timing plate (The light went through the timing plate and caused the spark), he did not have a six cyclinder engine firing at 60 degress (I think 60 degreee times six is 360), he had each cyclinder fire just a little off the other, resulting in the Stevens sound, and not have a harmonic. (Almost a studder step motion to break the harmonic).

Lon never lied to me, so I assume what he told me was the truth. And that is the way I understood it.

I made Lon quite a few props in my life, and sold him many Cary Wheels.

He didn't do much work for me, but what it did was faster than expected (Time wise) and perfect quality...

Lon loved "F" Motors like no one before or will ever love them.

[Mad Cat]

Lon built my first engine, a 3 cyl. merc. to run in FEH in 1976. I think all his engines were both a work of Love and works of Art. His Talent and Passion (For Mercs. and American Motors) will be missed ! I still feel the "6" that he built for Bob Davenport had the most "Kick A--" sound short of the Quincy Loopers !

Race well at Lake Paradise Lon !

[Mark75H]

I have one of those Stevens hand built ignitions. I suspect it is based on some parts from a car race ignition of the time, with custom parts added by Lon

[Ron Hill]

PRO Racing Pioneer Lon Stevens passes
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #000000" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->As posted by APBA here....http://www.apba-racing.com/apps/news/index.php

Lon Stevens passes
Monday, January 4, 2010

To the racing world,

It is with great sadness that I must inform everyone that my grandfather, Lon Stevens, passed away in the early morning of Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

Many of you know my grandfather as one of the leaders and pioneers of PRO racing for over a half a century.

His racing and engine building career accomplishments, in my honest opinion, were surpassed by few if any.

He now joins my father, John Stevens, in his final resting place. The racing world has lost a great competitor, as we have lost an iconic member of our family.

It is my hope that he and my father are now racing together once again up in heaven with the same fervent passion and success they displayed here on earth.

May he rest in peace!

Regards,

Don F. Stevens and family

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Bobby Passed a week ago Thursday, 1/07/2010


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I probably should tell some Bobby Kitchen Stories here...especially when he use to deal with me and Bahner Boats... http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=84291#post84291

But one story I will tell...Bobby is a GOLFING NUT and a BOATING NUT....actually, except for golf, we have a lot in common....a lot of BS, but actually hard workers...just that we're A.D.D. our minds jump around a lot...(This site reflects my thinking patterns..I focus on one thing for five minutes, then something else...always been that way...My dad would say, "Finish one thing before you start the next." Why? I'd ask my dad, you'll finish them for me...and he did... Maybe, that is why I'm not racing now...My dad always said, "He payed all the bills, did all the work and took the blame when we lost." We were a good team...

Anyway, Bobby Kitchen was racing MOD VP with Gary Garbrecht's Second Effort and someone didn't put bungees on the motor, when Bobby was making a "HOT" run in the early morning before Parker, when he backed off he blew over. I didn't see it, but I heard him back off, then I heard the RPM's coming up and up and up and all was quiet... I sent the patrol boat after him, but Freddy Hauenstein saw it from his house he's rented on the river, he'd been testing his D Stock Hydro, Freddy jumps in D Hydro and goes to see if Bobby is OK...

Bobby has some amazing one liners, but he answered Freddy with something like, "Im OK, I could drive to Kansas City and back with no problem." They put Bobby in the hospital...As they were putting him in the ambulance he handed a wet roll of money to Dr. Dean Puritzer from Mississippi, also (Dean's nephew plays on the PGA tour, but Dean has been mad at me for 20 years)...

Anyway, this roll of hundreds Bobby had in his pocket contained about $2,500. Dean couldn't believe Bobby would be carrying that kind of cash out in the boat...

I went and saw Bobby in the hospital, he seemed fine but they kept him for a day or two...he missed the race...

About five years later Bobby and I were talking about the blow over....He said, the darnest thing...I keep thinking I saw Fred Hauenstein in a D (HIGHED ROW) right after I flipped. It just keeps bothering me....

I said, YOU DID SEE FRED HAUENSTEIN...he was there testing his Stock Stuff at the ENDURO...Bobby just kind of stared at me.... He said he was sure it was Fred but had never said anything because he couldn't imagine Fred out on the river at 7 A.M. in a hydro...(Freddy told me not long ago, he was testing the first 44XS motors for Mercury)...


...Chad, my son, got married a few summers ago, so they had a bachelor party it was a four day cruise.. I met a guy on the cruise that rented out old SEMI trailers for storage units, in Las Vegas... Seems he was making a lot of money easy...

I call Bobby to buy some trailer...EASY MONEY... Bobby says with that MISSISSIPPI accent WWWWhy would start a new business that YOU know nothing about??? How much money do you want to lose???? You're in the PROPELLERS BUSINESS MAN...I'm in trucking business and I wouldn't rent trailers for storage....

Well, that ended that...Bobby and I talked about 30 minutes... we both had some good laughs!!!

[Ron Hill]

Awhile back someone mentioned Outlaws on Water...I can't find the post, but found the hat that Bobby Kitchens gave me...

I wished Jackson, Mississippi was closer. Everytime I'm with Bobby, I feel like I could spend a month with him....just listening to his way of wording things...he has 150 diesel trucks on the road, everyday hauling Colonel Sanders Chicken...and he's 81.....Plays golf like a MAD MAN and Drag races THEM ALLISONS....with 2.5 Merc EFI's....

If Bobby were ayounger man, maybe he'd be interested in NIGHT Boat Racing, as I think he "BANK ROLLED" Outlaws on Water.....That is still my dream....Racing under the lights...
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[Ron Hill]

I went to two boat drags this year, and enjoyed both. I talk to Pete McConnell now and then (Jimbo's brother), Pete races a Jet Boat in the drags and seems to really enjoy himself.

I've been thinking with all these 2.0 liter boats I have, maybe dragging them would make sense and be fun, too.

I knew Bobby drag raced with Allisons all the time, so I called his trucking company. Someone answered the phone, I asked for Bobby, and the gentleman said, "Who is this?" Two things entered my mind, both bad. One the IRS was at Bobby's AGAIN or two, he was dead.

I told the gentleman I was Ron Hill, he said, "Mr. Hill I remember your name, but Bobby passed away a week ago Thursday."

Bobby passed from cancer, he was only 81. He thought he was 81 three years ago, but toward the end, when he was getting things sorted out, he found out he was only 81 now.

I really don't recall how or where I met Bobby, seemed to know him all my adult life. Bobby made a little book on the side (He was in the trucking business) and sometimes dealt in cash, like quite a bit.

He'd come to California, once or twice a year, and we'd go shopping for boats. I had told him, and he knew it, that boat builders were always broke in the winter. So, usually he'd buy two or three truck loads of boats.

I enjoyed going with him. He knew I enjoyed seeing rolls of hundreds. His yearly purchases probably saved several California boat companies. He usually bought Bahners, Eliminators and Bakers.

When Gary Garbrecht ran FORMUAL ONE PROP, Bobby's diesels hauls the Forumla One Semi trailer to all the races and Bobby ran one a BAKER MOD VP and a Second Effort V-6 Johnson.

Later, he sponsored races called Outlaws on Water, raced the Mississippi River race and raced the Deep South Drag Racing Series. In drag racing he ran Allisons with Modified Merc V-6's.

Bobby got a free FEDERAL VACATION for 18 months, seems something about the IRS didn't think his contractors were contractors. So, the IRS took a few of Bobby's trucks and gave him an 18 month vacation, all expenses paid.

His vacation never broke his spirit, he came home and went back to work, working almost daily until his death. I think he had 150 diesels on the road everyday, hauling chicken.

Bobby loved trucking as much as he loved boats. Golf and sports betting were also his loves.

I never borrowed a dime from Bobby and never asked for a dime, but I always knew if I needed money, it was a phone call away. He'd cover me, because that was the kind of guy Bobby was.

God Speed, Bobby. You'll always be alive in the Hill Family!

[AZOutlaw]

Sad News-Dale Powell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to pass on the sad news that my Father, Dale Powell passed away unexpectedly yesterday due to heart problems. He was 78.

Dad was an avid boater and boat racer dating back to before I was born in 1956. He was active in "Wildcat" racing in Western Oregon before getting involved with the Oregon Speedboat Association and the APBA in Stock Outboard. He raced CU and DU. He set 5 mile competition records in both classes at Lake Lawrence, and was close to the DU kilo record. He also carried 1-US.

After his success, he parked the boats as my brother Mark and I became old enough to start racing (me in 1966, Mark in 1968) and went all out to get us going in the sport with the help of Joe Price. 1970 was the last year any of us raced, and for fun, Dad was running AU at the time.

Here's to wishing Dad smooth water and wide turns forever. He is survived by his wife, my stepmother Nancy, my older half sister Debbie in Portland, my brother Mark in Switzerland, and myself.

Dale Powell Jr.
Fairbanks, Alaska
__________________

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Sorry to hear about your Dad Dale. God bless you and your family for the loss, and may Dale SR. rest in peace. Because Scott posted this, I know that you wanted the boat racing community to know off your loss. In memory of your father Dale...it would be cool if you could post photos and/or memories about racing here at BRF....or send them to Scott to post so we could read about them on the encyclopedia. There's not enough people really telling their story. I am glad you sent the info to Scott to post here. Don't stop now. Your Dad was an accomplished boat racer. Please fill in the story before he got to his top spot.

[arcticracer]

I will write a piece about my Dad, I am heading to Oregon next week and will gather up the remaining old racing memorabilia. We don't have a lot of photos, but there is quite a bit of stuff I can use for a tribute.

I'll make a few phone calls too, I have a few interesting stories to tell and hopefully I can add a few more.

There will be a Memorial at the Salem, Oregon Elks Club Tuesday, April 30th. All are welcome if you are in the area drop on by.

[AZOutlaw]

RIP to Ray Brown long time boat builder who lost his battle with cancer today 4/14/10

[smittythewelder]

John Paramore has notified the Seattle Outboard membership of the passing of Hal Tolford, Jr., multiple Nationals winner in C Service Hydro and Runabout. Built some of his own boats, did his own prop work, built his own engines. Smart guy, opinionated, sometimes blustery, but good company anyway.
Hal's dad, Pop Tolford, ran Seattle Outboard's Novice School for years, and was the kindliest of men to those of us young guys who were lucky enough to be SOA novices in the '60s and later.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

God rest his soul......and bless the family and friends.

I didn't know Hal...but I took a few pics of him along the way. Thanks for letting us know it's time to send him along the way to Lake Paradise Smitty.

[Mark75H]

Harold Tolford, one of Seattle Outboard's "oldest-bestest" of old timers passed away last Wednesday at home at the end of a long bout with cancer.

[arcticracer]

Rest in peace Mr. Tolford....... A legend passes.

[Karen Cadle]

Ron, Ted and the rest of the legends on the site---

Thanks for the great job on the site, and keeping the "family" of racers informed of those that pass on to Lake Paradise.

I learned at Worlds 2010 from Jack Kugler that Dickie Pond is battling cancer. Dick has stopped over to see Jack, who battled his own fight with cancer, but thankfully is still building and working on great boats and engines with Jeff.

The racing family is like no other. I am simply thankful for all of you!

Ron: re our dear friend Bobby "chicken hauler" Kichens or Kitchens... (damn I miss his stories... the girls at the country club still talk bout him, and say he will never be replaced -- they are correct)

love to all :)

[Jeff Lytle]

http://www.hydroracer.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20570

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Very sorry to hear of Elmer's passing. He was one of the great ones. I would like to see someone in the know post a complete history of Elmer and his boat racing. While my Dad and I became very good friends of Elmer when he joined us to help professionalize our sport through uniforms, colorful rigs and to bring foreign drivers to our shores, we never talked about the past. I think it would be fascinating to read his story.

Elmer's drivers were all top rated, and very successful. He was not only a credit to our sport, but a leader, innovator, and a top competitor. God bless Elmer and his family, and rest in peace friend.

[voodoo]

Its very sad to say that there is 4 legends of blown alcohol displacement (BAD) in this photo that are now in heaven pushing up daisy's.Brien Mcoscker ,John " CROSSY" cross,
Geoff "IRONNUTS" tomkins,and from the USA Dave briant.
This photo was taken in the UHPBC club house at the 2007 world BAD boat championships at windsor in sydney australia.
This was one of the displays of driving skills i have and ever will see.
R I P bad boys you were fairdinkem true legends of this sport,and it will never never ever be the same again,the whole racing fraternity in australia and around the world are still in mourning.

Your's truly


Steve scott
SJS racing

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

FRED W. (TODD SR.) BRINKMAN
9-27-35 / 1-18-11

Todd Sr. as he was known to most of his boat racing friends was actually born Fred W. Brinkman in Springfield, Illinois, September 27, 1935. As his mother was recovering from his birth in the first minutes after the event, and unable to name him herself, his Father, Fred, did the honors by naming him Fred also. According to Todd Michael, his eldest son, his mother was not at all happy with that choice and subsequently called him Todd from that point onward. The reason for Todd is unknown, but evidently she did not like the name Fred for him, so Todd it was.

Todd started racing at age 11 in 1946 right after the conclusion of WWII, in the C-Service Runabout and Hydro classes with equipment owned by his Father ( Fred) and eventually graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University where he majored in Physics and Mathematics. He established B&B Electric in 1962, the family business which Todd Jr. and other family members own and operate today, and he retired from the business in 1991 to fishing, golf, and watching a goodly number of the male members of his family enjoy the sport of boat racing which he himself had excelled in earlier in life. Some of his accomplishments in the sport are listed below.

In 1959, at the age of 24 he won his first NOA World Championships in C-1 Hydro and then repeated as champion in C-1 Runabout, on his home course at Lake Springfield, Illinois. He then proceeded to repeat those same accomplishments at Lake McCallister in McCallister, Ok. the next year, 1960. By winning these two class championships in succeeding years, he became the first driver to ever win two World Championships two years in a row, and was honored by having his picture and a short article about the accomplishment published in the column “Faces in the Crowd” in the November 7, 1960 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. The next year (1961) he made it a “three-peat” by racing to Championships in both classes in the NOA WC’s held in St. Paul, Minn. These championships were won with DeSilva Runabouts and both Neal and Sid Craft Hydroplanes. The motors were built by several of the top names in the sport at the time including Tommy Newton, Stan McDonald, and John Toprahanian. His props were always by R. Allen (Poppa) Smith. He retired from racing (for the first time) at the top of his game in 1964 to spend more time building his business, B&B Electric, and with his growing family.

