Here is the the August 1975 issue pages 1 - 8 , I apologize for the cover , i promise i did not do it , i would not deface such an iconic , in my opinion , boat !!
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Here is the the August 1975 issue pages 1 - 8 , I apologize for the cover , i promise i did not do it , i would not deface such an iconic , in my opinion , boat !!
Here are pages 9 - 16.
Here is the September 1975 edition pages 1 - 8 .
Here are pages 9 - 16.
Here is the October 1975 issue of Propeller , inside you will find plenty of information on the 1975 Stock Nationals which were held at Dayton.
Here are pages 9 - 16
Here are the last 4 pages.
I said earlier I had a lot to say about this year, but between business and the Hurricane, I have been too busy. So I will briefly mention some of the things that happened regarding earlier issues of Propeller.
Since I was out of racing from Memorial Day, I could not compete. My Dad, Jack and I had talked it over and decided that motors and boats were developing so rapidly, that if I was going to be able to compete again after I recovered, we needed to continue to go to the "national events" and have a driver to keep our stuff out there and see how it stacked up. We went to the Eastern Divisionals at Gadsden, Alabama. It was a beautiful race course with perfect pits. Tim Butts drove for us. I think it was the first time he ever competed in C and D hydro. I don't think he drove F. It was a good learning experience for Tim. It helped him get an idea of the faster speeds, but also the power and acceleration coming off the turns. As a consequence, he designed a new boat for us, plus also gave him a heads up for what he was up against for winning the 1977 OD UIM World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.
We went to the Western Divisionals at Fort Worth, Texas where we didn't have a driver, but we wanted to keep in the mix. Homer Kincaid was there along with our Honorary Texans Johnny Dortch and Alan Ishii. Jim McKean took a local TV station reporter for a ride in his D Hydro for some publicity shots for the races to be held over the next two days.
In between these races Joe Rome, my girlfriend Debbie and I made as many OPC races as we could. Donna Buczo was Region 15 publicity chairman and did an excellent job along with her photographer husband and driver Pete. We went to most of the races Donna wrote about. The biggest was the Clear Lake race put on by Red Adair. Most of the big names in OPC and Inboard racing were there, and the OMC rotaries were there. Debbie and I had a wonderful time and got to see Billy Seebold, Ted May, Bob Nordskog and take pictures of some legends I had only read about.
Went to the Nationals at Winona, Minnesota. Bob and Judy Smith Spearheaded the effort from Minneapolis and other Minnesota boat racers, and I was maybe the finest first time Pro Nationals ever. The water was perfect as were the pits, with even shade trees to go with shallow launching. Bucky Makofski was referee and it was almost perfect with the crew. Only problem I heard about was from Joe Rome. I didn't pay attention, but Joe recalled the "Only" food in the pits was a hot dog stand. When I was racing, I didn't pay attention to food. I only ate a little bit to make sure my stomach wouldn't growl, but if there was a lot of action....food didn't catch my attention. To this day, Joe will not eat hot dogs.
Bob, Judy and the guys put on a fantastic 1974 Eastern Divisionals, which they had submitted to APBA earlier to "practice" for their winning bid of the 1975 Grain Belt Pro Nationals. That was also a great race and the first and only time I have ever seen the Aurora Borealis. The Nationals were fantastic though. We took our trailer there. Tim ran our A and B hydros, but didn't want to run the C,D, and F rigs. We tried to get Charlie Bailey to run our C Hydro. He didn't sign up for D or F. Charlie decided though that he wanted to run his own C hydro. It was a Butts, brand new to Charlie and built either before or after Tim build our current C hydro. He finished second the first heat, and decided to run our rig the second heat. He won and set a new record.
Here are the first 8 pages of the November issue.
Pages 9-16
Pages 17-20
The two pictures on page 16 of the November issue 1) Does the Colonel Green Star Island trophy still exist or has it been destroyed and 2) the picture of Bill Rucker in the runabout , I'm sure is an optical illusion but he sure looks like he is barely in the boat.
