Columbia Cup, Now Us

The dates are drawing near for the fist unlimited Hydro race here in 45 years. Those of you that attended the race in Tri-Cities over the week-end, or watched it on television,(SWX) were both awed by the race itself and the interaction of the community. Hundreds of volunteers were present, some that had been present for the entire 48 years that hydro racing has been held in the Tri-Cities.

We realize that such a fan base is only possible by the number of years the races have been held. We are told though, that 70% of the attendees are from Spokane and Coeur d'Alene areas. We need your participation. There is a need for race days volunteers in all venues.

The success of our first of hopefully many years of racing depends solely on the community supporting the race as well as the participation of these volunteers. We can still use two more inside people to spend 2 or3 three hours  in the office, answering phones and coordinating activities, Please feel free to contact us by phone at 208-664-3338 or 208-664-3339. You can also access the web site, www.diamondcuprace.com and click on volunteers. The best way is to do both. Contact me at the office, Herb Huseland. Let me know of your interest and availability.

As we gain experience in holding the race again, it will build and get better every year. Please be a part in the success of the annual race. We need you.

There is still plenty of room for more vendors for the race. Go to our web site, click on vendors and fill out the application. Upon approval, we will notify you to submit your fees promptly.  Or just drop in at our offices, 2040 Main St., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814. We are located one block north of the theater in Riverstone.

Volunteer meetings are being held in the Riverstone Hampton Inn, Thursday afternoons 6:30 and Saturday am 9:00 am. Drop ins are welcome. 

Help Wanted-Diamond Cup

While the Diamond Cup still needs volunteers for the race, we have a serious need for office help for the next five weeks. I will be covering from 9-2 pm. We need another person or two to cover from 2 pm to 5 pm.

In addition to our undying gratitude, those that volunteer in the office but not the race, will receive two week-end passes for Saturday and Sunday, Race days Labor Day week-end. Those interested, please call me, Herb Huseland at the office 664-3338 or at home, 683-9107.

Preparations are going on at a feverish pace as the date comes near. Ticket sales are up but we urge you to go to our web site to order yours before the best seats are all gone. Some tickets will be available on site, however. Order from our web site: www.diamondcuprace.com.

If you have never witnessed an unlimited hydro race, it is the Indy 500 and Sprint cup combined. boats that are mostly airborne fly across the water  in excess of 200 mph.  Racing will consist of Friday, August 30 for testing and some qualifying, followed by Saturday preliminary heats with the finals on Sunday.

Friday, if you wish to visit the pits, you can park at the site for a $10 parking fee. Wander through the various race camps, meet the drivers and crews. Trust me, if you have the need for speed, you'll be a lifetime fan. Many from our area travel to the Tri-cities for the Columbia Cup on the River. This year the boats will come to you.

2013 Bayview Daze Revisited

I don't often write about myself or my family, but after this picture was taken of my newest 7 month old granddaughter, I just had to go there this time. Patience, the subject of this post is as that age does, constantly discovering new things.

I had the family, Son Brian, his wife Jennifer and three young ladies of theirs, Alice, Mercy and Irene over for the fireworks, which incidentally were possibly the best in the fantastic history of the MacDonald's Resort and their traditional show. It must have lasted an hour, at least.

During the afternoon, I brought out my five-string banjo for a little pickin'. Brian brought Patience over to watch. When I broke out with a lusty version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, our little girl's mouth formed a surprised O. This is a picture I just had to share.

This year's festivities were probably the biggest, since the fourth fell on Thursday, many made a four day week-end out of it. I asked the manager of the Captain's Wheel how many dinners were served. Including lunches, they fed 600 people Saturday alone. If you had to wait for your food for a while longer that normal, now you know why. That breaks an all time record for the restaurant.

The unfortunate loss of the Button Hook put most of the load on the Wheel, with help from Ralph's and the Bay Café.

Ta' Ata Ori Sails no more

A hat tip to Paul Turner and Lawrence Killingsworth for this sad news. The Ta' Ata Ori, a 46 foot Sailing yacht is leaving Bayview for the salt chuck again. Killingsworth has sailed the Pend Oreille for the last eight years in the queen of Bayview, with the previous owner, a total of about 20 years.

In a former incarnation, Ta' sailed the South Pacific, Polynesia and the Orient. The boat will leave Bayview August 5, heading for Bremerton, Washington, where once again it will ride the ocean swells.

