Marc Connelly's Posts - Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum2024-03-28T12:50:18ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConellyhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/66498267?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://thunderboats.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2xukg7a9kifxi&xn_auth=noFor some of us, THIS is Gold Cup week!tag:thunderboats.ning.com,2012-09-26:6315479:BlogPost:530282012-09-26T05:30:50.000ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConelly
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>The Chief gave me a pass this week. It was a trade actually: “two days next week, for one day this week.” I took the deal- I had no choice. this is Gold Cup week and I have a long ways to go before my program is race ready and competitive.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>A week and a half…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>The Chief gave me a pass this week. It was a trade actually: “two days next week, for one day this week.” I took the deal- I had no choice. this is Gold Cup week and I have a long ways to go before my program is race ready and competitive.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>A week and a half ago, I got the silly idea that I would actually go racing in the second connie of our last race and, as fate would have it, I got crunched- and crunched good as payment for my folly. These cowlings are carefully designed to pop off of an eighth scale R/C hydroplane when they roll, and this usually keeps them safe from major damage. But this time, for some inexplicable reason, the anchor bar in the bow block got stuck and the entire front end of the carbon fiber cockpit was wrenched into confetti. I had a major repair on my hands- with two weeks remaining until the R/CU Gold Cup!</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>Time for some patented Jim Harvey style all nighters with the volunteer crew (me).</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>First, I cut away the entire front end of the cowling, after carefully removing ‘Chip’ for facial reconstructive surgery. Next, I fabricated an entire front section, laying up the part in my Atlas cowling mold (just like the real thing, you gotta have those crucial molds handy!) Two long nights of work later and it was rough fitted to the existing part and the first layer of bondo went on. Then the cowling was mated to the deck line as the new hold down bar was epoxied into place. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Tonight, the white and two blues went on the front of the cowling. Tomorrow, the clear coat goes on and race program prep initiation sequence begins. Friday is a testing day on the cruel waters of Irene Reiinhart Park, in Ellensburg, Washington. That is the site of the big show- the 2012 R/CU Gold Cup!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p>Team ‘82 Atlas will be ready to roll, looking good, and representin’.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Marc Connelly</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365549?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365549?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365773?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365773?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365890?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a></p>Stan Hanauer: True Gentleman.tag:thunderboats.ning.com,2011-04-25:6315479:BlogPost:216092011-04-25T18:48:09.000ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConelly
<p>I knew that his days were growing short but still, it came as a personal blow to learn that Stan Hanauer had passed away last week. I flat loved the guy and I will miss him a great deal. Stan was a fine human being.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are so many good people who will read this post that knew Stan far better than I, who can tell the great stories of his Navy days, or his hydroplane racing days. I wasn’t a close personal friend, but Stan and I were simpatico on a special level as fellow…</p>
<p>I knew that his days were growing short but still, it came as a personal blow to learn that Stan Hanauer had passed away last week. I flat loved the guy and I will miss him a great deal. Stan was a fine human being.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are so many good people who will read this post that knew Stan far better than I, who can tell the great stories of his Navy days, or his hydroplane racing days. I wasn’t a close personal friend, but Stan and I were simpatico on a special level as fellow woodbutchers, boat makers, and luthiers (stringed instrument makers). And that counted for something with Stan. As a guitar maker, I knew things that Stan wanted to know and, as an experienced shipwright, he knew what I wanted to know. So each time we met, usually by chance, we had great and animated discussions about all kinds of cool and interesting stuff. It never felt like there was enough time for the full and necessary information transfer. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I met Stan late in his life, when he was firmly ‘retired’, meaning he was busy with one project or another. The meeting happened on my second visit ever to the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, back in 1996. I barely knew David Williams, and certainly knew nobody else, when David introduced me to Stan who was visiting our old South Park museum facility. By his name, I figured that he must be Chip’s dad, but I wasn’t at all familiar with his accomplishments in unlimited hydroplane racing. In fact, didn’t know anything about Stan Hanauer at all. But I was immediately impressed by his gracious manner and easy charm. His old school classiness reminded me of Fred Astaire or Al Bowlly. You just don’t meet a lot of folks like that these days, so I took note. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In a minute or two, I learned that he was working on a beautiful little Whitehall sailing dinghy (which later became the darling of the 2002 Wooden Boat festival, down on Lake Union). I burned to build a wooden boat, so I wanted to hear all about it. Stan was gracious and encouraging. During that conversation, he figured out that I made guitars and, since Chip was getting into the guitar in a serious way, he wanted to know all about making one himself. Knowing what I know about constructing classical guitars, I thought that his determination was incredibly brave. But it also speaks to the most important aspect of Stan Hanauer, the one thing that he should be most remembered for today: being a great Dad.