Illinois News article on Vintage 1958 Hydroplane

[bradob]

Please Check out this link on my Vintage restored Hydroplane built around 1958 with detachable adjustable Sponsons ....I am Looking for info from Vintage Racers From the Mattoon Illinois area.........Boat was also shown at Tomahawk AOMCI snd taken to Pleasant Praire,Wi. races 09........This is my Boat and I am looking for History about it from anyone that remembers it.

Thanks Brad K
..................12-09-09 Recenty updated with photos sent to me By Bob Osborn... Many thanks to the Mattoon Newspaper for uncovering all the History of this unique old Hydro


http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2009/1...e087898814.txt

[STEVE FRENCH]

Did they have it in water a Pleasant Prairie (Speel check).....?

What power was on it?

100N

[Art K]

Hydro

Back in the late 60`sthere was a Goar hydro running in the D alky class at the St louis ODA races. The reason I remember it was the unique feature of the removable and adjustable sponsons. However I don`t recall the owner or the driver. The boat did perform well.
Art K

[sam]

It certainly looks more 60's to me than 50's. If anyone has pictures that actually place it in the 50's I would like to see them.

[T Chance]

I saw this boat at Pleasant Prairie this summer and I have to say I really didn't pay much attention as it was way down from the end where I was pitted. I thought it was an old Jones.

[racer4s]

I think I remember this boat at the NOA Nationals on the Wabash river in Terre Haute. Had to be the late 50's, no later than 62'. I was just a kid, but I do remember watching some guy attach his sponsons on a cabover kneeler. He hung a 55H on the back. I remember the motor well because he didn't use any filler block for his pipes. Just flattenened the end of the pipe and had it welded to a really crude looking cover. The pipes just butted up to the exhaust ports and ran straight out.
I also remember that he smoked everybody in D that weekend. Won easily. Kind of like watching Vanover in his good stuff. Never saw it at another race.

Brent Simmons

[bradob]

After the Newspaper article came out on Thanksgiving day, I was contacted by the Original driver of this boat. He was shocked to see it in the Newspaper after all these years....His name is Robert Osborn From Neoga ,Illinois. Osborn, Told me that he is( 89) years old and Harry Goar, Built the Boat in 1958 and that He was the Driver for the Boat from 1958 till 1962....Osborn , Told me that He Drove the Boat in D class and the boat won many races and that he has many trophies and Pictures of the Boat. Osborn informed me that he won a championship race at Creve,Couer MO. and sent me the pictures of the Newspaper article ........The second driver of this boat wasearly pit crew member, Fritz Roderick Mattoon Il. and Fritz drove the boat after 1962. Osborn told me that he did not know how Roderick performed thru the years and had no idea when the Boat was retired from racing.......Osborn supplied me with plenty of pictures of the boat and invited me to his house near Mattoon, Illinois too see all his memorobillia that he had about this Boat....Osborn also told me That, he won a National Championship with the boat but was disqualified because of a Piston issue. Told me the DQ was a bunch of whooooeee and the pit crew and builder were highly upset at such an important race.
Osborn told me that the Boat was very fast in its day and the Boat handled outstanding and the adjustable Sponsons were the key....Osborn said he only came out of the boat once when one of the sponsons dipped in the turn and threw him right out... Osborn stated the boat excelled thru the turn in a (much different way) than the other boats allowing him to beat many boats thru the turn
Harry Goar, the Builder of the boat died in 82., was never a racer according to Osborn....Goar tried to patent his unique design back in the day but Osborn stated that he thought there was only one Boat ever built.(but could have been more built)


When I had the Boat at Pleasant Praire 09, I took it there to run it but unfortunately the last day of racing was so windy I decided not too....... so, I just had it on display and left early do to the wind and rough water.(they ended up moving the course as it was so ruff)......I am not a racer but am good friends with the Terzinski Brothers Rod & Larry from Rhinelander Wi. I enjoy restoring outboards and old Boats......Many thanks to Rod and Larry and Spider Priebe for helping me to get this boat dialed in this summer

All the info coming in is just Great! and I thank all members of this site for the help in finding out its History so far

Brad K

[bradob]

It certainly looks more 60's to me than 50's. If anyone has pictures that actually place it in the 50's I would like to see them.

Just found out the
Boat was built in 1958 and it was very exciting to find out the Driver of the Boat is still alive...I have pics and need help posting them

[bradob]

I think I remember this boat at the NOA Nationals on the Wabash river in Terre Haute. Had to be the late 50's, no later than 62'. I was just a kid, but I do remember watching some guy attach his sponsons on a cabover kneeler. He hung a 55H on the back. I remember the motor well because he didn't use any filler block for his pipes. Just flattenened the end of the pipe and had it welded to a really crude looking cover. The pipes just butted up to the exhaust ports and ran straight out.
I also remember that he smoked everybody in D that weekend. Won easily. Kind of like watching Vanover in his good stuff. Never saw it at another race.

Brent Simmons

Brent yes indeed, You are absolutely correct......Osborn the Driver of the Boat back then, told me he raced at on the Wabash river. The old guy had so much to tell me on the phone the other day that I could not write it down fast enough.I think thats the race he told me they were disqualified for some type of piston issue. He seemed to be highly upset they were Dq'ed ,\. Osborn told me it was a bunch of whoooee (old timers are so funny when they explain things)...I hope to travel to his house this spring to see him in person and get copies of all his stuff

Not being a racer myself. I just do not know where all these old races took place

Hey thanks for the info....Brad K

[bradob]

Old pics sent to me By Osborn (driver)1958 thru 62

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...oar boat"></a>

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...tobucket"></a>

[bradob]

more old pics

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...oar boat"></a>

[bradob]

Boat pic... Harry Goar, Fritz Roderick, Bob Osborn

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...oar Boat"></a>

Thanks for everyones help ......I have found out a great deal about the Boat in the past few weeks and would like to thank all members that responded with info

Great website
Brad K

[bradob]

Restored and trial run 2009

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...lt="Boat"></a>

Getting up on Plane

http://<a href="http://s886.photobuc...lt="Boat"></a>

[Dave M]

Dq

If he got a Tech DQ for pistons, I imagine I know what he was running.

Great history, thanks for sharing. I have a soft spot for all the cab overs. I love seeing them with outboards on them. My real love is the old Alkie cab overs and Mod's. Not to many tried it in Mod that I can remember. Dick Austins cab overs, F class (1100CCH) are my favorite.

Again, thanks for taking the time to share this history, verfied or not, it is still history and exciting to see. I don't care if it was 1950 or 1960, still a cool boat. I bet you made the man's day taking the time to let him share his life with you.

[Mark Monkres]

Dave M, What kind of piston would get DQ'd?, Those pics are on point, great job.