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mcdude · 03-06-2005, 03:53 PM

BOAT RACING INTERVIEWS

"Dick Bernard of Durham and Alton Bay remembers that there were all classes of boats raced. The early races, 1947-1951 were not sanctioned and were outboards 20-50 h.p. Also, inboards raced. Later races were conducted according to APBA rules and were sanctioned races.

Mr. J. Willard Marriott of Washington, D.C. and Wolfeboro, remembers racing boats in Alton Bay from 1947-1950. He raced a 22 h.p. Evinrude outboard in 1947 and 1948. In 48-50 he also raced a 17 foot Higgins boat with a 165 h.p. grey marine fireball engine.

Dana Thomas of Alton remembers racing in class C utility. He finished the 50 mile marathon in 1950 but rough water in the Broads gave him a lot of trouble.

Bric Ouellette of Alton Bay recalls that the race course was triangular, starting at the bandstand, extending to the two markers at Sandy Point, and back to the bandstand for the finish point. In 1949, Bric had a 135 cubic inch hydroplane, powered by a V4 60 h.p. engine capable of 72 m.p.h. In 1951, he traded for a class B outboard runabout that travelled 45 m.p.h. 'There were so few hydroplanes on the lake in those days, there would always be three or four of us travelling around together, racing every week-end around the lake.' "

Interview materials from "Winnipiseogee Heritage"
NAT GOODHUE & WOLFEBORO BOATBUILDING
.....speaking of Nat Goodhue......

From "Remember When" Edited by Kathy O'Meara - a Bicentennial project of the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce.
Various steamboats tried to race the Mt. Washington to see who was faster. One was the "Gilnockie". The engineer was the late Nate Goodhue of Wolfeboro who used every known trick to urge a few more revolutions from the engine. The Gilnockie "won" since it was all fired up and the Mount was winding down for the day. "This event gives an inkling of certain characteristics of Nate Goodhue which were to remain with him and make him noted among boatmen until his death. When anyone wanted to get more speed out of a boat they frequently consulted with Nate, who know all the regular and nearly, if not all, the 'trick' methods of getting that extra burst. This knowledge was carried through to the days of high speed runabouts, and during a recent season I heard Nate Goodhue advising the owner of a very fast boat on methods to employ to obtain more speed. "Well, Bill," Nate replied to man's insistent questions, "if you grind the valves, and clean the carbon, and put on a high compression head, you might make her just a 'leetle' faster." There was no limit in Nate's eyes. It is unfortunate that his calm and easy-going ways are gone from the lake's boating characters." Three Centuries on Winnipesaukee - Paul Blaisdell - p. 70 - New Hampshire Publishing - Second Edition - 1975 (First Printing 1936.
__________________________________________________ __________
Old-fashioned speed boat rides are still available today at the Wolfeboro Town docks aboard the Millie B. The Millie B is a 28 foot mahogany Hackercraft.

All Aboard the Millie B
Experience the thrill of a wooden boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee in this 1928-style all-mahogany runabout. You'll see spectacular lake and mountain views, picturesque islands, beautiful waterfront homes, and maybe, a loon or two. Millie B rides are fun for all ages, so bring as many generations as you can! Click here for more information on the Millie B

Speed boat racing still occurs in Wolfeboro every other year partly sponsored by the New Hampshire Boat Museum.

Click here for more photos of the OBSESSION
"The Obsession" The New Hampshire Boat Museum presents, our third, biennial, invitational:
New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta
Wolfeboro, NH
September 15-17, 2005
The past comes alive as some of the best known race boats of bygone eras return to Wolfeboro, for our New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta. The boats will run demonstration "fly-bys" of 6 laps on a 1.25 mile oval course on Wolfeboro Bay beginning at 9 AM. In addition to seeing and hearing these unique and beautiful boats run, spectators are invited to view them close-up in the pit area, at the Town Docks between 9 and 4, on both Friday and Saturday. Wolfeboro is now a major stop on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit, and next summer's regatta expands to 2 1/2 days, and includes 50 Vintage race boats running demonstration laps on a full size race course, on beautiful Wolfeboro Bay.

Click here for more information on the Racing Regatta and many more photos.

Image from the NHBM web page,

JIM IRWIN & THE WEIRS

No discussion of power boats on the lake is complete without a tip of the hat to Jim Irwin.

Click here to read his biography
"One of the big features of the Winnipesaukee Gardens were the boat rides offered by a fleet of seven triple cockpit Chris-Crafts, all carrying the Miss Winnipesaukee name. “Those boat rides started in the 1930s. We’d take in used boats and run them until they just had had it,” says Jack(Irwin). The boats were all virtually identical, 26-foot and 28-foot 1929 model runabouts, and could take nine passengers in addition to the driver.
He said that his first job at Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens after he got out of the Marines in 1956 was taking people out on the lake for the popular speed boat rides.
“The rides were 10 miles long and took about 20 minutes. We’d go up towards Bear Island and Center Harbor or out to Welch Island. Thousands of people took those rides. We’d start at 9 a.m. and run them until dusk. It seemed like there was always a line of people waiting. In later years we took the windshields off so they’d go faster and we could give people a real thrill.”
text from the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society click here
tear off ticket here
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE!