In 1972, having B&B Electric on solid ground and growing, he decided to get back into racing again. He proved again to be at the top of his game by winning the C-1 Hydro APBA National Championship in 1974 at DePue, Illinois. During his racing career he competed and won Championships against some of the legends of the sport, including Homer Kincaid, Billy Seebold, Bud Cowdry, Bill Seebold Sr., Stan Leavendusky Sr., Stan Leavendusky Jr., and many more competitive drivers, including many other World and National Champions. His last race as a driver was at Alexandria, La. in 1976. It was a memorable event in C-1 Runabout, as fully 80% or more of the field ended upside down in the first turn. Todd escaped serious injury, with the only visible signs of trouble a chunk chopped out of his helmet by someone else’s propeller. At this point at the strong urging of his wife DeLee, he retired from driving for the final time. He had already decided to present Todd Jr. with the number one motor, boats and props, so he hung it up for good and let Todd Jr., and later Tommy, carry the B&B Electric banner at the races. One of his last races in 1976 at the Eastern Divisionals in Gadsen, Alabama was one he was most proud of as Todd Jr. finished first winning the Divisional Championship just in front of him. After his retirement from driving, his two sons, Todd Jr., and Tom, along with grandsons Tim Brinkman and Matt Hilby later on, carried on the family tradition of winning with many National Championships to their credit, three Hall of Champions inductions, and two ZAK Awards. All total over the years approximately 40 National Championships and 15 records set from the B&B trailer and the Brinkman family.

Because he was not in a boat anymore did not end his involvement in the sport. He along with Kay Harrison, Tim Chance, Tim Butts, and others, was the driving force in getting the US Title Series off the ground and running smoothly, so as to promote a professional PRO Racing program with good prize money and the drivers and equipment professionally presented . The purpose being the first really professionally promoted boat race/show by PRO category only drivers that could be sold to potential sponsors as an event they would be proud to have on their premises. In addition to the behind the scenes work getting USTS up and running, he also acted as Race Director and Assistant Referee at many of the USTS and Nationals events from the mid-80’s to the early to mid-90’s. He was also the VP of USTS for a time, and served the whole PRO Category and Region 7 as a PRO Commissioner in the mid 70’s to early 80’s. He always was one of the scorers and judges favorite officials to work with on the judges stand, as his scotch “cocktail hour” started promptly at 5:00 PM, and they could always count on him to move the program along efficiently so as to finish the days racing program on time.

Last but far from least, he was my very good friend, and I will miss him, as I am sure many others will also.

The second photo is Todd and his father Fred.

[Powercat]

RIP Jon Wright

I just heard that Jon passed away. Jon was a legend in outboard drag racing and one heck of a nice guy. He will be missed, but not forgotten
.........


Jon David Wright, of Georgetown, KY, departed his earthly life on May 9, 2011 after a short illness.
He was born March 29, 1943 in Harriman, TN to the late Mattie and Lon Wright. His early years were
in the Dyllis community. Jon was a decorated Navy-Air veteran who performed air surveillance missions in Asia.
He was a diligent and respected IBM/Lexmark employee for more than 40 years where he held various positions
including administrative assistant to the CEO of Lexmark. He retired in 2005. Jon was very active and loved
Berea Christian Church where he got great joy serving his Lord willing doing whatever was needed from teaching Bible Class,
to keeping the lawn ship shape. Jon was a very innovative and avid speed boat racer. He designed and helped build his
own boats and engines. On July 21, 2000, he set a new world record in his Pugh Hydro "Tinker Toy" of 156.26 MPH, 7.521 ET.
One racing friend said, "There will surely be a quarter mile of water in Heaven just for Jon". He was a loving, caring man especially
to those in need and to animals. Donations in honor of Jon may be made to the
Lexington Humane Society, 1600 Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington, KY 40504.
Survivors include his loving wife, Gina Shely Wright; a sister, Mildred McGlothin of Lexington, KY;
brothers, Lee (Betty) Wright of Lexington, KY, Lon (Lucy) Wright of Tallahassee, FL and Charles Wright of Mecco, FL;
and many other relatives and dear friends whom sadly miss his tender love and quirky humor.
A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Jon's life will be held June 19, 2011 from 4-8pm at
Equestrian Woods Country Club, 107 Clubhouse Dr., Nicholasville, KY.

[Gene East]

Eddie Dickerson:

I just received an email stating Ed passed away yesterday afternoon. Ed drove A and B Hydros and Runabouts in the late 50's.

Last time I saw Ed was at Lake Alfred in 2008. He lived in Ocala and came to Lake Alfred hanging out in the pits telling the young bucks what boat racing used to be like with 500 entries at major races.

To my knowledge, Ed never won a pro race, but he always drove his butt off.

Ed often talked about suckering Dieter Konig into jumping the gun at a race in 1957 or 1958.

I worked in the pits for Ed while I was still in high school and he gave me my first race boat.

Some of you may remember Ed charging around the pits at Lake Alfred on his geriatric scooter with the trailer hitch. Somewhere on BRF is a picture of that. I looked hard for that pic this morning but couldn't find it.

Ed told me at Lake Alfred, " I have cancer, and this is probably the last time we'll see each other".

I told him I would see him again at Lake Paradise.

He smiled and said, "Lake Paradise, I like the sound of that".

Ed, I know you're there old buddy. Say hi to Deiter. I'm sure he's forgiven you!

[Brew56]

Jim Brewster, Streetsboro, Ohio
38-S
BSR

[J. Sherlock]

Jim and I had some great times racing and just running around......

[david bryan]

Jim and I had some great times racing and just running around......

thats when is was great . B runabout a pair of Levi's no shirt and a gentex life jacket. great summer racing

[Beale Tilton]

We knew Jim in Southern Maryland as the Radical Yankee with respect. You never knew what Jim might come up with. 1973 was a banner year for him. Won the Nationals, US 1 and closed course recorder in the UI class. Jim later raced SST, U and Mod 50. He also built some boats including an ocean racing tunnel in his basement on the golf course in NJ, The basement was too small so in typical Jim fashion he knocked out one wall and built an extension with 2x4s and plastic sheathing. Always wondered how the neighbors felt about that.
Jim had a wonderful mind, there wasn't much he couldn't ot wouldn't do. RIP

[Ron Hill]

Did Jim design the Malstron (Wooden) tunnel boat? Did he race kneeldowns as a kid?


When did he pass away?

Last time I talked to him was years ago, but he was building SUPER Yachts, or some high dollars boats...

[Beale Tilton]

Ron,
The only kneel down I knew of him racingwas his first UI boat in '72. Don't know about Malstrom, but he did live in Sarasota for a while and I believe that is where Malstrom was located. He died about four weeks ago. The last time I saw him was in '96 when he was working with Reggie.

[mulfcarla]

Thanks for all the memories, God Speed!!

[Ron Hill]

Dave Kober builder of the infamous Kober Kat outboards passed away at Lake Havasu this past week. 11/16/11

Sorry to hear of his passing. He always had a smile on his face when I saw him.

[mulfcarla]

Well it's been 10 years since the passing of Lance Faulkner! Hard believe that he is gone, he was such a talented driver, the best thing I remember about Lance was how he would stand up in the boat before a start and get the crowd going!

Hope your still Racing in Peace, Lance!

[Ron Hill]

Dave Wilson
Boat racing in general, Regions 10, 11 and 12 and
Sport C drivers everywhere will sorely miss a dear
friend, fierce competitor, and true sportsman. David
Allen Wilson left our worldly waterways on August 27,
2011 from his home in Paradise, California. With the
same intensity Dave brought to every race course, he
fought a long battle with his final adversary—cancer.
Dave was born January 1, 1943 in Los Angeles, California.
It was there in Region
12 that he began his passionate
pursuit of a pastime
he loved. During the 1970s
he raced C and D Stock
Hydros. His son Allen and
daughter Susan have fond
memories of being part
of his pit crew. This team
learned the true meaning
of precision, dedication and
follow-through. Their pre-race routine included a very
detailed checklist which had to be strictly adhered to.
However, it was not enough to just get a visual on each
item listed. One had to actually touch the item, and the
other had to witness this action to verify the completion
of the task. And woe be to her, him or them both if
anything were omitted, misplaced or just plain skipped!
Character-building at its best?
Allen raced J and A Hydros very successfully as a
youngster. Susan’s recollections are not quite so positive.
She took out her boat; it promptly filled up with water
and she immediately “retired”!
David moved to Paradise in Northern California and
joined the ranks of Region 11’s Sport C Gang. He rapidly
became the guy to beat and garnered numerous titles,
trophies, awards and championships. He competed
regularly in Region 10 and even travelled to the OPC
Nationals in Kankakee, Illinois. His proudest accomplishment
was setting and holding the National Sport C Kilo
record that has stood since 2007.
Dave is survived by Allen and Susan and their spouses,
all of Paradise CA; three grandchildren, and his loving
companion Larissa, also of Paradise. He was a guiding
mentor, supportive counselor, positive role model,
spiritual leader, proud father and doting grandpa; but
most of all, in the world of boat racing he was loved and
admired as our friend! Godspeed and race in peace, Dave
Wilson. We all miss you...
—Gloria Crim and Frank Banducci

[Ron Hill]

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</td><td class="alt1" id="td_post_110568" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000"> http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Rest in Peace, Bart Cromwell, GN 331
<hr style="color:#000000; background-color:#000000" size="1"> Needless to say the past few days have been rough and my condolences go to Logan, June and the entire Cromwell Family during this difficult time.

For those that didn't know him, one of nicest guys, great acerbic sense of humor, great lawyer (don't often get to say that!) and great boat racer! Bart wasn't just an SCSC board member for the past 11 years, he was a dear friend who will be sincerely missed by myself and the rest of our board and the entire racing community. He fought the good fight for a long time since the discovery of the melanoma that eventually took his life and always had a cheerful thought or downplayed the severity of his condition and was always grateful for the time he had with his family and his extended family (the boat racing community). On behalf of the Board of Directors for SCSC and RPM Racing Enterprises we will always miss him and hope he has eternal peace!

Farewell my friend!

Ross Wallach, Commodore SCSC/RPM Racing Ent.
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<hr style="color:#000000; background-color:#000000" size="1"> Bart is and was a great teacher and ambassadore of the sport. He gave me alot of lessons out on the water as well as encouragemant for and with my fight with cancer also. I will miss him deeply.

Jim Rich
__________________
http://www.e-performancemarine.com/images/uploads/header2%5B1%5D.jpg (http://www.e-performancemarine.com/)


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[boatmark59]

Just read through this entire post, and saw names of many friends.

Here are several more racers that were in one way or another part of my life, and no longer with us.

Jim Hauenstein

Jim Merten Sr.

Burt Ross Jr.

Andy Wiggers

Tom Sikes

Phil O'Berry

Randy Tilton

Peter Inward (UK)

Rest in peace guys.

[Ron Hill]

I first met Paul in 1956 when we were racing on TV with Speedboat Rodeo. He was in the Coast Guard then. Later he and his son made a computerize speedometer. Sorry to hear of his passing. Paul was a real gentleman!

From Sunny Breed:

My beloved husband, Paul, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2012, after a long illness. For some time he had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and for the last year from metastatic prostate cancer. His suffering is now over but he is very much missed by all of us who loved him.
Sunny Breed

Paul Hobart Breed, CDR USCG (Ret.)
1930 - 2012

Paul H. Breed was an outstanding pilot, successful entrepreneur and avid outdoorsman. He graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy, US Navy flight training for both fixed wing and helicopter aircraft and several aircraft maintenance programs with the US Navy and Air Force. His Coast Guard career encompassed navigation support in the Philippines, search and rescue in Alaska and executive transportation in Washington, DC, where he flew cabinet officers and CG top commanders around the world in the Coast Guard's first executive jet.

Paul was awarded the US Coast Guard’s Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals for rescues performed in Alaska during his career as a search and rescue pilot. He also earned the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and a Unit Commendation for his command of the Coast Guard Air Station at Washington National Airport and another Unit Commendation for his command at CGAS Annette Island, Alaska.

After retiring from the Coast Guard, Paul founded an air taxi service in Klawock, Alaska. He merged it with a larger air service in Ketchikan to form SouthEast Alaska (SEA) Airlines, which he grew to 20 aircraft providing passenger, freight and mail service to island communities in the Ketchikan area and scheduled service to the other cities in Southeast Alaska. After selling SEA Airlines, Paul and his family moved to Long Beach, CA, where Paul became a real estate appraiser and later a commodities broker.

Paul was an expert marksman all his life. He served as captain of the rifle team at the Coast Guard Academy, later on the All-Coast Guard Rifle Team. More recently he was a champion trap shooter. Early in his life he was also an avid hunter and fisherman. Whenever he lived where he could pursue his passion for racing, he designed and built small wooden hydroplanes. His designs were always leading-edge and consistently won races. Friends loved to hear him tell of his adventures in flying, hunting and racing.

In his later years, Paul suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. That disease robbed him of his memories but it never took his sense of humor. He continued to find humor in life, to be gracious to everyone around him and to appreciate all that was done for him.

His first wife, Betty W. Breed, predeceased him and he is survived by his second wife of 32 years, Sunny, his son Paul, daughter-in-law Mariellen, grandson Paul and wife Jawon, and his brother, RADM Alan Breed and wife Jan. A graveside service and burial with full military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USCGA Alumni Association or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

[smittythewelder]

On a whim I phoned Jeff Wallick last night to see how he and his family were doing, and he informed me that his dad, Duane, passed away last summer of old age and Altzheimers.

Duane Wallick, a USPS employee living in east Bellevue, WA, was one of the stalwarts of Seattle Outboard Association racing in the '60s and '70s. I think he started in B Stock Hydro in the late '50s, but by the time I got into the game in '65, Duane was a dedicated A and B alky guy. He was among the early purchasers of the first Quincy loop motors at that time, running them on a 10' 3'' Karelsen; he also ran an A Anzani some of the time, and picked up a Harrison B engine that he ran on a big heavy Belle-Craft, the first of two or three of those boats that made it up here. Duane and his family never failed to show up at any Region 10 race to battle it out on the course with John Meyers, Bob Luke, Barry Lewis, Dick Moen, Gerry Walin, Ron Anderson, Steve and Dave Johnson, Ron Magnusson, Roger Wendt, and the other A/B regulars of the era. He brought his two boys, Jeff and Sammy, up through the J and A Stock classes, and Sam stayed with it enough to become a particularly good 250cc driver. Wife Barb always pitched in to help with registration and scoring.

Duane became a particular pal of mine, and gave me a good tip when I was still real green. I was trying his little Karelsen with my old A Konig on it one day at Long Lake on the Olympic Penninsula, a fine race site that we lost a long time ago. It was pretty rough that day or so I thought, and it wasn't my boat so I was trying to gingerly pick my way through the slop. I came in and told Duane that my knees and the boat were taking a beating, and he explained that you can't pick your way through the chop, you have to fly the boat over the top. I went back out and cranked 'er on, with some trepidation, and what do you know, I got a whole lot smoother ride (and faster!).

