February 2011 News Posts (7)

By Jon Osterberg

What makes a boat great? Typically, four traits: a committed owner; a smart, talented crew; superb driving; and innovation.

In post-1950 hydroplane racing, dominant teams have raced boats named Slo-mo-shun, Thriftway, Budweiser, Pay 'n Pak, and Atlas Van Lines. Great boats driven by great drivers named Fageol. Taggart. Muncey. Chenoweth. Remund. Henley. Hanauer. Kropfeld. D'Eath.

From 1963…

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Musuem will be closed today, Febuary 24th due to snow. We will be open tomorrow Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th.

An all time great among drivers reads into 'Miss Thriftway's' triumph a victory for solid power over 'souped-up, hot rod engines'

By Lou Fageol

Reprinted from Sports Illustrated, August 26, 1957

To most of the people who saw Willard Rhodes's boat Miss Thriftway successfully defend her title in the Gold Cup at Seattle, the victory was one more score for Seattle in the bitter hydroplane rivalry with Detroit. But for me Miss Thriftway's…

We took the Miss Bardahl off her trailer Thursday night and put her on a roll around. This will make life much easier for repairs. Also the trailer can now be sent out for updates. I'll post some pictures  soon. We also took one cylinder bank to Peter Orton's shop and repositioned two cylinder liners that were bound up and out of round. Got both back to .002 out of round ...very acceptable.

We're still looking for volunteers to help with boat repairs. Experience isn't necessary, we'll…

After two decades of racing in thunderboats, it looks as if 1976 National Champion Bill Muncey will continue rewriting the record books forever.

By Coles Phinizy

Reprinted from Sports Illustrated, September 27, 1976

In 1950 Designer Ted Jones of the boat-mad city of Seattle revolutionized unlimited hydroplane racing with a nimble three-point monster named Slo-Mo-Shun IV. Driving her himself, Jones wrested the Gold Cup away from the equally…

Although August seems a long ways away, the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum's Auction Committee is already hard at work planning this summer's annual event. Hey, putting on a party for over 250 of our closest friends is a big task!

Did you know that it costs over $1,000 per day to keep the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum doors open? That's right, our annual budget is over $350,000 per year.  Last year, over one third of our income came from the…