published Hydroplane
Quarterly magazine
during the 1970’s.
For anyone who is
interested, Ed Hatch has the
collection for viewing on his
site boatsport.org; just go
there and click on Hydroplane
Quarterly. I plan on keeping
this site up-to-date with a
focus on Pro, Mod & Stock
racing. Following is a brief bio
of myself.
My first day at a boat race
had to be the most wonderful
day of my entire childhood. I
immediately knew that I was
going to be a race boat driver
even though I was only 11
years old at the time. I talked
my dad into building me a
boat from plans in Speed and
Spray magazine and we put a
12-1/2 c.i. Champion Hot
Rod on it. After the first
summer that wasn’t fast
enough so we updated to an
alcohol burning Hot Rod of
the same size. That still
wasn’t fast enough so we
went to another alcohol
burner, a 20 c.i. Chris Craft.
Then at age 15, in 1956, I
had my first taste of
competition in a BU that I
borrowed from a friend. After
that I pretty much ran Pro,
Alky, Outboard, whatever it
happened to be called at the
time, along with a little Stock
and Mod up until the late
1980’s. I finished up in the
early 90’s with a couple of
years of OPC. Then, after a
16 year layoff I returned to
the sport with a 250ccR in the
Pro Division. Which means
2007 marked the 6th decade
in which I have raced.
I have had good years and
bad years. Some highlights
include winning: the Mayor
Daley Cup in Chicago,
“General Grant” at the last
NOA North/South Race ever
held, a North American
Championship in OD, and
National High Point in
350ccR. The one honor that
stands out above all others is
when O.F. Christner asked
me to join his sons’ Paul and
David and become part of the
Quincy Welding Racing
Team, and drive the
prototype “Z” engine for the
National Championships held
in Alexandria, Louisiana. I
am also proud to say I am
one of the founders of the US
Title Series.
Quarterly magazine
during the 1970’s.
For anyone who is
interested, Ed Hatch has the
collection for viewing on his
site boatsport.org; just go
there and click on Hydroplane
Quarterly. I plan on keeping
this site up-to-date with a
focus on Pro, Mod & Stock
racing. Following is a brief bio
of myself.
My first day at a boat race
had to be the most wonderful
day of my entire childhood. I
immediately knew that I was
going to be a race boat driver
even though I was only 11
years old at the time. I talked
my dad into building me a
boat from plans in Speed and
Spray magazine and we put a
12-1/2 c.i. Champion Hot
Rod on it. After the first
summer that wasn’t fast
enough so we updated to an
alcohol burning Hot Rod of
the same size. That still
wasn’t fast enough so we
went to another alcohol
burner, a 20 c.i. Chris Craft.
Then at age 15, in 1956, I
had my first taste of
competition in a BU that I
borrowed from a friend. After
that I pretty much ran Pro,
Alky, Outboard, whatever it
happened to be called at the
time, along with a little Stock
and Mod up until the late
1980’s. I finished up in the
early 90’s with a couple of
years of OPC. Then, after a
16 year layoff I returned to
the sport with a 250ccR in the
Pro Division. Which means
2007 marked the 6th decade
in which I have raced.
I have had good years and
bad years. Some highlights
include winning: the Mayor
Daley Cup in Chicago,
“General Grant” at the last
NOA North/South Race ever
held, a North American
Championship in OD, and
National High Point in
350ccR. The one honor that
stands out above all others is
when O.F. Christner asked
me to join his sons’ Paul and
David and become part of the
Quincy Welding Racing
Team, and drive the
prototype “Z” engine for the
National Championships held
in Alexandria, Louisiana. I
am also proud to say I am
one of the founders of the US
Title Series.
Photos: 50’s - “B” Hydro, a Swift
Big Bee and a Champion Hot Rod.
60’s - “B” Runabout, an 11-6
DeSilva and a Quincy Looper. 70’s
- “D” Hydro, a 12’ Marchetti and a
Konig. 80’s - 250ccR, a 13’ Krier
and a Yamato. 90’s - SST-140, a
17’ Seebold and a 2.4L Mercury. 00’
s - 250ccR, a 13-6 Krier and a MSR
Kawasaki. Top: “C” Runabout, a 13’
Krier and a Quincy Modified Mercury.
Sidebar: 350ccR, a 13-6 Krier and a
Konig. Below: My first real
competitive outfit, an "A" Konig on an
"A/B" Sid Craft Hydro.
Big Bee and a Champion Hot Rod.
60’s - “B” Runabout, an 11-6
DeSilva and a Quincy Looper. 70’s
- “D” Hydro, a 12’ Marchetti and a
Konig. 80’s - 250ccR, a 13’ Krier
and a Yamato. 90’s - SST-140, a
17’ Seebold and a 2.4L Mercury. 00’
s - 250ccR, a 13-6 Krier and a MSR
Kawasaki. Top: “C” Runabout, a 13’
Krier and a Quincy Modified Mercury.
Sidebar: 350ccR, a 13-6 Krier and a
Konig. Below: My first real
competitive outfit, an "A" Konig on an
"A/B" Sid Craft Hydro.
| grew up on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. My next door neighbor, Irv Gilliam, was a Chris Craft and Champion dealer. He built my Alcohol burning Chris Craft “B”. It was adapted to a Quicksilver lower unit instead of a Chris Craft racing unit either because of cost or availability. And, I may have gotten the last Hot Rod built at the Champion Factory. After Champion stopped building motors and before Lyle Swanson produced the Swanson Hot Rod, my neighbor went to the factory and they built me a Hot Rod— complete with an alcohol jet and optional open exhaust. I won my first race with a Quincy/Merc (the one with the cast aluminum motor mounted fuel tank with Quincy cast across the rear. A little short course, got to the first turn first and the second place Anzani couldn’t catch me. The photo below shows the best and the worst. In 1982 I took 11 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 fourth, won National High Point and won one heat at the Nationals. Then later, I blew over and broke my back in three places plus some internal injuries while running well over the record at Alexandria, Louisiania. |
| Sidebar |
| Hydroplane Quarterly |
| There have been so many people who have made an impression on my life and emotions that I can’t begin to list them all but here are a few: Ann Chance, my wife has supported me through it all, even now in my return at an age that most have long since given the sport up. O. F. Christner, Chris—I can’t say enough. Wally Roman, helped so many kids start in the 50’s and 60’s. Billie Parker, after the fatal aircraft crash she sent me a trophy that Dub had won, She thought he would like me to have it to remember him by. Dieter Konig and Scott Smith, I was nobody special, but felt like I received special treatment. Ross Gibson and Bill Collins, Many a good boat ride and many a good time from these two. Gene East, Charley Bradley, Karen and Mike Cadle, right there in my pits when I returned to racing The Pugh Family, lifelong friends. Nick Marchetti, I never bought a new boat from him, but he picked me to drive his “D” 4-point hydro when he introduced it. MORE TO COME. . . . |
| Boat racing had its peak over a half a century ago with 100's of race drivers in each metro area and numerous races to attend both as a spectator or race driver. Although numbers are down the excitement hasn't decreased one bit. Feel free to e-mail me at timchance@hydroplanequarterly.com and I will try and get back to you to the best of my ability to answer any of your questions about the sport. |
