Wayne Baldwin's Amazing Story: Baldy's Eual Eldred Baldwin

[Master Oil Racing Team]

There were ads in some boat racing publications about the $30,000 purse at the Golden Shores Winternationals, but I think Baldy had already heard about it from Ken or Gloria Steelman. They came to see us a few months earlier when Baldy hosted the second half of the N.O.A. World Championships. Baldy and the Steelman's hit it off magnificently. As soon as they got back to California Baldy was on the mailing list for the Los Angeles Speedboat Association. LASA.

Between what I had reported to Baldy about some NOA racers racing APBA at DePue, and what the Steelman's said, and who knows what Doc Collins and Ted May might have told him, Baldy decided we were going to the Winternationals at Needles in early 1969.

[John Schubert T*A*R*T]

There were ads in some boat racing publications about the $30,000 purse at the Golden Shores Winternationals, but I think Baldy had already heard about it from Ken or Gloria Steelman. They came to see us a few months earlier when Baldy hosted the second half of the N.O.A. World Championships. Baldy and the Steelman's hit it off magnificently. As soon as they got back to California Baldy was on the mailing list for the Los Angeles Speedboat Association. LASA.

Between what I had reported to Baldy about some NOA racers racing APBA at DePue, and what the Steelman's said, and who knows what Doc Collins and Ted May might have told him, Baldy decided we were going to the Winternationals at Needles in early 1969.

Steelman's

Wayne, even being from the East coast I became very good friend with the Steelmans. Always searched them out when at Depue or APBA national meetings. They were boat racing throughout just as Charlotte & Clyde Queen were.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

That's right John. They lived to travel and write and promote boat racing all across the country.

[Master Oil Racing Team]

Baldy had sold both our DeSilva runabouts, but I do not know who bought them. I think they must have been sold separately and probably to Lone Star Boat Racing Association members. If so, they must have painted them. I might not guess the Jumbo DeSilva if it went to North Texas because it was bought used and I didn't have any good recollections of driving it. Only when it did a 90 degree separation from me at Texarkana almost two years earlier. Our original DeSilva runabout I would have remembered if it stayed in the circuit with the same paint scheme. It was beautiful, and the best runabout I ever drove.....if I could have drove one competently.

Since I was a college and not around the house in Alice, Texas I did not hear from Baldy what he was up to. Since I was in college and Baldy was not around the college in San Marcos Baldy did not hear what I was up to. We got along together great, but we did not call back and forth about what was going on. In those days I did not like to use the telephone. Still don't for the most part. Would rather talk to someone in person, but it's tough to do that anymore.

As we were packing up for Needles, we did not have a runabout on our trailer.

[smittythewelder]

Fun reminiscences, Wayne.

One of the less-pleasing things about getting old is that the younger generations often don't get your (my) jokes. Couple of weeks ago I was walking past a pet store on the way into the supermarket. Out front, a young gal had set up a couple of folding tables, upon which she had two or three cages of pet rabbits. These bunnies had been abandoned by their owners, and this sweet young woman was trying to find them new homes.

Always the wiseacre, I said, "You have all of these domestic breeds. But do you ever get a wild hare?"

Alas, it went right over her head.

[Steve Litzell]

YEOW! Smitty! But where is the joKe in Wayne's post?? Benn in plenty DeSilva boats and what he said was pretty much it. Us old flatbottom guy's can tell stories and some of the best come from Nicholson! Steve

[smittythewelder]

I didn't think there was a joke there, Steve. As long as Wayne was leading us through the Sixties, a couple of posts back, I thought I'd throw in one our stupid sayings of the day.

Remember when an automatic transmission was called a "slush," and in high school only a real grope would drive anything with a slush or four doors?