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VINTAGE SHOTS FROM DAYS GONE BY! (Part 2)

Discussion in 'The Antiquated' started by Ryan, Jun 17, 2019.

  1. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    "Wile e Coyote" Brand :)
     
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  2. swi66
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 18,173

    swi66
    Member

  3. BuckeyeBuicks
    Joined: Jan 4, 2010
    Posts: 2,705

    BuckeyeBuicks
    Member
    from ohio

    Great pictures. I do wish the guy with the Canadian Merc would roll the windows down and clean his scuzzy white walls though:rolleyes:
     
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  4. George Klass
    Joined: Dec 31, 2007
    Posts: 1,076

    George Klass
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    3 6 SEATTLE 65.jpg
    Unlimited Hydroplanes have numbers that follow them around. Vehicles have VIN numbers, Unlimited’s have hull numbers. This is not to be confused with their race number (which is a U followed by a number). The boat in the photo, “Blue Chip” has the boat number U-80. When this boat was built in 1957, the boat number was U-222. The hull numbers are always created using the year they were built and the original boat number. The hull number for “Blue Chip” is 1957-222. The original boat was named “Breathless II”, and was owned and raced by Roger and Jay Murphy, and kept at their summer home at Lake Tahoe. The brothers Murphy raced this boat from 1957 through 1960.
    Hull number 1957-222 never did anything spectacular, like winning the Gold Cup, but it was a fast and strong boat. The Murphy’s raced as a hobby and had enough family money to avoid the need for a sponsor. It was “Breathless II” all the years they owned it, a toy to have some fun with. They would haul the boat to the races in the west, but they were not interested in running it at all the Unlimited events around the country. In 1961 and 1962, the boat just sat in storage. In 1963, they decided to sell the boat. The new owner re-numbered it to U-80 and renamed it “Blue Chip”. This began one of the most amazing history stores in Unlimited Hydro racing. Before this boat was finally retired from racing (in 1983), it had 22 different names, a bunch of different owners and drivers, and quite a few different boat numbers. In 1977, it raced under seven different names in one season. The owner at the time did not have the cash to race for an entire season, and could not find a healthy sponsor, so he picked up a small sponsor at every race he entered that year, and had the local sponsor’s name painted on the boat.

    Here is a list, boat numbers first, then the boat name, and the year(s) racing under that name.
    U-222 – “Breathless II” – 1957-1960
    U-80 – “Blue Chip” – 1963-1964
    U-91 – “The Loaner” – 1966
    U-11 – “Miss Wickman” – 1967
    U-11 – “Shakey’s Special” – 1973
    U-22 – “Sunny Jim” – 1974
    U-22 – “Barney Armstrong’s Machine” – 1976
    U-22 – “Dionysus – 1977
    U-22 – “Mister Fabricator” – 1977
    U-22 – “Bruno’s Appliance” – 1977
    U-22 – “River’s Inlet Resort” – 1977
    U-22 – “Tad Dean’s Body Shop” – 1977
    U-22 – “Huling’s People Mover” – 1977
    U-22 – “Pacific Datsun” – 1977
    U-22 – “Dr. Toyota” – 1978
    U-69 – “Schrader’s Wood Stoves” - 1979
    U-69 – “Ingraham Class of 69” – 1979
    U-69 – “Precision Marine” – 1979
    U-22 – “Lil Ole Lake City” – 1980
    U-22 – “Jose Murphy’s – 1980
    U-22 – “Miss Island Security Systems” – 1982
    U-86 – “Swannies” – 1983
    U-86 – “Jose Murphy’s” – 1983
    U-88 – “Pizza Pete” - Display
     
    rusty valley, echo ed, egads and 10 others like this.
  5. Thanks George Klass
    Fascinating history which you told in a informative and concise manner. I have always enjoyed hydroplanes since living in Seattle. When they were racing on Lake Washington you could hear the roar of the engines throughout the City. Always amused me they would sink if not moving in the water. A boat that does not float! Big hoop on bow for tow line in case motor dies. A speedboat swoops in and tows them. Nose hydroplanes back up to surface.
    I was at Lake Mead in 1956 when Sir Malcomb Campbell made a run at world water speed record with Bluebird. A submerged log had other plans. Stayed into the night til they brought the sunken boat up.

    1 more car I promise, Rex Winter
    Dry n windy Lubbock TX
     
  6. George Klass
    Joined: Dec 31, 2007
    Posts: 1,076

    George Klass
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    15875464_1310352325677661_8764572107532949311_o_zps2nzc5g2u.jpg 16300301_10208597527281123_7291857823330432347_o_zps78cttinl.jpg
    A couple of photos of "Breathless II" in her original livery.
    islandsecurity_zps6gvfjbyl.jpg
    Same boat more than 20 years later, in "Miss Island Security Systems" livery.

    Unlimited Hydros built in the 1950's and 1960's usually had a short life span with the original owners. If the owners were well funded (as in rich), or had a bucks-up sponsor, the owners wanted a new boat every couple of years. Their "old" boats were sold to other Unlimited racers that were not quite that wealthy, who raced them for a year or two, and then sold them to someone else. Many of the boats from that era are still around and are technically, still "raceable", although they would not be competitive today.