03-06-2005, 03:53 PM	#4
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,361 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,044 Times in 490 Posts	BOAT RACING INTERVIEWS "Dick Bernard of Durham and Alton Bay remembers that there were all classes of boats raced. The early races, 1947-1951 were not sanctioned and were outboards 20-50 h.p. Also, inboards raced. Later races were conducted according to APBA rules and were sanctioned races. Mr. J. Willard Marriott of Washington, D.C. and Wolfeboro, remembers racing boats in Alton Bay from 1947-1950. He raced a 22 h.p. Evinrude outboard in 1947 and 1948. In 48-50 he also raced a 17 foot Higgins boat with a 165 h.p. grey marine fireball engine. Dana Thomas of Alton remembers racing in class C utility. He finished the 50 mile marathon in 1950 but rough water in the Broads gave him a lot of trouble. Bric Ouellette of Alton Bay recalls that the race course was triangular, starting at the bandstand, extending to the two markers at Sandy Point, and back to the bandstand for the finish point. In 1949, Bric had a 135 cubic inch hydroplane, powered by a V4 60 h.p. engine capable of 72 m.p.h. In 1951, he traded for a class B outboard runabout that travelled 45 m.p.h. 'There were so few hydroplanes on the lake in those days, there would always be three or four of us travelling around together, racing every week-end around the lake.' " Interview materials from "Winnipiseogee Heritage" NAT GOODHUE & WOLFEBORO BOATBUILDING .....speaking of Nat Goodhue...... From "Remember When" Edited by Kathy O'Meara - a Bicentennial project of the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce. Various steamboats tried to race the Mt. Washington to see who was faster. One was the "Gilnockie". The engineer was the late Nate Goodhue of Wolfeboro who used every known trick to urge a few more revolutions from the engine. The Gilnockie "won" since it was all fired up and the Mount was winding down for the day. "This event gives an inkling of certain characteristics of Nate Goodhue which were to remain with him and make him noted among boatmen until his death. When anyone wanted to get more speed out of a boat they frequently consulted with Nate, who know all the regular and nearly, if not all, the 'trick' methods of getting that extra burst. This knowledge was carried through to the days of high speed runabouts, and during a recent season I heard Nate Goodhue advising the owner of a very fast boat on methods to employ to obtain more speed. "Well, Bill," Nate replied to man's insistent questions, "if you grind the valves, and clean the carbon, and put on a high compression head, you might make her just a 'leetle' faster." There was no limit in Nate's eyes. It is unfortunate that his calm and easy-going ways are gone from the lake's boating characters." Three Centuries on Winnipesaukee - Paul Blaisdell - p. 70 - New Hampshire Publishing - Second Edition - 1975 (First Printing 1936. __________________________________________________ __________ Old-fashioned speed boat rides are still available today at the Wolfeboro Town docks aboard the Millie B. The Millie B is a 28 foot mahogany Hackercraft. All Aboard the Millie B Experience the thrill of a wooden boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee in this 1928-style all-mahogany runabout. You'll see spectacular lake and mountain views, picturesque islands, beautiful waterfront homes, and maybe, a loon or two. Millie B rides are fun for all ages, so bring as many generations as you can! Click here for more information on the Millie B Speed boat racing still occurs in Wolfeboro every other year partly sponsored by the New Hampshire Boat Museum. Click here for more photos of the OBSESSION "The Obsession" The New Hampshire Boat Museum presents, our third, biennial, invitational: New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta Wolfeboro, NH September 15-17, 2005 The past comes alive as some of the best known race boats of bygone eras return to Wolfeboro, for our New Hampshire Vintage Race Boat Regatta. The boats will run demonstration "fly-bys" of 6 laps on a 1.25 mile oval course on Wolfeboro Bay beginning at 9 AM. In addition to seeing and hearing these unique and beautiful boats run, spectators are invited to view them close-up in the pit area, at the Town Docks between 9 and 4, on both Friday and Saturday. Wolfeboro is now a major stop on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit, and next summer's regatta expands to 2 1/2 days, and includes 50 Vintage race boats running demonstration laps on a full size race course, on beautiful Wolfeboro Bay. Click here for more information on the Racing Regatta and many more photos. Image from the NHBM web page, JIM IRWIN & THE WEIRS No discussion of power boats on the lake is complete without a tip of the hat to Jim Irwin. Click here to read his biography "One of the big features of the Winnipesaukee Gardens were the boat rides offered by a fleet of seven triple cockpit Chris-Crafts, all carrying the Miss Winnipesaukee name. “Those boat rides started in the 1930s. We’d take in used boats and run them until they just had had it,” says Jack(Irwin). The boats were all virtually identical, 26-foot and 28-foot 1929 model runabouts, and could take nine passengers in addition to the driver. He said that his first job at Irwin’s Winnipesaukee Gardens after he got out of the Marines in 1956 was taking people out on the lake for the popular speed boat rides. “The rides were 10 miles long and took about 20 minutes. We’d go up towards Bear Island and Center Harbor or out to Welch Island. Thousands of people took those rides. We’d start at 9 a.m. and run them until dusk. It seemed like there was always a line of people waiting. In later years we took the windshields off so they’d go faster and we could give people a real thrill.” text from the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society click here tear off ticket here /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE! __________________ Last edited by mcdude; 02-25-2009 at 09:59 AM.