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Post by Calvin on Jul 2, 2015 20:08:44 GMT -5
The reason why I would want to go on Friday is because being realistic the other days are just too much for me....too many people. 1. I'm still not well enough to deal with that and 2. it would be way too hard to be MR. Photographer...its expected the Sunday crowd will be 80,000 that's 75,000 more than the Indycar race in Fontana and ironically the rest of the country doesn't know what hydroplane racing is but over here it's a different story, it's more known.....its a strange world we live in? Here is the info on which Vintage hydros are going to be there. www.waterfollies.com/water-follies-experience/vintage-hydroplanes/earlier dad was teasing me by making Rolls-Royce engine noises....as he knows it gets me all worked up! |
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 3, 2015 6:38:44 GMT -5
unfortunately calvin, i do know what you go through.
at least i've not experienced the severity of it that you have.
i do wish i was going to see the old boats run.
it would bring back some great memories…
hopefully you could get in the pits and take some engine and cockpit detail shots.
duane
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Post by Calvin on Jul 3, 2015 10:12:54 GMT -5
You have a basic understanding more so than a lot of people....which I really appreciate. Just for example my last GI doctor was completely oblivious - he sees people everyday that are screwed up and still doesn't get it......
I sure hope I can get into the pits - unlike the test session where I could just about rome everywhere things totally change on a race weekend and I have no idea how "up close and personal" I can get? I know where I was standing taking the action shots turns into pit area during the race weekend....then you get all of these blocked off hospitality sections....so my main worry is will I'll even get good spot to take good shots?....
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Post by Calvin on Jul 17, 2015 0:15:10 GMT -5
They are getting the "juggernaut" ready for the Tri-Cities vintage races in 8 days. I sure hope I get to see this 1980 Miss Budweiser run....with that beautiful Griffon run at a quick pace on the river......I have nightmare lately that I'll miss it. This is one of my favorite Hydro's - it was such a beast it was unbelievable! It was so loud the drivers of the Merlin powered boat could actually hear the Bud Griffon coming up from behind them. Click here for first videoClick here for 2nd video |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 17, 2015 0:33:32 GMT -5
Wow I just found this video from 1987 of the Griffon Bud storage in Seattle! By that time the turbines had taken over for good and all those huge Griffons and parts were in storage...I wonder where they are today? I wished I could have one. Gosh dang it! Those engines are worth over $300,000 each nowadays....prolly more $ ?
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 17, 2015 5:55:36 GMT -5
you're right, that's a lot of money just sitting there.
maybe they ended up in someones vintage airplane.
duane
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Post by Calvin on Jul 21, 2015 0:49:59 GMT -5
The Tri-cities WaterFollies made a neat 50th Celebration video....I can't wait for next Friday as I still plan on going....I would love just to hang out all weekend but it will take all I have just to do Friday....But I'll watch the rest on the Live Local Station TV Broadcast.
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Post by Calvin on Jul 21, 2015 1:04:32 GMT -5
BTW I changed the name of this thread as from now on I'll keep all my "Hydro talk" just right here in its own organized area. I actually joined a Hydro Forum a while back but whoever is running it has never confirmed my request of joining so that doesn't help? Most are from my own state......but I like talking with you guys anyway!  and in other news I became a "General Member" of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Musem! There is extra perks to becoming one.....the history they preserve there is incredible! also in other news when comes to the current racing - PISTON power is back! The Go3 Racing Turbo Allison boat will be coming to the Gold Cup this weekend! Its the first time in many years a piston power Unlimited has completed....and I tell you it sounds wonderful! www.h1unlimited.com/2015/07/theyre-back-the-u-3-team-returns-for-gold-cup/This is what the BIG Twin Turbo Allison sounds like at full speed! |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 23, 2015 17:00:49 GMT -5
I bought a 1/8 scale 1980 Miss Budweiser blueprint sheet today from a place here in Washington. They are cool!....and BIG! LOL! I sure hope I get to see that big girl in real-life tomorrow!  |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 25, 2015 1:21:54 GMT -5
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 25, 2015 7:22:58 GMT -5
you've had beautiful weather for the event so i'm glad you were able to go. i'll bet miss griffon bud made lot's of good girl noises...  duane |
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Jul 25, 2015 8:33:40 GMT -5
I'm glad you were able to go and spend some time with those classic boats.
Sandy
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Post by Calvin on Jul 25, 2015 10:18:07 GMT -5
you've had beautiful weather for the event so i'm glad you were able to go. The weather is always good in the desert of central Washington 90deg. with nothing percent humidity. i'll bet miss griffon bud made lot's of good girl noises... duane She made a lot of loud grunts and the crowd went wild. For how much the crowd went wild and started cheering made me start laughing when I was taking pics! |
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 25, 2015 21:25:20 GMT -5
they'd probably start getting a lot better attendance again if they raced piston engines instead of the turbines.
