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Past Unlimited Hydroplane racing legends Dean
Chenoweth and Bill Muncey pictured in Acapulco, 1981. (Image source: thunderfest.com)
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As it's time once again to Hear the Whoosh of those
unbelievable Turbine powered Thunderboats! Like Didn't Y'all Hear 'em from the
Shores 'O Lake Washington;'Chir-Chirp?
Author's Note
In lieu of currently unpacking a Moving Van
somewheres' Northwards, with thou No Fenders Office certainly being
Ah-Shambles, Mateys! As watch out for those Seafair Pirates R-R-R'
Not to mention presumably still Off the Grid.
I'm rolling out the ; Err.. Uhm, this vintage story that's sat in Dry-dock on
thou Isle 'O Nofendersville for over a Decade now. Enjoy...
Hydro-fever...
Prior
to leaving for Sasebo, Japan some ten-plus years ago, I told my "Pops"
Tomas, Sr. that I knew exactly what I wanted for my birthday. I wanted to go to
the Hydroplane museum.
Having
known about the museum for years since it's being located in South Seattle, I'd
never managed to make it there, but had always wanted to go.
Growing
up in Seattle during the early 1970’s, the deafening roar of the piston powered
thunderboats were unmistakable. As these Unlimited hydroplanes were truly
mesmerizing as they reportedly skimmed the waters of Lake Washington at over
170mph while throwing mammoth roostertails behind them Skywards!
And although
Seattle International Raceway (SIR) was in operation, the trek to far-away Kent,
WA was seldom made. Sure SIR had 64 Funny Cars & The FoXX Hunt, but for me
the hydros were truly "the boys of summer.
And as
I've scribbled over thou years here upon No Fenders, as a 'Wee lad, I remember
pulling a wooden hydro behind my bicycle which never seemed to work very good
on our cobblestone street.
As
later on while growing up, I was even allowed the privilege of watching the Seafair
race on TV while my brothers had to do yard work.
And when
the Goodyear blimp arrived at Sand Point, you knew it was Hydro-Time” Along
with the Blue Angels arrival, although for Mwah, the hydros were always the
“star” attraction of summer.
Museum Visit
The
Hydroplane & Powerboat Museum sits nestled in Kent's valley, located in an
industrial park complex east of the S. 188th Street exit off Interstate
5. (I-5) Nearing the museum on a Saturday Wayback in November, 2004, I really
didn’t know what to expect or how many hydroplanes would they have?
Pulling
into the parking lot, an Unlimited Hydroplane perched on its trailer jutted out
from the side of the building. Walking towards the boat, a man admiring the
hydro told me how he’d always wanted to drive one of these” since high school.
This first,
non-descript sponsor-less boat was the U-4 Miss Burien. While closer
examination revealed a 2nd hydroplane directly behind it.
Of
course NO Unlimited Hydroplane could truly be called non-descript. As the Miss
Burien simply lacked the financial resources of its more celebrated
counterparts.
Parked
alongside the Miss Burien on its trailer sat The U-12 Miss Budweiser. Both
hydros sported the classic round nose front engine open cockpit design of the
early 1960’s.
As I
enjoyed being able to look at the details of these wooden monsters up close,
finding the fore & aft hull shapes most intriguing.
While A
small chequered floor motif area (indoors) houses the gift shop. With a single
clothes rack of t-shirts along with a few display cases and donation box serving
as the humble entryway to the 10,000 square foot approx. museum.
A
small flotilla of hydroplanes awaits curious onlookers. As the warehouse
building is divided into two sections, i.e.; Museum and Restoration Shop.
Behind
the gift shop a display case holds a nice model of The Pride of Pay ‘N Pak, the
first successful turbine powered hydroplane.
Against
the far wall the Miss Budweiser’s bow juts directly towards us. With the boat’s
sponsons proudly displaying the U-1. As this very significant hydroplane was
the first Miss Budweiser to win both the Gold Cup & National High Points
Championship for Bernie Little after seven years of trying...
Directly
opposite the Miss Bud', a wall of assorted photographs are visible behind the
famous Miss Bardahl.
As the
metallic green “Dragon-boat” sits prominently tilted on its trailer. And the
mighty Rolls Royce Merlin engine smoke stack exhaust covers proudly proclaim
“Dragon Power!
Alongside
the Miss Bardahl is without doubt one of my 2 All-time favourite Miss
Budweiser’s! Tilted majestically on its trailer sits the all conquering Bud
from the early 1980’s. Being the mighty Rolls Royce Griffon powered Pickle-fork
Cabover boat, the 2nd of 3 Hulls produced.