Don't know about the trophy Dale, but although it might look like an optical illusion, Bill Rucker, Jr. is in a position that when the keel slaps the water his knees will slap the bottom of the cockpit and he will be bounced back up in the same position into the turn as he was the instant this photo was taken. Bill will continue his position as he maneuvers around to the straight. That's the fun of still photography Dale, to be able to capture a perfect moment of suspense. Not saying that Bill didn't catch a wave wrong right after this pic, but looks to me like a good hard drive through a turn.
Dale-The picture of Rucker says Sparks Nevada. You could probably fit 2 Sparks races inside of Depue. It was very small and very rough. The ran what they called Grand Prix runabout moons ago. All runabouts combined. Frank Zorkin had his bad wreck there from what I remember Frank telling me
Sometime in the late 50's, (I think 58 or 59) that was my first real cold bath. If I remember correctly at the drivers meeting, it was decided since they were small white caps, the 'A' Hydro's would be the judge if the races were going to be held or not. Stupid me, I couldn't figure out why I was leading the pack to the first corner, then I found out! Fillinger hydros did not like rough water so in their revenge, they decided to give me a bath. Scary as it was my first out of boat experience.
Yes Sparks was small and rough. Never thought I would see a smaller course than Lodi and Lodi was tiny.
The 'Puddle' in Los Angeles. Alkies raced there usually 2 times a year. Stocks and Ron Hill, NIGHTLY! Second bath, but just plain stupidity on my part. Tried to beat the 1 minute gun after forgetting to turn on my fuel!
Received email that Dec 75 was posted, none here?
Not here but just received another email that Dec 75 was posted?
Still having the same issue as pages will not post in order , I have sent Ron and email and hopefully we can get this resolved.
The truth is, all us "OLDER GENTLEMEN", will read every page, word for word anyway, So, who cares what order? I read them AND I always look for my name!
I have been enjoying these threads and agree with Ron. If they pages won't behave just publish them and we will work the order out. Thanks in advance
Agreed just post what ever the page order we can do simple math :)
Here is the December 1975 Issue
Here is the rest of December 1975
Interesting, in 1974, at Dayton, I had won D Runabout. In 1975, had sold my boat to a school teacher in Massachusetts named John Grant before the race. In testing, my boat was so much faster than my 1974 winning boat, I planned to win with no trouble. I ran 10th, with water in my gas.
Dick Fickett had bought a bunch of Model 80 Yamato props from me, and for payment, I had taken in several of his gas tanks on trade.
Little did I notice, that when I started my motor and "took off" my vent line sucked up the water on top of the tanks.
So, 1975, has a Super C Class. Reed Riddle from Utah says, "Why don't you run my SUPER C?" After I make one test lap, I come in and tell Reid, this 'Sumbitch' is like a "C" Konig." I know Reid like a brother, I say, "Reed, let me drive your hydro. I can win Super C Hydro." Anyway, they run Super C Runabout, I win with little a do. Super C Hydro comes up and Reed doesn't trophy. After this, Red, becomes an owner, not a driver.
I think I was the first and LAST Super C Runabout Champion.
When put on the BAKERSFIELD NATIONALS, 1977, we wanted an east coast Referee. Phil Charland's name came up. So, we hired him. He did a GREAT JOB. I never heard his name after the 1977 Bakersfield Nationals.
I made rocky props for his GN, and at 1979's APBA Convention which I put on, we had a two hour "Cocktail Hour" at Benihana's in Las Vegas. Rocky was a great host to us boat racers. So, 1975, til 1979 he was an APBA member and supporter.
Mickey is still racing and so is his daughter. Mickey misses 36 runabout.
Hey Ron, great picture! But I'm pretty sure that's my dad, taken during the marathon. I have the 8x10 of this hanging in my office.
I thought I had a picture of Danny somewhere and I can't seem to find it...and I don't have any pictures of Mickey driving.