Forgotten World of Hydroplane Racing: Wartime Engines Second Life! (Hydroplane Raceboat Museum)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdP9q0Dy80Y

Thanks for the link.
Memories of watching the races on the Detroit River as a kid in the late 70’s to mid 80’s. Was fortunate to have mom join us (aka drive us) on qualifying days as we got pit passes allow us to see the boats up close. Still have lots of pictures of Miss Bud Boat, Bill Muncey in the Atlas Van Lines Boat, and others.
The race days were long and hot in the sun, but so glad I got to experience them.

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Originally posted by caribouhunter:
Thanks for the link.
Memories of watching the races on the Detroit River as a kid in the late 70’s to mid 80’s. Was fortunate to have mom join us (aka drive us) on qualifying days as we got pit passes allow us to see the boats up close. Still have lots of pictures of Miss Bud Boat, Bill Muncey in the Atlas Van Lines Boat, and others.
The race days were long and hot in the sun, but so glad I got to experience them.

As a kid I remember going to the races on the Detroit river. The Allison engines were loud but the Rolls Royces were SO loud that I could feel the ground shake when they went by. After that I was hooked on loud and fast for the rest of my life. That may have something to do with my hearing loss....

I had a crazy, bachelor, great-uncle.

He pylon raced until too many/all of his friends were dead, they switched to hydroplanes, in the 60s or so, because they were safer.

No real point, other than to mention that it was considered one of the safer forms of gentlemanly entertainment, in the era.

The family went to watch his race, once and saw him sitting on the shore, soaking wet, laughing.

He told them he made the boat “a little too light”…. (Apparently the hull and deck separated during the race)

Nice! Thanks for posting.
In the 60's and 70's my Aunt was the Chairman of the Madison Regatta in Indiana.

My Uncle worked the tower, he fired the cannon and took the picture to make sure
no boat crossed the start line early. My cousin and I were allowed in the tower to watch.
I think Miss Budweiser was the first to switch to the turbine engine over the Merlins.
Haven't been to the race in decades, maybe next year, still have two cousins that live there.

I assumed people were still doing this although I remember a big wreck at one point.

I would think variable wings carried over from auto racing and made them much safer.

Interesting thread. I well remember as a kid, the whole family traveling to Lake Washington for a day at the races. Miss Budwiser, Miss Bardahl, they were all there. That would have been in the late fifties.

My uncle used to follow the world of Hydroplane racing closely. He attended many races and unfortunately witnessed quite a few spectacular crashes on the water at high speed.

We had an interesting discussion about how our two favorite Motorsports, hydroplane racing and motorcycles Grand Prix racing both seem to be in a major decline compared to the glory years of the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s.

The video link below is a very rare Mercury racing two stroke V6 that he had rebuilt. It SCREAMS!! Once he got it tuned perfectly he sold it because he never keeps any fun toys for too long.Link to Mercury racing two stroke

As a kid growing up in Miami, I have fond memories of watching many hydrofoil races at the now-defunct marine stadium on Virginia Key. What a thrill!