12 minute read

UNLIMITED HYDROPLANES

UNLIMITED HYDROPLANES COMING TO MAHOGANY & MERLOT

The 1954 My Sweetie John Francis was designed by John Hacker and built by Les Staduacher for Horace Dodge (heir to the auto fortune.) It is powered by a V-1710 Allison and was one of the last step hydroplanes ever built. It’s best finish was 5th place in the 1954 Detroit Sliver Cup. The boat is currently owned by Dr. Ken Muscatel

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Veteran unlimited hydroplane crewman Dixon Smith owns the famous 1962 Miss Bardahl. With Ron Musson at the wheel the Miss Bardahl won the Gold Cups and three National Championships in a row. The boat was virtually unbeatable in1963,64 and 65. She is powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin. The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum’s 1956 Miss Wahoo (Replica) is an exact duplicate of Bill Boeing Jr’s Miss Wahoo. The Wahoo was driven by Mira Slovak and won several races but is best remembered for winning the 1959 President’s Cup, allowing Czech defector Mira Slovak to meet President Eisenhower and thank his for his assistance in becoming an U.S. Citizen.

Mitch Evan’s 1964 Blue Chip was built in 1957 as the Breathless Too and has raced under more different names than just about any other unlimited hydroplane in history. In 1964 this Allison powered boat was owned by Fairlane Tool Company of Frasier Michigan. When machining steel, the chips that fly off the mill are often turned blue by the heat, hence the name “Blue Chip.” Miss U.S. IV was built in 1957 and only raced one year. She was built by Henry Lauterbach and powered by an Allison engine. Her best finish was 2nd place in the 1957 Sahara Cup. The US IV was restored by Jay Armstrong of Omaha NB.

The 1973 Pay N’ Pak is powered by Rolls Royce Merlin and is owned by Dr. Ken Muscatel. The Pay N’ Pak was the first unlimited hydroplane built out of honeycomb aluminum and was the first boat to be successful with a horizontal stabilizer. This hull won the national championship four years in a row. (1973, 74, 75 and 76)

UNLIMITED HYDROPLANES COMING TO MAHOGANY & MERLOT

was built in 1957 and only raced one year. She was built by Henry Lauterbach and powered by an Allison engine. Her best finish was 2nd place in the 1957 Sahara Cup. The US IV was restored by Jay Armstrong of Omaha NB.

is powered by Rolls Royce Merlin and is owned by Dr. Ken Muscatel. The Pay N’ Pak was the first unlimited hydroplane built out of honeycomb aluminum and was the first boat to be successful with a horizontal stabilizer. This hull won the national championship four years in a row. Seattle telecommunications magnate Bruce McCaw owns the 1958 Miss Bardahl. She won the first race she entered: the 1958 Apple Cup on Lake Chelan with local favorite Norm Evans driving. Evans was replaced by Mira Slovak for the rest of the 58 season and Slovak piloted her to the 1958 National Championship.

The hydroplane and Raceboat Museum’s 1960 Miss Burien will be carrying the colors of the 1976 Oh Boy Oberto (Replica) in honor of the late Art Oberto who passed away in August. This Allison powered boat raced from 1960 to 1978 under a variety of different names. Her top finish came in her second race in 1960 when she claimed 2nd place in the 1960 Diamond Cup. The 1962 Notre Dame (Replica) is owned by Thunder Valley Hydroplanes. This boat was built in 1961 as the Miss Lumberville. She is most famous for portraying the 1971 Miss Madison in the 2005 MGM film Madison.

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum’s newest restoration is the 1979 Squire Shop. This Rolls Royce Merlin powered, Norberg designed hydroplane is best remembered for being the boat that legendary driver Chip Hanauer drove to his first unlimited victory ever, when he claimed the 1979 Ogden Utah Golden Spike Regatta.

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The four Official Lake Chelan Apple Cup programs from 1957,1958,1959 & 1960 from the personal collection of Hydroplane Memorabilia Collector David Anderson

season testing. Sam DuPont’s new Nitrogen from Wilmington, Delaware was the biggest unknown quantity.

Don Wilson, aboard Miss U.S. I, broke the course qualifying mark at 116.+ mph, only to watch the new Maverick take the Harry Wolfe Trophy for the fastest qualifier at 114.648 mph. The race was shaping up as potentially the best ever, with but one small cloud of uncertainty - the wind. On Friday and Saturday, the winds gusted to 30 mph, and the course closed early both days. The starting time for the first heat was advanced two hours. Television people whined, but so did the wind.

In Heat 1-A, Bill Muncey in Miss Thriftway turned in a truly magnificent driving job. Starting in fourth place, he worked his way through the pack to victory, Miss U.S. was second, Maverick was third, and Wahoo finished fourth, followed by two rookies, Don Dunnington in Nitrogen and Dick Short in Fascination.

In Heat 1-B, Chuck Hickling in Miss Pay ‘n Save and Miss Bardahl jockey Jack Regas hit the starting line on the button, with Bill Brow and Miss Burien hot at their heels. Miss Burien blew her engine on lap three. Bardahl and Pay ‘n Save had a great duel. On the final lap Bardahl went for broke, but Pay ‘n Save closed the door to finish first. Miss Bardahl was second and Miss Spokane third. Brian Wygle brought Thriftway Too home fourth and Harry Reeves and Coral Reef were fifth.

