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Thunderboats in the Spirit Of ‘76 |
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Bud Ties Record, But Muncey Still Favored |
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1976 Columbia Cup
Thunderboats in the Spirit Of ‘76
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Just as the patriots of 1776 marched to the tune of a different drummer, the patriots of 1976 march to the tune of a different song. The recent retirement of three major camps — Dave Heerensperger’s Pay 'n Pak, Bob Fendler’s Lincoln Thrift, and 25-year veteran Lee Schoenith — shakes the sport, bootstraps to epaulets. Their departure, by men whose commitments to thunderboating introduced sweeping technical progress, and whose politics shaped many of today’s racing rules, are difficult to calculate. Nonetheless, new leaders will emerge and a new champion will be crowned.
The big off-season story, of course, was the purchase of the record breaking 3-time National Champion Pay 'n Pak by Bill Muncey. All eyes now watch Muncey as he steps into the legend, now repainted in Atlas Van Lines two-tone blue motif and numbered U-76. A subtle point bears close attention: Muncey turns differently than the others driving the Ron Jones-style picklefork hulls. He rides the outside sponson chine more than the "hanging it on the skid fin" technique preferred by the brash New Breed youngsters such as Tommy D’Eath, Howie Benns, Milner Irvin, Jack Schafer, Gerry Bangs, and Billy "The Kid" Schumacher.
Schumacher’s Olympia Beer may be the boat to beat in ‘76. Formerly Weisfield’s (1975 runner-up to Pay 'n Pak in a season-long tussle), the U-74 returns with new paint and more speed. The hull is proven quick and highly maneuverable, crew chief Jerry Zuvich hopes to completely eliminate the mechanical bugaboos which plagued the boat at Pasco’s ‘75 Gold Cup Race, and Schu’s driving talents remain unquestioned. Reality says his success depends on reliable equipment.
The newest Miss Budweiser will win, too. The question is: how often? Launched on March 11 at Seattle, the latest Budweiser posed for pretty pictures as driver Howie Benns steered the efficient hull to hot laps. In construction, the crew’s prime consideration was weight watching; and their efforts paid off. At 6150 lbs. the U-12 is a half-ton lighter than last year’s beerwagon. Howie Benns, 1974 Rookie of the Year, is a very, very aggressive driver and nerve-wracking to observe if he doesn’t look before he leaps. The delicate balance of personalities and abilities called a crew are necessary for racing success, and the Budweiser has this balance. Finally, as everybody kids when owner Bernie Little leads and pleads his charges to battle in his inimitable style, "Bernie, wants to win!"
Miss U.S. owner George Simon usually plays a low-key role in boat racing, but there is nothing low-key about his plans and enthusiasm this year. Testing began for driver Tom D’Eath as soon as the ice thawed on the Detroit River, and Ronnie Brown, a respected limited class racer, takes over as crew chief with plans to dial in the consistency the turbocharged craft lacked in the past. The U-2 is the darkhorse challenger on the circuit and the road to winning could be remarkably fast.
The steady disappearing act of the Rolls-Royce engine continues. Fewer and fewer of the vintage World War Two V-12’s can be found, and Rolls-powered teams build from the best available remnants. Yet, in the middle of this trend of no supply and more demand, one owner has bartered his way into contention for the first time. Pete LaRock, previously racing on little more than faith and borrowed luck, has converted his once turbine-powered U-95 to Rolls power. Financed by an enthusiastic sponsor, Sunny Jim, the peanut butter and jelly boat, is the sentimentalist’s choice for surprise craft of 1976. Tom Sheehey, a Delta Airlines pilot, brings along his good natured comedy routines to delight those visiting pit row.
In contrast to LaRock’s switch, the Seattle-based and Detroit-sponsored Miss Vernors switches from Rolls to turbocharged Allison and a new boat. Owner Jerry Kalen has purchased a Les Staudacher all-aluminum hull. The 29’ 4" by 13’ 6" cabover provides attorney Gerry Bangs, last season’s Miss Madison/Hamm’s Bear jockey, a new ride.
