APBA's newest member

[squirrelboydeluxe]

Racing membership #15527 George W Bressler Jr
This is the realization of a life-long dream to go boat racing
My Father- George W Bressler Sr raced D utility when I was a kid; I still remember sitting in his Speedliner and staring at the river
I went motorcycle racing instead but everytime a hydro heading to the races passed me on the highway my heart would pound
Many thanks to Linda Likert/APBA for helping me wade through the red tape I wasn't smart enough to figure out on my own...You are an Angel
Many many thanks also to Richard DesPortes, Jerry Wienandt & John Mauck for their support & guidance
Last but certainly not least THANK YOU to John Runne for building me a boat that will eventually show you all the fast way around the race course
GB

[Howie Nichols]

Welcome to boat racing and see you at Lock Haven George!

[dpdeck]

Welcome to boat racing.My dad raced b utility in the fifties and races still at 81 in 300ssh and his original b motor in 250mh.Don't forget to look my up at loch haven.

[DeanFHobart]

Racing membership #15527 George W Bressler Jr
This is the realization of a life-long dream to go boat racing
My Father- George W Bressler Sr raced D utility when I was a kid; I still remember sitting in his Speedliner and staring at the river
I went motorcycle racing instead but everytime a hydro heading to the races passed me on the highway my heart would pound
Many thanks to Linda Likert/APBA for helping me wade through the red tape I wasn't smart enough to figure out on my own...You are an Angel
Many many thanks also to Richard DesPortes, Jerry Wienandt & John Mauck for their support & guidance
Last but certainly not least THANK YOU to John Runne for building me a boat that will eventually show you all the fast way around the race course
GB

Hello George,

Is your Runne a hydro or runabout? And, what class?

Good Luck and Welcome To Boat Racing.

Dean Hobart....... Racing Boats Since 1962.

[davebphoto]

Hey George - I think we talked for a while at Berwick. I had the 20SSH for sale. Glad to hear you pulled the trigger on a Runnecraft (that's what replaced the boat for sale). I'll be around at Lock Haven Sunday and Monday if you have any questions or want to help out.

Dave Breisacher
26-P

[squirrelboydeluxe]

I am nothing less than honored by the responses and likes this post has generated-you guys are heroes to me
I will never forget the love & encouragement you have shown me already- just as I will never forget the words jsilvestri had to his crew after destroying the field at Lock haven a few years ago- "The motor's running pretty good"- I think I was hooked right then

The boat is a 20ssh BTW- tomorrow at Lock Haven God willing I will hand Mr Runne the balance due
Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer and the APBA
George Bressler

[johnsonm50]

Racing membership #15527 George W Bressler Jr
This is the realization of a life-long dream to go boat racing
My Father- George W Bressler Sr raced D utility when I was a kid; I still remember sitting in his Speedliner and staring at the river
I went motorcycle racing instead but everytime a hydro heading to the races passed me on the highway my heart would pound
Many thanks to Linda Likert/APBA for helping me wade through the red tape I wasn't smart enough to figure out on my own...You are an Angel
Many many thanks also to Richard DesPortes, Jerry Wienandt & John Mauck for their support & guidance
Last but certainly not least THANK YOU to John Runne for building me a boat that will eventually show you all the fast way around the race course
GB

That's Good: "the fast way around the race course" Sure took me time & nobody was more surprised but, very well worth all those finishes on the other end lol. Good Luck & Welcome aboard.

[DeanFHobart]

I am nothing less than honored by the responses and likes this post has generated-you guys are heroes to me
I will never forget the love & encouragement you have shown me already- just as I will never forget the words jsilvestri had to his crew after destroying the field at Lock haven a few years ago- "The motor's running pretty good"- I think I was hooked right then

The boat is a 20ssh BTW- tomorrow at Lock Haven God willing I will hand Mr Runne the balance due
Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer and the APBA
George Bressler

George,

Is your motor a Sidewinder, Yamato 80 or Yamato 302 restricted???

Thanks,

Dean Hobart...........

[Arcticracer]

George, thanks for honoring your Dad's racing legacy with such enthusiasm. You will make lifelong friends, best of luck!

