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Articles about hydroplane racing

David “Salt” Walther Remembered

1971 Country Boy Seattle

Bob Schroeder Remembered (Source: HARM Collection) David Walther and crew prepare the U-77 Country Boy for a run on Lake Washington in Seattle, WA. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Former Unlimited hydroplane driver David “Salt” Walther of Dayton, Ohio,…

Bob Schroeder Remembered

1967 Bob Schroeder Atlas

Bob Schroeder Remembered (Photo: S. Ross) Bob Schroeder aboard the Atlas Van Lines during the 1967 season. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Unlimited hydroplane racing has lost another of its most celebrated participants. Bob Schroeder, one of the sport’s…

Miss Madison: A 49 Year Timeline (1961-2009)

1971 Miss Madison Gold Cup win at dock

Miss Madison: A 49 Year Timeline (1961-2009) (Photo: T. Bugeja) Madison team celebrating the 1971 APBA Gold Cup win held on their hometown race course. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian The community-owned MISS MADISON from Madison, Indiana, is…

George Henley Remembered

1975 Pay 'N Pak Tri-Cities

George Henley Remembered (Photo: Greenhow) George Henley at the controls of the U-1 Pay ‘N Pak during the 1975 APBA Gold Cup in Tri-Cities, Washington. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Unlimited hydroplane racing has lost another of its all-time…

Bob Gilliam Remembered

Bob Gilliam

Bob Gilliam Remembered (Source: Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum) Bob Gilliam poses for a picture in the pit during an event. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Thunderboat racing has lost Bob Gilliam, everyone’s favorite Cinderella Man. The pages of another…

Hydroplane Racing: Juggling Dynamite

Chip Hanauer Miller American

Hydroplane Racing: Juggling Dynamite (Source: Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum) Chip Hanauer poses for a picture next to the cockpit on the Miller American hydroplane. By Unknown – July 13, 1987 DETROIT — In less than 12 months in 1981 and…

A Tribute to Walt Kade

Walt Kade

A Tribute to Walt Kade (Source: Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum) Walt Kade is the second oldest driver to compete in the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing at the age of 68. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Walt Kade, one…

The Slo-Mo’s Days Are O’er

1956 Slo Mo Shun IV Damage

The Slo-Mo’s Days Are O’er (Source: Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum Collection) The damaged hull of Slo Mo Shun IV in Seattle following an accident in Detroit that injured driver Joe Taggert. By Royal Brougham (Reprinted from THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER) A…

The Sterett Legacy

1968 Miss Budweiser

The Sterett Legacy (Source: Sandy Ross) Bill Sterett driving Bernie Little’s Miss Budweiser at the 1968 Atomic Cup. A year later he would win the APBA Gold Cup in this hull. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian In over a…

The Smirnoff Saga

1964 Miss Smirnoff

The Smirnoff Saga (Photo: Sandy Ross) The Miss Smirnoff with driver Bill Cantrell in 1964. By Fred Farley – Unlimited Hydroplane Historian Three Unlimited hydroplanes carried the SMIRNOFF name into competition between 1964 and 1968. (The MISS was dropped from…