1) Bob Senior's Hydro Collector's Corner is a wonderful little newsletter that comes out by snail mail and costs
$3 per year, for 3 issues. He keeps Unlimited Hydroplane collectors in the loop with what is new, what is hot,
who is selling or buying. If you are a subscriber then you can advertise in it for free. There is history, news, and
lots of sources to go to if you want to learn about collecting boat racing memorabilia. Bob can be reached at
206-364-7432 or email him at Bob.senior@juno.com.
2) APBA Vintage Race Boat OBSESSION, see http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com/Obsession8.htm. TINKER,
Jersey Speed Skiff update. See Dave Yeager at http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com/Tinker.htm (Bill John)
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3) Seattle Outboard Association, PIT PREVIEWS; Ryan Johnson reported that he hopes to hold SOA's Novice
school on either March 18th or March 25th, and hopes to do that at the Hydroplane museum. He would like any
names and phone numbers of potential new racers so he can keep in contact with them and ensure they get to the
school. Ryan can be called at 425-235-5084. Ryan’s E-Mail: ryanjohnson@thunderboats.org. (John Paramore)
4) Chip Hanauer to speak on boat racing driving strategies, March 17, 7pm at the Hydro Museum, in Kent, WA.
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5) See whats going on across the nation, not just in region 4 but other neighboring regions as well. For more info
see http://pinkpantherhydro.freehomepage.com/ Durward and Diane Wilson
6) Hope lots of folks show up (for the Bridge to Bridge Festival in Sacramento, California). Last year the
event was populated by many of the current style "Poker Run Boats" making some pretty impressive passes.
I think Hot Boat Magazine did a spot on the event one year. Keep up the good work. (GD) GD: Write
in and encourage the boat racing magazines to come and report on the event. They will if their public wants them
to. The more articles and photos done on boat racing, the stronger the support. Always support the media and
make them feel welcome at your events. I write for DRIVE Magazine and some of the events that I go to, in
order to do my stories, go out of their way to get me interviews. Other event promoters think of us as nuisances
and pests. But the free publicity we give to an organization or race is vital to their success. Since there are multiple
events to cover, here are some tips: 1) Have your members write in to the editor of the magazine and ask them to
come and cover their event. 2) Provide a source for the writers to plug in a laptop if you can. 3) Make sure that
water and snacks are available as the writers and photographers, when going after a story, never think to eat or
drink anything. 4) Have a Media Rep available to answer questions as to where the action is and who the drivers
and teams are. A Media Representative can prove valuable in leading the magazine writers and photographers
to the right place at the right moment. 5) Don't overlook the boat racing websites and E-zines. You want to have
a list of all the publications, their editors, writers and photographers, so that you can send them periodic updates
and schedules. 6) When they check in, give them their credentials and don't make them beg for them, or have to
run all over looking for "someone with authority" to okay their entrance. Magazines give you two or more pages
of texts and photos, so treat them like gold. 7) Encourage the boat racing businesses to take out Ads in the boat
racing magazines in the name of the organization and their own business, in order to let the magazines know that
you are willing to return the favor. For more information on a) promoting, b) televising, or c) encouraging spon-
sorship for your team or boat racing association, email me at the Boat Racers Newsletter for my articles.
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7) Hydro Fever collectibles meet, May 27, Hydro Museum, in Kent, WA. Dealer's tables only $25.
8) I appreciate your newsletter! Hopefully sometime we'll meet up and talk boat racing. We lived in Eagle Rock,
CA from 1947-1951. Even though I was a tot, (being born in 1944), I remember Mom and Dad taking us for
drives out to see "Signal Hill" in Long Beach. I don't remember them talking about "Marine Stadium" but they
probably weren't boat racing fans. Too bad. Maybe Bill Muncey and I would have been competitors. (Dick
Bowne) Readers: Anyone else remember the Marine Stadium races? Or Frankie Ramos/Cornelius, the
Promoter and Manager for many years at the facility?
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9) Nashville 2005 Hydro Race Souvenirs, posters, programs, lapel pins (tacks). Contact Bob.senior@juno.com.
10) Detroit River Regatta Association (DRRA) Regatta Review newsletter by Brian Reed. The Chrysler/Jeep Super-
stores APBA Gold Cup, July 14-16, 2006, Detroit, Michigan. Two-time Gold Cup winner Billy Schumacher
(1967, 1968) has purchased the U-8 which ran for a good number of years as the MISS LLUMAR WINDOW
FILM. He plans to change almost nothing. The shop, crew, driver, etc will remain the same and Bill Wurster
will stay on as an advisor. As recently as two seasons ago, Bill had talked about driving again and trying to be the
youngest and oldest driver to win the Gold Cup. But now he says he might not even take it for a ride. U-1 ELAM
PLUS will be driven by Dave Villwock. The boat is being rebuilt and improved for 2006. U-2 JIM HARVEY
MOTORSPORTS will be driven by J Michael Kelly. They are looking for a national sponsor at this time. U-3
COOPER RACING will be driven by Jimmy King. No new news but I expect to see them on the full circuit.
U-5/U-7 FORMULA BOATS will be driven by Mike Weber. U-6 OH BOY! OBERTO/MISS MADISON
will be driven by Steve David. The boat is being repaired after San Diego and improvements are being made.