When asked, Lawrence couldn't define what he would do next, with a smaller boat a possibility, or, (gasp) even a power boat. The Bayview sailing fraternity will miss her. She sailed with a crew of five, many times including Spokesman-Review's Paul Turner of "Slice" fame. She will be missed.

Diamond Cup Regatta

Sorry I haven't been posting regularly lately. I am working in the Diamond Cup office from 9-3 M-F and can answer questions relating to the race. The address of the office is 2040 Main St, Coeur d'Alene, Id 83814, located in the Riverstone complex. Our phone is 208-664-3338.

We are making great progress toward what we believe will be an outstanding event. That there hasn't been racing in Kootenai County for 45 years suggests that the fan base will be much higher once the local folks have experienced a race. Many people have been trekking to Tri-Cities from both Coeur d'Alene and Spokane for years. Now you can do both or just stay home and watch the race here.

We have it planned where fans can park at  the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and ride shuttle buses to and from the course. That way, downtown parking will not be clogged and nobody will have to fight for a space near the race course. Both parking and shuttle are included in the ticket prices.

We also have room for more vendors, both food and merchandise at the venue. Time is running out for the best spots, so do not tarry. For some that have applied and not heard back, several e-mails were inadvertently dumped fro the web site. For all the information you need, go to the race website. You can also buy tickets through that site: http://www.diamondcuprace.com/ There is still time for volunteers to apply as well.

Jinxed Again

It seems that every time I set out to help someone, my car quits. The first time was returning Yvonne Wallis from Harborview Hospital, when it quit suddenly in the Super One Parking lot. A good Samaritan bailed me out that time, but one cannot always count on that happening.

This time, I was  donating my time to the Diamond Cup Hydroplane Race, a nonprofit endeavor to bring hydro racing back to Coeur d'Alene. For those that are not aware, this is not a for profit venture, but a bunch of enthusiasts putting up their personal fortunes to bring back racing. The cost of putting this sort of race on is around 500,000.00 per race.

On my way back from town this afternoon, I stopped at the Captain's Wheel for a bit, whereas I jumped back into my car and ... nothing. no start, no radio, no lights no nothing. Tomorrow am I will attempt to find out what is wrong and determine what it will take to fix it. Whatever it is, I don't have it. I was hoping this sort of thing would be out in the future somewhere, not now, not when I was doing important things. Oh  well, it is what it is.

***Update: Well it could have been worse. $80.00 later, a new battery and I'm on the road again. Broke, but mobile.

Diamond Cup Volunteers

There will be a meeting of all the committee members and volunteers in a meet and greet gathering today 6:30 pm at 2040 Main St., Riverstone. If you can, please attend.

It's Over

Bayview Daze Parade Announcer and judges, L-R. Ralph Jones, Sheryl Puckett, Margaret Nelson and Sally Newcombe. (picture by Mike Lee)

As I sit here facing my computer this hour after midnight, it has become totally quiet. The hoards of guests that pack Bayview, left immediately after the fireworks, leaving a few pops and booms from people that still don't get it. You do not set off aerials in a marina. Oh well, I haven't heard the fire department yet so I guess we dodged the bullet once again.

I intercepted a Facebook announcement that a tent was found floating in Lake Pend Oreille floating along peacefully. If you have lost one, contact me and I will put you in contact with the finders. Also, as happens every year, someone left their doge outside during fireworks. It panicked and ran until exhausted. It appears to be a Shit-zu mix. If it is yours, call 683-2553.

As usual, Kevin and the cast of heroes at MacDonalds Resort put on a magnificent show. I hosted a couple from Boise who swore they had never seen a more impressive display. I consistently hear the same remarks, some declaring it is better than the Coeur d'Alene Resort fireworks.

There were a few complaints about food service at the Wheel. I explained that where we used to have two full service restaurants and one smaller one, due to some anti business elements helping out, a late request for a resort license for the Buttonhook was denied last year.

This town is simply not equipped to handle hundreds for food service  in one day. That one couple had to wait an hour for dinner, I explained they were extremely lucky that the overwhelmed crew at the Captain's Wheel got their meal out in that short a time. This was not bad service,, but inadequate facilities to handle the hoards that descend upon Bayview every year at this time.

