The Hydrostream V-Wings - Havasu 1981

[Ted March]

Below is a quote from Ron made in a post on the thread "Rod Zapf's HST"

"LAST ADD: Just got off the phone with Chris Bush. Four V-Wings, "V" as in Victory...Rigged in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, Lake Havasu City...: 1. Jim Bremmer drove the Mariner. 2. Chris Bush drove the Evinrude...Evinrude "FELL" out of gear Saturday. Bush won Sunday.. 3. Roger Meekins drove one and 4. Dick Kotean from Minnesota....This is what Chris Bush remembers... "

Below are athe four V-Wings

128 Roger Meekins - Johnson
131 Jim Bremmer - Mariner
220 Dick (Rick) Kotean (sp) - Mercury
303 Chris Bush-Evinrude

Left Side 1 & 2 down is the start of Day 1
Left Side 6 down is start of Day 2. In race sequence 5 & 6 right follow 6 left.
Right Side 8 Down is the Holiday Inn parking lot where most of the rigging was done.
Howard Pipkorn, owner of Hudrostream is leaning over the boat.

[slowverado]

dad was just talking about those boats the other day, something about how everyone said they would kick the Laser's butt to the first turn and on the straightaways... and also included something about Joe getting to the first turn before ANYONE else in the ole Laser...

[Ted March]

Don't really know who was first to the first turn, but.....the first boat to complete the first lap on Day 1 was the 34 Eliminator of Fred Bowden followed by the 20 Lazer 380 Ray of Mike Quindazzi. On Day 2 the leader at the end of the lap one was the 34X Eliminaator with Mike Miller (I think) driving followed by Joe Burgess in the 56 Lazer 380 Ray.

Roark brought two boats to Havasu which were also rigged in the parking lot. In this case the parking lot of the Ramada Inn. Joe Burgess drove the Black and Orange 56 and I don't remember who drove the White 270.

I'm pretty sure the final results were Fred Bowden's two Eliminators, the 34 and the 34X finishing 1 & 2 and the 56 and 270 380 Rays finiishing 3 & 4 overall.

I'll try to post some pictures later on today showing the the end of Lap 1 on Day 1 and Day 2. Maybe Ron or someone else can confirm or add to (or correct) the above.

[Ted March]

This is how they were runmning at the completion of Lap 1 on Day 1..

Top Left - Fred Bowden #34 Eliminator
Top Right - Mike Quindazzi - #20 Lazer 380R ay
Bottom Left - Jim Bremmer - #131 - Hydrostream V Wing
Mike Miller - 34X - Eliminator
Bottom Right - Ron Hill - #9 - Eliminator
Kenny Shaw - 958 Allison

[Ted March]

Running oreder at the end of Lap 1 Day 2.

Top Left - That orange spot in the distance is Mike Miller in the 34X on the back stretch. Can't identify the others.
Top Right - Mike Miller - 34X - Eliminator
Joe Burges - #56 Lazer 380 Ray
Bottom Left - Right to Left
Jim Brenner - #131 - Hydrostream V Wing (???)
Chris Bush - #303 - Hydrostream V Wing
Kenny Shaw - #958 - Allison
Ron Hill - 9 - Eliminator
Kim Howard - 681 - Sleekcraft
Bottom Right - Right to Left
Kenny Shaw - #958 Allison
Ron Hill - #9 - Eliminator

Anyone wants to commment or add, (correct) please feel free.

[slowverado]

where are all of the v-wings now? I have never actually seen one in person

[Smokin' Joe]

Here are 2 more from 1981. I'm driving Fred Schoellkopf's Laser. Moved from 50th to 13th but wasn't competitive with the Mod-V tunnels once bottom of gearcase water pickups were allowed (85 mph vs. about 100 mph). Photos by Terry Strack (Houston).

[slowverado]

Joe, was the laser above at the Palestine, TX Mod VP race ~April 1982?

[Smokin' Joe]

Maybe driven by Fred Schoellkopf with Mercury. Louis Collins drive it at Havasu with Mercury in 1980, I drove it there with Evinrude (shown in photo above) in 1981. I didn't drive it anywhere else, and so far as I know neither did Louis.

[slowverado]

gotcha, I only ask because I have a video of the 1982 Mod VP race at Lake Palestine and there is a laser just like that with a johnrude on it competing...