By the time Heat 2-A rolled around the wind began to pick up. Maverick hit the line first and took the lead on lap one. After two laps Thriftway Too blew a gear box. On the third lap Maverick hooked and driver Bill Stead ended up on the deck. He waved everything OK, but then discovered he was sinking. The heat was stopped and Maverick was towed back to the pits, a foot-square hole showing in the side of the sponson. With water conditions worsening, harried officials quickly called for Heat 2-B.

During Heat 2-B the water was getting a little tough. Miss Bardahl seemed to have a slight edge in rough water and finished in first place, followed by Miss Thriftway, Miss Spokane, Wahoo, and Coral Reef.

The re-run of Heat 2-A saw no better water. The brisk chop was soon replaced by rollers, and these conditions didn’t allow any challenging. Miss Pay ‘n Save got out in front and achieved her second checkered flag of the day. Miss U.S. I came in second, followed by Nitrogen. Fascination failed to finish.

The lake was now a blanket of whitecaps. A drivers’ vote brought a postponement. It was then decided that one boat would try the course, Miss Bardahl was put into the water and porpoised for one lap. Regas came back to the pits and his thumbsdown gesture substantiated his performance on the race course. The Final heat was cancelled and the race declared a contest. With two heat victories and 800 points, Chuck Hickling and Miss Pay ‘n Save took home the cup.

Newspaper accounts of the final Apple Cup, held on May 8, 1960, headlined the “tiff” between Mira Slovak and Bill Muncey. Slovak appeared to be the culprit as the two drivers aimed roostertails at each other during two match-ups. Slovak and Wahoo only scored 400 points for the day, finishing fifth over-all. Muncey and Miss Thriftway earned 1025 points and gained first place honors.

The new Miss Burien, replacing the old boat which sank the previous year at the Diamond Cup, made her first appearance, driven by Chuck Hickling. Another new boat made her debut, Bob Gilliam’s Miss Everett, driven by Red Loomis. The former Miss U.S. II, renamed Miss Tool Crib and driven by Del Fanning, had mechanical gremlins and failed to qualify.

Other entries included the Miss Thriftway, Wahoo, Miss Bardahl with rookie Jim McGuire at the wheel, Joe Mascari’s Hawaii Kai III with Ron Musson driving, Miss Spokane with another rookie, Rex Manchester, piloting the “Lilac Lady”, and Nitrogen, the only eastern contender, with Norm Evans driving.

In Heat 1-A, the boats were packed at the start except for Hawaii Kai, which trailed. Musson stomped on it and blew a supercharger. The remaining three boats hit the first turn in a fountain of spray and Muncey was washed down. The Thriftway lost two-thirds of a lap before restarting the engine. Wahoo meanwhile had come off the exit pin first, closely followed by Nitrogen. They finished Wahoo, Nitrogen, and Miss Thriftway. Heat 1-B again had a good start. Miss Bardahl dove into the first corner first with Miss Burien right behind. Miss Spokane and KOLroy I trailed. Bardahl retained the lead throughout the entire heat. Miss Burien, pressing hard on the first turn of lap two, hooked and spun out. Hickling got going again, and the ailing Miss Spokane turned into the infield with an expired engine, Miss Burien regained second place ahead of KOLroy I. Miss Spokane and Hawaii Kai were out for the day, so the field was shortened to seven boats and a singlesection Heat 2 was scheduled. The highlight of this heat was a rematch of the first heat “duel” between Miss Thriftway and Wahoo. Slovak took a two boat-length lead as Wahoo took the buoys close. Muncey took the Thriftway wide and would dive in on the exit buoy. On the third turn of the third lap, this cost Muncey another bath. He got going again quickly, and by this time Wahoo began to show signs of heating up. As Wahoo went dead in the water, Thriftway took first place. Steady-driving Norm Evans in Nitrogen was second, followed by Miss Burien, Miss Bardahl, and Miss Everett.

The Final heat was a repeat field of heat 2, with the exception of Wahoo, which had pushed a rod through the side of the engine. Miss Thriftway had no trouble getting out in front. Muncey held the lead, took the checkered flag, and captured the cup. Nitrogen was doing a good job of cornering but just didn’t have it in the straightaways. Miss Burien was right behind Nitrogen and finished third. Miss Bardahl, working hard to make up for a poor start, came in fourth, and Miss Everett limped in fifth.

After four years of Unlimited hydroplane racing, the Chelan races were cancelled, amid a combination of increased expenses and problems.

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AUCTION NOTE: After many years in the plumbing business, Jim and Gail are moving to town. As well as being well respected in the business, they are well kown as great neighbors. There is a wide variety of items on this auction.

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The month of Scare-Crazy is here! Join us in Cashmere for Apple

Days the first weekend of October to celebrate the harvest along with finding over 35 Scare-Crows placed through out the Cashmere Community all month long! Finally on October 31st is our traditional Trick-Or-Treat Day! See you in Cashmere for our Family Fun Events!

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201 Cottage Ave Suite #2, Cashmere - (509) 888-1937

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Located minutes from Wenatchee in downtown Cashmere, our candy factory is the perfect stop for the whole family! Our friendly tour guides will walk you through every step of our candy making process... from hand-poured sweets to hand-packed boxes... that has been a Liberty Orchards tradition for over 100 years!

TryOur NewOrchard Bars!

Aplets & Cotlets Gift Shop & Tour Hours

January-March, Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. April-December, Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, Weekends 10:00am-4:00pm

Just off Hwy 2 in Cashmere | Telephone: 509-782-2191 | Web: LibertyOrchards.com

Production and tour hours do not always coincide, therefore the factory may not be producing for all tours.