DeSilva Boats: John, Billy and Ralph

[Ron Hill]

In California we called these Neal hydros, "Banjo Neals"....But talking to Dudley Malone, two winters ago, and looking at his two Neal hydros, he said he'd never heard them called "Banjo Neals"...May have been a west coast term...

I really don't know much about Bill Tenny..

[Ron Hill]

US 10??? R-22. My Girl, Rocky Stone driving a Phantom hull by Charles Shirley, I think...

My dad never beat Rocky. They later became best of friends. Rocky was a real GIANT among Outboard racers...Everytime he shook my hand, I felt very humbled to know this man....

Manny Carnakis, was mayor of Bakersfield...Boat name, WOISME....

[Master Oil Racing Team]

What great pictures Ron. The one on post 10 brings memories to me. Three in the picture have been to my Dad's house. Grandpa Seebold on several occasions, Papa Smith a couple of times and Orville Brisban who introduced Debbie and I to a great California wine---Louis M. Martini.

[Ron Hill]

This picture says Les Deno's daughter and Orville Brisbin 1948 Pacific Coast Champion B Hydro...

What is cool to me about this picture is that my brother won this same race in A Hydro...Hawthorne, Nevada...

I think my brother still has his trophy, this small trophy was given to my dad as the mechanic's award...

[Ron Hill]

Just says Bill and Ralph and others????

[Allen J. Lang]

Keep posting the old timers pictures.They are GREAT.
Ye Olde Desert Geezer

[oldalkydriver]

Ron, second from left looks like Jack Dempsey. Him and Warren Painter hung out together lots until 1955. Can't say for sure as that was too many years ago, and you know how your memory plays tricks on you.

Ward Angely was a cool dude, at least to me. I think he was from Daily City. Dad always stopped by to see him and Bud Wiget.

I remember Burt Ball. The man had a build that guys would die for. Arms of steel as John T. always referred to him as.

Only time I heard the term Banjo Neals was at the Long Beach Alky Nationals in the mid 50's. That is when all the guys from the East Coast got a look at the cadillac De Silvas as they passed them in the straighaways. If memory serves me correctly, I don't think a Neal beat any De Silva 'C' Racing Hydro that Nationals. The East Coast Boys sure took notice of them.

[Ron Hill]

That F runabout picture, I'm sure, is at Long Beach...Russ wasn't sure...

The woman/girl in the picture behind the guys, looks like my sister... and the guy in the water is John Carnakis, I think...

Not THE Jack Dempsey, the fighter??? Think the one guy (Big guy) is Warren Painter...

[bill boyes]

No that is not John Carnakis. 1950 John would be about 9 years old.

[geodavid]

Ralph and Bill once had Dale Kaus give me a pep talk. They told me that Dale was the only one to win a Nationals in one of their hydros? Is it true or were they lying for effect? I think he won B Hydro in the 1960's? Is it true??