We had some good times over the years, plus the usual mishaps. Barb tells the story of her car (Duane was partial to big mid-'50s Chryslers and DeSotos) being very low on gas one day with Duane gone somewhere, so she poured some of his race fuel (methanol/castor oil/20% nitro) into the tank of the truck so she could drive it to the gas station. She laughed at the expressions on the faces of the fellows working in the station's garage when they got a whiff of the exotic smells coming out of the tailpipe of her Chrysler!!

Duane Wallick was a quiet, polite, well-mannered, self-effacing man who loved the whole outboard racing scene and made friendly acquaintances with racers across the country. I'm glad that he is no longer suffering, but sorry he is gone.

--Phil Smith

[Danny Pigott]

This past weekend at the Mod. Winter Nat's I learned that Charley Redman has died. Many will remember Charley as a Pro driver, he set the D Hydro Kilo record at 99 mph in apba in the mid 60's an the NOA D Hydro record at 103 mph in the 60's. He was the first person that i knew that was in the Evinrude 100 mph club.. He won the NOA D Hydro World Championship's around this time also. I am sure he did more that i don't know of,He also promoted a lot of NOA races.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I remember Charley. Sorry to hear of his passing. The first time I saw him was at the North South Championships in Knoxville in 1966. He may have set one of his records the following Monday. In 1965 he set a D hydro record at Savanna, Goergia at 96.257. I remember him as being one of the top drivers of those days in which there were many big guns.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

I had a phone call from Todd Brinkman earlier today about the death of Lowell Schumacher, who built an large number of record setting and national championship winning boats, starting in the 70's and to the present time.

Among many others who drove his boats to records and championships was Dan Kirts. Lowell passed away earlier today in Wisconsin, while attending a USTS race being held there this weekend.

I do not have any more details, but am sure they will be forthcoming soon.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

That is very sad news indeed. Lowell was a good friend. I first met him before he raced boats and was an apprentice of Tim Butts. Tim had so many boats to build he needed help, and Lowell proved to be an excellent boat builder. I never asked Tim what he thought about Lowell starting his own line of boats, and Tim never has said anything contrary about Lowell's boats. It was the same with Lowell. He always had the highest regard for Tim.

From what I can remember is that Lowell was a neighbor of Tim Butts and became fascinated with Tim's work and the sport of boat racing. He became totally immersed in it, and made a name for himself and his work.

God bless the Schumacher family, and ...Lowell....rest in peace my friend!

[ProHydroRacer]

Lowell Schumaker one of the nicest guy you will ever meet.
So sad to hear the news.
See you at the Finish Line my friend, rest in peace.
Bill & Joyce

[Ron Hill]

I don't think I ever raced against "RAPID ROBERT" Waite but I for sure knew his name. Many in Region 10 knew and loved him...Rest in peace.

[Ron Hill]

RIP Stevie West
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #000000" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->For those racers and crews in tbhe region elevenn area throughout the 80's and 90's you would probably know Stevie West as she was the region secretary and a referee along with also being a chief scorer. She passed away on june 6. There will be a service held at 11 oclock on thurs. June 14 at PL Frys funeral home in Manteca, Ca. There will also be a gathering at her home following the services for those who wish to visit with the family.

Stevie was RJ West and Warren West's mother, always pleasant to everyone around her. She'll be missed.

[sbirbarie]

It is with heavy heart that I inform of the passing of my dad, Paul Birbarie yesterday June 15th. Dad won many state, regional and national championships in addition to setting several speed records back in the 30's and 40's. Following is a link to his profile from when he was inducted into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame.

http://branfordsportshalloffame.com/birbarie.htm

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

It is with heavy heart that I inform of the passing of my dad, Paul Birbarie yesterday June 15th. Dad won many state, regional and national championships in addition to setting several speed records back in the 30's and 40's. Following is a link to his profile from when he was inducted into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame.

http://branfordsportshalloffame.com/birbarie.htm

Skip,

My sincerest condolensces. Mourning the loss of a loved one is very hard, but the memories will sustain you.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Very sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad Skip. John said it right. Your Dad was a very talented man and you and your family have lots to be proud of. Thanks for sharing the information on his induction to the Bradford Sports Hall of Fame. I never heard of schools having boat racing teams until I saw the movie "Bernadine" Since then I have heard more about it and thought how cool that could be. Your Dad was in a time and place that was unique period of our boat racing history. He was part of a very unique group. God bless you and your family Skip, and rest in peace Paul.

[Ron Hill]

Grier passed away this past Wednesday morning after a difficult illness.

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11587

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Very sorry to add two more to the list today Ron.

Pioneer Konig racer Deannie Montgomery of Corsicana, Texas passed the Sunday before last, and today our honorary Texan from Louisiana, former boat racer and then pit man for Louis Williams, Jr...Reles LeBlanc.

You were at the Lone Star Reunion when Deannie showed up with a bunch of old pictures Ron. I remember watching you go through them. He raced one of the first Konigs. Not sure about this, but I believe the pristine Konig George Taylor bought last year was imported by the oldest dealer in Texas, Dick Carstens. George and Deannie were racing at the same time when Dieter first came over to promote his motors.

When we got our first real alky equipment and made our first legal start, it was Reles we followed to the race course. We were friends before I actually met Joe Rome, and enjoyed his Cajun wit. Reles was salt of the earth. My Dad and Reles' Dad got along really well even though they could not speak to each other. Reles' Dad only spoke Cajun French, but they instinctively understood what was going on between them.

[Ron Hill]

Having never raced in a Lone Star race, when I helped "Promote" the Lone Star reunion, I was so "Blown Away" with all the people I met and saw at the reunion. It was a great event.

On the Hill Family Thread, I have been writing about John Drake, in 1956, John Drake, my brother, Russ, and his girl friend "Paining Penarilli" and I went to a "MONEY" Race in Phoenix.

I wasn't old enough to race in this "Money Race", but I watched "Wide eyed", every heat. The announcer kept talking about "Deannie Montgomery".....If you saw me looking at Deannie's pictures, at the Lone Star reunion, it was because I never met Deannie, I only watched him race.

This reunion was in 2005, I think, but seeing pictures from 50 years earlier was so cool, really.

I'm very sorry to hear of Deannie's passing. Yes, he was running some very fast Konigs.

[jrome]

Anybody wishing to post condolences for Reles, may do so at:

http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/DignityMemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=reles-leblanc&pid=158417497&eid=viewgb&eid=viewgb

[geodavid]

Joe, you really captured Reles in these pictures! Just as I remember him. Deepest sympathy to the family. Thank you for posting the link.
Alan

[Rotary John]

2 more to add. Ben Schaffer; long time Mercury R&D guy passed last week. Rich McKinley, OMC race tech and factory driver passed last month.

[Ron Hill]

Fred Bowden called me this morning and said, "Bruce Borquin died last night."

Fred said, "Bruce had fallen out of a tree his was trimming. and broke his back and a few things. But today, he passed with an aneurism." Fred did NOT know if falling out of the tree caused the aneurism, but he knew his good friend, in his middle 60's was gone too soon.

Bruce was a good man, a little on the eccentric side.


This is from Hydrorace.net:

Fred never admitted it but he bank rolled Gran Prix Boats, at least that I what I feel. 34 was Fred's number when he ran MOD VP. Todd always ran 34 on his tunnels. Todd never ran MOD VP. 148 was Dick Sherrer's number but Dick never owned a Gran Prix. Ed Lane did all of Dick's engine work and he and Bruce Borquinn (Gran Prix Boats) were always good friends.

This 148 boat looks like the boat John Lane, Ed's son, ran in the PROP Formula One Tour in 1996. Well, actually only one race at Lake Mead. Ed bought John a new style Gran Prix for the 1998 season.

John is the same John Lane that won the 2008 Blue Water Resort and Casino 300 Enduro!

ADD:


I first met Bruce in about 1966, he was helping Bob and Pam Carson. She won 1 -U.S. in Family J. It wasn't long after that that he started building boats. I have no idea how many boats he built but many of his tunnels are still racing and winning today. When I was OPC Chairman of APBA, Bruce was on my Commission. He was an excellent Commissioner.

A few years back, i called him and asked if I ordered a boat when could I get it. Bruce said, "I don't know." I then said, "How much is a new 45 boat?" He said, "I don't know." I said, "Well, thank you." and hung up. I called Revolution and ordered a new boat and took delivery three weeks later!

I saw Bruce at two or three Parker Enduros after that, we had dinner at Fred Bowden's and never mentioned boat building.

Bruce marched to his own drum. Rest in PEACE my friend.

[Michael J Gwaltney]

Ernie Threlkeld died on October 7th in Palm Coast, FL, he was 74. Ernie was a great friend to many of us in boat racing and shared some great stories. He lived in Simpsonville, Ky in recent years until moving to Palm Coast last year. A life celebration is planned in Kentucky but no date has been set.

[Ron Hill]

I first met Ted about 1967 at the New York to Albany to New York Marathon. HE and I became good friend while he worked for Playboy in Chicago. For many, many years Ted would come to Havasu and Parker for the big races. He also managed to make St. Louis, too. His two sons, Bruce and Scott made the trip with him now and then too.


Ted would plan his business trips so he could help and the races. He never asked for a dime or wanted anything from all his hard work. He used to get so depressed after Parker 9 Hour was over, he'd see all the broken boats, and all the almost wins. In all the years he cam to help, close to ten years, I never won. We'd lead, we'd break.....We'd finish second or third. Ted did make it out to Parker, 2006, to see Chad Hill and Pat Bowman win the Enduro.


Ted moved on to CNN and moved to Jersey where developed colon cancer. He retired from work after the bout with cancer, but had older health problems along the way. 14 years ago, this month his son Bruce passed away. Bruce was a only about 40.


I started Boat Racing Facts and asked Ted to join in the effort. Ted wasn't doing well when we started BRF, and his health never really improved. We started BRF 12-13 years ago.


Ted was a great friend, he is survived by his wife Nancy, son Scott and daughter, Jolyn.


Ted's last few years have been tough years! Rest in peace! I'll miss my friend!


ADD:


One time years ago, Ted called me and said he knew where 10,000 propellers were for $10,000. They were in Gary, Indiana at a scrap metal yard. I got 10 grand in cash and jumped on a Monday night red eye.


I bought the props and got them shipped to California. I had to rent a building to put them in....Somewhere I have a picture of me in front of this pile of 10,000 OMC props!

[Beale Tilton]

Ted was a great friend. He spent a lot of time on the road for work. When my phone would ring in the middle of the night I would pick up and say,"where are you Ted". We would rerun a few races and call it a night.
Ted sold me his sportmaster and speedmaster not long after I met him along with the props. Manager to set a FG kilo record record with the speedmaster. The sportmaster props I gave to Sam Cullis couple of years ago came from Ted.
Going to miss him.
RIP Ted

[J. Sherlock]

RIP Ted, yes I am back, but I bet you knew that :)

Ted you picked a hell of a time to move on, I am back on board, will miss you Ted.

Love,
John

[Ron Hill]

DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO STEVE RAINS FAMILY WHO OWNED THE 28 STOKER (http://corboatracing.com/?q=comment/1678#comment-1678) OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE RAINS FAMILY WHO'S SON JODIE RAINS II WAS MURDERED LAST WEEK AT SPRING VALLEY LAKE.



Vicki Schwarzenbach

More details later.

[Ron Hill]

DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO STEVE RAINS FAMILY WHO OWNED THE 28 STOKER (http://corboatracing.com/?q=comment/1678#comment-1678)

OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE RAINS FAMILY WHO'S SON JODIE RAINS II WAS MURDERED LAST WEEK AT SPRING VALLEY LAKE.



Vicki Schwarzenbach

More details later.


Ron here are the pictures you requested. Thanks for your help.. Can't tell you to much about what happened other then the suspect was an early release AB109.. They don't want us to talk to much about it for fear of jepordizing the case. The *** hole is booked for 1st degree murder.. Jodies memorial service is being held Saturday March 9th at swim beach park here in Spring Valley Lake, Victorville Calif.. Jodie was 32 years old and only had 4 loves. His fiancee Machele, Boat Racing, His Guitar, and Flowers.. He raised orchids and nursed them back to health.. He was kinda known as the orchid doctor..

[steve sr.]

Jodie loved boat racing, raising orchids his fiance, and life. He could fly that Stoker higher and faster then his brother or me. He is missed by his family and will never be forgotten. We LOVE you Jodie!!!!!

[Ron Hill]

I really didn't know John very well. At Lake Lawerance, 1977, John broke the C Runabout five mile competition record. I broke the D Runabout record and the D Hydro Record the same day. I ran second to John in C Runabout.

I met J-Dub at various races over the years. About six years ago he stopped by my house to talk "PROPS". Out of the blue he said, "Tell me the truth about my dad's C Runabout record." I said, "Simple, J-DUB, I got a good start and your dad ran past me on the way to the first turn, he was fast." J-DUB said, "Well that is what my dad always said, but I wasn't sure that was the truth."

The last time I saw John was at the Hydroplane Museum, about six years ago when I went to Jack Leek's memorial ceremony with Jimbo McConnell. John made me pitch gauges and he brought a few to the museum for me..

I'm sorry for John's passing as I know John is from my era, I realize that for me, there are more yesterdays than tomorrows.

From what I knew of John, he knew his ****.....He was proud of J-DUB and so am I.

Good bye my friend, next time we race on a record course, I'll beat your ***!

[smittythewelder]

John Myers. Oh, no. This hurts. In the mid/late Sixties John, along with his dad, Bill, was running pretty much all of the alky and stock 2-cylinder classes, but mostly BSH, AOH, and BOH, at the same time I was running BSH/AOH. One day at Vasa Park he had his BSH really hauling, out front, and violently flipped it in the second turn. I think at that point John decided that BSH was one class too many; Ken Knowlan ended up with the boat (which I once drove . . . and flipped in a second turn; it was, very unusually for anything Karelsen built, a little cranky). John and his pop were among the earliest adopters of the Quincy loop engines in Reg. 10 (though for a time Bill continued to run an ancient crossflow Konig in BOH). One of the old Quincy employees here might comment on this recollection, that the earliest 2-cyl, flatheads had some kind of top crankshaft bearing adapter that had problems. I remember John having to put his new B loop back in the trailer one afternoon at Lawrence Lake. It was a cold, wet, miserable September day, and John was so discouraged that he was talking about getting out of racing entirely. But he got over that, kept working with the Quincys, and ultimately had a particularly strong-running A motor.

John and his family and his folks (I don't know his son, only saw him as a small child) were as fine a bunch as you'll ever encounter, and the backbone of Seattle Outboard racing for decades.

[J-Dub]

J-Dub

Here's a post from a couple years ago...

J-Dub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join Date: Nov 2005Location: SeattlePosts: 115




Dads collection



Here are a couple of the 8 loopers he has. There are two deflectors buried in the pile too. He said the were 5 B's, 2 A's, 1 D, and an A, b and a 60" deflector. I will dig them out and take better photos later.