[squirrelboydeluxe]

Dean -It is a Yamato 80 that came from fishinworm here on HR-Really looking forward to wringing it out a little
Dale- I applied for # 522- which was my father's birthday; it was available but have not heard back from APBA yet

Speaking of GWB Sr...today at Lock Haven I had the chance to meet Don Pontius- and was astounded to hear that he remembers him very well and actually has a picture of my Dad he wants to send me (!)
I have approx. a doz. old B&W photos of the old man & his racing buddies that I took to the races today and lo & behold guess who was in there?
Don Pontius' father Leon Pontius! So I gave it to him.
Today was the greatest day with the greatest people...It was **** near dark and they still had 1-2 heats to go

[DeanFHobart]

Dean -It is a Yamato 80 that came from fishinworm here on HR-Really looking forward to wringing it out a little
Dale- I applied for # 522- which was my father's birthday; it was available but have not heard back from APBA yet

Speaking of GWB Sr...today at Lock Haven I had the chance to meet Don Pontius- and was astounded to hear that he remembers him very well and actually has a picture of my Dad he wants to send me (!)
I have approx. a doz. old B&W photos of the old man & his racing buddies that I took to the races today and lo & behold guess who was in there?
Don Pontius' father Leon Pontius! So I gave it to him.
Today was the greatest day with the greatest people...It was **** near dark and they still had 1-2 heats to go

Wow,

Don Pontius is a legend in C and D Stock Runabout. Beautiful boats and many National Championships... 32-P. I think he drove Speedliner Runabouts. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[squirrelboydeluxe]

Dean
In the 1950's/60's, Leon Pontius had a Mercury/Speedliner dealership in Hummel's Wharf, PA. I remember going there with my dad BITD
The picture I handed Don At Lock Haven Sat. was of Leon standing in a Speedliner/KG9H at a race somewhere- so I'm sure Don ran Speedliner early on.
Later, Don drove a runabout called a CJ- which Mr DesPortes told me was the first runabout that could actually turn like a hydro
Sunday I ran into Don again at LH and asked if there were any CJ's still around- he said not but he does know where an orig Speedliner is in a barn near Hummels Wharf...Mr Pontius still lives in Hummel's Wharf BTW- lived there all his life he said

The best pic I have of GWB Sr. shows him kneeling in his Speedliner roping over a KG9H; getting ready to head to the starting line I guess
The life jacket he has on hung in the hall closet for many years long after the race boats were gone- my mom wasn't allowed to throw it away
On his helmet it says "SHARKIE"... I will take some pics of these photos & post them here but I need to get my son in law over here to show me how to do it- I am a technological numbnuts
GB

[DeanFHobart]

Dean
In the 1950's/60's, Leon Pontius had a Mercury/Speedliner dealership in Hummel's Wharf, PA. I remember going there with my dad BITD
The picture I handed Don At Lock Haven Sat. was of Leon standing in a Speedliner/KG9H at a race somewhere- so I'm sure Don ran Speedliner early on.
Later, Don drove a runabout called a CJ- which Mr DesPortes told me was the first runabout that could actually turn like a hydro
Sunday I ran into Don again at LH and asked if there were any CJ's still around- he said not but he does know where an orig Speedliner is in a barn near Hummels Wharf...Mr Pontius still lives in Hummel's Wharf BTW- lived there all his life he said

The best pic I have of GWB Sr. shows him kneeling in his Speedliner roping over a KG9H; getting ready to head to the starting line I guess
The life jacket he has on hung in the hall closet for many years long after the race boats were gone- my mom wasn't allowed to throw it away
On his helmet it says "SHARKIE"... I will take some pics of these photos & post them here but I need to get my son in law over here to show me how to do it- I am a technological numbnuts
GB

George,

As if I remember, Don ran a Yamato on his runabout when they became the motor of choice. Either 20 Runabout or C Stock Runabout... Or both. I'm not sure for how long. I don't recall the CJ runabouts.

Good luck in your boat racing venture.

Dean.......................................

[dwhitford]

CJ = SeaJay, follow-on runabouts (as I understand things) to the original SpeedLliners.

[Fast Freddie]

John Puestow still has a Pontius CJ [or SeaJay???] runabout in racing condition. Mikey won the 500ccMR nationals with it in 2014. I raced it in DSR, a few years ago, too.

Fred Hauenstein

[ctpdsr]

Hi George & Fred,

Hope you are both well. I agree the advent of the "Hydrobout" can be credited in part to John P. and his beautiful rig. I learned up close and personal at the 1986 Wakefield Nationals that the round chine boats were not the ticket on a long course. I believe Bud Pinto had a silly fast rig that won CSR that year.

Chuck