Hopefully that state can be convinced that a resort license for the Buttonhook is deserved and in fact is necessary for the public good.  Hopefully the crews at the Wheel, Ralph's and the Bay Café will have recovered by Monday, when everyone used to close down for recuperative purposes.

Bayview Daze

It's that time of year again. Bayview Daze will take place next week-end, July 5. 6. 7. Most of the activities will be Saturday, July 6. Things kick off with a Street Fair, followed by our annual parade. Line up for the parade is at 10:00 am with the parade starting at 11:00 am. In honor of the late Jim MacDonald, who sent his sons to a school for pyrotechnics several years ago followed by the first fireworks in Bayview in 1961, paid for solely by MacDonald's Resort.

Grand Marshalls for the parade will be Gary MacDonald and family in honor or their late father, who started the  fireworks shows here. The Parade participants will be directed to enter on 1st Street, turn north on Fir St, turn east on 5th St. and then South on Pend Oreille and then East on 4th St. Entrance to Main St on Corbin. (thank you to Norma Jean for the correction)

Saturday evening at dark will be the fireworks which usually happens about 10:00 pm.

Throughout the day activities will occur, live music. etc. so come on down and help Bayview celebrate. All inquiries about the weekend activities should be addressed to Norma Jean Knowles 683-1980.

Hydro Race Volunteers

Here's your chance to get involved with the race this fall. We need volunteers for various duties, including answering the phone at our new office in Riverstone, 2049 No. Main, Riverstone.

Meet and mingle with the race organizers and participants and just an important part of getting the race done. The money is arranged, now we need people to help out.

We have just 60 days to get everything done and not enough help with all of the details that have to be addressed. Don't just watch the race, be a part of it.

Just get on your computer, go to: www.diamondcuprace.com . Click on volunteers, tell us what your talents are and you will be contacted. Be sure to include your phone number and e-mail address. 

For those that don't have the time to spare, get your tickets through the same site.

Diamond Cup Tickets

Several people, including myself have noted some confusion in getting ticket information as well as the format for the Diamond Cup Hydroplane race scheduled for Labor Day Weekend. Tickets West has hundreds of events that tend to clog the system.

The Diamond Cup Committee, recognizing this has retooled the web site so that you do not have to wind your way through the mysteries of Tickets West. Just go to our own site at: www.diamondcuprace.com

You will find everything layed out in a simple way so as to eliminate the confusion, then you push a button which switches you to the Tickets West order form. See you at the race. Remember, Friday, August 30, will consist of testing and qualifying plus the vintage boats in an exhibition.

Saturday will be a full day of testing, Grand Prix and H1 unlimited preliminary heats. Rounding out the afternoon will be vintage and limited vintage heats.

Sunday hosts the final heats in all three categories with the Diamond Cup final at around 4:00 pm. Times are subject to change so stay tuned and check the Diamond Cup web site for any updates.

Activities on the course will begin all three days at 8:00 am and wind up between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm. The official opening ceremonies will take place Sunday at 10:00 am.

Parking will be at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds with shuttle buses to the race site. Plan on being early to get the best seating.

Today's Editorial

I have read the Spokesman-Review from cover to cover for the last 20 years. The editorials appearing usually are thoughtful and express intelligent positions. I do not always agree with them, but for the most part, they are well written. Not so today, Wednesday, June 19, titled, "Idaho GOP running roughshod over voters." If the editor that wrote this diatribe or rant was drunk, he or she is forgiven, for I have also leaned a bit into illogical ramblings  having stayed too long at Happy hour.

I hardly know where to start, since apparently the writer also didn't. This omnidirectional rant apparently set out to expose every fault real or perceived that this poor downtrodden liberal writer perceived. He/she wandered from the social engineering subjects to the initiative process then back to the dictatorship of the GOP due to the 5-4 majority in the Idaho legislature.

My mental image of this editor is one of red eyes glaring at the screen, spittle spraying on the keyboard  from an outraged mouth, holding forth with everything wrong with conservative politics and everything right with liberal causes. Oh, and he/she doesn't hesitate to use examples contradicting themselves.

For instance, toward the bottom (appropriate word) of the rant, and I quote, "Even if that's the case, it's going too far to amend the initiative and referendum process for one special interest." One special interest today seemly is the expansion of Gay, Lesbian and transgender issues. I suggest to you that the GOP has not in your prejudicial words, "panicked" , they simply do not agree with your position.You need to lose about half of your adjectives, since you are embarrassing yourself as professional journalists.