J-Dub



Attached Images

[J-Dub]

Lets try this again...
http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?6123-Dads-collection&highlight=dads+collection

[smittythewelder]

The family has created a knockout video on John, including a ton of racing stills. It appears there weren't many classes John hadn't run at some point in his life! Mr. Gleason has kindly provided a link to the video over on hydroracer.net in the Reg. 10 news section.

[J-Dub]

Just to pay credit where credit is due, Patrick Gleason made this video. Patrick absolutely "Sent it out of the park" with his efforts.
My family is so very appreciative of his efforts with the video as well as being our speaker/ MC/ Referee at the memorial.

Thank you Pat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-bQfJSpaq0

J-Dub

[jrome]

One of the best I have seen. Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I've never seen one as good as that. He must have always had that smile because he got it in nearly every picture but a few.

[Frank Volker]

Beautiful tribute. Loved the closing farewell by Warren Zevon.

[Dew1us]

I wanted to let all the older racers know that My Uncle Jon, Dad's co-founder of Flyer Race Boats died last night.

I have just found out this morning and will post the details when they come available.

Regards
Craig

[boatmark59]

RIP - John Stone
We invaded Stoney's workshop (and Furnal's house!) to fix crash damage in between Bay City and St. Louis in 1988. We literally rolled into town un-announced and John and Leigh, and their families dropped everything to help us out. What started as a bad week became a lot of fun, humor, and memories.

[Ron Hill]

First, as I recall, was Beloit, 1970 Nationals. Beloit is a great place to race, but put 12 D Hydros out there with a full five minute gun start, the Rock River can become the Pacific Ocean. I watched, Jon run two heats, completely out of control. I watched figuring he'd go splat at any second. Seems he was the winner and though I won D Runabout that year, I was SO GLAD I didn't have a D Hydro as it scared me to watch it was such a "WILD RACE".

Second, 1977, Bakersfield Nationals. Stone shows up from NY with a 6-9 boat trailer, he gets out, he is Stock Outboard VP of APBA, and he started bitching about how hot and dry Bakerfield was. Sunday even, after the races, which was the last time I saw Jon, I remember the whole New York Crew sitting in folding chairs, asses wet, drinking beer. Everyone had pretty much cleared out of the pits and headed for the trophy banquet. I walked down and said, "What's the trouble?" They all kind of looked at me and said, "We love it here. We don't want to go home. This is a great lake......it is just beautiful."

36 years ago this month! Rest in peace, Jon!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I remember Jon as what was called "The Young Turks" band. They were set out to cut out what they considered the "dead wood" of the APBA. As part of the "Young Turks", they solicited my Dad "Baldy" Baldwin to help them and he did. Baldy became part of the APBA Council and was there when the Young Turks were elected. After I first was appointed the the PRO racing commission I got to meet Jon. I was impressed by the way he and the others did what they could to bring APBA out of the troubles of the 1970's. Rest in Peace Jon. God bless your family.

[Dew1us]

Here is a link to Jon's obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/democratandchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=peter-jon-stone&pid=166473770&#sthash.efWluYbZ.dpbs

[Dew1us]

I wanted to share a couple of messages that were read at Jons' funeral.

It is with a very heavy heart that I learned of the passing of Jon Stone yesterday from my old dear friend Leigh Furnell.

We dueled in CSH & DSH from around 1962 to 1985 in days when New York (Region 2) was the hotbed of racing. Although we raced against several greats of those days we were the new kids in the early days and in a way grew up together and against each other in racing. We had a lot of very hot battles and we both learned from the beginning that you never backed off period, especially in the first turn. This was the law of hard driving including the sponson to sponson racing and many roostertail baths that made these duels so much fun. Jon went on to win his three nationals and I wish I had stayed on longer to make those wins tougher on him.

I will miss you dearly my friend but I promise I will see you again in the first turn.
Now you are with so many racing greats in Heaven.

Rest In Peace Jon
Your friend

Ted Abel
1CE and 7 CE

PS To those surviving racers.. get your heart checked regularly as there are way too many racers with heart conditions. I myself have had two heart attacks and I believe this is caused when our racing adrenilin stops. (as good a theory as any)

__________________________________________________ ____


We all knew Jon by different names; Jon, Stoney, Stone, Speed, OJ ( for odd Jobs), and for me, PJ – Peter Jon.

I met Jon in 1968 when I started racing boats. At that time, Jon was the best around. I was young, he was my idol – I just couldn’t tell him that.

Over the years we became friends, then best friends, and finally business partners. Jon and I traveled all over the US, South America, and Canada. Wherever we went we had great times which have turned into wonderful memories from boat racing memories to those we had working on movies.

If you ever were around Jon when he was working he was always so neat. When we were building boats and went to work, twenty minutes into the day it looked like I had been there for 10 hours all from all the sawdust I had covering me. Jon, on the other hand would at the end of the day take the air hose, knock off a little sawdust, comb his hair, pat his beard and head off looking like he was ready for a night on the town.

If you don’t know me from my boat racing days you might not know that I had a little anger management issues. Jon was my voice of reason and a calming influence. He was the fric to my frac. In all the years I knew Jon, I only saw him angry once --- it was at me! We were building a boat and Jon had started on it before I got to work. The night before I had told him I didn’t want to put the plywood side on till I took some measurements. Needless to say, I get to work – he had the plywood side all ready on. My anger management failed me. I got on Jon like a nagging wife for not doing what we had talked about the night before, probably a little longer than I should have. Jon grabbed a hold of the side of the plywood and ripped it right off the side of the boat. It scared me so bad, I stepped back with my mouth shut. I had never seen that before. Things were quiet for a short time, I look over, there’s Jon with the piece of plywood quietly putting it back on the boat. Only PJ could have ripped something off in such perfect condition, that he could put it right back on as if nothing had happened, in perfect shape, so was Jon without a hair out of place.

I was lucky to have Jon ask me to be his best man when Sandy and he were married. He loved Sandy, his daughter, Shelley, and his grandchildren.

In closing you’re lucky to have a few best friends in your life. I was really lucky as Jon was one of them, I am really going to miss him.

Leigh Furnal
2-N

[Ron Hill]

Hi All,

Dan Schwartz will be laid to rest Saturday Oct 26th at 10 A.M.
Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church
470 5th St. Monroe Ore.

There will be a remembrance gathering on Sunday Oct 27th 12-4pm
Hydroplane and Race boat Museum
5917 south 196th St. Kent WA 98032

this will be a pot luck affair with afternoon appetizers and Dan's favorite beverage of choice and wine for the ladies available.

feel free to call me ( F.B. or E-mail) with what you would like to bring.

Jean Dan and coco had so many friends in the Pacific northwest this will be a wonderful day to remember our great friend.

stop by and say Hi to Jean and Coco.

Thanks, Carl Lewis

[Steve Litzell]

I Just learn today That The father of Konny Motors has past after a long illness. The son Pavel Jr will carry on the business making outboards for racing and also parts for antique Konig Bikes. Steve

[Ron Hill]

My brother, Russ Hill, Jr. has quietly left us today. Russ has battled prostrate cancer for 25 years. He was USC Norris Cancer Center longest cancer survivor. Here is a picture of my brother, before he went in the Army, 1953. His Neal Hydro powered by a "SIX STUD" Evinrude Racing "C". The boat's name "The Bellflower Flash". Russ was always so proud of this outfit.

Just letting everyone know, Funeral services for my grandpa, Russ Hill will be held on Sunday, January 5, at 2 pm at the Huntington Harbor Yacht Club. It's open for anyone to attend.

[Dew1us]

Sorry for your lost Ron...

[F-12]

Sorry to hear this, my friend. I know he will be very much missed. You and all the Hill family are in our thoughts. Hope to see you at a race this season...........

[A/B Speedliner]

Ron, we are very sorry to hear this sad news. He will be missed by many I am sure and remembered by many more.
David Van Weele

[Beale Tilton]

So sorry for your loss Ron

[Lars Strom]

I am so very sorry to hear this. Stay strong Ron.

[crewman060]

Sorry for your loss.Condolances to all of the Hill family.

[jrome]

I am sorry for the Hill family loss. My condolences to the family. I am glad I got to spend a lot of time with Russ at the DePue renunion. We had a lot of fun.

[ProHydroRacer]

Condolences to the Hill family, sorry for your lost Ron. May he rest in peace.

[racnbns]

Russ Hill

Ron--

I'm glad I met your brother at the 2007 Racers Reunion. He seemed to be enjoying it.

Rest in peace RUSS.

Bruce

[Steve Litzell]

Sorry for your families loss Ron, I met your brother at Depue for the first time at the first reunion, great guy, Steve

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Ron:

As others have mentioned, I also met Russ at the first DePue reunion, as well as you. Nice to get to finally meet and see folks you have heard your whole boat racing life about.

I really enjoyed, and will miss, the few times he and I bantered back and forth on the "Pepper" thread. I would have like to have had the opportunity to visit with him about his days and experience's with the Meyer/Drake Offy engines, as I have always been a big fan of that type racing, both dirt and hard surface track. I can't imagine how much pleasure (and probably headaches also) that must have given him to be involved with many of those great drivers of that time with those engines.

RIP Russ....

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Bunker, Broc, Ron, Marlee, Chad I join the others that mourn the loss of Russ. I was only around him briefly, but he was one of those guys that has an impact that lasts forever. God bless the Hill family and may Russ rest in peace. I talked to Ron a couple of weeks ago about something else, but I asked about Russ, and he said there was not much time left. I told Ron that I wanted him to sign a picture I had taken of him at DePue in 2007, but I felt uncomfortable about asking about it now since things had gotten worse. Ron told me "Send me the picture, and I will get it signed. Russ likes the boat racing stuff, and he will sign it." Very regrettably I let the Thanksgiving holidays and business get in my way. It's not that I regret missing a chance to get Russ's autograph to go into my collection, but that I wanted his autograph for him to know that he was still in the middle of boat racing, and admired for his skills. I wanted Russ to leave us knowing that he was very highly thought of amongst boat racers. I suppose he knew that anyway.

Rest in Peace Russ.

[NERSTROM]

So sorry to hear of your loss, we will keep the Hill family and Russ in our prayers

[GETBOATS]

Ron, marlee, chad...sorry to hear......spent the last half hour looking at the "hill family thread" some great history...great times and wonderful merories......................john

[smittythewelder]

Thanks for that wonderful photo, Ron.

[Steven Curry]

Ron, Bunker, Chad and Marlee,
Our sincere condolences to you and your families. Dad and I enjoyed visiting with Russ on many occasions when we started coming back to the races. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Rest in Peace Russ....

Steve, Lane and Family

[Ron Hill]

Just letting everyone know, Funeral services for Russ Hill will be held on Sunday, January 5, at 2 pm at, 3821 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92649, the Huntington Harbor Yacht Club. 714-724-1226. It's open for anyone to attend.

[Dabull1919]

Sorry to hear about your brother Ron. I never met Rus but enjoyed his post on this site. He had a certain flair coupled with intelegence. I think it must run in the Hill family.

DB

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I think it must Dabull. They could not have gone this many decades at the forefront of racing without that flair coupled with intelligence. Joe Rome and I often speak about the fact that stopping of to visit with Marshall Grant on the way to the 2007 DePue Reunion and meeting Russ Hill were both were the price of admission even if nothing else happened. I had the pleasure of being there when Russ Hill and Joe Rome met one another. We all had pleasantries all around, then I had to wander the grounds with my camera while Russ and Joe manned their stations at the VFW Hall in DePue sitting in folding chairs, with arms, cokes and stuff resting on a folding table and telling people how to register for the reunion.

As I circulated back to the VFW Hall the first time, Russ and Joe were like long lost friends. I stayed a little while to check on what I needed to do, then headed out again. Next time Russ and Joe were trading barbs at one another like friends of twenty years could get away with. I kind of joined in a little bit then and got a good taste of the Russ Hill wisdom, wit, and intelligence.

Joe and I talked on the way back from DePue, and one of our main subjects was meeting Russ Hill. We were very glad to see so many of our old friends and return to the town of DePue after so many years, but Russ was something new and we both agreed that it was a shame that Russ Hill and Baldy Baldwin had never met and shared time together. Joe and I would have just sat back and listened.

Yes I agree that the Hill Family has that flair and the boat racing community would not be the same without them.

[Ron Hill]

Stan Fitts
(Died February 18, 2014)
https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f95279%5fADgOw0MAAXoZU wY2CA2y%2fSX5Fpc&pid=8&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo
https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f95279%5fADgOw0MAAXoZU wY2CA2y%2fSX5Fpc&pid=6&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeoStan Fitts, 74, of Framingham, died, Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the Metrowest Medical Center, Natick after a short illness. Born in Brookline, he was the son of the late Harvey A. and Frances (Ockerman) Fitts.
Mr. Fitts served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
He was a graduate of University of New Hampshire.
He was the retired President of Clark-Wilcox Co. in Boston and the President of CW Equipment Co. in Framingham. He was a member of the Plymouth Church as well as the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club in Sunapee, NH.
Stan belonged to the American Power Boat Assoc. and served this organization for over 40 years. First as Region Chairman, and then as two term President and later as an active member of the Council. He was the Chairman of the Edgell Grove Cemetery in Framingham and former member of the Cushing Chapel committee during its rehab of Cushing park. Stan was active in SnoCross snowmobile racing as well as Offshore Powerboat racing. Serving the later in an official capacity for many years. https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f95279%5fADgOw0MAAXoZU wY2CA2y%2fSX5Fpc&pid=4&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailNeo
He is survived by his brother, Stephen Fitts and his wife Linda of Framingham; his nephew Duncan Fitts and his wife Cheryl, his niece Shelby Gordon and her husband Kevin and 5 great-nephews, Reis, Cole and Cooper Gordon, Tyler and Nolan Fitts.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visiting hours at the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech St., (corner of Union Ave.) Framingham on Friday February 21, 2014 from 5 – 8 PM.
His funeral service will take place on Saturday at 10 am at the Edgell Memorial Chapel in Edgell Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Mr. Fitts’ memory may be made to Sunapee Historical Society, P.O. Box 508, Sunapee, NH 03782 or to South Shore Outboard, c/o Giles, 626 School St., N. Dighton, MA 02764

[Ron Hill]

Hi Ron:

Didn't know if you had heard that Art Carlson passed away last Monday evening. Got a call from Bob earlier today, services will be held on Saturday, August 16 at 2pm in Garden Grove at the Village Bible Church. I guess Art had not been in good health for several months -- great guy, sorry to see him go.

