Gone Racin��2005 Boat Racers Reunion

The 2005 Boat Racers Reunion was held on June 11-12, 2005, at the Los Angeles County Fairplex, in Pomona, California.  Our sponsor was the Southern California Marine Association, who graciously provided us with room on Redwood Avenue and sent out the flyers and free tickets to the reunion and their Boat Show. Over 350 people, including their families and friends attended this two-day event. 14 racing powerboats were also on display, representing all forms of powerboat racing. The reunion benefited from having our event coordinated with the SCMA�s Spring Boat Show. Their spectators wandered through our pit area and many asked questions about the various racing leagues. An estimated 40,000 spectators visit the SCMA Spring Boat Show each year, and a fair number stopped by to see the race boats. Sunday was our big day, as the number of race boats came that day to swell the number that we had on display on Saturday. Sunday was also the day for the Boat Racers Reunion Honorary Awards Program. We honored 16 individuals and organizations at this year�s reunion. The following were honored posthumously and their names were engraved on a brass nameplate that goes on the Reunion�s Honorboard: Rusty Biesemeyer was honored in the boat building category and many in the audience owned and raced his boats. Betty Cook was honored for her contributions as a premier offshore boat-racing champion. Gar Wood, whose full name was Garfield Arthur Wood, was the leading partner of a group that included Nap Lisee, Chris Smith and others. They dominated boat racing before WWI through the 1930�s. Rick Fowler was honored for his contributions to water skiing. Jim Ermshar was honored for boatbuilding and powerboat racing. Ermshar developed the Mako boat design. Lance Faulkner was honored for his boat racing exploits and his unique boat designs. Chuck Pierce was honored for his lifetime commitment to the boat racing community and as an editor and publisher of Hot Boat Magazine.

The following were honored by the Boat Racers Reunion and received plaques for their achievements in powerboat racing. Don Ermshar was honored as a drag boat racer and national champion. George Striegel was honored in dual categories, as a jet boat champion and innovator, and in the manufacturer�s category as owner of Clay Smith Cams. Vic Edelbrock Sr, Vic Edelbrock Jr, and the Edelbrock family and employees were honored in the Manufacturer�s category for their lifetime commitment to powerboat racing. Bud Meyer was honored in the boat racers and engine builders categories for his commitment to powerboat racing for over 60 years. Eddie Hill was honored in the Dragboat category as a driver. He is the only man to have won both a Topfuel dragboat and dragcar championship. Chip Hanauer was honored in the Unlimited Hydroplane category as a National champion and second only to Bill Muncey in the number of gold cups, which he has won. Rick Wimer was honored in the Crackerbox category as a boat racer and builder who developed the famous WRAP design for Crackerbox boats. Carl G. Thornhill was honored in the Crackerbox category for his boat racing and for being the first to build a fiberglass Crackerbox boat. Adelle Stone was honored in the boat racing and officials category. Adelle has dedicated over 60 years to boat racing and continues to volunteer her time to the sport she loves.

A number of boats came to the reunion. Spike Morelli brought two boats, Too Much, a Stevens Hydro dragboat, The Mortician, a Stevens flatbottom, and a large collection of photos and memorabilia. Russ Raymond brought Donald Duck, an E Racing Runabout with twin counter rotating props. The Crackerbox club was out in force and brought several boats. Ron Sherin came with his P-85 Crackerbox called the Wood Box. Amy and Jerry Ross showed off their P-96 Crackerbox named California Girls. Greg Falconer and his son, Chance, exhibited the P-24 Cracker Jack. Brett Mann trailered in his black painted Crackerbox. The last Crackerbox was that of Scott Houghton who exhibited his Thornhill Crackerbox, Miss Sun Coast. Bud, Brad and Virginia Allerton drove all the way down from the San Francisco Bay area to show off their Pro Stock racing boat Grumpy 1. Dr. Tom Scherer displayed his Pro Stock boat called Satisfaction. Marlene, Marty, Rick, Derek and Ryan Roelle exhibited the Aqua Craft Love Potion II. Marlene Roelle took digital photos of the reunion for our website. Don and Phyllis Ermshar brought the Mako flatbottom dragboat, built by his late brother Jim, and his 70 foot Semi-trailer. Bill Fauntleroy, from Lifeline Marine came from the Colorado River with his 70-foot trailer and a truck with a built in motorhome. Don Weaver, who puts on the Legends of Ascot Sprint car reunion, brought a circa 1910 Pierce/Bud racing engine. John Sherin, his wife Betty, and his brother Ron brought a large collection of photographs and displays and created a historical center. Harlan and Mary Orrin brought the hydroplane Agitator and photos and memorabilia. Kenny Lyons trailered in a landspeed bike and a streamliner, to give us a break from the boats. Kenny is looking for women drivers to race his streamliner. Dr Tom Scherer brought his golf cart, which proved to be the hit of the show with the red and white stripes and the Crackerbox logo on the hood. It also helped to transport many of the reunion attendees to their cars in the parking lot and take supplies around the vast site where we were located. SCMA provided 24-hour security and the Fairplex was surrounded by huge wrought iron fencing for additional security. The weather was overcast on Saturday, and sunny and ideal on Sunday. Large trees shaded the tree-lined street and people put up lawn chairs and tables, creating a scene reminiscent of the past.

Marion Beaver came with Howard Brown from the Colorado River. Marion is a legend in powerboat racing and Brown is the originator of Howard Boats, which were used by so many successful racers. Doc Roaches son, Pat, came from San Diego. Mark Gyorffy promised to bring his models next year as we try and get a display of the best the Modelers have to offer. The Maddox family came to keep the memory of Rene Andre alive, with Andre�s partner, Don Edwards, co-founder of the Boat Racers Reunion and 4-time dragboat champion in the Golden Komotion. Jim Kavanaugh brought past Honoree Buck Smith to the reunion to sell his Boat Racers Reunion Commemorative pin sets. Included in the pin sets are boats featuring Robert Stack, Ed Olson, Don Edwards, Larry Schwabenland and Bill Muncey. Jim Murphy who raced boats, cars and motorcycles, Bob Foley, historian and boat racing writer, and Dave Parker, official photographer for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum also were in attendance. Two commodores were at the reunion, Bill Walti of the California Speedboat Association, and Ross Wallach representing the Southern California Speedboat Club. Boat Racers Reunion Board members on hand were Adelle Stone (chairperson), Richard Parks (secretary), Steve McElroy and Dr Tom Scherer (board members). Frank Dade, John Kaiser and Kenny Wilcoxen were among the attendees. Dick �Shadow� Bossi came from Palm Springs to be the emcee of the program and he not only carried the show but gave the audience the feeling that they were reliving the past when �Shadow� and John Ridgely teamed up to announce the boat races. Larry Solomon and Tammy Siders set up the Ermshar display and helped put up and take down the chairs. Ron and Mable Henderson drove their unique 1930�s Boat Tailed Speedster called the Lady Dragon, to compliment the styling of the boats. Ron is a long time supporter of the reunion and presents the Lady Dragon Award each year, this time honoring the skill and Craftsmanship of the Edelbrock Corporation. LaVerne Unser was there to honor the memory of her husband, 2003 Honoree Louie Unser. Doug Clem and his family came all the way from Reno to be with us. Joan Denver/Meyer, publisher of the Automotive Calendar of Events Miss Information, was on hand to watch as her husband, Bud, received this years Award for Engine Builder. Rick and Pat Lawyer represented Chip Hanauer. As with any reunion, it is difficult to see everyone that was present. The reunion occupied more than a quarter mile along Redwood Avenue, and the SCMA Boat Show filled three buildings.

Visit our website at www.oilstick.com.  

Copyright 1999 - 2005 Hot Rod Hot Line All Rights Reserved
No Portion May Be Used Without Our Written Permission
Contact Us Toll Free (877) 700-2468 (US) or (208) 562-0470 (Outside US)
230 S. Cole Rd, Boise, ID 83709