Raceboat and Switzer Wings

**Mark75H** · 01-30-2005

Back in 1960 my dad was the highest paid boat and car mechanic in the area where he lives, bringing home an unbelievable $18 a week ..... $3 back then would have easily gone as far as $150 does now.

**Ron Hill** · 01-30-2005

Hal Kelly was asked for his "LICENSE"....He replied, "Hell Mack, I ain't fishing." The Game Warden took him straight to jail.

We, Californians, were lucky, as we had already paid our "TAX" in California. We had "CF NUMBERS".....

I don't think everyone did pay the three bucks. Jost threatened to take the race to Illinois. I think ONLY Wisconsin residents were made to pay.

I made $5,900 a year, in 1966, as a first year teacher....a HUNDRED BUCKS A WEEK!!!! (Actually 180 working days)...Who said teachers were under paid???

In 1960, gas as around 25 cents a gallon... So a 2 cent a gallon "Trucker Discount" at Old Fred's Cafe was a big deal...

**B VALACHOVIC** · 01-30-2005

Here you are Ron ----- C U finals at this race Boat # 1 C

**Ron Hill** · 01-30-2005

Interesting...Stan Armstrong won C Hydro that year, as its turned out his only National Championships...

Walter Huhn...from California...His son is in the heating and air conditioning business and has been working doing the electrical on our remodel...

As I recall, Don Pontius ran a 13 foot Speedliner and he could flat turn only as Donny Ponitus could...Seems there were many gun jumps in CU... My Cu wasn't fast. I borrowed a Cary prop from Lee Sutter and I took my bow handle off for CU...It weight a pound and way up front on a 13 foot Du, it thought it was faster without the handle.

They ran CU on Monday morning, and I'd burned all the AMOCO gas my dad had gotten from Jane Smith.

I'd gotten second in DU, with a one heat win, after five restarts, of which I was leading everytime...

Dean Chenoweth, said, "I never jumped once. That my starts were perfect." He wasn't racing Stocks but he'd come to the Nationals...It meant a lot to me to have Dean Chenoweth tell me he didn't feel I'd jumped...No cameras...Without a camera, you are either late or you've jumped...

**B VALACHOVIC** · 01-30-2005

Guntersville, Alabama, 1961: DU results

**B VALACHOVIC** · 01-30-2005

DU results: Guntersville, Alabama 1961

**B VALACHOVIC** · 01-30-2005

A S H finals beloit wisconsin. Note future APBA president Mike Jones boat# 7R

**Ron Hill** · 01-30-2005

I thought I got second with a one heat win...but maybe, the five restarts, when I was leading...is when Dean said I hadn't jumped....and he didn't see a reason for a restart...

Pontius in a Sid Craft...

In 1961 he had new Sea Jay...12 footer in CU and a 13 footer for DU...he won both classes..