An example of the writers distain is another quote from a former Bonner County official, Cornel Rasor. "I'd hire a gay guy if I thought he was a good worker. But if he comes to work in a Tutu...He's not producing what I want in my office." It is not unusual to use an extreme example to make a point rather than a mushy hard to understand one. You people use that all of the time, including in the body of your rant of today.

Then it goes on to say, "But with one party rule, such power trips are possible. And they will continue unless voters re-establish their role as the real bosses." First, I agree that bad law is passed when dealing with single issues. Secondly, our legislature, while right of many of my opinions reflect the positions of most of Idaho voters. That is called representative government.

For those of you in the editorial department that failed Social Studies in the high school you attended, I will explain: We live in a Republic, not a democracy. A state cannot usurp the power of the federal government, nor can a city or county usurp the authority of the state. This is the form of government that our founders intended and the states agreed with.

Cities tend to be more liberal than suburban or rural voters. That demographic appears throughout the country. While urging more and more special rights for minorities, whether it be sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc. is is important to remember that many of these issues are also single issue items, as they are dealt with one at a time. The collective result can be daunting to those that still think the U.S. Constitution is a living document, not an ancient history book.

Here in Idaho, we do not attempt to overthrow our legislature, but hold elections for that purpose. We have extremists here as I'm sure you do as well. We weed them out as needed, as has recently happened in some so called non-partisan races, and in the case of a Constitutionalist that cloaked himself in a Republican pelt, so that he could spout ultra conservative views. The feds are currently foreclosing on his home for refusal to pay taxes. Besides, the IRS needs the money for their next warm fuzzy conference.

So while it is admirable for you to be concerned for us with our dictators in Boise, we suggest you concern yourself with the one party rule in your U.S. Senators and governors, elected by King and Pierce Counties, not the state of Washington.

Another closing thought, is that since you opted to desert Idaho by discontinuing the weekly Idaho Handle Extra and the Prairie Voice, you keep your nose out of our decision making process and pay attention to those readers in Spokane, most of which are the only ones left. So if you hear an echo, it is the Idaho readers you have lost and cannot now hear your drunken opinions.

Diamond Cup Press Conference

A press conference was held Wednesday with the announcement that the Unlimited Hydroplane races will indeed return to Lake Coeur d'Alene, but at a better location. In the old days, to much shoreline was free and fund raising had become impossible.

By using the State Parks land between the Beach House and Tony's, bleachers will be erected and ticket sold. (Through Tickets West.com) Parking will be at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds with shuttle buses taking fans to the race course. Plan your Labor Day Week-end for the big race. Most of you weren't around back in 1968, but trust me, It is top notch entertainment.

Bayview Daze Fireworks

 

Bayview Daze is almost upon us, and with the events come our annual fireworks show. Some fundraising difficulties have arisen over the last two or so years. Much of it is due to estrangement between what is called Bayview Chamber of Commerce, when in fact it isn't a pro business organization at all, and many of the business leaders in town.

Perhaps it is time for the marina owners to step up. Chan Karupiah, owner of five of the seven marinas in Scenic Bay suggested the other day, that he and owners of MacDonald's and Bitter End marinas get together and develop a plan to subsidize the annual activity.

I personally think it is  a great idea. Most of the movers and shakers that once participated in chamber leadership have dropped out after terms of their offices expired. Perhaps they should rename themselves something like Bayview Community Improvement club or some such.

Business leaders are usually happy to help raise funds and even donate large amounts, but have problems working with the chamber leaders that appear sometimes, anti-business. Let's invite the principle business owners to the table to run the show collectively.

Homosexuality. Equality or privelege

I have been following two parallel arguments, both featuring how society should handle  a subject just a few years ago was felonious behavior. Now most of us have become used to   the assimilation of what used to be referred to in law as sexual deviation. The issue? Homosexuality. Should they be treated with respect? Absolutely! Now comes the complications.

