I don't know who drove this boat, but I thought I would post it here as it is definitely the same 1975 Chicago race as the previous posts.
I don't know who drove this boat, but I thought I would post it here as it is definitely the same 1975 Chicago race as the previous posts.
The 1970 Chicago PRO race was going on at the same time as the Stock Nationals in Beloit WI. I was pretty new to racing and had a horrible elimination heat at Beloit in DSH so when I missed out on qualifying for the finals, I turned my attention to the Chicago race. Being just a kid then, it was a challenge just to get there. Driving along on the subterranean Lower Wacker Drive towing a race trailer felt like driving through catacombs. I don'r remember what classes I raced besides F Hydro and B Runabout. The prize money was $ 99 first place per heat so the money was really good. I came home with over $ 300 more than when I left home and thought this boat racing was a pretty good deal
I wasn't too happy with Homer Kencaid when I broke the C and D Runabout Kilo Records with Harry's new VC Konigs and Homer didn't approve the records because the motors weren't available til 1968 or some such BS. Harry Bartolomei, my sponsor, applied to UIM and both records became World Records, not APBA records. But, truthfully, HOMER DID THE CORRECT THING BY OUR RULE BOOK. There weren't as many classes in those days, but it was always said that Homer was only driver to every win ever class at a race.
Homer was always a real gentleman!
Last edited by Ron Hill; 01-26-2018 at 11:16 AM.
John
The Chicago race was a reg. 7 race and as Sam said had good prize money. The pits were in an old railroad yard, rocky and steep but for the big bucks nobody complained.
When you would shut off a LOOPER you could here the echo bouncing off the sky scrapers. A once in a lifetime event!
Bruce
This is a great pic by Sam Labanco of the MOD 90 Class that Mark Nelson sent me, Old Navy pier in the background. I can see Bill Richter Sr. behind the Blue Checkmate(?) that appears in the lead and Terry Leatherby is off to the left.
I thought this should go with this thread.
Thanks Sam and Mark!
crewman060 liked this post
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks