David D. Williams's News (41)

The Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum has a lot in common with the R/C Scale Hydro Community. Both communities are passionate about the sport of unlimited racing. Both groups have a keen interest in the history of the sport, and both groups owe a huge debt to Roger Newton for playing such a big role in getting us started. That is why the Hydroplane Museum is proud to announce our…

Uncle Al, remembered by long time friend and crew member Dave Woelfert.

On May 19, 2012, unlimited hydroplane racing lost one of its most ardent supporters when Eldon “Uncle Al” Thoreson passed away.

Al started as a crew member and builder of Bob…

There is something for everyone at the Hydroplane Museum! 

The next few weeks are very busy with a wide range of activities

7:00PM the evening of Saturday Jan 19th we will bring back our popular “Movie Night” and en…

It is one of the quirks of the Hydro Business that there are long cold months during the winter when little or no activity is taking place, and then for a few days at the end of July and start of August we are so incredibly busy that there is hardly time to blink. (I often tell my friends that I know what it must be like for Santa Claus to go the whole year with seeing a soul,…

Over 80 hydro fans showed up at the Hydroplane Museum last night to watch H1 Unlimited’s live stream of the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship. The crowd enjoyed a festive party atmosphere and some great racing. As has become our tradition, a fantastic homemade breakfast of eggs, bacon, French toast and sausage patties was prepared by Ken and Denise Strong with help from Mike…

As I’m sure you know the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum is a member supported not for profit corporation.  We operate a real brick and mortar museum that houses a dozen or so of the fastest, most historic vintage unlimited hydroplanes in the world.  Restoring and running the boats is very expensive.  For the past two decades we have been supported by almost seven hundred dues paying members who contribute financially to the museum via their yearly dues…

There has been a lot of traffic on the blogs this week about the Notre Dame and Harrah's Club crash in heat 1A of the 1967 Gold Cup. Here are a few photos from our archives that may clear up a few questions. (All photos are from the collection of the Hydroplan Museum  Many were taken by Rich Ormbreck)

1. The Notre Dame bouning the first of three times.

 …

Gar Wood and Dean Chenoweth were inducted into the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum’s Hall of Champions on Saturday night the 14th of May.

The Hall of Champions is the museum’s highest honor and is only…

 

Save the date - Saturday, May 28th from 10 am to 4 pm for HYDRO FEVER at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. 5917 South 196th Street   Kent, WA 98032

  

It's the annual Open House, and admission is FREE.HYDRO FEVER will include a Live auction of hydroplane memorabilia at 12 Noon. Casper model races take place all day. There will be hot lunch…

Gar Wood and Dean Chenoweth will be inducted into the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

Hall of Champions on Saturday May 14th.

Legendary boat racers from different eras will be…

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.

The Hydroplane Museum Gift Shop is open from 10 AM to 8 PM today, December 23rd and will be open tomorrow Dec 24th from 10 AM to 2 PM for last minute holiday shopping. We still have a complete inventory of boat models, Tee shirts, books and DVDs for the hydro fan in your life. Stop in and mention that you saw this post and you will get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more!…

Future Hall of Fame driver Dave Villwock will be the guest speaker at Saturday Nights Annual dinner meeting.

Villwock is currently tied will Bill Muncey for all time unlimited wins with 62!…

The Hydroplane Museum will be closed Tuesday November the 23rd due to snow.

It is too early to make a call for Wednesday the 24th.

We will also be closed on Thursday November 25th and Friday the 26th for Thanksgiving.

We plan to be open for normal operation on Saturday November the 27th.

David Williams

At 1pm Thursday the 18th of November, Don Mock and the talented Atlas Van Lines crew reattached the left sponson. Both air traps have been replace, the bottom has been repaired and the original sponson frames are back in place, the old Blue Blaster is beginning to look like a race boat again. There is still lots more work to do so don’t be shy, come on down and lend a hand.…

After spending more than a year on loan to the Foss Waterway Museum in Tacoma, the 1958 Miss Bardahl returned to the Hydroplane Museum Wednesday Nov 10th. The boat needs some minor work to get ready for her 2011 return to Lake Coeur d' Alene and the Diamond Cup this coming July. Work is being led by vetran crew chief Glenn Raymond and will begin on Thursday November 11th at…

As Don Mock and the rest of the 1977 Atlas Crew move ahead with their great restoration, I can’t help but think back to that cold grey day 33 years ago when the Blue Blaster Atlas Van Lines hit the water for the very first time.

It was Tuesday March 15th. I took the day off work to make sure I was at the lake when Jim Lucero’s newest creation was unveiled. The rumor mill said the boat would launch at noon. I got to Sayres Pits about 9:00 just to be safe.…

Did you know that you can rent the Hydroplane Museum for your own private party? We have hosted all sorts of events including high school reunions, birthday parties, anniversary partied company holiday parties and weddings! Contact David or Denise at (206) 764-9453 from prices and available dates. Our Holiday Calendar is filling up. Book now so you don’t miss out!…

Phil sent out some good shots from today including the money shot of the boat with both airtraps in place. They're not attached quite yet but will be next week. Phil also describes today's events as we got the inserts glued into the right airtrap as well as the doubler plates for the bottom/airtrap bolts. So it should go on the boat for good Weds next week. We should be able to get the left side drilled and inserts glued in by Thursday.

With the airtraps in place we can add the…