Bob Brown

[smittythewelder]

Roy Heagy

Should've got this in a couple of months ago: Someone on the other site (which has a lot of Reg. 10 participation) informed us that old Spokane racer Roy Heagy passed away in May of this year, lung cancer. Roy was one of the Stateline crowd of enthusiastic racers, especially alky racers. I didn't know him at all well, but he was a good guy, fairly quiet and unassuming, but good-natured and with a ready sense of humor. I hope one of his close friends will tell us about him. Last I saw him, late-Seventies, he was trying to get his old FB Konigs to work with Kawasaki 500 pistons, since the Mahle pistons had become NLA.

[Ron Hill]

I'm not sure how many props I sold him over the years. A few years back I bought some 45 parts from him. He always seems to be a hard working, nice man. Sorry to hear of his passing.

[Ron Hill]

Art was an interesting man. I never knew him well. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. My dad was also born in Nebraska. Art learned wood working skills as a young man and often built model airplanes. He once built an airplane large enough to put his cat on board and pulled it with his bicycle. The plane flew well, but the cat was NOT impressed.

At one time Glastron/Carlson was building 75 boats a week.

As a kid, I thought Art's Stock Outboard Hydros were the coolest things. Great paint jobs, pretty colors, they weren't very fast, but they were pretty!

After Art merged with Glastron, I always wished I had a High Rider 21 footer, a Glastron Molinari by Carlson.

[Ron Hill]

I know tom has been gone for awhile, but I ran across this picture of Tom that Bunker's wife, Annette, had taken of Tom at Bakersfield about 8 years ago.

Tom was a support of boat racing at the local and national level for many years. He build several very cool Cracker Boxes.

[Ron Hill]

Our true friend Bob "Curly Williams" died yesterday in a very bad motorcycle accident heading home from work.

I truly believe he is in Boat Racing Heaven.


He will be truly missed and my prayers go out to Amy, and his family.
Please see the attached pictures and remember Bob today. He was one of a kind and loved by all.


Sincerely,

<var id="yiv1836640172yui-ie-cursor"></var>Ed Solis
President
Silverado Framing Company, Inc.6892 Doolittle Ave.
Suite D

[David_L6]

Tab Buford passed away Saturday November 8th. Tab was the "B" of B&N runabouts.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Butch passed away yesterday afternoon (Thursday 12-11-14) in his recliner with his dog in his lap and wife by his side.

Funeral arrangements are by Griffin Legget Funeral Home in Alexandria, Ar. They may be accessed and messages posted by Googling the name of the funeral home. Burial is Monday, 12-15-14 at 10:00am.

I will post more about his life and accomplishments in Boat Racing after returning from the funeral.

[Gene East]

Butch passed away yesterday afternoon (Thursday 12-11-14) in his recliner with his dog in his lap and wife by his side.

Funeral arrangements are by Griffin Legget Funeral Home in Alexandria, Ar. They may be accessed and messages posted by Googling the name of the funeral home. Burial is Monday, 12-15-14 at 10:00am.

I will post more about his life and accomplishments in Boat Racing after returning from the funeral.

Bill,
This is very sad news. "Butch" was a great competitor, a very colorful person and a friend to everyone in racing.
No one outside of immediate family knew him better than you, Bill.

Thank you for keeping us updated on Butch's status during his long illness.

You and the Leavendusky family are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Steve Litzell]

WOW! I'm totally blown away to hear this. Condolences to the family, and aslo another end to a era for sure. Steve

[Ron Hill]

I'm sorry to hear of "Butch's" passing. I'm sorry I didn't know Butch and his dad better. I like I ran Leavendusky pistons in Harry Bartolomei's B Looper in 1967...I just remember Stan running a "LOOPER". I probably bought more than 100 Leavendusky steering bar pulleys. They were cool little stainless with plastic pulleys. Never had a failure.

Bought my last ones probably 1977, or 37 years ago.

I know I have less tomorrows than yesterdays!

[Ron Hill]

I'm not sure when I met Brian Ewald, but it was probably about 1966 at the Parker 9 Hour. He owned a Grand National boat named "El Cid"...the movie "El Cid" had just come out. I don't really know how long he raced "El Cid". I know his son drove Jerry Gilbreath's MOD VP at Parker about 1985. Brian's daughter. Tracy, married the late Brad Miller about thirty years ago. Brian was an orthopedic surgeon at CHOC Hospital in Orange, not far from my house.

He passed about two months ago!(today is 12/19/14)

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

MORE ABOUT STANLEY LEAVENDUSKY JR. AKA "BUTCH"

I first met Butch in 1968 in the basement workshop of his Dad's (Stan Sr's) house. He was approximately 25 years old and a very friendly person, completely unlike his father Stan Sr, although I found out later after some time had passed, that Stan Sr's. bark was much worse than his bite. I had brought my "C" Flathead, recently purchased from Bill Seebold, to him for new pistons and whatever else he thought it would take to bring it up to spec.

Butch's personality was infectious, and after leaving the motor off with his Dad, we immediately set off for the nearest bar in Kansas City, Kansas to have a beer or two. This would prove to be something that we both would enjoy in each others company for many years. His dad used to say that I "ruined" him, but nobody
had to convince him to have a friendly brew, and Stan Sr. knew better even though he always wanted to blame it on someone else.

We became very close friends during that time, and I came to appreciate his tenaciousness. He just would not quit, whatever he was doing. I will never forget how many times he had a wire break or come loose on one of his C Service motors prior to the one minute gun, and after the 5 minute gun had fired. Several times he won Championships after having something of the sort go wrong and he would strip the wire with his teeth, use some electrical tape he always had with him, splice it back together, restart the motor, and make a legal start and win the race. He won several NOA World Championships that way, and finished several others that a lesser driver would have just quit and sat in the boat until the tow boat came.

One day in the late 70's or early 80's he was competing in a race on one of our favorite courses, Fort Buhlow Lake in Alexandria, La. He had just purchased a new DeSilva "KR" Runabout, one of the first ones after Bruce Nicholson introduced it, and I do not have enough knowledge to know just what the problem was with it, but it was an evil boat, and one he never was able to master. You could go to a corner and do everything the same time after time, and then that one time you thought you were doing it just like all the rest, BOOM, it would unload you. He had other DeSilva's throughout the years, and that was the only one he had a problem with other than an AmPro boat (MOD) that was a first of its kind that was built for him to run and test. He suffered from what he called DRS, or "DeSilva Racing Shoulder" for many years after he retired from active driving from the strain put on his left shoulder trying to hang on to the throttle and keep from going over or being tossed out.

Back to the story. He was running 500 Runabout, which was the class he really loved and enjoyed competing in, and made the start and got to the first turn in great shape. Next thing he knew, upside down, and boat slightly damaged. They towed him in and two of his competitors, Pete Voss and Bobby Houghkirk came to where he was pitting and offered to help him dry the boat out and put some duct tape on a couple of holes where the water had done damage. He accepted their offer and got the boat out in the rerun of the heat, (he was not the cause of the stoppage so was not disqualified) and BOOM, same thing happened again in the first turn. The boat was damaged a little further this time, but with egging on by Voss and Houghkirk, and some more duct tape, he went out again as he was not the cause of the stoppage, again. Third time is the charm, right. WRONG. This time the boat was not repairable and he did not make any more starts that day. The shoulder hurt him for many years thereafter.

Butch won many World Titles in C Service Hydro and Runabout in NOA and also the 1971 National APBA Championship in C Service Hydro and a APBA National Championship in 500 Runabout.

I have asked his Wife and Stepdaughter to send me some photos Eileen took of him, as she had given him all of the many photos we took over the years. Until I get those please enjoy the few we still have in our collection of him. I think Wayne Baldwin has some photos he could post also and I invite him to do so.

RIP Butch.
5905059051

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I have a lot of photos of Butch, Bill Van. Where do you want them posted? I'm very busy right now, but I will do what I can. I'm glad I called him after his last surgery and you gave me a good time to call. We had a very good visit. I wish I would have done a follow up call a few months later. His and my Dad were also good friends and enjoyed each other's company very much. Butch surprised me turning up at the World Oil Expo in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1975. We had a great time talking boat racing and mostly boat racing friends.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

I have a lot of photos of Butch, Bill Van. Where do you want them posted? I'm very busy right now, but I will do what I can. I'm glad I called him after his last surgery and you gave me a good time to call. We had a very good visit. I wish I would have done a follow up call a few months later. His and my Dad were also good friends and enjoyed each other's company very much. Butch surprised me turning up at the World Oil Expo in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1975. We had a great time talking boat racing and mostly boat racing friends.



Wayne:

Just pick out a few you think are good and post them on this thread. If you are busy right now, in the future would be fine. Whenever you do, if it is a while, just put on this thread.

Bill

[smittythewelder]

You have done your old pal proud with your stories, Bill.

[Gene East]

Does anyone have a copy of the photo sequence of Butch nearly back flipping? The drag of the pipes in the water forced the boat back down and Butch went on to finish the race.

Don't remember where he finished, but it was at or near the front!

That would be a perfect example of how tenacious he really was.

At DePue few years back; Butch told me, he used to frequent a watering hole in Arkansas that had a lot of car racing pictures on the wall. He had the proprietor post large copies of each of the 5 shots; up and back down, to show what REAL racing is about.

Smitty, you are correct when you say "Bill did his old pal proud". I think most people who knew them both would agree, they were more like brothers than just pals.

Thank you Bill for keeping us all posted on his condition during Butch's long illness.

One more "Winner" racing on Lake Paradise!

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Does anyone have a copy of the photo sequence of Butch nearly back flipping? The drag of the pipes in the water forced the boat back down and Butch went on to finish the race.

Don't remember where he finished, but it was at or near the front!

That would be a perfect example of how tenacious he really was.

At DePue few years back; Butch told me, he used to frequent a watering hole in Arkansas that had a lot of car racing pictures on the wall. He had the proprietor post large copies of each of the 5 shots; up and back down, to show what REAL racing is about.

Smitty, you are correct when you say "Bill did his old pal proud". I think most people who knew them both would agree, they were more like brothers than just pals.

Thank you Bill for keeping us all posted on his condition during Butch's long illness.

One more "Winner" racing on Lake Paradise!



Gene:

Butch had the photo's you speak of on his office shop wall, and I asked him several months ago if I could have them to post on BRF when he passed. He said OK, but I don't know whether the word ever got to his wife Barbara.

The photos were taken by the brother of another great Runabout driver, Jerry Simison, and perhaps he still has the negatives. I would dearly love to see that 5 photo series on BRF. Something you won't see but once in your lifetime. They were taken at the Memphis race that Marshall Grant promoted.

I have an interesting story that I could tell about that race also, and the trip there, but will leave it for another time.


ADD: Thanks for the thought Smitty. He was more than a friend.

[Gene East]

Bill, I will check with Paul Simison to see if he still has those photos and if so perhaps he will allow us to borrow them.

[Gene East]

Bill, I will check with Paul Simison to see if he still has those photos and if so perhaps he will allow us to borrow them.

I checked with Paul today, unfortunately he has lost the prints and the negatives. Hope someone has a copy they will share!

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

I checked with Paul today, unfortunately he has lost the prints and the negatives. Hope someone has a copy they will share!




Well, we are in luck if I can do this correctly. The photo sequence is right here on BRF. Joe Rome called this morning and told me how to find it. It is under "Stan Leavendusky in Memphis" if you use the search function. If not, and this link will work, you can get there that way also.

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?723-Eric-Huhn&p=4773#post4773

Walter Huhn raced CU and DU for many years. I think his best finish in a Nationals was Guntersvile, Alabama 1962 in DU. I think he was third. He always raced DeSilva Boats. He raced D Racing Runabout for many years also. After he retired from boat racing he build model airplane engines. He was always a very good machinist and a very fair and honest competitor.

I remember he and I trading paint several times. His DeSilva just couldn't turn with my Morehouse. We'd go into a turn side by side and he'd just slide into me. He'd apologize. Then, get DeSilvas to repair it and do it again next month. We raced January to June at Salton Sea and I know we came together at least twice ne winter. It never seemed to hurt my glass covered plywood boat.

[Ketzer]

Bill Van, those were great remembrances of Butch, and thanks for leading me to this thread. I had missed it and wasn’t aware Butch passed away. You guys were really close, and I know you miss him. I’ll add a couple pictures, one of Stan and Butch in a newspaper clipping from the infamous Ding-Dong Daddy Festival down in Dumas, Arkansas, where, in Arky talk, “They done real good.”

God's speed, Butch!

59185
59186

[Rotary John]

For those of you who don't know Ziggy Bottle past away last night. May he rest in Pease. 2/4/15

[Ron Hill]

http://www.f1h2o.com/news/articles.php?idnews=581

Ziggy and I had a few encounters. The first was at Morgan City, Louisiana. I had flown in Friday night, and drove to Morgan City from New Orleans in a rent car that had no brakes. Saturday morning I told the OMC Crew my rent car was going to be "Switched out" and I needed a ride to the pits. OMC's truck was full fo crew, so they said Ziggy would come back and get me.

As we rode to the pits, Ziggy asked me WHY I drove for OMC or why did OMC have me on the "TEAM"? I felt he was asking me to tell him what a great driver I was and how many championships I had won, but instead, I just said, "Ann Strang likes me." Charlie Strang was chairman of the board of OMC and OMC made Johnson and Evinrude motors. Ziggy just looked at me and said, "OH."

That was about 1973.

My next encounter was at Augusta, Georgia, 1998. I was PROP TOUR's F1 Motor Inspector and Ziggy was the 45 motor inspector. So, 25 years had gone by since Morgan City, we'd seen each other at APBA meetings and I think I had him on my Commission when I was OPC Vice President of APBA.

But in Augusta,we are both working as officials. F1 officials got golf carts, 45 officials walked. I told Ziggy, my golf cart is your golf cart. He wasn't secure with this so, he asked me to drive him down to he 45 weigh in area. Well, the golf cart had a GOVERNOR and I had hooked up a throttle wire to over ride the governor...Ziggy and me are riding along at about ten miles and hour and there is this berm to go over a river in let. (I had been over it several times but Ziggy had never seen it.) Just as we get to the berm, I pull the throttle wire wide open and we do a "Wheelie" going up this berm. I seriously thought Ziggy was going to crap his pants as we went over the berm on back two wheels.

About six weeks later we are racing in St Louis, I ask Ziggy to check the fuel for me. First guy to finish, Ziggy says his fuel failed. So, toss his *** out. Next guy, his fuel fails.. So, toss his *** out...Third guy comes n, fuel fails....I go, "ZIGGY have you got the meter right?" He says, "NO."

I enjoyed my times with Ziggy, he loved my friend Jimmy Hauenstein. Any friend of "Gentleman Jim" was always a friend of mine.

Rest in peace, Ziggy. You were a good man.

[racnbns]

Ron about Ziggy:

Ron, ask Fred H. about Ziggy's Halloween parties. At one of them we rolled his farm tractor on the railroad embankment.

