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One of the countless Miss Budweiser's Dangles over
Lake Coeur d'Alene - Year unknown. (Image source: thunderfest.com)
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As why did the roar of a few solitary WWII Vintage
Airplanes taking off from Paine Field this past June make me smile over that
same symphonic sound those 'Ol piston-powered Hydroplanes used to emanate!
Having left off this streaming Roostertail
wake 'O vocabulary upon No Fenders inside our local Unlimited Hydroplanes
museum, some dozen-plus years ago, I'm happy to have discovered that they've
since increased Thar Rolling Stock, for which you can get a good idea of their current Hydroplane Armada
from their Restorations tab upon their website.
While Y'all can visit the museum's website at the
following link;
Paintoxia'
Continuing our most enjoyable Walkabout thru
the facility with Ron,
presumably the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum's Curator, He said they’d fix up
the Bud', aka the 1980 U-1 Miss Budweiser Hull I'd been Drooling over Real Good
once again. Noting it just needed some cosmetic work to the cowlings which are
fiberglass along with mechanical repairs.
I
asked if the hull was fiberglass? Its aluminum honeycomb. Ron replied I should
know because I helped glue the hull together! I also helped the painter.
Ron
mentioned how all hydros are painted upside down! This helps keep dust off
while painting. Telling Ron that the painter must be good Ron replied he’s good
alright, but painters seem to be a bit possessed by the demon spirits (alcohol)
Then I
casually told Ron how I’ve been a lifelong Budweiser fan while my Dad was a Pak
devotee. Before asking does the museum have any Pay ‘N Pak's?
Then I
mentioned that I wanted to view the display cases hidden against the wall
behind the Miss Bardahl. We looked at the few Hydroplane models in differing
scales, i.e.; Miss Thriftway and the Slo Mo Shun V, along with helmets and
other items while Ron gave my Dad a running commentary on the models.
Ron
seemed genuinely happy that I wanted to look at everything on display. As Ron
mused how everybody goes through the museum too fast...
An
excellent large scale model in a solitary display case caught my attention.
Although I didn’t recognize the hydro while at the museum, afterwards I seemed
to remember the Miller High Life boat better.
I
believe this turbine powered boat was campaigned by Jim Lucero and was the boat
to beat in the mid-80’s. As I suspect this model was the 1985 boat driven by
Chip Hanauer. And it was the 1st turbine powered hull to win a
National High Points Championship.
Behind the Wheel...
Unexpectedly,
Ron asked me if I’d like to sit in the 1968 Miss Budweiser. How could I refuse
an offer like that? Placing my foot onto the deck of the boat, I stepped into
the remarkably small cockpit. Ron explained how I needed to wiggle my butt into
the form fitting seat...
Go-ahead
and play with any of the controls. You turn the steering wheel and drive the
boat. With my left foot wedged against the dead pedal and my right on the gas
pedal I joyously proceeded to give the steering wheel a few turns!
I
noticed how both of my knees were against the steering wheel and Commented on
this to Ron. Mentioning how I couldn’t imagine driving in anger like that.
Ron then
explained how just like racecars the cockpits were configured to fit the actual
drivers, which implies they were much smaller.
Then I
asked Ron about the lack of seat belts, what instruments were on the simple
dashboard and if the windscreen did any good?
Ron remarked
how early on a driver with seat belts had flipped his boat and drown to death! while
the few instruments were typical racecar style, i.e.,; Tachometer, Oil &
Water pressure.
With
the most important being the Oil Pressure warning light. When that goes off you
“shut her down” immediately!
After
reluctantly climbing out of the U-1 Miss Budweiser's Spartan cockpit, navigating
past a few tables laid out, there was still birthday cake leftover from the
evening before Ron’s fathers birthday, who’d worked on the Slo Mo Shun V.
Behind
the tables across from the Slo Mo was a late 1960's or early '70's? Oh Boy
Oberto resting vertically from its trailer.
As the
Oh Boy Oberto became famous locally with the likes of Scotty Pierce & Chip
Hanauer at the controls.
Whilst
alongside the Oh Boy Oberto resided an early 1980’s Atlas Van Lines. Which Ron
explained how they'd managed to acquire the original trailer for the boat.
Everything
except the transporter which caught fire during one racing season.