We here in North Idaho, a bright blue state, have, in Coeur d'Alene, a quaint medium sized town that happens to be a destination resort. The Coeur d'Alene Resort, a five star destination hotel and marina dominates the downtown waterfront. We have the usual coffee houses, specialty cafe's, wine cellars and the like. It wasn't always like this. Back in the 1970's our tourist trade was on it's lips. Mining, which is what built the town along with logging had slumped into recession. The mines were shutting down, the mills were disappearing at an allarming rate, and Kootenai county was looking for  a new identity.

Duane Hagadone, Jerry Jaeger and others in about ten years turned the town into a tourist destination resort. Some feel, with justification that the Resort tended to bully the rest of Coeur d'Alene. That happens when you obtain power. Most like power and find no ready reason to surrender it.

Over all, Hagadone, with some notable exceptions, has rescued this city from the doldrums. It, of course would have eventually happened anyway, but since he owned most of the downtown waterfront, hey, he led.

OK, I didn't intend to relate the entire history of coeur d'Alene, just what has at led to the present. The serious recession a few years ago brought huge numbers of immigrants from the cities of California. We here, were not quite ready for this culture shock. Over the years. One of the imports was the acceptance of what we considered deviant sexual behavior. Sodomy.  We even have specialty bars that cater to the lesbian/Gay community. No problem there. Everyone should have the right to associate with those of their choice.

Now, our town has erupted with extremism from both sides. The National council of Boy Scouts has allowed gay boys entrance. Now six year olds most probably are not aware of their sexuallity, but as you climb into puberty, these things appear.I was a cub scout, a boy scout and an explorer scout as a young man and enjoyed the associations with others my age,that we had on camp outs and other activities.

Now come the do gooders in our current society. Those that weren't around during my formative years. I have no problem with giving respect within the community equally to hetero or homosexual people. It is when it hinges on privilege, rather than equality that I say, Whoa!.

Currently, the city Council of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho has passed an ordinance that has not just red necks in an uproar, but the Christian community as well. Mike Kennedy, (no relation) and a man I normally respect, has kicked over the traces and authored this ordinance that tromps all over the religious community which holds that the bible condemns sodomy.

At the same time, the sponsorship of boy scout groups are being dropped by many organizations, with most being churches. I am 75 tears old and have seen much. Good and bad. I have never seen basic principles of the religious community being tromped on with impunity. Congregations are being ripped apart all in the interests of social engineering. Undoing in that last thiry years what took 2013 years to establish, and more if you include the Jewish old testament. Christ has been outlawed.

The text of the penalties clause is attached.

 http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2013/06/2720_001.pdf

Where Has Time Gone

As I sit here and reminisce about the eighteen years I have spent here in Bayview, something came home to me with a thud. I had just finished talking to a friend of all of those eighteen years, Larry Justus.

When I first arrived here, I was, like most outsiders, treated somewhat roughly by the long time residents. The question often arose, "So how long have you lived here?" Or, "where you from, anyway?" Back then, then the population was very stable. Many families could count several generations of residency in and around Bayview, Athol and even little enclaves nearby that don't exist anymore.

Several years after settling here in Bayview I had the opportunity to write an area column on people, places and events of the past for the Idaho edition of the Spokesman-Review.  I learned more about my neighbors, their families, and the early days of this quaint unincorporated town.

I gained from this, a great appreciation for those who preceded me, and through my studies and writing gradually became accepted as a seasoned resident.

Several people who I first met and then became friends with had a great impact on me. With my infamous memory for names I won't attempt to name most of them, but wherever they are, they know who I'm talking about.

Probably the first were Jim and Jean Campbell, soon to be owners of the Captain's wheel Restaurant, which I had a hand in naming. The next were coincidentally, fellow officers of the then appropriately named the Bayview Chamber of commerce. Lorraine Landwher, and last but certainly not least, Liz and Larry Justus.  Larry, a builder and Liz the longtime beauty shop owner, and a beauty herself.

Since then, Jim &and Jean Campbell sold out and moved into the mobile living lifestyle of snowbirds. Larry retired from building and Liz sold her salon which is now the Idaho Fish and game offices. Liz and Larry developed a beautiful medium sized RV park built around Bayview Creek, which they named Lakeland RV Park.though has been hacked at many times, the creek still exists, the water burbling by the camp sites on it's way sometimes above ground, sometimes underground, to it's exit at Lake Pend Oreille. Liz & Larry traditionally have a happy hour every Friday at 3:00 pm for their tenants and friends.

