Shu Shu Question

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

QUESTION:

Fred, I need some background information on the SHU SHU. I know it started out as the NOTRE DAME and is now one of the restored MISS BUDWEISERs. But for two races in 1965, it was the SHU SHU. Who owned it and what did it look like? What was the significance of the boat's name? - Ted A.

ANSWER:

You're right, the SHU SHU was the former NOTRE DAME, which raced during 1962 and 1963. Designed and built by Les Staudacher, this was Shirley Mendelson McDonald's entry vehicle into Unlimited racing.

With Bill Muncey driving, the boat caught fire during a test run on Seattle's Lake Washington, shortly after the end of the 1963 season. Shirley then ordered a new NOTRE DAME, which was the craft that Muncey and Rex Manchester drove and which raced between 1964 and 1966. In truth, Mrs. McDonald's first boat was a better rider than her second. But that's another story.

The burned-out hull was repaired, converted to a two-seater, and appeared at two races in 1965 as SHU SHU (U-5). The name "Shu Shu" was Mrs. McDonald's nickname. The color scheme was similar to when it was NOTRE DAME (U-7)--white with blue trim--but with the addition of a mahogany deck.

The SHU SHU crew was a group of Detroit volunteers. They were separate from the NOTRE DAME, which had a paid crew. The SHU SHU did not have access to any of the NOTRE DAME's stockpile of Rolls-Royce Merlin equipment. Rather, SHU SHU had to make do with a stock Allison.

With Limited pilot Jim Miller at the wheel, SHU SHU failed to qualify at the 1965 Detroit (Michigan) and Madison (Indiana) races. She did a lap of 93.248 at Madison. Although a smooth rider, SHU SHU just didn't have any power, on account of that stock Allison.

Shirley then sold the boat to Bernie Little who repowered it with a Merlin and campaigned it as a back-up MISS BUDWEISER in 1967. With Mike Thomas driving, she won the 1967 British Columbia Cup at Kelowna, B.C.

In the years that followed, the NOTRE DAME/SHU SHU/MISS BUDWEISER hull had many names. These included BURIEN LADY, THE SMOOTHER MOVER, BOB MURPHY'S MARINE, MS. GREENFIELD GALLERIES, NO SMOKIN', KIRBY CLASSIC, RED BALL EXPRESS, OH BOY! OBERTO, R. MIKULSKI ADVERTISING, and EVERGREEN ROOFING.

Her drivers included Warner Gardner, Roy Duby, George Henley, Bob Miller, Terry Sterett, Chuck Hickling, Jerry Bangs, Tom Martin, and Mark Evans.

Retired from competition after 1980, the boat has since been restored by the Hydroplane And Raceboat Museum in its MISS BUDWEISER configuration.