U-8 owner is Bill Schumacher and the driver will be Jean Theoret. U-10 USA RACING PARTNERS will
be driven by Nate Brown. They have a new and larger boat shop at the Las Vegas Speedway and Nate Brown
is preparing the ex-BUDWEISER (T3) hull for 2006...no major changes to it. U-13 owner is Dave Bartush and
the driver will be Terry Troxell. The boat is in a new shop in Seattle and being greatly rebuilt. Owner Dave
Bartush reports that the hull was in far worse shape than expected, and about it holding together as well as it did
last year said "sometimes ignorance is bliss." Dave also says that the seat is Terry's for as long as he wants it.
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11) Madison Hydroplane Heritage, by Fred Farley. 2nd edition, $29.95 postage included. A second book by
Farley is A Century of Gold Cup Racing, $24.95. See Ron Harsin at 8681 W. New Bethel Rd, Lexington,
Indiana 47138.
12) ...while a relative late comer to the Marine Stadium SCSC/APBA races I did compete there in 1959, my
first year in Hydroplane racing. My 266 and later 5 liter AQUA-HOLIC inboard hydro ran pretty much
every race held there until about 1971. Never heard about anyone other than Wally starting the NHRA
until now. Perhaps more info on this would be of interest. Mike Waters Mike: In the early days AAA ran
the sprint car races while the APBA ran the boats. Most of the racers did a little of everything, but one place that
a great number of racers did was run the dry lakes. Guys like Isky, Edelbrock, Weiand, Clay Smith and others
came from the hot rodding world, but they didn't stay there. All of them dabbled in the boats, sponsored them,
or worked on the engines. One of our BRR honoree's was Louie Unser. Another racer was Danny Oakes.
These guys knew what they were doing whether it was wheel or keel. Dad was asked by a number of organizations
to lead them, and finally choose to go into land drag racing. He took with him guys that he knew, who were into
everything in the early days, like Ak Miller, Carroll Shelby, Bob Gottlieb and Marvin Lee. Miller followed
my Dad as SCTA President. Gottlieb was the chief legal counsel for Hot Rod Magazine and Robert "Pete"
Petersen. Shelby needs no introduction in racing. Marvin Lee was a partner with Petersen in Hollywood Assoc-
iates, a PR firm, and a person who helped car clubs and NHRA form and conduct business. Marvin's son, and a
good friend of boat racing, is Larry Lee, the architect and artist. While the idea for an "association of car clubs"
was Dad's, he had lots of help from his friends, many of whom left the land and re-evolved as water racers. Tell
us more about the AQUA-HOLIC and the decade (1960's) many claim to be the Golden Age of boat racing.
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13) A very exciting new boat has been designed and will soon be on the market. Former IndyCar and boat race driver
Dick Simon is involved with the new PATRIOT race boat. (From Don Logay, 949-240-9500, and Don Kay at
Auto Sport Radio)
14) Ned Crimmin's hydroplane collection project now has 5 cabinets full of photos. If you need a photo of a boat
or driver from 1952-1980's, contact Ned at khabt114@att.net.
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15) Ross Wallach reports on the March 4-5 SCSC race at Lake Ming. For the complete story and race results send
your request to me for a copy or see www.scscracing.com.
16) Hydroplane Button Collector's Price Guide, by Ned Olsoe now available. 125 pages, 4500 entries, with full
descriptions and dimensions, only $20. Contact Ned at 425-747-8062.
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17) 2006 Bluewater Resort and Casino Spring Classic, April 21-22, 2006, SCSC boat races. Reservations call
888-243-3360 and ask for the 2006 BWRC Spring Classic to get the $79/night racer rate. Or contact Ross
Wallach, SCSC Commodore at 310-704-3243. Website info is at www.scscracing.com.
18) New DVD's on sale at the Hydroplane Museum; 1) the 1982 Hydro season, narrated by Chip Hanauer, 2) the
1974 Sand Point Gold Cup, 3) Decade of the 50's, 4) Decade of the 60's, 5) Decade of the 70's, and 6) Decade
of the 80's. They have over 40 other DVDs. Contact the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum at 206-764-9453.
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19) That's good news about the U-5 team buying the Bud hulls and support equipment. How many U's are go-
ing to race in 2006? Hopefully 12 or 13. Freddy Leland has that many tubs in his back yard! Dick Bowne
20) Boat Racers Reunion tie tack sets are no longer on the market except for those donated to the Wally Parks
NHRA Motorsports Museum, and a limited amount by Bob Senior at Bob.senior@juno.com.
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21) Unlimited Hydroplanes Encyclopedia, by Bob Burd. 450pp, photos, $75. Call Bob Burd at 425-432-0371.
22) Herin's Collectibles, hydroplane memorabilia newsletter and auction. Email to hydroherin@frontiernet.net.
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23) Really enjoy the newsletter. Say, can anyone confirm Jim McCormick's role with Harrah's Club in the 1968
Tri Cities Atomic Cup race? Did he drive? Thanks -- keep up the great work. Randy Mueller, Gig Harbor, WA.
Randy: If anyone knows, it would be Fred Farley and Bob Senior, and I know they will respond.