Now comes why I chose to write this tonight. Larry has a lung disease I can't pronounce, but has been debilitating for a while now. Actually, Larry is in hospice care which he cheerfully explained to me was the end of the line. He said he was dying. I asked what can I do for you? Can I help?  He chuckled and said, Herb, nobody can help me now, but you know, I would sure like to see all my friends again. He then went on to say, happy hour, as always, starts at 3:00. All I want now is to see my friends and bullshit with them until I'm gone. Larry, I'll be there, right on time. Y'all come, too.

Your friends will be with you, either present or in their thoughts all the way Larry. You will not be alone during your final journey.

Post War Hydro Power

With the end of World War Two, thousands of tons of surplus went on the market at pennies on the dollar. Fighter aircraft such as the P-40, P-51 Mustang and the British Hurricane and spitfire all used liquid cooled engines. This led to the unlimitred Hydroplane owners of the late forties to power their boats with Allisons and Rolls-Merlins, most of which were manufactured under license by the Packard Motor Company.

The early efforts were in the Detroit and Ohio River areas in the upper Mid-West. The hull designs were what was called stepped hulls. About half way up the bottom and step up made it easier to plane on the surface, much like the float planes we see on our lakes.

The climax of every race year is the Gold Cup which is held at the last winner's designated course. The 1950 Gold Cup Regatta in Detroit had some surprises in store that shook up the entire industry. Stan Sayres, a car dealer in Seattle, Washington hired a marine designer, Ted Jones. He wanted a high powered boat with less drag than the prevailing boats.

Prior to that race, boats like Such Crust, Tempo, My Sweetie (Bill Cantrell, driver) Miss Pepsi and others dominated the sport with stepped hydros. Jones designed a boat the touched the water at three points. an area of about two inches at the rear of each sponson and the bottom half of the ;propeller. Sponsons were a little like twin hulls, but racier. From a TV rear view you can see all the way through to the bow. The boats were not any longer in the water, they were essentially flying.

The Jones designed and driven boat in 1950 was misleading. It was called Slo-Mo-Shun 1V. It wiped out the field even lapping several boats. The Gold Cup was coming to Seattle. During that winter, another boat was built. Slo-Mo-Shun V. At that point, Ted Jones separated from the Sayres camp and started building boats for other owners, mostly in Seattle.

I mentioned Bill Cantrell in the previous paragraph because he was a power to be reckoned with once he had a competitive boat. He later piloted the Gale boats, the camp that Seattleites loved to hate. Lee Schoenith, owner and Bill Cantrell driver would be the only eastern boat to contest the Seattle boats of the fifties.

New craft showed up named Wahoo, Miss Bardahl, Thriftway, the beer boats, with Budweiser and Miller slugging it out, Rebel Suh, Shanty, Hawaii Kai and Oh Boy Oberto. Drivers were Bill Muncie, Chip Hanauer, Jack Regis, Mira Slovak, Rex Manchester, all legends of their time, but their time was coming to a close. Too many drivers killed, three in one season spelled the end of the open rear cockpit boats. One, Thriftway too was a front cab over, but was designed for two engines but only ran with one. It was un-competitive.

Now a days, we call these boats "Vintage." They will be present at Diamond Cup 2013 along with a new class called H1, Turbine powered. All enclosed cabs with escape features that were faster, but without the Rolls-Merlin roar that we all loved. The H53 turbine powered Helicopter that did yeoman service in Viet Nam had a jet engine that was adaptable to the unlimited Hydroplanes. A new generation of boats were born. Hey, without war surplus we wouldn't have a sport.

Birth Of The Hydroplanes

Without a doubt, with World War two not occurring, hydroplanes wouldn't have been invented. The first and foremost requirement of the early hydros is that they be liquid cooled. Only the first generations of fighter planes used liquid cooling. The P-40 Warhawk was one of the first.

The Warhawk was primarily used for ground attack but was a formidable dog fighter as well. The Canadians primarily flew them during the war. Powered by Allison 12 cylinder engines, they cranked jp about 1100 horsepower. The more famous of these planes though were the ones flew in the Burma-China theater. They were referred to by the Chinese as Flying Tigers. The Japanese having a different perspective, called them devil planes and other names unfit for print.