Ziggy waS TRULY ONE OF A KIND.

Bruce

[Lars Strom]

Celebration of Life for Siegfried "Ziggy" Boettle
Gurnee Park District Dance Hall
4374 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL 60031
Saturday February 7, 2015 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM

Memorials in his name may be sent to:
Gurnee Fire Department
4580 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL 60031

[Rotary John]

Ziggy Boettle Obituary




Date of Birth:

Monday, February 10th, 1936

Date of Death:

Wednesday, February 4th, 2015


Funeral Home:

Warren Cemetery
www.warrencemetery.com

1495 N. Cemetery Road

Gurnee, Illinois, UNITED STATES

60031

Obituary:

Siegfried “Ziggy” Reinhold Boettle age 78 Passed away on February 3, 2015 surrounded by his family. Born February 10, 1936 he enjoyed a full and fun life. Born in Waukegan he was the only child of Reinhold and Ottilie Boettle who immigrated to the United States from Germany and made Waukegan their home. Ziggy married his high school sweetheart Janet (Jan) Lippert, on June 22, 1957 they had 57 years of love and adventure. Somehow they found time to raise three children, Valerie (Doug) Ceckowski, Siegfried II (a.k.a. Troy) and Deidre (Dan) Horan. Ziggy enjoyed spending time with and teasing his grandchildren Lauren, Drew and Rachael Ceckowski, and Evan, Kyle and Abbey Horan. He was the great fixer of all things. Working at Outboard Marine Corporation for 35 years he enjoyed his time with his friends in the engineering department and the race group. In retirement he became the face of safety for Formula One boat racing as the cockpit safety monitor with the UIM (international boat racing organization) ....his boat racing adventures led him to travel the world and make friends everywhere he went. Yet he always remembered to bring his wife, kids and grandkids a little gift from his latest far away travel location......Ziggy was not a man of many words but he was a man who loved his family and friends and they all loved him back! He will be missed by all of us. Please join his family and celebrate his very good life: Saturday February 7th, 3 - 7pm, at the Gurnee Park District Dance Hall, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. Memorials in his name may be sent to the Gurnee Fire Department, 4580 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee, 60031

[Techteam]

Ziggy was a true gentlemen. Firm but fair in UIM F1 scrutineering especially when the budget was tight. RIP.

[Bill Gohr]

Ziggy, what do you say about the guy, the thing is you can say everything about him, and it's all good. I was lucky enough to work with him and be his buddy. One of the great things about him there was no BS, you were either Bud's today, or your were in the doghouse. The problem was you never knew when he was screwing with you or he was serious.

We all know a lot of great people in this boat racing world we live in. Many well known people throughout different venues.

What makes Ziggy stand out is the fact that I don't care what venue you're at, what country, what continent. If you mention his name in the pits, every person there knows who you're talking about, and he has touched them all in some way.

Ziggy is, and always will be an Icon in this sport, his contributions are endless, he will be missed by all.

[Lars Strom]

SIEGFRIED “ZIGGY” BOETTLE

Many good memories from way back in the early seventies when I got help at the European boat races from Ziggy.
I gave him a par of Swedish wooden clogs with the Evinrude logo.
Ziggy loved those clogs but had a small problem walking fast in the Swedish shoes.

Thanks for all the help Ziggy and R.I.P. my friend.

[Ron Hill]

I lost Bill Boyes (https://www.facebook.com/bill.boyes.3) last week, we'd been friends for sixty years. Back in '63 I named his boat "Mother Please", this is Jimbo driving the "Mother Please" at Modesto.

The taped on numbers is Bill at San Diego, spring of 1963.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I just saw this. I'm very sorry to hear that Bill has passed. God bless him and his family. I didn't really know Bill, although I talked to him on the phone on several occasions thanks to BRF. He had gotten in contact with me during the time Vapor Trail Joe, Jim and Sean McKean and others were testing the "Hotfoot" and planned to go to the kilos near where Bill lived. I forget the name of the reservoir now. Bill was wanting to know if I could help donate anything for a fundraiser for the kilos and I sent him a binder with a bunch of the Autograph collection I had up to that point. As it turned out, I called him from a drilling location to say my mother in law had passed and I had to cancel my flight. Turned out the weather cancelled the kilos and Sean and Billy had to go back home before they even got there. So I never got to meet him in person, but I thoroughly enjoyed the talks we had. Bill may have even been the one to deliver our first DeSilva A/B runabout to us. He couldn't remember the year, but he met my Dad in San Antonio, Texas to bring him a DeSilva runabout. I wasn't there, but Bill remembered it clearly. We only ever had two, and the second one was used. Bill was working with Ralph and Bill so 99 percent chance that he delivered our first new real raceboat we ever had at the beginning of 1966.

Rest in Peace Bill.

[oldalkydriver]

I live in the Philippines and it is very difficult to keep up with things that I did as a kid. From competitive roller skating to racing outboards, and my love of poker. It seems that every time I log onto a site, I read about people you know, passing. Today I logged on to BRF to find out that Bill Boyles has joined the rest of the racers on the big lake in the sky. Although I did have contact with him in the last 50 years, he was still part of my racing memories. A few weeks ago, I bought an airline ticket back to California. I decided that I would stop by and see George May. He told me a few years ago, that he had some pictures of John Toprahanian, my dad, and others. Even a few of me! So this time I was going to make time and visit him. George helped me a lot when I tried to return to racing. Looking through the Internet, I came across the following:

George M. May, Jr, USA Veteran / San Diego, CA, 03 OCT 14

The family of George M. May Jr. has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to be present to honor their hero for his service to his country. It will be our privilege to do so.

George served his country in the US Army during WWII. Having lost an eye in a childhood accident, George was not allowed to deploy overseas so he served his country in another capacity; he was in charge of the motor pool and later in the Military Police transporting foreign POWs within the U.S. George was stationed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. During World War II, more than 100 units, nearly 275,000 men received their training at Camp Atterbury, and thousands more, who received their initial training elsewhere were sent there for advanced training. The base also served as an internment camp for approximately 15,000 Italian and German prisoners of war. At the time of his discharge in 1946, George had attained the rank of Sergeant.

After the war and even though he obtained certification as a Master Aviation Mechanic, with much persuasion, George joined his father in the restaurant business. May’s Cafe in downtown San Diego was his vocation for over 30 years. His avocation was speed – planes, motorcycles and boats.

In the early years, George was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the formation of the San Diego Aerospace Museum. He was a longtime member of the civilian Air Force Association. The fact that he had only one eye never deterred him; he was a private pilot and started his powerboat-racing career in San Diego in 1951. As a member, and later commodore, of the Pacific Powerboat Club, his hobby became an obsession and in later years a part-time vocation.

In 1964 George was the APBA national champion in the F-racing runabout class. On February 17, 1965, he set the closed course world speed record for this class on Mission Bay. It was a record that stood for many years. That same year he was elected to the Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame and in 1966 was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions. While actively racing and after his retirement from the restaurant business in the late 70’s, he was an APBA referee in the following categories: Stock outboard, Modified outboard, Outboard Pleasure Craft, Inboards and Unlimited Hydroplanes, including the original “Thunderboat” regatta here in San Diego in 1964. In 1985, Vapor Trails Publications honored George as Referee of the Year.

George was predeceased by his wife in 1994. He is survived by his two children, one grandson and his wife, and his good friend and PGR Member, Ron Lebow.


Shocked, I decided to log onto BRF and see if there was a posting. After going through "Racers No Longer With Us" clear back to January 2014, not one mention! Can anyone tell me why nothing had been posted about one of the best 'F' Runabout drivers in California, not to mention his Refereeing? Maybe no one in Southern California knew or remembered him? We are a dying bread.

[Ron Hill]

Ron,

My father passed away from pneumonia and its complications Friday morning.


We will be having his funeral tomorrow at Rhoton Funeral Home (at 12:15 pm) in Carrollton, TX and he will be buried at DFW Military Cemetery (at 2:30 pm).


If you have time I would appreciate some of the stories you have of your time with him and any pictures that might be on your site. I will be going through his pictures over the next few months and will share some back with you.


Hope you are well,


Bart de Lackner

6/16/2015

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Bart, very sad to hear of your Dad's passing. I have a lot of stories about Pete to tell. Ron knew him years before I did, and Pete was the spark and champion for the much beloved 36 runabout.

The last time I saw him was at the 2006 Lone Star Reunion in which Ron also attended. When Ron and Pete start talking....all you can do is stand around in a circle and listen. That was a great time.

Your Dad told me he had taken more pictures than I had. I challenged him. I told him to start posting them. He said he would, but didn't know how. He told me he would get his daughter, and I guess your sister to show him how. A couple of years passed and I called Pete. We talked for awhile and I told him "you said you have more pictures than me, but you haven't posted any yet". Pete said he was still waiting for his daughter to teach him. I was kind of worried then that he didn't have the ambition to do it. For a couple of years now I had been planning on calling Pete to a challenge, but I didn't. Now it's too late. Always remember......don't put things off. I regret not talking to Pete once more.

[Gene East]

R.I.P. Richard "Rich" Wiesenberger May 14,1931 - Aug. 23, 2015
Rich was a member of the Quincy Welding crew during the early '6o's
He worked in the shop and drove A & B runabouts

[Ron Hill]

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Ted Abel 10/21/15 (https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=48ealnu7fibks&action=inbox#)
Today at 11:12 AM

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Ron Hill
Mark Wheeler

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In case you didn't know. Bill passed on Wednesday. Too many silent props.
Ted



Hi
Yes Giles passed away last night He went to hospital yesterday to get ready for his second
operation He had one aneurysm fixed a couple of months ago and they were going to fix the other one today
Evidently they found him on the floor of his room unresponsive and tried to revive him
and weren't able to The aneurysm had burst and his chest cavity filled with blood
Sad day Saw him at Taunton a couple of weeks ago and he seemed to be doing good
Glasses

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Karen Cadle 10/21/15 (https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=48ealnu7fibks&action=inbox#)

Oct 21 at 1:03 PM

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'mike petty'
'Ronald Lietha'
'Burt Holfs'
'Charlie Willams'
'Dan Crummett'
and 20 more...

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So very sorry to learn.

From: mike petty [mailto:bmh20h@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 1:09 PM
To: Ronald Lietha; Burt Holfs; Charlie Willams; Dan Crummett; David P. Van Weele; Dan Parker; Frank Erion; Steve French; Cooper Jess; Vernon Barfield; Jeff Ruth; Jay Walls; Karen Cadle; Tim Kurcz; Art Kampen; Kevin Mcafee; Rc Howie; Steve Roskowski; Ralph Cook; Ron Hill; Jeff Ruth; Lyle Mason; Jason Sumrall; Alan VanWeele Cell; Alan Owen
Subject: Bill Giles Race Boat builder



To all the boat racing community , today I have some very sad new. Long time boat racer, boat builder and great friend to our sport passed away this morning. Bill Giles has been suffering with hart issues for the passed few years and his last surgery did not go well. He will be missed dearly. I have the misfortune of saying I have the last Bill Giles boat ever built. Everybody who met Bill Giles liked him and we all will miss him. Race in peace in Paradise Lake, Bill.

[Ron Hill]

http://obits.ocregister.com/obituaries/orangecounty/obituary.aspx?n=peter-bennett-rothschild&pid=175322126

I just learned, today, the Peter Rothchild had passed.

More than 30 years ago I made him propellers for his twin engine diesel powered Offshore Boat, we went 92 MPH and APBA with the help of Mercury Marine kicked the diesels out of Offshore Racing.

Larry Smith and Pete were partners in the first Thunderballs that won the APBA Offshorse National title...Long before Larry Smith built the Scarab Boats.

Rest in peace, my friend.

[Ron Hill]

I heard, today that Mark Yunker was killed at Parker SCSC boat race.

RIP!

[Ron Hill]

I just got word that Carl Meyers has passed. He was a good friend for 40 years or more. He sponsored me in A Racing Runabout and B Stock Runabout. I broke the A Racing Runabout Kilo record with Carl's boat and engine in 1966. My dad and I built him a new boat in the spring of 1967, and Carl broke my record.

Carl and his wife were taking my boats to the Beaver Falls, PA, 1965, when they were involved in a major head on. As Carl recuperated, in 1966, he let Roy Miner drive his B Runabout in the Needles, Marathon Nationals. Roy won.

Carl was a fireman in California and he also had a gardening service. He was my parent's gardener for many years.

I was his Best Man in his last wedding, 1973...His 5th or 6th wife. He and his last wife lived together for almost 40 years.....

Sometimes it take awhile to figure things out!

In the spring of 1963, Carl and I went up north to race...I raced C-D Runabout and C-D Hydro. I told Carl, damn it, when you go up north to race, start behind the "LOCAL" hot shot or they will DQ you for jumping the gun. Well, I won CU, DU, CSH and DSH. Carl got DQ'd both heats in BU, even though he won by a mile...I just said, "Damn it, Carl, I told you.." Did you notice I started behind Rucker every heat???

Rest in peace my friend.

[Ron Hill]

For Obituary and details google: Donald A Henrich Portage, WI
Don died March 15th @88. He had lung cancer and had been under treatment for almost three years.
Although Don would describe himself as a "blacksmith" he was known for designing a new generation of propellers for Outboard Marine. This talented man was a major contributor to the success of Johnson and Evinrude outboards on race circuits around the world.
One year at the Parker Enduro his propeller design didn't work. The day before the race each propeller was heated cherry red with a torch and the blades bent to Don's satisfaction. None of the propellers failed in six hours of competition.
Services will be held Monday March 21, 2016 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Hwy 33 East, Portage WI. Visitation will be from 10am to 12, with services to follow.

ADD:

Ron Hill (https://www.facebook.com/ronaldhill?fref=ufi) Don was a pretty good old boy. I spent a lot of time in Europe with him and his wife, Judy, back in the late '60's and '70's. Johnny Woods from St. Louis, was Don's stock broker in the old days. When Johnny took Radio Shack public, Don got in on the ground floor of the stock. It wasn't long after that he quit work at OMC. Johnny made tons of money on the deal, he bought a Ferrari with some of the money. I never saw it, but Don told me the license plate said, "TANDY". I had just won the D Runabout Nationals in Beloit, and on Monday stopped at OMC to pick up my twin engine Jones. Don and I got to talking, I said measure my two best props would you. So, he measured one and said, "It was an 11, nice prop he said." (A Grandpa Seebold). Then, I gave him the second prop, he said, "Wow this thing really screwed up, one blade is 13 and the other is an 11, want me to fix if for you?" I said, "Don't touch it unless you want to die, as I won the Nationals with that prop yesterday....." Old Man Hill prop. I saw Don at Havasu Landing 9 years ago, we had a great talk, his hip was bothering him and he took the ferry back to Havasu City. Rest in peace, my friend. Condolences to the rest of the Henrich family.