duane
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Post by Calvin on Jul 25, 2015 22:10:36 GMT -5
they'd probably start getting a lot better attendance again if they raced piston engines instead of the turbines. duane Yeah I would agree....I like both but WWII V-12 Piston power is so much more special! Speaking of which! I finally made it home from my 1-day vacation which went very well! I'm tired but I did pretty good overall! Here is my first edition of my non-stop Hydroplane picture sharing for this week! This theme is basic action shots of the vintage Hydroplane race! Which was very cool! And the sound those huge V12 Allison and Rolls-Royce engines make is simply beautiful! 1977-81 Atlas Van Lines U-1 "The Blue Blaster"  1980 Miss Budweiser U-1 "The Juggernaut" or "Griffon Bud"  1955 Miss Thriftway U-60  1962 Miss Bardahl U-40 "The Green Dragon"  |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 25, 2015 23:02:42 GMT -5
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 5:47:17 GMT -5
Here is some shots before the start of the Unlimited Dash for Cash during the milling period. Wait until I show some the race shots! They are awesome! and exciting! Oberto Miss Madison U-1 "Sharkey" on the Pasco, WA side.  Graham Trucking U-5  "Sharkey" looking for lane 1   |
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 26, 2015 6:34:18 GMT -5
they look pretty darn sharp tp me! great stuff as you can almost feel the noise… duane |
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Post by Michael Chriss on Jul 26, 2015 9:30:06 GMT -5
They ran on the Columbia here in 1976, I think it was. It was just an exhibition, they wanted to see if there was interest. It seemed to me there were quite a few people there. I was a teenager and my buddies and I thought it was fantastic. It didn't stick, as they didn't come back.
It's great to see you getting out and doing something fun.
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 14:43:35 GMT -5
They ran on the Columbia here in 1976, I think it was. It was just an exhibition, they wanted to see if there was interest. It seemed to me there were quite a few people there. I was a teenager and my buddies and I thought it was fantastic. It didn't stick, as they didn't come back. It's great to see you getting out and doing something fun. When I can I'll have to ask some hydro historians....they are all busy this weekend. and thanks I'm really having a thrill getting out! |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 14:52:43 GMT -5
Here is the Unlimited Dash for cash race....it was the last race of the day at 5pm and was very close! Its rare to see two boats run side by side for more than three laps! Jimmy Shane in the Oberto and J. Michael Kelly in the Graham Trucking going neck to neck! The crowd was really thrilled on the banks.....when the checker came out no one could tell who won as the finish line was a good half mile down the river....but over the PA they said J. Michael U-5 Graham Trucking won.....then as we were leaving, word got out the U-5 Graham Trucking was DNQed for a fuel flow violation and the win was given to the Oberto! First lap was almost three wide coming at us at 180mph.  Oberto getting a little air....side by side with GT  Sponson to Sponson  JMK really hanging the U-5 GT out with that 3-ton race boat completely in the air.  |
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Post by racerbrown on Jul 26, 2015 18:52:10 GMT -5
from the pictures alone it's hard to tell how really big these boats are.
it's pretty impressive when you get see them up close.
duane
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2015 19:39:28 GMT -5
I hope you do not stop posting photographs of these beasts. Just love the stories and technical photos.
I have only ever seen them race once and that was at Barrie, Ontario, Canada a number of years ago. I think there were problems with the promoter but never heard the end result. Sad that they did not come back.
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 20:20:55 GMT -5
I hope you do not stop posting photographs of these beasts. Just love the stories and technical photos. I still have a lot more pics to go thru.... I have only ever seen them race once and that was at Barrie, Ontario, Canada a number of years ago. I think there were problems with the promoter but never heard the end result. Sad that they did not come back. That was in 1999 were there was two blow overs and Miss Budweiser won......but I have no idea why it was a one-time event? |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 20:23:03 GMT -5
from the pictures alone it's hard to tell how really big these boats are. it's pretty impressive when you get see them up close. duane Yep, one of the biggest racing machines in the world......up to 30 ft long, 3 tons, 3,000hp |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 20:42:27 GMT -5
The Tri-Cities gold cup just ended.... I watched it on Local TV here in Washington and my pick to win took the checkered flag leading on the course but was DNQed 30 mins later!!!!! It was a DMZ violation that cost Jean Theoret in the Elam Plus the Gold Cup. A DMZ Violation is basically going in a restricted area in the middle of the course during the milling period before the start and after reviewing everything after the race the officials DNQ the U-96 Elam Plus and gave the win to Jimmy Shane in the U-1 Oberto Miss Madison. So the finish was pretty confusing for everyone that attended. So kind of a 1981 Indy 500 deal going on here! LOL The winner of the Gold Cup - U-1 Oberto Miss Madison  The first to take the checkered flag U-96 Elam Plus but DNQed  |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 20:54:44 GMT -5
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Post by Calvin on Jul 26, 2015 21:04:57 GMT -5
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Post by Calvin on Jul 27, 2015 13:51:10 GMT -5
The first shot I took on Friday while we went over the Blue Bridge looking at the pits. The Start finish is that 2nd edge of shore (clear back there) on the center far right of the picture and that only halfway of the course (The course is 2.5 miles around)  |
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Post by Calvin on Jul 27, 2015 14:22:21 GMT -5
Here is some close up shots of the Vintage Hydro's One of my favorite parts of the Miss Bardahl is the secret agent guy on the rear tail fin! It's so cool!    1955 Miss Thriftway of Washington State - Allison Powered  Miss Bud's exhaust pipes from the Roll-Royce Griffon  |
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