Three Slo-Mo Laps For The Memories

Nostalgic Ride With Woods Rough, Says Taggart, 83

By John Peoples
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 6, 1990.

A beaming Joe Taggart said the ride around the course in Slo-Mo-Shun IV jarred more than memories.

"I don't know if it was my age or what, but after 34 years, I don't remember it (Slo-Mo) ever riding that rough before,'' said Taggart, 83.

Thirty-four years after an accident nearly destroyed the famous unlimited hydroplane, Taggart traveled to Seattle from his Orlando, Fla., home for a trip around memory lane.

For Taggart and many fans, the highlight of Seafair Sunday was the return of the newly restored Sl-Mo-Shun IV, the boat that brought unlimited racing to Seattle in 1951 by winning the 1950 Gold Cup regatta in Detroit.

The Slo-Mo, which has been on display at the Museum of History and Industry since 1959, circled the course three times before the first heat.

George Woods Jr. of the Mr. Pringle's team was at the wheel. Taggart, who was driving in 1956 when the Slo-Mo was nearly destroyed during a qualifying run on the Detroit River, was in the passenger seat yesterday.

Designer Ted Jones and builder Anchor Jensen also were on hand.

Taggart had trouble with the modern, full-face helmet and other items of safety clothing he was required to wear.

"I ran out of breath. I could not get any air with that helmet,'' he said. "It was sure a lot different with all that paraphernalia on and riding as a passenger.''

The restoration work was donated to the museum, the boat's owner, by the Antique Race Boat Foundation, which will get to display the craft for the next two years. In two weeks, it will be on display at Kirkland's Carrillon Point.

Under the foundation's agreement with the museum, Woods could not drive Slo-Mo faster than 100 mph yesterday, but he didn't mind.

"It wasn't exactly thrilling as far as the speed was concerned, but, as someone who grew up here, just to be able to drive something with her heritage . . ., what can I say?'' Woods said. He said the mahogany and red Slo-Mo could go close to 180 mph down a straightaway in its present condition.

Jones didn't want to see the boat go that fast, but would have liked more of the Slo-Mo's trademark roostertail, which was considerably higher at race speeds than those produced by today's unlimiteds.

"I wish I'd been driving,'' Jones said.

The run went off with only a slight hitch, according to Ken Muscatel, who talked the museum into letting his group do the restoration work. A fuel problem delayed starting the engine.

Did he have any nervous moments during the run?

"When didn't I have any nervous moments?'' he said. "The whole thing was a nervous moment.''