When I
casually mentioned "Blue Blaster" Ron immediately corrected me,
saying that this was Chip’s boat, not the Blue Blaster.
In deference
to the Bud being known as the Beer Wagon, Bill Muncey's Atlas Van Lines were nicknamed
the Blue Blaster's.
Ron then
told us how the museum had recently received permission from Bill’s wife Fran Muncey
to restore his boat to running condition. As apparently we had missed seeing
this boat, hidden outside.
Unfortunately
a sponsor is needed to fund the project. Before Ron explained how excess
materials left over from current restoration projects were being saved for use
on the boat’s future restoration.
The
museum was currently restoring the Miss Hurricane IV. While Ron also
enthusiastically mentioned how the Miss Thriftway was being restored on Vashon Island.
Exclaiming
how they’ve got a primo Allison primary engine and a good back up motor
Standing
next to the Atlas, I was completely overtaken by the paint scheme. As the blue
paint is an excellent colour, making it easy to understand how the nickname was
definitely appropriate.
Stating
this to my Dad, a loud noise was heard from the restoration shop (5,000 Sq. Ft.
approx.) Ron departed hastily to see
what they were trying to drop off of the forklift? While pulling the
hydroplanes inside, there's always concern over somebody being potentially
injured. (which did not occur)
We decided that this was a good time to
"Exit Stage Left!" And leave. Thus we said our goodbyes as Ron
returned, thanking him very much for the guided tour.
Trivia
While
my favourite hydroplane will forever be the Miss Budweiser. Unfortunately after
41yrs of sponsorship from Anheiser-Busch and the demise of Bernie Little, The
Bud ran its very LAST race that very same October of Twenty-oh-Four. Just one
month prior to our initial museum visit. As Budweiser has decided to focus its
marketing dollars on RASSCAR'; GROAN!
Therefore,
with that said, you'll probably be surprised by My top-3 picks for hydroplanes
on display.
As Numero
Uno Hands-down is the black scallop nose
trim metallic green dragon Miss Bardahl. "Chip's Boat," the U-00
Atlas Van Lines was runner-up with the Rolls Royce Griffon Miss Budweiser
taking the final podium step.
Chip
Hanauer, who at the time I thought was tied with the late Bill Muncey as
Unlimited Hydroplane Racing’s winningest drivers (62 victories apiece) would be
inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Fellow
inductees joining Chip's class included: Na$car’s ‘ole Boogity-Boogity-Boogity DW.
(Darrell Waltrip) Drag Racing's Bob Glidden & Joe Amato and 'Ol Bloody
Nige! Nee "Il Lione" or simply "Red 5." As in the one and
only world famous Thespian, the 1992 Formula One World Champion, and '93
CART/PPG IndyCar champion Nigel Mansell.
As that's an Uber' Stout grouping 'O
legendary Drivers to be inducted with!
Although
I've subsequently learned that Chip Hanauer is actually just the third
winningest Unlimited Hydroplane Driver. As his arch nemesis and Miss Budweiser
successor, the Dastardly Dave Villwock currently holds the record with a
staggering 67 victories. Followed by the late Bill Muncey's 62, with Hanauer P3
with 61 W's.
As I pilfered the two images for this story from a
totally unheard of website, which Y'all should really check out, since it's got
a ton 'O great photographs!
As I had ZERO Clue over who this "Fearless
Freddie" Chap was? And NO Freddie Kruger Jokes here; Hya! Other than from
some of the multiple captions on his fantastic Scrap Book page, which I found
merely by accident! That he was apparently an ex-Unlimited Hydroplane Driver...
Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum
Address:
5917 S 196th Street
Kent, WA 98032
(206) 764-9453
Hours:
Tuesday thru Saturday: 10AM-4PM
(Open until 8PM on Tuesday & Thursday)
Cost: $10.00 (Seniors & Students Discount:
$5.00)
Hydroplanes
on Display (2004)
(Outside:
3)
- 1960 U-4 Miss Burien
- 1967 U-12 Miss Budweiser
- 1977 U-1 Atlas Van Lines - Unrestored
(Inside: 6)
- 1968 U-1 Miss Budweiser
- 1958 U-40 Miss Bardahl
- 1980 U-1 Miss Budweiser
- 1951 U-1 Slo Mo Shun V
- 1974 U-8 Oh Boy Oberto
- 1982 U-00 Atlas Van Lines