The Racing Steretts

By Fred Farley - Unlimited Hydroplane Historian

One of racing's most famous names will be in evidence at this year's Budweiser Madison Regatta, presented by Cruisin' Auto. For the first time in 30 years, the Sterett family of Owensboro, Kentucky, will have a boat out on the river.

Billy Sterett, Jr., son of the late Bill Sterett, Sr., has entered a replica of his father's 7-Litre Class champion MISS CRAZY THING in the Bob Snelling Memorial Vintage Event.

The original MISS CRAZY THING was the scourge of Limited inboard hydroplane racing in the middle 1960s and won the 1966 National Championship Race for 7-Litres on Seattle's Lake Washington with Bill, Sr., driving.

Billy and his brother Terry, together with their father, made their presence felt in the Unlimited ranks in the late '60s and early '70s.

Bill Sterett, Sr., mounted the first serious attempt at automotive power in the post-war APBA Unlimited Class. He raced the Henry Lauterbach-designed MISS CHRYSLER CREW during 1966 and 1967 and won the UIM World's Championship Race at Detroit in 1967. The C-CREW used a pair of 426 cubic inch supercharged Chrysler hemispherical engines.

When the Chrysler Corporation changed promotional direction, Bill signed on as driver of the Ed Karelsen-designed MISS BUDWEISER during 1968 and 1969. He won the Gold Cup and the National High Point Championship in 1969 with the BUD.

One of his biggest thrills was winning the 1969 Kentucky Governor's Cup in his hometown of Owensboro, a race that he helped to promote. Bill retired from competition after 1969--except for one time as a relief driver at Madison in 1972 with PRIDE OF PAY 'n PAK.

Billy Sterett, Jr., raced Unlimiteds during 1970, 1971, and 1972 after a career in 280 Cubic Inch Class inboards. He qualified as an Unlimited driver with MISS OWENSBORO (former C-CREW, now repowered with an Allison) at the 1970 Tampa, Florida, race. Billy also saw action in the back-up MISS BUDWEISER II at a few 1970 races. Billy was named (with his brother) as Co-Rookie-of-the-Year in the Unlimited Class for 1970.

He handled the Ed Karelsen-designed NOTRE DAME in 1971, until a crash at Seattle cut his season short. Billy lacked a "ride" at the outset of 1972 but was recruited in mid-season to replace Billy Schumacher in the Ron Jones-designed PRIDE OF PAY 'n PAK. The highlight of his tenure with the PAK was a victory in the 1972 President's Cup after a side-by-side battle with National Champion Bill Muncey and ATLAS VAN LINES.

Terry Sterett raced Unlimiteds during 1970, 1971, and 1972. He traded off with brother Billy, Jr., in their Dad's MISS OWENSBORO and was co-Rookie-of-the-Year for 1970. Terry also handled Bob Fendler's U-19 ATLAS VAN LINES II briefly in 1970.

The following year at Madison, Indiana, he drove a sensational race with Joe Schoenith's U-70 ATLAS VAN LINES II, finishing second to Jim McCormick and MISS MADISON in the APBA Gold Cup.

Later in 1971, Terry also saw action with Bob Murphy's THE SMOOTHER MOVER and Bernie Little's BUDWEISER MALT LIQUOR. This latter assignment led to his 1972 promotion as driver of the MISS BUDWEISER--the same boat that his father drove in 1968 and 1969. Terry Sterett finished second to Bill Muncey in National Driver High Points in 1972.

All three Steretts--Bill, Billy, and Terry--retired from racing after 1972.

Sterett Crane Service, owned by the Sterett family, has provided crane service at the Evansville, Indiana, "Thunder On The Ohio" race for many years.

This year's Bob Snelling Memorial Vintage Event brings back the sights and sounds of a bygone era in power boat racing. The Vintage boats--including MISS CRAZY THING--will participate in the Friday night Madison Regatta Parade, will be on display all weekend, and will run demonstration laps on the historic Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course.

In addition to seeing and hearing these unique and beautiful boats on the race course, spectators are invited to take a guided tour to view them close-up in the Vintage pit area.