Miss Madison remains a favorite and the only "home town" hydro. With sheer determination the volunteer crew from the Madison, Indiana riverfront community perseveres. Ron Snyder, a newcomer to U-boat competition on the West Coast, moves behind the wheel vacated by Gerry Bangs and so far has demonstrated a willingness to learn and adapt to the largest of all race boat classes.
With the retirement of Lee Schoenith, Gene Benning, a contractor from Piqua, Ohio, has purchased Schoenith’s Gale Racing Team. The inventory includes the 1975 Atlas Van Lines now renamed and renumbered simply U-7. "Wild Bill" Cantrell, dean of unlimited handymen, works on his powerplant alternative to the dwindling Rolls and emerging turbocharged Allison. This unique engine idea is an auxiliary-stage supercharged Allison, a hopped-up Allison version of the more powerful Rolls-Royce. With a well-tuned source of power and rebalanced hull, Milner Irvin, former Lincoln Thrift driver from Florida, may have a combination to be excited about.
Last season’s disappointment, Lauterbach Special, has been rechristened Gemini and is a possible entry in the Columbia Cup. Submarined by first year misfortune, the U-5 deserves another chance. Based in Miami, owned by Walt Carter and Carroll Kern, and driven by rookie Sherm Polhemus, Gemini is still a question mark performer on the course.
Tom Kaufman’s big black Mister Fabricator is a regular at Tri-Cities, since 1973. The former Harrah’s Club is tired, and past earlier days of glory, but serves as a test bed for Tom’s esoteric mechanical experiments. Win or lose, Kaufman’s energy and good will characterize all the fun in boat racing, and the piping and gadget covered engine will keep you asking questions all day long.
Traditionally, and lucky for unlimited fans in the Pacific Northwest, the fleet of U-boats grows as the boats swing west. The invasion of hopefuls is led by Seattle. Doug McIntosh now owns the once-named Tahoe Miss, Kirby Classic, and Sunny Jim Jam. He calls the U-66, Vagabond. Bob Murphy’s Oh Boy! Oberto will have Bill Wurster in the cockpit. Murphy also plans a Columbia River debut for the first auto-engine powered unlimited in several years. Designed and constructed by Renton, Washington builder Don Sooy, the cabover 28-footer features a big block Chevy engine. Also, Tad Dean, a body and fender man with caviar taste, will let rookie Chip Hanauer steer his U-22, another ex-Sunny Jim.
California may be represented by two thunderboats. Bob Patterson has rebuilt his colorfully graphic U-80. Wider sponsons should improve sluggish corners for driver Jack Schafer, Jr. Walt Knudsen’s South El Monte (California) Hydroplane Club has renewed efforts to compete Miss O’Neil & Knudsen in 1976, and we hope they do, but they’ll need more than fife and drum to get the unusual craft afloat. A blow-up of a record setting 48-cubic inch hydroplane which launched Mickey Remund (Pay 'n Pak, Lincoln Thrift, and Budweiser chauffeur) into the national limelight, the bright red U-14 is quite different in appearance from the usual unlimited. Two Ford V-8’s turn the prop. You’ll know it if you see it.
Already midway through the 1976 season, it has not been an earth-shaking year for thunderboat competition — no outlandish hull shapes, just evolution; no return of the Whisperjet turbine which fanned the imaginations of spectators; no strange spark and gas contraptions in the engine wells, just improvements. No amazing appearances in an underpowered hull by an unheralded rookie. A superb performance from Olymia Beer is expected, Atlas Van Lines success depends on the communication between Bill Muncey and crew chief Jim Lucero, and the latest Budweiser is a firecracker. Miss U.S. must withstand the baptism of a new crew, and Sunny Jim lurks in the wings.
The incomparable performances of Pay 'n Pak are gone; but the fingernail-biting, thumb-chewing, nerve-jangling, adrenalin-pumping Fan Plan is back. What’s that you ask? That’s when, you see, one can stop adding up all those confusing points trying to decide who won the race. It’s now winner-take all! The winner of the final heat is the victor, and to the victor belongs the Columbia Cup — a nifty reward from a nifty thunderboat water follies admired for its fast track, minimum hassles, maximum hospitality, and, occasionally, a little mayhem.
(Reprinted from the 1976 Columbia Cup programme)
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