Silent Thunder U 95 Story

[@budlanctot3060]

I was in my early 20's, when I had a part-time job, after classes at the U of W, just around the corner from the U-95 workshop. IIRC, it was just off Aurora Ave next to the WonderBread/Hostess Bakery. I used to stop by on my way home, and peak in thru the open garage door to watch the progress being made. For the time, it was really wild looking. That whole area has changed so much in 50yrs. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

[@craigmclean8260]

Thanks for this most informative story! I do well-recall when they brought the boat to the '73 SeaFair race, and had the "hot start" incident on the trailer (it was shown on KING 5 the next day; I was disappointed the boat would not be able to run)...and the fateful '74 Gold Cup, where the boat sank off Sandpoint. IIRC, that hull last ran as an Executone in 1983...and had sunk the year before in the Seattle race, in a collision w/ the turbine Pak...I would frequently see Jim and Pam Clapp's "Nothingmore", cruising thru the Montlake Cut, ca. 1970-71; I last saw that vessel in the Ballard Locks in the late-1990s, and found out that it was powered by a pair of Pratt and Whitney ST-6s of around 720 SHP each (the "ST" was a marinized PT-6, from what I understand).

[@carolwickowski7169]

A designer giant , a person with vision solved unbelievable Problems & created beauty He never lived to see it He looked down & seen it He did & he smiled - largely

[@cdestes1914]

Great story!

[@lewisdrake8732]

Bill Muncey is a legend, but if you watch enough of the old races, you will soon realize that he was overly aggressive sometimes and disobeyed the cardinal rule in racing. Hold your line! I respect him but he was a dirty racer. I raced jet skis for 6 years.

[@PAKiller1]

That was interesting.. I don’t remember it ever coming to Detroit, but I could be wrong

[@carolwickowski7169]

The begining of the END of THUNDER BOATS PISTON POWER AGE GONE WITH A SWOOSH