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Havasu Outboard World Championships 1966
This was the first time I ever raced against 126 other drivers at the same time. The boat was fast, but lucky for me, it broke early! Ernie Dawe was to be my Co-Driver, he was glad he didn't have to get in and drive....A very wild race in those days!
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Jake Russell Hill: 10/27/2012
Jake is taking a little break. He's been helping Grandpa and dad. There is always a lot of work to be done at the Hill Marine Propeller Factory.
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Before APBA Changed Their Point System and Calendar Year......
Before APBA got the "BRIGHT IDEA" to change the points year from January 1st to October 31, and move the membership year the same, we used to race at Lake Weist in December. Lake Weist is outside Brawley, California near the Mexican border. It is quite warm there in December. This was in December 1973. My wife, two month old child and I stayed in Rod Zapf's motor home......came close to freezing to death as his heater didn't work. We had a great race, I bought Rod's boat, motor and trailer as he was going Inboard racing the next year. I went home and bought a new Winnebago.
Ron Hill
December, 1973, Lake Weist, Brawley, California. Ron Hill leads D Runabout, 84- C is Rod Zapf (Driving a Bill Boyes Runabout. Ernie Dawe is 29-C driving a Dawe Runabout.
Ron Hill was driving a Hill Runabout.
The three of us are still good friends , boat racing is family, friends and fun!
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"Quickies" Now Days Ain't Gearcases...
When I was a KID, it was a great time to be a KID! Seaboard Equipment Company was the Mercury Distributor, on Coast Highway in Sunset Beach. Behind Seaboard was a channel and we could test there anytime we wanted. When I first started with my AU, we'd run 5 gallons of gas for the day plus whatever was in the tank. Now, my dad always assumed my tank was dry when we got there, but usually, during the week, he'd time somebody's motor and he'd tell me to drain the tank. Well, I'd drain it alright, right into my KG-4's tank.
So, on Saturday, I'd get 5 gallons of gas plus a full tank.
On Sunday, we'd go to Bixby Slough, as it was fresh water and I'd get another five gallons. We did this just about every weekend in the winter of ;54 and the spring of '55. In '55 I was eleven and my dad told everyone I was 12 and you and to be 12 to race.
Hell, we had a boat trailer made out of 2 X 6's and a plywood box, painted Russ Hill Red. My brother was in the Army, so I got to use his trailer. Russ Hill, Jr. painted on the back with "The Bellflower Flash's" name on it.
We were "COOL" in those days. The winter of '55 we raced 26 straight weeks on LIVE TV. I was on the Mickey Mouse Newsreel like 9 times.
California has always been a great place to live and play!!!!
The picture is of Dick Lane the TV announcer and me, December 1955.
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Russ, Hill Jr.'s 1952 Hat
John Drake and Russ went to Catalina Island for Labor day, 1952, they came back with these "COOL" hats.
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Havasu, Thanksgiving 1969
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In 1967, When Boat racing Paid Prize Money and Merchandise
I won the Chicago to Milwaukee to Chicago Marathon in 1967. I got a thousand dollars in cash (I made $5,900 a year teaching that year) and I also won a new Evinrude outboard motor.