Though the Japanese had superior planes, the Flying Tigers had Superior training. All of the pilots were given discharges from the US Navy and Army Air forces for the purpose of enlisting in the Chinese Air Force. These were top of the line pilots, instructors and other experienced people including of course enlisted mechanics, armorers and such. 

The U.S Army Air Force chose te slightly faster and more maneuverable P-51 Mustang. The P-51 early models used the V12 Allison as well. They were some of the first supercharged engines ever used. Later P-51's switched to Packard built Rolls-Merlin engines. These were british planes built in the USA.

The British Spitfire, also using Rolls-Merlins were the follow on fighter that stole most of the glory from the Hurricane, which was the plane that won the Battle of Britain. Early in the war, much like the United States, the UK was not prepared to go to war. The brits dusted off some plans for a low wing fighter, added a better engine and took to the sky driving back the German ME-109's and others including the Heinkel bomber that indiscriminately bombed London. That prompted the British  to return the favor, obliterating German cites.

The end of the war in 1945 created a huge surplus of these planes. Canada sold over 100 of them at $50 per plane. With all of these high performance liquid cooled engines available, there were a few racing enthusiasts with a need for speed. Thus the birth of modern era hydroplane racing. More to follow in a series following the history of the Unlimited Hydros, or as they were known, Thunder boats.

Tough Family

Thursday was a day of excitement and some pain, too. It seems my Grandson, Dean was playing baseball during P.E. when he slid hard into second base after a hit. School officials immediately reacted, as it was obvious that Dean was hurt. After a quick check they called 911. He was transported to the local hospital with which turned out to be a broken arm. Both bones.

My son, Herb Jr was phoned by the school. Dean, having some tough times growing up had experienced some disciplinary problems in the past. Fearing the worst, Herb Jr was relieved that it was only an injury and not an expulsion call. He rushed to the hospital sped by fear.

Upon reaching said institution, as Dean was wheeled into surgery, he asked just one question. "Were you safe,? " he asked. He was.

The following day, after an all night vigil, my son called the boy's Grandmother, my former wife. Her first question was, "Why didn't he score?"

Changing the subject, I have decided, along with my partner to sell our cute little sail boat. We are both to old and to decrepit to crawl around on the decks tangling shrouds.It's a bargain. A 21 foot Macgregor with a  lift hatch that allows passengers to stand up while under way. The main sail needs replacing, but the boat itself and the remaining jibs are in excellent shape. The boat comes with a trailer, but with no motor. This boat is priced at $800.00. No other offers will be accepted unless they are higher.

Donald "Skip" Wilcox

Memorial Service

Friday, May 31^st at 7:00 P.M.

Ceremonial boat ride will take place in the Peaceful Warrior with Kevin Elmore at the helm.  This will start when the Peaceful Warrior comes out of its slip at MacDonald’s with family on board.  For those that would like to follow the Peaceful Warrior on Friday evening, please plan on being on your boats in the bay close to MacDonald’s by 7:00 p.m.  Skip’s boat will be leaving MacDonald’s between 7:00 and 7:30 once everyone is on board.  Please do not pull into MacDonald’s marina as not to interrupt any business taking place with customers and marina staff.

 

Venue - Indoor / Outdoor Memorial Service – Bayview Community Center  

Saturday, June 1st at 1:00 P.M. 

• Kathy Wilcox will open the ceremony with the raising of the flag, Pledge of Allegiance and / or the National Anthem and a speech.
• Each one of Skip’s girls will speak after their mother.
• Prayer
• The floor will then be opened for those who wish to speak.
• Mingle time for family and friends with finger foods, coffee and punch. A slide show will be playing inside the Community Center throughout this celebration of an incredible man that touched so many lives.
• Closing with the lowering of the flag and Taps.

For those of you that wish to do something in honor of Skip, the family has requested that non-perishable food or cash donations be brought to the Community Center for the local food bank at the time of the memorial.  Containers will be available to accept donations.  

The family has also requested that if anyone would like to help with the service, it would be greatly appreciated if folks could bring finger food type items to share at the service on Saturday.  Please bring your snack to the Community Center prior to the beginning of the service.  Ideas are cookies, vegetable trays, fruit trays, meat and or cheese trays, and crackers to name a few.  No hot dishes or salads, please.

God has truly blessed us by having Skip touch our lives, so in his honor, be sure and give someone a hug every day and tell them to “Have a Beautiful Day”.