This
Ron Jones, Sr. designed boat was one of the two most successful hulls ever
campaigned in Unlimited Hydroplane History! As this Juggernaut (trio) of Griffon
powered Hydro's won three championships (1980-81, and 1984) 24 Races and a
record 20 consecutive Heats!
A
small open area with photo display on stand leads to other hydros. Sitting
vertically on its stand looms the Slo Mo Shun V. Arguably the most famous
hydroplane to ever come out of Seattle. As it’s wonderful to see the boat
meticulously restored!
Slo Mo
V electrified the shores of Lake Washington's crowds with its famous flying
starts underneath the old HWY-520 Floating Bridge. Whilst dubiously, the boat
also performed the first barrel roll (1953) prior to Tex Johnson's mesmerizing,
and unexpected Barrel-roll of Boeing's first ever jet powered commercial
Aeroplane!
As I've subsequently scribbled 'bout the Driver of
that Slo Mo Shun V Hydroplane, Lou Fageol and his Indianapolis Motor Speedway
connections in;
It’s
ground breaking predecessor was the 2-seater Slo Mo Shun IV. This was the first
hydroplane from Seattle to upset the apple cart, stunning the racing world on
its debut in 1950. Before the streamlined futuristic Slo Mo V’s dynasty cast a
stranglehold over unlimited racing by shifting the vaunted Detroit dominance of
the sport to Seattle for five years.
While
admiring the Slo Mo Shun V and having the museum entirely to ourselves, an
older gentleman approached us. He seemed to serve as the museum’s caretaker?
Who shortly
engaged us in conversation. Before my Dad & Ron began waxing nostalgic over
the mighty Slo Mo hydroplanes. And after Tomas, Sr. recanted how the Slo Mo IV
stunned Detroit by capturing the 1950 Gold cup - Ron replied how the 2nd
driver had needed to plant his foot atop Ted Jones to win the race.
As Ted
Jones was scared “shitless” by that boat, according to Ron!
They
babbled on about how you needed to bother the staff at the MO-HI (Museum of
History & Industry) for a possible chance to glimpse the Slo Mo IV. (Although Larry has just
informed me that the MO-HI’s property has been sold when I originally wrote
this Wayback in '04)
Ron
followed us as we stopped to view the photo display where the two continued to
name names of past boats & drivers. As it was amazing hearing my Pops'
divulge more information about Hydroplanes than I'd ever heard him say before.
Most interesting being his waxing on 'bout having worked at the Machine Shop
that produced the Quil Shafts for the Slo Mo' Hulls.
Standing near The Bud, I asked Ron if that was
the Griffon powered boat driven by Jim Kropfeld? Ron replied yes but it’s
missing its engine. Grinning Ron said it had a little problem at this year's
hydroplane classic's race on Lake Washington. It threw its prop!
Actually
the notorious problem of running the Griffon had reared its ugly head. Upon
leaving the pits the quill shaft had sheared. This spun the over-revving “lump'
to 6,000 RPM’s before Detonating a piston and snapping the Prop Shaft!
Ron
said that the divers found the prop in fewer than 20 minutes. While Ron
mentioned that he thought there was enough left of the destroyed Griffon to
turn it into a museum piece…
Examining
the empty engine bay, Ron commented how the Griffon boats were Widow-makers', when
The 1st hull was destroyed trying to set the mile record in 1979. And
this boat (hull #2) had tragically claimed the life of the legendary Dean
Chenoweth at Tri-Cities in 1982.
I
asked Ron if the story about Bernie Little holding a monopoly on available
Griffon powerplants was true. Ron claimed that Bill Muncey had actually
purchased Griffons to campaign. (prior to his death at Acapulco in 1981)
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The late Dan Wheldon stands alongside his Bryan
Herta Autosports IndyCar at the 2011 Indy 500, which he'd win on the final lap!
(the Tomaso Collection)
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Fast
forwarding seven years, ironically but sadly, I'd just finished putting to bed
my story commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Bill Muncey's Death in Acapulco
at the helm of his dreaded "Blue Blaster!" Which I posted just two
days after the senseless Death of 'Ol Dannyboy SPIKE' Wheldon at the 2011 Las
Vegas IndyCar World Finals. Having already procured my Aeroplane ticket to The
Valley of The Sun for some much needed R 'N R.
While Y'all can check out this great Speed
Freaks interview with the late Dan Wheldon from 2011, just weeks after winning
his second Indy 500 when he was doing guest commentary work for Versus...
To continue reading, see; HYDROS: Long Forgotten Raceboat Museum Visit Thunders On
(Dan Wheldon photo c/o No Fenders ‘Offical
Photographer CARPETS')