Hydros Up-Close 1971-72 Pride of Pay'n Pak

An up-close look at the 1971-72 Pride of Pay'n Pak. The boat, which was built in 1970 as the cabover twin-engine hemi Pak, was converted to a conventional driver behind the engine configuration and a Rolls Merlin for 1971. Includes interviews with drivers Billy Schumacher and Billy Sterett Jr. Also owner Dave Heerensperger and crew chief Jim Lucero. Footage from several races and amazing close-up testing films by Jim Lucero and crew.
Some film segments have no audio.

[@daryl5379]

I built this boat while working for Ron Jones in Costa Mesa california

[@trob1173]

This boat was displayed in front of the Pay n Pak store in Bellingham I think before Seafair. I was 6 at the time. Beautiful boat!

[@billjesernig7863]

This boat revolutionized the hydro plane industry

[@richardlugar6868]

Awesome to see the Grand Old Lady back in the water and rooster tail high and long.

[@williambishop8099]

Great boat thanks for posting! Love that paint job

[@zibbyzubb]

My favorite of all the Pay n Pak boats. Interesting that they were testing in the winter months with snow on the ground.

[@denniscashell2407]

Decades later I would find out, Jim Lucero designed some of Bernies boats too.dang

[@finn409]

rare footage at Eugene Oregon

[@fredfoster5433]

First question. Is this hull still around? I know that it later ran as a Miss Budweiser. Hopefully, she is still in those markings.

[@ThunderboatsVideo]

Yep, it's sitting in the parking lot of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum waiting its turn to be restored. But the big question is....which version of the boat do you want to see it restored as? 1970 Hemi Pak? 72 Pak? 73 Bud? The hull is in pretty good shape.

[@fredfoster5433]

I would say that it would be great that a replica be built from the original plans and have the 72 Pak and the 73 Bud.

[@alexnutcasio936]

@@ThunderboatsVideo weren’t they different boats though than the front engine in this video? I recall the twin engine Hemi pack behind driver and later pay n pak being same boat with twin engines behind driver?

[@ThunderboatsVideo]

Same boat. Ron Jones and Lucero converted it to conventional for 1971.

[@scrn1733]

@@ThunderboatsVideo Please restore it as the 1971-72 Pay N' Pak