Minnesota Boat Racers

[Tim Chance]

This is a photo from Steve Wilson taken August 1, 1981 showing some Minnesota boat racers from the 1960's. One of the group is still racing. Want to try and put names to all the faces??

I'll come back in a day or two and name the whole group.

It's been a couple of days.

Clockwise from top left: Steve Wilson, Son of Floyd Wilson, Nephew of boat builder George Wilson, ran A Runabout. Del Compton, an Engineer at Honeywell and ran a then new 75-H on a Wilson cabover. Wally Roman, an entire book could be written about Wally, mentor to many kids that were starting their racing career. Wally worked at Scott-Atwater on the “Green Hornet” project, a class B racing engine. When asked by Mr. Scott or maybe Mr. Atwater why he raced a Champion Hot, Wally honestly answered because the Scott wasn’t any good. Mike Franck, Mike ran D Alky then, and runs D mod today. Jim Nash. Al Crary, his son, Lloyd ran B Hydro and Al worked for Lyle Swanson (Swanson Hot Rod) and was Commodore of Midwest Power Boat Association. Stan Doseth, Stan ran C and D, best remembered for his skill with an Ashburn Runabout. Hank Franck, father of Mike, and a respected boat driver in his own right. Floyd Wilson, father of Steve and a fierce competitor with a George Wilson built D Ben-Hur. Art Welsh, another C-D Driver, won man-a-race with a DeSilva Runabout.