In memory of racers no longer with us:

[racnbns]

I lost your email address when I had to get a new computer, I'm sorry to

say Bill passed July 13, 2019. This is from Mary Petty.

Bill was always nice, friendly and a gentleman!

More later!

Didn't Bill Petty run a Switzer Wing? Are those the 1250 with Pipes ? They sounded almost as good as my 6 LOOPER. Had my PUGH F HYDRO at the reunion at DEPUE. I built this one from all the old parts I had laying around. The bottom 4 are SUGAR RAY Nydahl's D looper and the top 2 are Jack Kugler's A Looper. The A was my son Brian's M at one time. I put an alum. plug in the bottom cyl. and ran on one. Sorta "DOGGY" but managed to get 4th at DEPUE one year.

I met a racer some of you "SENIORS" would remember. Texan named Craig Lawrence. He drives a hauler all around the country pulling a trailer that has a NO.88 Nascar CUP SERIES car and racing simulater inside. I guess some of the boat racers got to try it out [I didn't qualify].

I kinda got off the subject. Is the boat in the pic an early Molinari?

Bruce

[Ron Hill]

I think this is an early Jan Schoonover Aluminum Boat.

[Ron Hill]

Ronald Ackerman Sr. (1943 - 2019)

Guest Book "I am so sorry to hear of Butch's sudden passing. Prayers..."- Ida Hermansdorf PORTSMOUTH — Ronald Lee "Butch" Ackerman, Sr. of Portsmouth, Ohio, gained his wings on October 19, 2019 in Birmingham, AL surrounded by family. Ron was born on November 19, 1943, he was 75 years old. Ron was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Norwood, Ohio. Ron was a paratrooper stationed in Hawaii in the US Army. After his military service, he worked for Wayne Pumps in Ironton, OH and 7-Up Corporation before following his dream and opened a boat shop in Portsmouth & Ironton, OH at the age of 28. Ron's Mighty Mouse race team raced for 11 years during which he accumulated a multitude of victories throughout the US, Bahamas & Holland including 53 1st place finishes, 7 divisional championships, National Championships in 1973, 1981 & 1982 (in 3 different classes), a third consecutive National Championship year capturing the 1983 Formula 100 title in Massachusetts. He became the 1st driver in any class to win the "Triple Crown" of boat racing, making him the most successful single season racing driver in the history of the National Powerboat Assoc. After retiring from racing, he became a Millwright and worked for the Carpenter's Union in the power plants. His hobbies were building and flying his Powrchute planes, hang gliding and visiting historical battlefields. He is preceded in death by his parents John & Blanche Ackerman, his wife, Kay Jean Pernell Ackerman, son Ronald Ackerman, Jr and his brother John William "Bill" Ackerman. He is survived by his sons, Harley "Deke"(Tammy) Hughes, Birmingham, AL and Bengy (Cathy) Hughes, Portsmouth, OH, his siblings, Robert "Bob" (Mary Jo) Ackerman, Ironton, OH, Melinda Ackerman, Marblehead, OH, David (Joann) Ackerman, Cincinnati, OH, Teresa Jane (Jim) Rudman, Ironton, OH, Judy (Ralph) Winters, Chicago, IL, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great- grandchildren.

[racingfan1]

It is with much sadness I post the passing of Tim Small who lost his battle with cancer on November 13 2019. While a fierce competitor on the water Tim was as quiet and unassuming a guy as you could find in the pits. During the downtime at races you would often see him tossing a football or throwing a baseball with kids. His practice was to hand out his award medals to young kids that were present at the award ceremonies. Tim was on the Board of Directors of the US Title Series, a 15 time PRO National Champion, numerous USTS High Point Championships and won the USTS Elite Driver award many times. Tim was 63.

[lonannis]

Same thing happened to me in the late 80s running SST140 in Augusta. Didn't worry about the fire hazard due to sitting in several gallons of high octane. Pulled into the ramp area after the heat and jumped in the water then undressed in the ambulance.
Lon

[lonannis]

I'll never forget sitting on the tailgate having an amazing conversation with Art Kennedy at the Miami Marine Stadium where a bunch of the drivers went for testing during a race weekend in Fort Lauderdale. I was a young driver of the modified version of EP and Art treated me like family. He inspired me to compete in F1 late in my racing career. Race in peace.
Lon