Donald Albert Henrich, 88, of Portage, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at his home in Saddle Ridge.

Donald was born Jan. 24, 1928, in West Allis. He married Judy Ellen Richmond on Dec. 9, 1961, in Eagle River.

Don was a former owner of Propellers by DAH, and retired as an engineer from Outboard Marine Corp. He received a World War II Victory Medal while serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He was an ardent outdoorsman, an avid hunter and fisherman, as well as a gold prospector. Don was a Mason, as well as a member of the American Legion and Elks Club.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judy; his children, Wendy (Jim) King of Winfield, Illinois, Dana (Tim) O’Neill of the Township of Erin, Jerry (Linda) Okonek of Spooner; his grandchildren, Kelsey, Dan and Kori King, Brendan, Danielle and Kellen O’Neill, and Dan (Allison), Heather and Kyle Okonek; one great-granddaughter, Whitney Okonek; and very special friends, Heather and Jason Stenberg.

Memorial services will be held at noon Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage, with the Rev. Julie Krahn officiating. Military honors will follow. Inurnment will be private. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Badger Honor Flight Inc., P. O. Box 258066 , Madison, WI 53725 or online at www.badgerhonorflight.org (http://www.badgerhonorflight.org); Hope Lodge, 611 W. Doege, Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449; or to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home (www.pmmfh.com (http://www.pmmfh.com)) in Portage is assisting the family.

[racnbns]

Don and Judy's adopted son Bruce.

The year was 1966 or 67. I was in the OMC race group and I was in Miami helping set up the boats for the Miami to Nausau race. I had a ck for expenses and didn't get it cashed before I got to Miami. I couldn't get the ck cashed so Don and Judy were at the same hotel. What they did was pay for my meals, pay for my room, pay for my transportation and anything else I needed. After that it was-What do you need now SON. Judy started calling me SON to so I started calling them MOM and DAD.

Don and Judy only lived a couple miles from us when they lived in Lake Villa so it was handy when I needed a prop for my F rigs.

Rest in peace Don, Il'll catch you later.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Judy and the Family.

Bruce

[Ron Hill]

I just heard Phil Stock passed, his funeral in Monday at 1:15 on Chapman in Orange. After the funeral I will post more.

He was always a great guy, for years anytime I was near his shop, if he was there I'd stop and BS of 30-40 minutes. He seemed to like my company as much as I liked his. He frequently committed on my internet posting or my APBA articles.

His first wife, Nancy Brooks, mother of Mike Stocks and Megan Stocks, was my boss at Rancho Santiago College for 18 years.

[Steve Pinson]

For Obituary and details google: Donald A Henrich Portage WI
Don died March 15th @88. He had lung cancer and had been under treatment for almost three years.
Although Don would describe himself as a "blacksmith" he was known for designing a new generation of propellers for Outboard Marine. This talented man was a major contributor to the success of Johnson and Evinrude outboards on race circuits around the world.
One year at the Parker Enduro his propeller design didn't work. The day before the race each propeller was heated cherry red with a torch and the blades bent to Don's satisfaction. None of the propellers failed in six hours of competition.
Services will be held Monday March 21, 2016 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Hwy 33 East, Portage WI. Visitation will be from 10am to 12, with services to follow.

ADD:

Ron Hill (https://www.facebook.com/ronaldhill?fref=ufi) Don was a pretty good old boy. I spent a lot of time in Europe with him and his wife, Judy, back in the late '60's and '70's. Johnny Woods from St. Louis, was Don's stock broker in the old days. When Johnny took Radio Shack public, Don got in on the ground floor of the stock. It wasn't long after that he quit work at OMC. Johnny made tons of money on the deal, he bought a Ferrari with some of the money. I never saw it, but Don told me the license plate said, "TANDY". I had just won the D Runabout Nationals in Beloit, and on Monday stopped at OMC to pick up my twin engine Jones. Don and I got to talking, I said measure my two best props would you. So, he measured one and said, "It was an 11, nice prop he said." (A Grandpa Seebold). Then, I gave him the second prop, he said, "Wow this thing really screwed up, one blade is 13 and the other is an 11, want me to fix if for you?" I said, "Don't touch it unless you want to die, as I won the Nationals with that prop yesterday....." Old Man Hill prop. I saw Don at Havasu Landing 9 years ago, we had a great talk, his hip was bothering him and he took the ferry back to Havasu City. Rest in peace, my friend. Condolences to the rest of the Henrich family.

Donald Albert Henrich, 88, of Portage, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at his home in Saddle Ridge.

Donald was born Jan. 24, 1928, in West Allis. He married Judy Ellen Richmond on Dec. 9, 1961, in Eagle River.

Don was a former owner of Propellers by DAH, and retired as an engineer from Outboard Marine Corp. He received a World War II Victory Medal while serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He was an ardent outdoorsman, an avid hunter and fisherman, as well as a gold prospector. Don was a Mason, as well as a member of the American Legion and Elks Club.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judy; his children, Wendy (Jim) King of Winfield, Illinois, Dana (Tim) O’Neill of the Township of Erin, Jerry (Linda) Okonek of Spooner; his grandchildren, Kelsey, Dan and Kori King, Brendan, Danielle and Kellen O’Neill, and Dan (Allison), Heather and Kyle Okonek; one great-granddaughter, Whitney Okonek; and very special friends, Heather and Jason Stenberg.

Memorial services will be held at noon Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, W8267 Highway 33 East, Portage, with the Rev. Julie Krahn officiating. Military honors will follow. Inurnment will be private. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Badger Honor Flight Inc., P. O. Box 258066 , Madison, WI 53725 or online at www.badgerhonorflight.org (http://www.badgerhonorflight.org); Hope Lodge, 611 W. Doege, Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449; or to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home (www.pmmfh.com) in Portage is assisting the family. I can remember Don being at the Paris 6hr races on more than one occasion in the late 70s.The first Prop I ran of his was on a brand new V4 Johnson Stinger we tested the outfit and found it would hardly plane so we asked questions and was told we had to file the back leading edge but to do this a small amount at a time till we had the required RPM.The next 2 props I had on order in 1977 took 18 months before they arrived because Don always had a waiting list in those days.I still have one of those props today I kept it as a momento.

[wsmerriman]

"Butch" 61115was a great guy!
Do think he and his father qualifies to be in the APBA "Honor Squadron".

Thank You in advance for your comment,
Bill Merriman

[Ron Hill]

Robert John "Pete" McConnell, Jr., Jimbo's brother, passed away early this morning after a long illness. He was a PROUD Mustang and a member of the Class of 1958 and my favorite Brother-In-Law. Services are pending. Quote from Cathy McConnell. 8/02/16
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13921008_1263424607009555_8996815086057476974_n.jp g?oh=3d15839ff897c169a9d9a648283c012e&oe=582B528D

[Ron Hill]

I wrote an article for the APBA Propeller Magazine about Dave. After it is published I'll post it here.

I will say, Dave and I were friends since about 1960. He always said he raced me for 18 years and never beat me. I sold him three C motors in 1978. He went on to win the nationals, set some records and maybe be high point with those motors.

Since he retired from the dry wall business , about 12 years ago, he and I have "HAD ADVENTURES" about once a month.

& weeks ago we went to look at a boat he figured we could use at Needles.

His cancer spread fast, he passed on October 27, 2016. He was 83 years old.

Oh, that is Dave in the middle, 94-C, me in 1-U.S. and Carl Meyers in the blue Morehouse. San Diego Flood Control Channel, 1964.

Subject: Dave Bryan




My long time friend Dave Bryan passed, he had stage 4 lung cancer



I'm not sure when I first met Dave Bryan. He lived in Realto and hung dry wall. He seems to "Hang" with that San Bernardino group.

In the fall of 1970 I bought a guy out of racing, nice trailer, two Hill Boats, a new Dawe C Hydro and a couple of C Mark 30-H's.

Jimbo McConnell and I put on a racing at Rainbo Beach, Needles, California February `4-15 or there abouts, in 1971. I was teaching at the time and it was a three day weekend, President's day or something. Colder than hell, but we partied pretty well and got up to Vegas Friday night.

Saturday morning I set the two Hill Boats up for C Runabout and offered several people a free ride. Johnny Craven, who had actually won the Colorado River Marathon in 1953, in D Runabout. just happened to be at the river, he said "He'd drive my boat."

We always seemed to have accidents at Needles and this race was no different. Danny Loper turned his A Runabout over and cut his arm pretty good. In C Runabout Dave Bryan spun out but head up river, and sheared a pin. Craven came around the corner, there actually 12 C Runabouts, not that far behind Dave but caught his roller from where he'd spun out and he "T Boned" Dave. Dave was sitter with his back to the bow, when Johnny hit him, he him him in the chest and knocked out of the boat.

I watched the whole thing and didn't look bad at all. My boat wasn't damaged and either was Dave's. The haul Dave to the ambulance and took to the hospital.

At the hospital, Doctor Hartenstein had just got there to sew up Danny Loper's arm. Dr. Hartenstein looked at Dave and said we have to operate on you right now. Dave said, "Let's wait 15 minutes." Doc Hartenstein said, "You'll be dead in 15 minutes."

As it turn out, Dave spleen was ruptured and had Doc Hartenstein not come right off the gold course to fix Danny, Dave would have been.

The next week, I donated blood to Dave because I didn't think he had much much being a dry waller.

Even thought, everyone in the club knew that Dave needed blood, I was the only member to donate blood to him.

We started to be friends after that. Dave always said, "His accident caused him to quit being a dry waller and be a contractor." Over the next several years Dave build many homes and several very nice boats.

When his Grandson was born, he build four rocking horses, one his Grandson, Jason, one for my daughter, Jessica, one for Steven Dawe and one for Dick Davidson's daughter. They were beautifully painted, pieces of wooden art.

In 1977, when we put on the Stock Nationals at Bakersfield my dad and Dave built the judges stand, because APBA required a 1,500 foot run to the first turn and our regular stand was only 1,000 feet.

In 1978, I decide to quit Stock Outboard Racing. I was racing MOD VP, I had a great job taching school, two small children and a propeller business.



In February, 1979, we raced at Puddingstone on Saturday only, with Jim Wilkes and COBRA. That night we had the club awards banquet at the In at the Park next to Disneyland. My wife put the function on, O came home with my three Stock outboards, my niece and nephew's boat and my MOD VP. It was dark and cold when I got home. I showered and left for the party.

When I got there I walked up to the bar between Jimmy Dawe and Dave Bryan. I said, "Jimmy, you want to buy a couple of D motors??? $2,200 for two D Motors, two boat, two props and a trailer. He said, "Sure." Dave turned to me and said, "I've raced against you for 18 years and never beat you. Do you want to sell you C's?" I said all three 30-H's for a GRAND. Dave reached in his pocket and gave me a grand, and said, "I'll come buy and get them in the morning."

So, in 5 minutes I was out of Stock Outboard Racing paid for my MOD VP boat at the same time.

That summer Dave bought my trailer from Jimmy Dawe and went back to Wisconsin and raced all summer. He may have ended up high points, at every race he told everyone Ron Hill sponsored him and he had the trailer to prove with about 50 of my props hanging in the trailer. He and his wife Judy may have done that for two summers.

Dave ended up winning the C Runabout Nationals in Oroville, 1982 and breaking some records. He decide to retire after the 1982 season.

After that Dave moved to Las Vegas and started doing dry wall with his Grandson. 14 years ago, I called Dave and invited him to Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter's river house in Needles (Vegas is 90 miles away) He and his wife stayed in their motorhome.

Dave told me if I get to Vegas give him a call. The next spring, I decide to go see Bill Boyes, Sr. in St George, Utah about putting on a boat race. I met Dave at the Vegas Bass Pro Shop. I told him my daughter and her husband had just bout a lot across from Needles for $150,000 and they planned to build a house on it for $150,000, then sell it for $500,000.

Dave said, "Wow! I did $22 million in dry wall last year, but when a school teacher and a car salesman think they can make $200,000 on one house, it is time to close my business."

Dave and his wife closed the business and bought a motorhome and traveled the country for about a year.

They build a summer home in Washington and winter home in Carlsbad, California. Dave just got in the habit of coming up and visiting me, we started having "Adventures". He sold his house in Washington, and I bought his motorhome.



Dave went to the Parker Enduro with us, and he admitted, he could see why I had so much fun with that race. We went to Whitney Point, NY to the Stock Nationals.

He bought a Mark 30-H from Fred Hauenstein and restored it like new, then gave it to me to put in our corporate offices.

Our "Adventures" weren't anything really crazy. We took a boat to Minden for Greg Jacobsen, that Fred Bowden sold him. We went to Las Vegas and picked up a lawn mower I sold to a guy in Australia. We went to Billy B's Boat Show in Needles, with John Schubert from Illinois. We'd meet in San Diego and eat fish at the wharf.

Dave and I headed up to Mickey and Vickey's Apple Valley Marine, taking our 25 foot Maximum boat and I ran out of gas, we coasted into a gas station, I realized I didn't have my wallet. Dave filled my tank.

About ten years ago, Dave and I ran into Gary and Jason Williams at a boat race. They were considering getting back into boat racing. Dave said to Gary, "Gary, I quit boat racing after I set the records and won the Nationals." 20 years later, I came to the races to see Ronnie, I looked out at the lake and cried. I wondered why I ever quit, all my friends were here." Jason started racing right after that, I talked to Gary today. They have been back in boat racing for ten years with no plans to quit.

Five years ago, this November we had a chance to buy our building. We were $75,000 short on the down payment. Dave loaned us the money, and was actually mad we repaid him so fast.

In 1965, when Ernie Dawe bought the house he still lives in, Dave came over and added a two car garage to Ernie's garage and dry walled it.

Ernie and I visited with Dave on Saturday, 10/22/16. He is under hospice care, but he very much enjoy our visit.

Dave and his wife Judy had been married for 64 years.

[Ron Hill]

Ron/Chad,
I wanted to let you know that my dad passed away yesterday morning from complications associated with Parkinson’s/Dementia. While he limited his boat racing primarily to the 36 class, his love of boat racing and those involved with the sport was undeniable. From stocks to unlimiteds and everything in between, he was a genuine fan of the sport (especially if there was an outboard involved). Reconnecting with you both back in 2005 or so and then meeting you both at various races through the years was a real treat for my dad and myself. I can remember my dad always asking me when the next boat race was, much like I did when I was a kid and he was racing. Thanks to you both for letting us be a part of the experience instead of just watching it and I hope that our paths will cross again soon.

Sincerely, Steve

Lane was a hard worker for boat racing most of his life. He was finance Chairman in 1962, when we started the Southern California Outboard Association. He raced 36 for years. He was always close to the Dan Schwarzenbach family. He also worked helping put on the Unlimited Hydros in San Diego for many years.