    An acquaintance of mine, Dr. Ken Muscatel has owned and driven Unlimiteds for many years. He is Unlimited hydroplane racing’s only forensic psychologist. Dr. Ken grew up on the shores of Lake Washington during Seattle’s golden age of hydroplane racing. Ken owns a good-sized fleet of vintage hydroplanes. At one time or another, he has owned (or co-owned) the 1971 MISS MADISON, HAWAII KAI III (the boat that was the original BREATHLESS II), HURRICANE IV, MISS AMERICA VIII, and OLLIE’S FOLLY. For many years, he served as president of the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Seattle. If you ever saw the movie “MADISON”, all the boats in the movie were owned by Ken, and I believe that he was the technical advisor.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2020
  7. Jim Nise
    Joined: Oct 31, 2008
    Posts: 1,210

    Jim Nise
    Member

    As a kid in the 1950's, my parents had friends that lived right on Lake Washington. We would visit for a week and I would OD on watching the unlimited's practice right in front of me.

    Slo Mo X and XX, miss thriftway, Miss bardahl ... It was always great.

    Also had San Point Navy base with sea planes.
     
  8. Tampaguy
    Joined: Feb 18, 2013
    Posts: 46

    Tampaguy
    Member
    from Oregon

    I grew up in Tampa and was a friend of Bernie Littles son. They had the Budweiser franchise. Bernie owned Miss Budweiser. I believe it was probably the most well known Hydro racer ever.
     
  9. fbi9c1
    Joined: Sep 29, 2010
    Posts: 1,375

    fbi9c1
    Member

    Wow! I would have been beyond joy to have ridden in one! What a great experience for a kid!
     
  10. old flopper
    Joined: Apr 23, 2013
    Posts: 633

    old flopper
    Member

    One of Bernie Little’s large Budwiser distributorship was located in Lakeland, Fl and Miss Budweiser could often be seen there.
    Also many of early hydro’s were built by Henry Lauterback of Portsmouth, Va. His son Larry Lauterback still builds some vintage hydros.
    https://www.facebook.com/proptalk/v...-tour-with-larry-lauterbach/2112076912239889/
     
  11. KRB52
    Joined: Jul 9, 2011
    Posts: 1,077

    KRB52
    Member
    from Conneticut

    "Mame, you really should let me do that. Gasoline is really dangerous and the average person shouldn't be filling their car. Only a station attendant should be doing it."
     
  12. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  13. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  14. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  15. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  16. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

  17. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  18. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
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    from FL.

  19. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
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    from FL.

  20. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  21. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
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    from FL.

  22. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  23. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
    Member
    from FL.

  24. HEMIDAV
    Joined: Jan 27, 2011
    Posts: 28,825

    HEMIDAV
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    from FL.

  25. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020
    loudbang and chryslerfan55 like this.
  26. BornBuick
    Joined: Jan 2, 2010
    Posts: 258

    BornBuick
    Member

    .... Few realize that long before marijuana became illegal due in most part solely from the lobbing efforts and pressure asserted from many manufacturing sectors of the economy including not just the rope and dye manufactures, but also against manufacture of hemp based paper, medical formulations and food additives just to name a few and all based on hemp sourced production. Well something had to done because it was hitting hard on their bottom lines and like many beneficial organic non patentable sources had to be tucked away and made illegal. However before all that and in a more saner time, Jim Caster shown below is demonstrating his Port-A-Bong for Life Magazine's lead rover photographer Sam "Shutter" Johnson. Sam's notes taken at the time indicated after the demonstration and due to his many " re-takes " Mr. Caster had puffed a little too much for one day. Apparently, after the shoot, Jim Caster had a little difficulty getting home. He was eventually pulled over for what the police determined to be both Excessive Turn Signal Usage and going 12 mph in a duly posted 45 mph zone all during rush hour traffic
    ... " Nice setup Jim but please ...... Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel " .....


    Port-a-bong-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020
  27. BornBuick
    Joined: Jan 2, 2010
    Posts: 258

    BornBuick
    Member

    Shown below is a family that reportedly believes that if they just close their eyes and rub hard enough they can turn that 57 Chevy into a new 57 Buick ....

    Make mine a Buick-1.jpg
     
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  28. BornBuick
    Joined: Jan 2, 2010
    Posts: 258

    BornBuick
    Member

    ... Depicted here is apparently a young Ralph Nader with his ol' Blue. Few realize that Ralph's first book was actually not " Unsafe At Any Speed " revealing his misguided interpretations of rear engine cars with independent suspensions while somehow missing the emerging Porsche market. But we regress .... Apparently his first book was titled " Safe At Any Speed " and the subject of the book was his highway adventures with Ol Blue noting that front bumper of Ol Blue and what was considered at the time an Anti Bumper Lock Up Deterrent System or ABLDS ... Nader describes how through shear gross weight and that bumper alone Ol Blue cleared many a road going uphill via folks rear view mirrors or especially down hill making folks praying for a safe shoulder area to turn out on before being over taken by Ol Blue ....

    Buick Convertible for 1950-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2020
  29. jeepster
    Joined: Nov 17, 2005
    Posts: 1,068

    jeepster
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    from wisconsin

  30. swi66
    Joined: Jun 8, 2009
    Posts: 18,173

    swi66
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