PEMCO Classic Vintage Hydros Return for Seafair.Sports Editors & Powerboat Racing Columnists While the hydroplanes kick off their 2002 season this weekend in Evansville, Ind., Seattle's Hydroplane hydroplane, small, high-powered racing boat designed to skim along the surface of the water. Its hull is so shaped that at high speeds the bow is tilted up out of the water, reducing the effect of frictional drag. Hydroplanes are commonly powered by outboard motors. & Raceboat Museum is scrambling to prepare five vintage boats for the PEMCO PEMCO Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Company (Pascagoula, Mississippi Classic vintage-hydro heat on Lake Washington Lake Washington is the second largest natural lake in state of Washington (after Lake Chelan) and the largest lake in King County. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and Kenmore on the north, and surrounds August 4. The PEMCO Classic features the Miss Burien, Miss Madison Miss Madison is an unlimited American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) hydroplane. It is the only community-owned unlimited hydroplane in the world. It is based out of Madison, Indiana, a small town of 12,000 residents on the Ohio River. , and Miss Century 21 piston-powered thunderboats from the 1950s and '60s, plus two boats currently being restored: the 1980 Miss Budweiser and the 1982 Atlas Van Lines Atlas Van Lines is a moving van company formed in 1948 by a group of 33 local moving firms and based in Evansville, Indiana. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. Atlas provided a means to compete with other emerging alliances of moving van companies. . The August 4 event, which takes place just before the final heat of the General Motors Cup at Seafair, includes a warm-up lap followed by a three-lap exhibition race. Miss Thriftway won the 1999 PEMCO Classic, while Miss Bardahl finished first in 2000 and 2001 with former national champion driver Billy Schumacher at the helm. The 1980 Rolls-Griffon-powered Budweiser is arguably the most dominant piston-powered boat in hydro history. Dean Chenoweth throttled her to two National Championships, two Gold Cups, and 11 race wins in 1980-81. Jim Kropfeld later drove Bud to 10 race wins in 1983-84 and the 1984 national title. The 1982 Atlas replaced Bill Muncey's revered "Blue Blaster." Though powered by the less-powerful Rolls-Merlin engine, Atlas and driver Chip Hanauer Lee Edward "Chip" Hanauer (born July 1, 1954 in Seattle) is the second most successful Unlimited Hydroplane racer in history. He has won the APBA Gold Cup a record 12 times and is the famous driver of one of the most famous boats in APBA history, the Miss Budweiser. held their own against the Griffon griffon: see Brussels griffon; wirehaired pointing griffon. Bud in 1982-83. Hanauer steered the blue boat to eight race victories, including two Gold Cups and two national titles. The Hydro Museum faces a challenge in completing the Atlas restoration before Seafair. Two of the project's key leaders suffered non-racing injuries this spring, and progress slowed. If Atlas - which the Museum is courting Chip Hanauer to drive - isn't ready in time, look for Hawaii Kai III, the 1967 Miss Budweiser, or the 1958 Miss Bardahl to take its place. Race sponsor PEMCO Insurance, established in 1949, provides auto, home, boat, life, and umbrella insurance to Washington residents. Go to www.pemco.com for more details on the PEMCO Classic. |
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