For the past few years we have enjoyed Steve and Lane's friendship at the races. Lane was always playing with his RC sailboat. I'm sure he'll be missed by many, besides the Hills.

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.png One Hell of A Nice Guy! Rest in Peace, Frank Banducci
I sold lots of stuff to Frank over the years. I helped him with Sport C props, I fixed his last "BEST ONE" for free about a year ago. He thought it was ruined. I fixed it and he gained a mile an hour. He wrote some great articles for the APBA Propeller Magazine over the years.

A few years back, he bought the Gran Prix 45 SS that had been Bill Rucker's and my son Broc had been driving. I made a deal for the boat and trailer.

I met Frank, his son or grandson and Gloria at a Mexican restaurant, in Kingsburg, where I've met up with Fred Hauenstein on several occasions. Great Chinese food at this Mexican restaurant.

Anyway, I brought the Gran Prix up on top of an old style craft that was on the trailer. I just stacked the Gran Prix on top. I told, "Frank buy one, get one free." We had a great lunch and a great laugh. And the tail lights went down the road.

About 11 years ago, I was up at Salt Springs loaning props to Sport C racers, I asked Frank, "How come all you Sport C guys use a cement block for an emergency brake?" He said, "Well most us us don't have too much money." I pretty much gave away a few props that weekend and thought, as I drove home, in my new truck, how lucky I was.

I will take credit for getting the Isleton races off the ground. The Sport C "CLUB" wanted to put on a race in Isleton, but they didn't want to run all the classes. Bill Boyes, Region 11 Chairman, liking to keep his Region strong, pretty much told these Sport C guys they had to run all the classes. After we had and lunch with Bill and Kay Boyes and Bill and Kay had headed home. I bought dessert! I told the Sport C guys and gals, you can run a race with one class. I said, "Bill Boyes and I have been friends since 1955, but you guys can run your race with one class, Bill is the Region Chairman, he doesn't tell you how to run your race." They ran Sport C, 45 SS and Cracker Boxes, and COR...Bill was kind of mad at me. But, as usual, we "made up".

Frank's grandson, the "Racing Raisin" was quite a racer, I just never remember his real name.

Rest in PEACE Frank, I will miss your friendship as will many others!

[Ron Hill]

ERIC NICHOLS WROTE: Take a deep breath Dad! Enjoy that Heaven air! I love you and am going to miss you so much! https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v6/f6c/1/16/2764.png❤️https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v6/f6c/1/16/2764.png❤️https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v6/f6c/1/16/2764.png❤️https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v6/f6c/1/16/2764.png❤️




❤️

THE SON OF FUZZ NICHOLS AND BROTHER OF DAVE NICHOLS, HAS PASSED.

Dave was a great painter, painted my helmet in 1961-62. His painting led to lung trouble.

RIP in Peace my friend.

[Ron Hill]

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It is with great sadness that I have to share the news that Hall of Fame boat builder and designer Ron Jones Sr. passed away this morning. Please keep Ron and his family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Plans for a memorial will be announced soon.

When Ron Jones was in Costa Mesa, California, I'd see Ron at least once a month. His dad, Ted Jones, and my dad had been friends since about 1954.

I had a twin Jones that I dearly loved. Once OPC Racing went to single engines, I actually loss a lot of interested in tunnel boat racing.

Rest in Peace, my friend.
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[Ron Hill]

http://autoweek.com/article/car-life/vic-edelbrock-jr-1936-2017

The name Edelbrock has always been in my vocabulary. I can't recall when I started making props for his ski race boat and for Jerry Herbst. Those were great days for ski racing Jerry and Vic would pull somebody in every race. They'd come to the races with a spare engine and about five drums of AV gas.

NASCAR did a cool tribute, yesterday. They said, "Vic took his dad's 1/2 business a half billion. Every NASCAR engine has an Edelbrock manifold."

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I can remember back before I started racing Ron, and I would ride my bicycle down to the corner store to buy the latest issue of Boating News. Edelbrock was always a part of the news in the magazine. My first knowledge of Edelbrock was Boating News, but it continued on with Hot Boat, then Powerboat. They always featured some really good looking SK's, and Blown Fuel Hydro's, etc,, but they always were equipped with Edelbrock. Lots of ads. Gives me fond memories, and even though we never had any need for their products, I always remember that they had top of the line products. I didn't know they were into Nascar. God bless Vic Edelbrock and may he rest in peace.

[A/B Speedliner]

Vic was a real car guy. There were 199 of us that purchased Z06 Corvettes in 1963. I remember talking to him at Daytona. I still had my Z06 but he had sold his only to buy it back some years later. One the day I spoke to him he was back out on the track having fun with his daughters. Rest In Peace and thanks for contribution to racing.
David Van Weele

[Ron Hill]

About 10-12 years ago, the APBA had their National Meeting scheduled for Los Angeles. On their printed agenda was a visit to Edelbrock's Shop in Torrance. The year before, I had attended the APBA convention to cheer for Plan B's owner, Ben Marrone and driver Paul Grichar as Paul was getting into the APBA Hall of Champions for the second time, 25 years apart. I had made their propellers for Plan B, so I went to the convention. While in Detroit we went to Jack Roush's Museum for dinner and free tour.

I thought the tour was very specail, especially seeing the airplane that almost took Jack's life.
So, I called around to see how we were to get ticket's to Edelbrock's "Show Room" and no one seemed to know anything about the tour. So, I called Vic, now this is two weeks before the APBA Convention.

I ask to speak to Vic Edelbrock, I got his secretary. Then his secretary asked my name, I said, "Ron Hill." The next sound I hear is Vic asking me how the prop business is?
I say very good. What I'm calling you about is the tour scheduled during the APBA Convention. He said, "There is no tour scheduled, in fact, we are just loading the last car in here to take to a show in Pomona. The show lasts a month or two weeks. Who said we were having a tour?" I said the APBA's printed schedule said tour and dinner.

Vic said, "I wish I'd known, I'd love to have you boat racers here and for dinner.

I said I sure miss the Ski Race days when you a Jerry raced those GREAT JERRY GILBREATH prepared V-Drives.

The racing world lost a good one!

[Ron Hill]

I just heard that Max McPeek passed on the 4th of September. I will see if I can find some stuff about Max. The movie "BLUE MAX" came out while Max was racing and I called him "BLUE MAX", not because of the movie but because of his love life.

His family had the greatest cottage on Gun Lake, Michigan. Such a wonderful place.

[Ron Hill]

I lived in Bellflower, California and I think Howard did too. He was unbeatable in D Hydro from about 1952 til he retired, about 1956.

Howard dated and then married the United Speedboat Association's Commodore, daughter. The Commodore was named Rich Job.

How borrowed Rich's "A" DeSilva and won the 115 Mile Colorado River Marathon, in 1955. In 1956, he built his own runabout and again won the 115 mile marathon.

Howard build quiet a few boats in his garage in Bellflower. He used mahogany and monel anchor nails in all his boats.

My brother had one of his C-D Hydros in 1957.

My brother is on the inside, driving his Thompson Hydro. Larry Adams is "CUTTING HIM OFF". This picture caused many arguments. The term "Racing Room" came from this picture.

I just heard, yesterday about Howard's passing.

[A/B Speedliner]

This past Monday, 12/18/2017 we lost a dear friend, Anker Petersen . Anker and I with my brother Alan grew up together in Oakdale, NY. In 1955 Alan started racing BU and shortly Anker would be part of our crew. He finally got the urge to race in 1966 after returning from Vietnam we built him our first 36 class Speedliner style boat under the Aeroliner Race Boats name. He raced with Eastern Outboard Racing Club for years. He started with an Evinrude until Alan sold him a new Chrysler engine. He was a very quiet person but he was also a lot of fun, I remember once when his father and mother returned to Denmark for vacation he and his brother Paul had a house party, we were in our late teens at the time. Our group of friends purchased a quarter keg of beer. We could not find a place to set up the keg until someone found the grand piano, left the top and there was a perfect location. Needless to say it destroyed the piano.
Anker's racing number was 69N, he was very proud of the number, wonder why? Anker lost his wife only three weeks before he passed so I guess he had enough of us and wanted to be with his wife. He leaves behind his brothers John and Paul, his children and his many friends.

Rest in Peace my friend, see you on the other side

David

[Ron Hill]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?1403-Bowden-Development-Fred-Bowden

I knew Fred has been "Under the weather" since October. We have emailed for more than ten years. When I had not received one of his emails, a month ago I called him. He said, "He'd had water on the lung and heart, but was doing better."

Last week I called and didn't answer, so I called Bowden Development. Todd Bowden called me back and said, "His dad was making progress."

On Thursday, I'd driving our old Ford 250 truck, no blue tooth, and I get a call from Fred. (I have 4,000 pounds of steel on a F250, so I let it go to voice mail).


When I listened to the voice mail, I had to laugh. Fred said, "He'd seen me going down the freeway." I assumed he was heading for Parker, I figured I'd call him Tuesday and Tuesday's are easier for me to call and we could shoot the breeze.

I guess he made it to Parker. He felt tired, Saturday afternoon. He took a nap and never work up.

Fred was always good to me, he was a good sponsor for my son. When Fred would give Chad sponsor money, he's always make the check out to Chad, AND REMIND ME THE MONEY WAS FOR CHAD.

God Speed, OLD FRIEND!

[Karen Cadle]

Just received an email from Kay Pond that Dick had passed. I truly can't remember a time when Dick wasn't part of my life. He raced for my Grandfather in the 50's and early 60's. There is a nice memorial video on the obituary page and several good photos. http://www.dejongsfuneralhome.com/obituary/242713/Charles-Pond/

[GETBOATS]

http://www.boatracingfacts.com/forums/showthread.php?1403-Bowden-Development-Fred-Bowden

I knew Fred has been "Under the weather" since October. We have emailed for more than ten years. When I had not received one of his emails, a month ago I called him. He said, "He'd had water on the lung and heart, but was doing better."

Last week I called and didn't answer, so I called Bowden Development. Todd Bowden called me back and said, "His dad was making progress."

On Thursday, I'd driving our old Ford 250 truck, no blue tooth, and I get a call from Fred. (I have 4,000 pounds of steel on a F250, so I let it go to voice mail).


When I listened to the voice mail, I had to laugh. Fred said, "He'd seen me going down the freeway." I assumed he was heading for Parker, I figured I'd call him Tuesday and Tuesday's are easier for me to call and we could shoot the breeze.

I guess he made it to Parker. He felt tired, Saturday afternoon. He took a nap and never work up.

Fred was always good to me, he was a good sponsor for my son. When Fred would give Chad sponsor money, he's always make the check out to Chad, AND REMIND ME THE MONEY WAS FOR CHAD.

God Speed, OLD FRIEND!

A fixture in the boat racing community, quite a competitor and loved the sport, found this in my files, 1981 I believe, they made them lite those days. You'll be missed Fred.65313

[NERSTROM]

I can't say enough about Fred, he was a great racer, sponsor and boat race supporter. Perhaps more importantly, he was a wonderful person and friend.
All the best to his family, we will keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.
RIP my friend.

[racingfan1]

Heard the unfortunate news today of the passing of Marshall Eldredge at the age of 87. My most heartfelt condolences to the entire Eldredge family. May he rest in peace. Picture is from the 2009 spring race at DePue.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

So sad to hear. Rest in peace Marshall. God bless all the Eldredge family. They are one of the few families that goes all the way back to the beginnings of outboard racing and continued with a solid span of generations of boat racers.

[zul8tr]

The racing world has lost a great contributor. I have known Marshall and his family since the early 1970's when I started racing APBA in Region 5 when I lived in West Palm Beach Fla. Marshall provided a wealth of information about engines, props, set up etc and helped me a great deal and we had many interesting discussions. I visited his shop in West Palm Beach and later when he moved to Yalaha Fla. I will miss him very much. My condolences to the Eldridge family. RIP Marshall.

[Donald]

Two old pharts that were still racing in 2009. I will miss him!

[ProHydroRacer]

Rest in peace Marshall, see you at the Finish Line.
Bill & Joyce

[David Weaver]

Marshal was a constant in PRO racing like Sunrise and Sunset are a constant to each day. I will miss our many conversations, especially over breakfast at the Giant's Den in Depue.

[ProHydroRacer]

Just read on that other site that Jim Warren had die.
Rest in Peace Jim.

[Ron Hill]

Sad news..TAF Driver Don Ermshar seriously injured
Boat racer injured at Cowtown Drag Boat Nationals
By JOHN HENRY

Special to the Star-Telegram
Related Content

Injuries in drag boat racing are often times much more dramatic than, say, a wrecked knee in football.

They can actually be frightening.

A big day at the races during the Cowtown Drag Boat Nationals at Marine Creek Lake turned scary when Don Ermshar lost control of his boat at the finish line of the Top Alcohol Flat finals.

When Ermshar’s craft skidded out of control across the water and broke into pieces just past the finish line, he became submerged in his boat capsule in about 30 feet of water.

Rescue crews rushed to aid Ermshar, who was submerged in the water for about five minutes. Nervous fans and crew members watched anxiously as emergency personnel brought him to safety. The 66-year-old Riverside, Calif., resident didn’t walk away from the accident. Race officials and a medic at the scene said he likely sustained broken arms and legs.

He went by ambulance to Harris Methodist Fort Worth, but his injuries seem minor compared to the dramatic accident.

But when you’re traveling more than 160 mph on a quarter-mile track things can go haywire.

"He was going 161 miles per hour," said a race official. "He crossed the finish line, and looked to just lose it."

Drag boat racing is essentially the NHRA on water. Safety has obviously been a big issue, and organizations such as the Southern Drag Boat Association, the governing body of this weekend’s races, have taken steps to help ensure the well-being of the racers.

Capsules, with a roll bar built in and a self-contained breathing system, now enclose drivers. The breathing system enables drivers who are submerged to breathe up to 20 minutes, said Tanya Ehrlich, the treasurer of the SBDA.

The capsule is constructed of steel tubing with a fiberglass and Kevlar outer shell, and it’s designed to break apart from the boat hull and engine in the event of an accident, just as Ermshar’s did Sunday.

"That’s been the greatest discovery for this sport," said an SBDA official. "It has saved lives."

Drivers are also required to wear helmets and goggles or some sort of device to protect their eyes. Many also wear suits made of fire retardant.

Ultimately, like anything else, you can’t live in fear. The show must go on, and it did Sunday.

Don Bausher of Las Vegas drove Habit Forming to victory over Ermshar, the points leader in the Top Alcohol Flat division.

In the top division, Top Fuel Hydro, Daryl Ehrlich of Round Rock and his Problem Child bested points leader John White of Leander.

The series heads to Chouteau, Okla., Aug. 1-2 and back to Texas in Lubbock on Sept. 5-6.