1972 DePue PRO Nationals

[Dave_E71]

*speaking quietly* hell David, I've raced with a some of them.....

[Dr. Thunder]

Of the 55 boats in AOH ... anybody have any memory of the various engines that were being run that year ... in other words how many were Konigs, Anzanis, Quincy, Mercs, (hotrods)? I was there but don't remember anymore

[David Weaver]

Of the 55 boats in AOH ... anybody have any memory of the various engines that were being run that year ... in other words how many were Konigs, Anzanis, Quincy, Mercs, (hotrods)? I was there but don't remember anymore

That by this time the dominant engine was becoming the Konig FA, in either the original 2 pipe format or the single-pipe format that had a long run as the top engine until the Yamato's showed-up in the late 70's. I would guess also that the Quincy Loopers were at their performance peak, but losing ground against the sliding expansion chambers.

Does anyone remember the woman driver from DePue named Mary?

[Composite Specialties]

Region 4 was well represented that year with my Dad, our team mate Harry Schiffman, Mal Harden, Augustines, Shakshaft. Those were the best days.....

[ProHydroRacer]

That by this time the dominant engine was becoming the Konig FA, in either the original 2 pipe format or the single-pipe format that had a long run as the top engine until the Yamato's showed-up in the late 70's. I would guess also that the Quincy Loopers were at their performance peak, but losing ground against the sliding expansion chambers.

Does anyone remember the woman driver from DePue named Mary?

Sure do Dave! Mary Barto sister to racer Joe Barto and married to Phil Howard pit crew help and future driver Jim Trimble(sp)

[David Weaver]

Sure do Dave! Mary Barto sister to racer Joe Barto and married to Phil Howard pit crew help and future driver Jim Trimble(sp)

And I assume that Jim Trimble is related to Josh Trimble, who now has a 350cc hydroplace. A wonderful boat racing heritage in DePue!!

[denny henderson]

I remember the heat I was in like it was yesterday. It was the first time for me at DePue, in fact, my first APBA Natl. Championship. Craig Lawrence and I made the trip with Al Davis and Joe Cohen, we both ran "A" Hydro, both had Marchetties and "A" Konigs, and as you can see, they put both of us in the same heat. You had to run 1st or 2nd to qualify. I have never been so intimidated. Some of the fine people I met there in '72 were Tim Butts, Rex Hall, Barry Wilson, Rich Krier, Jane Smith, Bobby Olson, Charlotte Queen, and Mike Schmidt, to name a few. Most everyone was running the FA Konig, but there were also quite a few flatheads.
There were several of us that got to the first turn about the same time. I remember being right next to Bobby Olson going into that turn. I came out in front and led going into the second turn. That's where I screwed up. I was unaware of what would happen to an "A" Konig if you held the pipe up and let off the throtle just a bit. It died immediately. I suppose it was a good lesson, but it was a tough one. The first guy by was Tim Butts, followed by Bobby Olson as I coasted to a stop.
55 "A" Hydros. It was tough to make the Show. I was showing 81 mph back then, about the same speed as the 125s are today.
Anyone remember the rain storm at the end of the day on Sunday during Two Man "F" Runabout? The water came up so fast, our trailer axles were under water when we pulled out.
David, the year that the World Championship was the following weekend at Alex. was 1973.

Denny

[Master Oil Racing Team]

And Joe Barto bought Tim Butts' original Aerowing and A looper.

Denny, I remember you and Craig having to be in the same qualifying heat and thinking that stinks. Al and Joe had to hustle. That was the race where I blew over my C hydro. That was a bummer too. And it was also the last alky nationals Billy Seebold raced in.

Back in those days it was typical in A and B hydro that you would have to run 1st or 2nd in a qualifying heat to make the finals. All my best photos of that race were in a carosel that I loaned to somebody for a boat show and never got them back.

[denny henderson]

Wayne,

It's amazing how little I knew about boats and engines back then, even though I'd been racing around Dallas for 9 years, since I was 13. It wasn't until that race that I really started trying to get better and go faster. I remember this so clearly. I stood around Marshall and Billy's boats forever looking at them, trying to figure out how they went so fast. I finally spotted something, it was the only thing I could find that was different from other boats and engines, and I really thought I had something. On one of their engines, the cavitation plate was cut off shorter than the std.cav. plate that Deter put on lower units. I went back to my pits and sawed off my cav. plate. It was rediculous, but it got me to thinking about little things. I'll have to thank Marshall for that when I see him in a couple of weeks.

Denny

[fourblade50]

That by this time the dominant engine was becoming the Konig FA, in either the original 2 pipe format or the single-pipe format that had a long run as the top engine until the Yamato's showed-up in the late 70's. I would guess also that the Quincy Loopers were at their performance peak, but losing ground against the sliding expansion chambers.

Does anyone remember the woman driver from DePue named Mary?

david,
Her last name was Barto.I grew up in Depue and i remember the nationals back in the 70s. I think it was joey bartos sister