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Whether we were running the 1982 Atlas out on Lake Washington, or attending a guitar recital on a rainy Sunday in Tacoma, Stan was always there for Chip. I am sure that he was always there for Scott Hanauer too. Whenever the topic came up, he always seemed both proud and amazed by his sons, and a genuine feeling of deep affection and respect came into his voice. Many fans envy Chip for his remarkable accomplishments a race driver. I envy him most for having had a terrific, loving, and engaged father.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>During one of our conversations, I learned that Stan had been a sales representative for the local Delta Milwaukee tool distributor at about the same time that my dad purchased an entire shop full of their power tools. We laughed when we realized that it was highly probable that Stan sold those tools to my dad, who later passed them on to me. Among those tools, my old 14 inch Delta band saw is still the most used, and the most venerated. I cut out my first plywood hydroplane on that band saw at age 10 and I will use it today to make guitar parts, some 52 odd years later. When I finally go, it moves on to the Museum. When my father died, and the saw came to live with me, I had his name engraved into the table, along with the name of my godfather (dad’s best buddy, and the guy who taught me to use the darned thing safely). It is a nice way to think of them fondly whenever I fire up the old beast.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This morning, upon hearing the news, I called the local engraver to come over again to add one more name to the table. It seems fitting, somehow. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Marc Connelly</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Chris Denslow photos from our Holiday Stocking Stuffer catalog.tag:thunderboats.ning.com,2010-12-09:6315479:BlogPost:52662010-12-09T01:52:43.000ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConelly
By a twist of fate, my family goes way back with the hydroplane photographers of yore. I met Vic Condiotti. And I believe that it was my father who gave Bob ‘Cuddles’ Carver his nickname after accompanying him to a ‘tie up’ to the entrance buoy entering turn one on Lake Washington one day. I remember him at cocktail parties hosted by my parents, thinking he had maybe the tenth coolest job on the planet, after the hydro drivers themselves, of course. That was over 50 years…
By a twist of fate, my family goes way back with the hydroplane photographers of yore. I met Vic Condiotti. And I believe that it was my father who gave Bob ‘Cuddles’ Carver his nickname after accompanying him to a ‘tie up’ to the entrance buoy entering turn one on Lake Washington one day. I remember him at cocktail parties hosted by my parents, thinking he had maybe the tenth coolest job on the planet, after the hydro drivers themselves, of course. That was over 50 years ago.<div><br/></div>
<div>Today, we have Chris Denslow. And while the technology has taken leaps and bounds since Bob Carver brandished his Leica in a leaky rowboat, it still takes a great eye and quick reflexes to capture a great hydroplane image. Chris has the eye, the reflexes, and all of the instincts as well.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>This year, through special arrangement with Chris, we are fortunate to feature these high quality, high resolution photos of these beautiful vintage unlimiteds in our holiday gift catalog. The prints are available in both high resolution and super high resolution ‘giclee’ print formats. Discounts on framing are also available upon request. Order today!</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Here are larger format images for your review:</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74364906?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365143?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><br/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365611?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365573?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74365934?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
</div>The A Teamstag:thunderboats.ning.com,2010-11-19:6315479:BlogPost:40682010-11-19T18:30:00.000ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConelly
This morning, after working with the crew to reattach a chunk of the Blue Blaster, my shoulders are a bit sore in that special way that only comes from a good, honest, evenings worth of hydroplane crew work. It feels good, a familiar old feeling from a few years back, when I was an ‘A Team’ participant on the 1982 Atlas Van Lines Restoration.<div><br></br></div>
<div>I should offer a disclaimer right here and now: the ‘A-Team’ concept is wholly my concoction, my notion of how things are. It is not…</div>
This morning, after working with the crew to reattach a chunk of the Blue Blaster, my shoulders are a bit sore in that special way that only comes from a good, honest, evenings worth of hydroplane crew work. It feels good, a familiar old feeling from a few years back, when I was an ‘A Team’ participant on the 1982 Atlas Van Lines Restoration.<div><br/></div>
<div>I should offer a disclaimer right here and now: the ‘A-Team’ concept is wholly my concoction, my notion of how things are. It is not a point of view that is necessarily shared by anyone other than myself, and most certainly is not an idea that is endorsed by the Museum.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Having said this, I’d bet that most everyone who participates on a work crew, for any boat and for any length of time, knows exactly who the A-Team crew is on that boat. Last night, for example, I watched as most of the Oberto hydroplane ‘A-Team’ filtered in for a work night addressing oil tank issues. though I don’t know all of their names yet, I know that they are the A Team for that boat because I have seen them crawl all over her for a long time now. There is a bond there, familiar greetings, inside jokes. While we were working on the Blaster, a Miss Bardahl A Team seemed to be reforming out on the main Museum floor, preparing to address some needed repairs to her bow.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>It isn’t hard to become an A Team guy (or gal). All you have to do is show up once, do some work, have some fun, work safely, and then ask the crew chief when it is happening again. Lather, rinse, repeat. A Teams are flexible, too: If you were A Team with a boat once, you are probably, in my estimation, A Team with that boat forever, even if you retire from active participation. Conversely, new people are added as A Team crew members all the time simply by coming down to the Museum to lend a hand on a boat, repeatedly.