Inboard hydros

[Master Oil Racing Team]

I could have sworn I had posted something on an inboard hydro thread a couple of months before, but couldn't find it. Anyway, here are a few Unlimiteds from Dayton in 1977. The course was to small for them to uncork. Just a little tease for the inboard guys. I've still got some inboard hydro and flatbottom stuff from the 70's to post. If you want to take a look, sign up.

[Dan M]

Wayne,
If I remember right, The Alky guys were pitted at the far end of the race course, just beyond turn 1. On Friday when the Unlimited guys went out to practice, we all thought that there was no way that those boats would be able to make the first turn. Every one of the trailers that were parked down there were loaded up and moved to the middle of the front straight. I can remember standing there and seeing completly under Atlas as Muncey blasted down the front straight. Those Allison/ Merlin motors shook the ground. A sound that you never forget. Awesome....... :D :D :D

Dan

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Dan, I don't remember the move because I was already parked in the middle of the front straightway, but I remember thinking....how are these guy's going to turn. Dan......do you remember Bill Muncey swinging very very wide on a turn? He was just coming out of he last turn? for the finish and went wide. He lost a fin. My sister had it on film and you can see it glint off the sun as it flew off. It was 16mm film. Had some of it transferred a few years ago. Need to get the rest done.

[Dan M]

Wayne,

All I remember is that when the Unlimiteds ran, everyone moved waaaaaay up the bank to watch. Like you said, the course way a little small for those guys, and they used every inch of it.

Dan :D

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Last week while I was looking in my race result folder for the year 1976, I found a race roster with inboard racers, but no date or place. Having only watched inboard hydros run just a few times, I realized the race was at Firebird Lake in Arizona January 24, 1976.

I recognized some of the names, but not all. Wanda Zorkan had sent the results to me after the race. I regret not going through the pits taking pictures. Even though some names were familiar because of Powerboat and the Propeller magazines, I didn't think I knew anyone. I was surprised to see Jay Root was racing 2.5 liter and finished 4th. It had been 7 years since I last saw Jay and regret I didn't get to visit. I first met Jay when we pitted next to him at the Golden Shores Winternationals in 1969, and we hit it off from the very first. I may have some photos of him at this race, but in my first glance through the photos, there were a number of hydros that I could not determine the number.

I did find this pic though of Cap'n Zee. He won 280 hydro in his E 34 hydro "Skoshi Tiger". On the outside is Rich Alves in E190 who finished third.

[capnzee]

Last week while I was looking in my race result folder for the year 1976, I found a race roster with inboard racers, but no date or place. Having only watched inboard hydros run just a few times, I realized the race was at Firebird Lake in Arizona January 24, 1976.

I recognized some of the names, but not all. Wanda Zorkan had sent the results to me after the race. I regret not going through the pits taking pictures. Even though some names were familiar because of Powerboat and the Propeller magazines, I didn't think I knew anyone. I was surprised to see Jay Root was racing 2.5 liter and finished 4th. It had been 7 years since I last saw Jay and regret I didn't get to visit. I first met Jay when we pitted next to him at the Golden Shores Winternationals in 1969, and we hit it off from the very first. I may have some photos of him at this race, but in my first glance through the photos, there were a number of hydros that I could not determine the number. That picture of the "Skoshi Tiger" brought back many memories., Some of the boats that followed the Skoshi Tiger was the "Tiger II", the "Zooper Tiger", and the "Flying Tiger". Bothe the Skoshi Tiger and the Tiger II were built by Bill Boyes. The Zooper Tiger was a Jones built, 2,5 Liter and the Flying Tiger was a 6 liter built by John Gibbs. (Both the 2.5 L and the 6 L are currently running in the antique circuit) This months "Big River" magazine had a picture of the Flying Tiger. Capnzee

I did find this pic though of Cap'n Zee. He won 280 hydro in his E 34 hydro "Skoshi Tiger". On the outside is Rich Alves in E190 who finished third. My reply is sandwiched between the quotes. Thanks for the memory. Rod

[Rage28]

My reply is sandwiched between the quotes. Thanks for the memory. Rod

Rod, what was the 6L that you had before the Gibbs?

[capnzee]

The 6 liter I had before the Gibbs was a "home built" by a fellow in San Diego. It was also called the Flying Tiger. Took it to Dayton, Ohio Nationals where I was disqualified in the first heat for closing the lane on a slower boat, then ran 2nd in the last heat. Good race though! The boat then went back to San Diego where it still "lives", in obscurity. Rod