The "Miss Nickle-Eagle" Project

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Ron Hill's and CapnZee's battery experiences reminded me of The Miss Nickle-Eagle Project. While doing a story on it for Powerboat I took a flash picture and a split second later there was no one within 20 yards of the boat. Team leader Darrell Goade explained,"You don't use a flash around battery people."

This was an attempt to establish a kilo and a drag record with an electric powered hydroplane. It occurred at Table Rock Lake in Missouri in October of 1978. The following article appeared in the January 1979 issue of Powerboat Magazine. It was an historic event and I was proud to have been asked to take part. Other pro racers involved were Bill and Eillen Van Steenwyk (Bill built the hydro) Ray Hardy manning one of the scanners and Harry Pasturczak manufacturer of some components and providing inspection. It was an APBA Special Events sanction if I remember correctly.