Karl Williams to Ted Abel Part 1

[Ron Hill]

Photo is Bill Wells, London, Ontario, Canada at Valleyfield, Quebec 1956.
Class “C” Hydro. Engine Johnson PR-65 on a boat of his own design and build. (Bill also designed and built a hydro for his brother George’s 4-60)
Engine work by Blankenstein and Fuller. His PR had Johnson cylinders.
Bill’s current age is 85 and has two collectible cars he shows during the summers - probably not this year
Bill did not remember how he did at Valleyfield and said he was sure he did not win as one would remember winning Valleyfield as it was a far larger race than the CBF (Canadian Boating Federation) Nationals.
At 24 years he was the youngest “C” Hydro driver to win the A.P.B.A. Eastern Divisionals.
The day previous he raced at Arnprior, Ontario, Canada and led every lap up to approximately 200 yards before the finish line when the condenser wire broke moving Marcel LeBarge into the winners circle. LeBarge was the guy to beat from Quebec later after moving from outboards to inboards becoming the guy to beat in the 360 inboard class.
Bill raced in U.S. states neighboring the province of Ontario.
At a race in Pontiac, Michigan the first five boats were Milford Harrison, Mel Kirts, Dan Kirts (1st 2 cyl “C” Konig), Bill Wells and John Dertinger.