Info on Dick Austin's hydros please

[RogerH]

Found this picture of Dick Austin's hydros on the Classic Raceboat Assoc.'s website and would like to know more about this fine collection - These are Jones hydros, but more info would be appreciated. - Thanks, Roger

[deverhart1]

These were at the Pro Nationals a few years ago. He made a couple hot laps late one day and it sure sounded good. He was running a looper I believe. Awesome sound.
David Everhart S52

[bh/]

Roger; -my wife took that pic, at the Constantine AOMC meet in 2009. I had a Jones DSH there also. If I recollect correctly, three of those boats are Jones, and Dick either raced them, or raced against them.
PM me for his e-addy.

[sam]

He's a member on BRF and has answered questions about his equipment over there.

[Dave M]

A Little Tid Bit

Dick spent some time away from racing Pro, and recently wanted to collect some stuff like he raced. Well he hit a gold mine. He found and purchased his orignial equipment and then some. He restored it to a thing of beauty. He is currently active in taking it around and showing it off. He still lives in MI. Great guy.

That equipment is some of the best you can see. And it is very, very functional. If you can catch him running it, the cab over is a beautiful thing to watch, and the sound.... the sound.... oh my the sound......... a sweet true Quincey 6 Looper sound.........

[RogerH]

Dick Austin's collection

Thanks for the info and replies. It certainly is top notch equipment and I'm glad to hear he is taking it places and still running it. I'm trying to collect a "flock" of OPC like boats to run at some Vintage events or whatever we can manage. We really need some event that has water and water access appropriate for outboards, especially the smaller classes. They are too fast to tolerate water like Clayton (for example). I know, I've tried that!

Take care - Thanks --- Roger

[sam]

How many of these locations have you been to?

http://www.vintagehydroplanes.com/2010events.html

I'm working on 2 boats to bring ...

[steve jones]

This photo was taken in September 1969 at a NOA race on the Saginaw River

Dave is right there is nothing like the sound of a Quincy Looper

[RogerH]

Vintage locations

How many of these locations have you been to?

http://www.vintagehydroplanes.com/2010events.html

I'm working on 2 boats to bring ...

Sam, I've probably been to about half of the East coast Vintage race locations. I need to explain that most any of these sites can have days where water conditions would allow fast / small outboard boats to run well, but they generally are held at locations where inboard racing was the norm. I had outboards to Dayton, Wheeling, Clayton, Cross Lake, Chautauqua Lk, Tavares, Roar & Soar Polk City FL. Eastwood Lake in Dayton and Cross Lake near Syracuse NY could be super outboard locations.

[sam]

How was the water at Wheeling? Its the closest to me

[RogerH]

Wheeling WV Vintage

How was the water at Wheeling? Its the closest to me

Wheeling is arguably one of the best Vintage stops, for many reasons. This year the water was near perfect. Last year it was rougher, but due to considerable rain prior to the race there was a lot for "stuff" in the water (or was that two years ago?).

What really sets Wheeling aside is the overall event support headed by the Joseph family and Wheeling in general. They know what they are doing. I would guess that the spectators numbered in the couple thousand both days and they loved going into the pits during down times. How does two sit-down dinner events with your entry sound???!!!! Hard to beat! BUT! You won't find a boat ramp (for outboards) within a mile of the site. Brought my SK last year and had to display it, because I didn't realize they only had crane launch facilities. I think my Molinari was the only outboard at Clayton that could crane launch if needed. Good example of a requirement difference between in & out - boards. To do a Vintage only inboard and outboard event sucessfully will take a lot of forethought and understanding to be sucessful. It can be done, just not at all locations.

[sam]

I guess it would make sense to buy a pair of straps to crane launch

[Tomtall]

Some pictures

Some pic's from that 2009 Constatine AOMCI meet. Very nice family. I spoke with his father for some time.

[Tomtall]

More pics

A few more.