By Fred Farley - H1 Unlimited Historian

Former MISS MADISON driver Jon Peddie passed away on November 25, 2014 at the University of Louisville Hospital. He was 71.

Jon was a larger than life figure who owned and operated Peddie’s Body Shop in his hometown of Madison, Indiana, for many years.

He raced Unlimited hydroplanes from 1977 to 1983. He drove two different MISS MADISON hulls during 1977-78 and started chauffeuring Bill Cantrell and Graham Heath’s MY GYPSY…

2014 was an exciting year at the Museum, and 2015 is shaping up to be one too!

The "Winged Wonder" Pay 'N Pak is Back and in the Museum's restoration shop with the hopes of finishing the restoration and running the boat at both the Tri-Cities and Seafair races next summer.

Come down and check on the progress often. The Crew is exciting to get her back on…

I became a race fan back in the '60s when my uncle took us to watch the Gold Cup on Lake Coeur d' Alene by boat from his cabin nearby. I've become a race fanatic ever since. Going to the races on Lake CDA in 2013 was a 45-year plus nostalgic weekend. We need to keep the races coming here! Wish I could donate but not able to at this time. Watch Seafair religiously via streamline every year from Idaho!

Okay, here's a question:

When you think about Unlimited Hydroplane Racing during the period from, say 1955 to 1970, what comes first to mind?

1. A Driver 

2. A Boat

3. An Event

No essay answers, please. Just tell me which of the 3 choices comes immediately to mind. It's easy to pick all 3 I realize, but I just want to know what you think of first.

Just curious. Thanks for indulging…

By Fred Farley - H1 Unlimited Historian

Since 1966, the Tri-Cities of Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, Washington, has been a mainstay on the Unlimited hydroplane calendar. From Day-One, the Tri-Cities race has set the standard for a well-organized aquatic festival that brings credit and prestige both to the sport and to the community that hosts it.

The man most responsible for this great success is Ken Maurer, who passed away on August 4, 2014, at his home in Pasco,…

Reprinted from the Madison Courier, August 8, 2014.

Ole Bardahl, one of the most successful owners in Unlimited hydroplane history, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in Detroit on Wednesday.

Bardahl, who died in 1989 at the age of 87, joined six others in being inducted into the prestigious…

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2014 induction class, which includes hydroplane racing legend Chip Hanauer.

The class includes such high-profile inductees as Seattle Sonic Detlef Schrempf, Mariner Alvin…

Unlimited hydroplane star will drive boat that crashed, killing Bill Muncey in 1981, during exhibition.

By Ashley Scoby, Seattle Times staff reporter

Originally published on seattletimes.com,  July 29, 2014

The remnants of a horrible day in…

On July 17, 2014, the team for the Atlas Van Lines hydroplane, in preparation for the vintage hydroplane races at Seafair 2014, tested the waters at American Lake Park in Lakewood, Washington.

Watch the…

Mira J Slovak, passed away Monday, June 16^th at 7:47am peacefully at his home in Fallbrook, CA.

Mira was born in Cifer, Czechoslovakia on October 25^th 1929. When Mira was only 9 years old, the Nazis overran Czechoslovakia and Mira and his family had to live with the horrors of the Nazi occupation followed by the equally bloody Russian…

By Fred Farley - H1 Unlimited Historian

Jack Regas with Mira Slovak in 1960. Photo provided by Mark Douty.

Beyond doubt, one of the most colorful characters ever to jockey an Unlimited hydroplane was Mira Slovak, "The Flying Czech," who was to boat racing what Errol Flynn was to the movies.

During an…

For over 30 years, the great Bill Muncey held the record as the winningest driver in the history of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing.

Wil Muncey was born before his father achieved fame and watched the entire story unfold from an up close and personal point of view. He has chronicled his memories in a new book which long time fans of the sport will find to be a fascinating read.

In the book,…

Don Ryan of Bellingham Washington, Former owner/driver of Allouette Angel, Heavy Hauler, and Don Ryans Lauterbach Special, Passed away Saturday May 24th at his home in Az after battling cancer.

He will be remembered by his family and many friends.

Sincerely,

His son, Mark Ryan

GiveBIG is tomorrow! Join the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum and the Seattle Foundation's fourth annual GiveBIG — a one-day, online event.

From midnight to midnight Pacific Daylight Time on Tuesday, May 6, your online donations will make an impact on local institutions, such as the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, that work to improve our communities!

Why you should…

The 2014 H1 Unlimited Season Preview was hosted by the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, Washington on Saturday. The event was well attended and gave fans a chance to meet and mingle with series owners and drivers and hear their plans for the season.

Included on the panel were; J. Michael Kelly, Larry Oberto, Art Oberto, Jimmy Shane, Jon Zimmerman, Shannon and Scott Raney and Steve Montgomery.

Montgomery opened the discussion by outlining plans for the season…

To all my friends at the HARM I wanted to apologize for my prolonged absence from helping on the Miss Bardahl.  Life sometimes gets in the way of things we would rather be doing and one Thursday after another has passed and now that I look back it has been an extended time.  As a CPA and the middle of February, it will probably be at least a couple more months before I can return.  I just wanted to let everybody I will be back as soon as able.

Origins of Ford Aero and Tank Engines, the American Merlin, and the writings of Maurice Olley.

 Before the entry of the United States in the Second World War, the U.S. had become a supplier of war materials to those countries with similar governmental outlooks. Our then President, Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed that the U.S. was “The Arsenal of Democracy”. 

One of our major customers was Great Britain, who, for a number of reasons, decided to have their very successful…

By Fred Farley - H1 Unlimited Historian

Jack Regas, Mike Welsh, 1958 Gold Cup win.

Most Unlimited hydroplane drivers start in the Limited classes and work their way up. Jack Regas started at the very top.

The Livermore, California, resident was an employee of Kaiser Industries in the 1950s and worked as a welder. His bosses--Henry…