John Riner Woods Will Be There!!!

[Ron Hill]

Ron,


The California Alky Outboard contingent is welcome at our place
anytime! I'll look forward to a few 25 cent beers.... etc and some time
together at Depue, Il. in August. I'll bring Lakeland Photos & more. Do
you know of anyone who would loan me a really good C-service engine to
clamp on to my "new" DeSilva.... 13'6"(old style) Y-100 runabout. I
think I still remember how to drive it! For grins.... check out our new
web site.... www.arborwayrailroad.com (http://www.arborwayrailroad.com) I've gone from Boats to trains.....
73's John

ADD: John ain't never turned a train over, yet...

If I have written about Johnny Woods in our Encyclopedia, it is because I have been waiting on getting his lakeland Blow OVer pictures...Johnny loved racing and he wasn't one to back off.....O.F. Christner use to say, "Keep your eye on Woody, he'll be going SLAT anytime now... Johnny loved outboards, but I think he won more titles in his Ron Jones 225...JOHNNY WAS BORN RICH AND AS HE WAS FOND OF SAYING, I DON'T KNOW IT FEELS TO BE POOR, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN RICH.

Rich indeed...even if John Riner Woods didn't have a dime he'd be a great guy to call as a friend... Woods and me used to eat ears of corn at DePue...We'd always remind each other to be sure and chew that stuff, then we'd laugh like hell..

I told Johnny that Freddy Hauenstein had several C-Service motors, but Freddy probably wouldn't loan him one...

I think he built this train for his grand kids....

ADD: John used to invite me down for a month....and he was serious, but I worked for a LIVING.....now that I'm retired, I told him I'd be down to stay awhile..that is why he said, "Come on down!!".

[Gene East]

Tim Chance is the BDOBR who hooked us up with John. Thanks Tim.
Everyone one on this board knows someone who should be at the reunion in DePue.( I can't believe it would be anywhere else). Keep talking this event up. It going to be a time to remember.
BTW:
I checked out John's train web site. Congratulations John. Very very impressive!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

There was some private talk between a couple of the organizing committee members about a possible silent auction at the reunion as a fund raiser for the DePue Men's Club for future nationals. Or possibly to help defray some costs of the reunion? Anyway, if this idea materializes, I will have some autographed photos to donate to the auction including an autographed photo of Marshall Grant taken at DePue in 1973. Heck, I would like to donate money for a permanent Pro Museum downtown.:D

[Tim Chance]

There was some private talk between a couple of the organizing committee members about a possible silent auction at the reunion as a fund raiser for the DePue Men's Club for future nationals. Or possibly to help defray some costs of the reunion? Anyway, if this idea materializes, I will have some autographed photos to donate to the auction including an autographed photo of Marshall Grant taken at DePue in 1973. Heck, I would like to donate money for a permanent Pro Museum downtown.:D

Count me in. I just found a mint condition of Hydroplane Quarterly, Spring 1974. The last one I published. It should go for at least a dollar.

[Ron Hill]

Johnny Woods is a very humble man. He admits that he has "no clue" about being poor because he's always been rich.

Johnny Woods provided spectators with some of there best Boat Racing viewing when he drove. Johnny and his brother Dave captivated spectators at the Parker 9 Hour Enduro...

When Jonny teamed with Hank Green, Green and Woods gave trophies at DePue, that were worth thousands of dollars...Big tall mother trophies...

I was the High Point driver at DePue, in 1967. there was no Green and Woods Trophy that year. 40 years later, I always felt I deserved the Green and Woods Trophy.

At this point in my life, I feel lucky to be able to talk to the GREAT JOHNNY WOODS, a legend in his time.

A few years back, we were having dinner with John Riner Woods. Broc Hill, my youngest son, was with us... About half was through dinner Broc said, "Johnny, my dad says you have a lot of money..." Johnny looked at Broc and said, "Son, I probably have more more than your daddy thinks I have..."

Truth is Johnny Woods has been rich all his life, but it never made him any different that you and I...and as he said, "When you go to DePue, be sure to chew that corn..."....

God John, can't wait to see you in DePue!!!!