Who Out of All The Boat Racers You've Known???
Who out of all the boat racers you've known that have passed on , not counting family members, would you choose to sit around a campfire with?
I'd like to sit around a campfire with Dean Chenowith and Bill Muncey....Well, Ted May also! Well, probably Harry Bartolomei, too!
Henry Wagner and Russ Hill, Sr.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Master Oil Racing Team
Hey Teach........this assignment is too tough. There's too many I would want to set around a campfire with. So I'm going to put my own twist on it.
Homer Alford, Bill Bonner, Bucky McKowski, Henry Wagner, Charlotte Queen, Jack Waite, Papa Smith and Russ Hill, Sr. Everyone of these was a referee or inspector and friends of mine with the exception of Russ Hill, Sr. whom I never met. I have never sat around a campfire with any of these guys except for Jack Waite, and he was so interesting I would want to do it again. I picked them just because of the fact I never had to opportunity to sit around a campfire with them before (except for Jack) and I would like to hear their side of boat racing stories. This idea popped into my head because of all of Ron's and Russ Jr.'s stories about their Dad, and I would love to hear them firsthand.
That picture I posted of Salton Sea, 1948, with dad's boat in the picture, somewhere Henry Wagner's boat is there, too!
Henry and my dad were always good friends. Probably the last 5-6 Havasu Classics that Henry Inspected at, we had Thanksgiving dinner with Henry and Vera. Hendry would make the reservations and set the time.....AND we best not be late.
I think I MAY HAVE MET BUCKY MCKOWSKI AT THE WINNEBAGOLAND MARATHON 1953. Seems the last time I saw him was 1969. Seldom did we talk, just kind of "Grunted' at me in inspection. He'd have some interesting stories for sure...Like the time my dad and John Landon stole the cake at the 1960 Beloit Nationals.. Bucky tried to stop them, and John said, "Hell, Russ, they don't know us." My dad said, "You're right, John." And they left with the cake, only to return it a trophy presentations Sunday night. (For about three days the Region 7 guys were trying to find Russ and John...).
Wayne, my dad inspected you at the Winternationals. The OLD MAN was never "FLAMBOUYAND". He was just a farm boy from Nebraska. He did most of his talking with me on the race course.