Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

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April 2012 News Posts (8)

Changes Are Stealing Some Of The Thunder, And Risk, Of The Unlimiteds

By Alexander Wolff

Reprinted from Sports Illustrated, September 10, 1984

Unlimited hydroplanes, the powerboats that attract hundreds of thousands of fans when they race, have always had two very tidy certainties associated with them. One is that they make a particular sort of ear-splitting noise. Promoters like to refer to it as "thunder," and the vessels themselves as "thunderboats." In fact, the sound is more like what you'd expect a power mower to make while running…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 29, 2012 at 9:42pm — No Comments

Couch Racing Links

If you were unable to attend the Couch Racing with Chip Hanauer event, or you missed the live broadcast, you can watch the event by clicking on the links below:

Couch Racing with Chip Hanauer - Hour 1

Couch Racing with Chip Hanauer - Hour 2

If you did attend the event, either in person or in the Internet, thank you for attending and…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 21, 2012 at 8:08pm — 1 Comment

Norm Berg Builds a Pair

By Bill Curry

Reprinted from the 1979 Spirit of Detroit program

When today's Spirit of Detroit Regatta is history the unlimited hydroplane sitting in the winner's circle may well be a product of Norm Berg's Tacoma, Washington boat shop. You see, the 37-year-old Berg is the builder of Bill Muncey's 1978 national champion Atlas Van Lines, winner of the last two Detroit River go-arounds. Norm Berg is also the builder of two other top-flight contenders - Circus…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 14, 2012 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Life Is A Circus Circus

Bob Steil, former owner of the Squire Shop hydroplanes, has just acquiring the 1979 U-31 Miss Circus Circus from the Dave Bartush collection in Detroit. The hull is a duplicate of the 1979 U-2 Squire Shop, with both being designed by Dave Knowlen and built by Norm Berg. The U-2 demolished in a test run in late-season 1981. Bob Steil then bought the former Miss Circus Circus as a replacement. The "new" U-2 was itself badly damaged at the 1981 UIM World…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 14, 2012 at 7:49pm — No Comments

The Pak Is Back - Really!

One of the sport's winningest, most important boats arrives back in Seattle this week.  Dr, Ken Muscatel purchased the 1973 Pay 'N Pak (Atlas Van Lines, Miss Madison) from the Dave Bartush collection in Detroit. The famous hull make a brief appearance before being moved Ken's Burien shop today. Ken's plans are to restore the boat to its original Pay 'N Pak livery.…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 14, 2012 at 7:24pm — 1 Comment

Thunderboats Indeed

This is an unreleased military photo taken in the Pacific ocean. Isn't that Billl Muncey in the Thriftway?

Added by Jack Reynolds on April 13, 2012 at 2:37pm — No Comments

I'm official

Last week I received my official membership card and pin (thanks David), so I feel official.  It's been a couple of months now volunteering each Thursday at the museum helping restore the 1958 Miss Bardahl.  Yes, it's work, but what a great bunch of guys.

 

I sent an email today to our firm's (Bader Martin, just in case anybody needs a good CPA) event planning committee suggesting they consider renting the facility for our next event.  David, it might be a good idea to add…

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Added by Steve Bishop on April 12, 2012 at 4:12pm — No Comments

Iconic Hydroplane Makes a Big Move

Here are some links to some photos of the Slo-mo-shun IV being moved from the Museum of History and Industry's Montlake location, Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in Seattle.

Seattle Times Photo Gallery

The Center for Wooden Boats

The…

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Added by Hydroplane Museum on April 4, 2012 at 9:43pm — 1 Comment

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