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>This whole ‘A Team’ thing may sound like a long road to a very small house to some, but I think it is a pretty big deal myself. For me, the A Teams are the very soul of this museum. As a Board member, it is gratifying to see them showing up on a cold, rainy Thursday evening in November when there is much Hysol to mix and little glory in being on a hydroplane crew. As a fellow crew member, I enjoy admiring them in the Tri Cities hot pits, fueling up for another run in 109 degree heat, knowing that all of their shoulders are sore, just like mine.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>On the Blue Blaster project, Don Mock has assembled another great A Team in the form of Gail, Phil, John, (and several others who I do not quite recognize yet). With the restoration well underway now, this A Team is still growing.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>They are doing a magnificent job with the Blaster restoration and this, in itself, is a great thing to watch. This hull was really very seriously damaged in the blowover and collision in Mexico but it is coming back together stronger, straighter and better than new. Restoring the hull to museum quality standards has been a very well considered effort. The restoration crew has been careful to retain as much of the original material as possible while making repairs that will stand up to the stresses of exhibition running, if so directed by the museum Board. Last night, the very last evidence of tragedy was replaced in the form of the a new sponson frame, frame 7, on the port side. It replaces the crumpled and distorted original piece.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>With my crazy work schedule lately, I have only been able to work with these guys a few times so far, but each time up, it has been a blast. They are a good group and it has been a privilege to join in. I am strictly B Team on this crew, and I am enjoying it immensely. But if my schedule ever frees up a bit, my status could be upgraded. I have the crew shirt already....</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Those who knew Roger Newton as I did know that he was all A Team, wherever he picked up a tool. Being a low key, behind the scenes guy, we know that the sport and history of hydroplaning will never fully recognize and appreciate the many contributions of one Roger Newton, so we named the restoration shop at the Museum for him. His smiling visage oversees all of our work.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Well, Don Mock is cut from the same cloth (or from a similar bolt) as Roger. He has been an A Team crewman on any number of museum hulls, a museum Board member forever, and the crew chief on two full restorations; the 1982 Atlas and now, the 1977 Atlas Van Vines. I believe that Don knows as much- no, <i><b>more</b></i>- than anyone alive about these two hulls- and that list would include Chip Hanuer, Jim Harvey, Fran Mucey and Jim Lucero. Don’t even get him started on the original Miss Thriftway, an all time Don Mock favorite. His knowledge is beyond encyclopedic, his love for these boats is beyond measure, his enthusiasm inspires A Team effort wherever and whenever he picks up a tool. A ‘behind the scenes’ guy who prefers it that way, Don will, no doubt, cringe at this accurate comparison to the ‘Czar’.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>When this hull eventually runs beside her sister ship, the 1982 Atlas, (and you know it will) there will not be a dry eye in the house. On that day- and I promise you this-you will see Don Mock serving as crew chief on two museum hydroplanes- a superhuman feat! (I can just picture this)n Few will notice, fewer still will fully appreciate, that Don’s stature on the beach is as great as any being celebrated out on the race course. Like all of the truly great ones, he will probably cringe at this comparison too.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>But it is, in my sore shouldered opinion, the ‘A Team’ truth.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Marc Connely</div>Chip checks out ‘Chip’.tag:thunderboats.ning.com,2010-10-28:6315479:BlogPost:17882010-10-28T18:00:00.000ZMarc Connellyhttps://thunderboats.ning.com/profile/MarcConelly
Some photos need no explanation. But here is one, anyway.<div><br></br></div>
<div>By now, we all know and admire Chris Denslow, for both his convivial personality and his excellent raceboat photography. Not everyone knows that he began shooting hydroplanes in a meaningful way by following the R/CU circus as we raced all over the great state of Washington.</div>
<div><br></br></div>
<div>We don’t see Chris quite as often now that he has become a primary shooter for H-1, among other interests. But when…</div>
Some photos need no explanation. But here is one, anyway.<div><br/></div>
<div>By now, we all know and admire Chris Denslow, for both his convivial personality and his excellent raceboat photography. Not everyone knows that he began shooting hydroplanes in a meaningful way by following the R/CU circus as we raced all over the great state of Washington.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>We don’t see Chris quite as often now that he has become a primary shooter for H-1, among other interests. But when he does show up, and the light is just right, you can be sure that he is going to capture some great shots of your boat, slugging it out on the race course. When and if he captures you in a blowover sequence, he almost makes it worth the repairs.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>As a member of the 100% size 1982 Atlas Van Lines restoration and deck crews, I cherish the Chris Denslow photos of ‘my’ boat touring the course. As the holder of the 1/8th scale R/CU registration of the same hydroplane, I can’t wait for Monday to see his photos of my boat in action. So who could blame me for grabbing a couple of Chris’ low resolution photos of these two great warriors in action, Photoshopping them together into one terrific modelers fantasy?</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>It is just serendipity that Chip appears to be checking himself out as ‘he’ burns up the backstretch, ride pads a floatin’.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Marc Connelly</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/74364678?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
</div>