Forgotten World of Hydroplane Racing: Wartime Engines Second Life! (Hydroplane Raceboat Museum)

Back from the 1950s-1980s there was a whole segment of motorsports based around using leftover WWII Fighter Plane engines like the Rolls Royce Merlin, Griffon, and Allison made V12 engines. Some smart dudes in Seattle grabbed one of these engines and jammed it into a special boat hull designed to skim over the water. Some of the most recognizable raceboats of the day like Bernie Little's Miss Budweiser, The Squire Shop, Atlas Van Lines, and Miss Bardahl are on display at the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Kent Washington. They are the only facility in the world restoring, showing and operating these classic beasts.
Rolls Royce Merlin & Allison V12 tech video! • The Rolls Royce Merlin...
Official Merchandise! stapletonautow...
/ stapleton42_
Instagram
Mitchell: @stapleton42_
Logan: @Logann42_
Join the Real G club to get access to behind the scenes stuff!
/ @stapleton42
Holley Performance Parts Link! holley-social....
Facebook Page: / stapleton42
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@Stapleton42]

This one is pretty different isn't it? You will be amazed how awesome the hydroplane race world used to be. I had no idea they used wartime Rolls and Allison engines back then. If you like racing history you would love our other videos! Check out the channel!

[@verrinne1]

Damn I wish I knew you were in town it would have been great to meet you. I've crewed for one of the local E-350 boats.

[@c.johnweir182]

This is awesome! Next if you can? Port of Miami boat racing is a man made boat racing spot that might be gone from existence. Pieces of it is crumbling to disrepair.

[@Stapleton42]

@@c.johnweir182 I would love to visit that place in person someday. Miami Marine Stadium

[@c.johnweir182]

I love your new hat which is based off of the Dale Earnhardt Sr 1996 Olympic car.

[@c.johnweir182]

​@@Stapleton42I like, I shared, and I commented. Besides I'm in love with a new hat. Too bad you don't have a shirt to go with that hat. Like the GM 1996 Olympic theme.

[@H1Unlimited]

Glad you enjoyed learning about hydroplane racing! Our first race of the 2023 season will take place June 24-25 in Guntersville, Alabama. Every race will be broadcasted live for free on our KZbin channel!

[@Stapleton42]

Awesome I’ll definitely watch!

[@stephencarter1442]

@@Stapleton42 Everyone needs to watch You're going to see the closest season ever Watch the boys these guys have balls of steel at 230 mph plus you have to be crazy like me.

[@stewarth8390]

Subscribed

[@jessemilstead810]

Personally i prefer the Grand Prix hydros over the unlimiteds

[@colinmunro7337]

Where can I find the scheduled races I'll be over from late August til late September,Thanks in advance

[@mikemullay5622]

I grew watching these hydroplanes in Seattle. Guys like Bill Muncey, Ron Musson, Dean Chenowith, and Chip Hanauer were my childhood heroes.

[@timford3599]

Also, "The Squire Shop" with Tom D'eath at the controls. True sponson to sponson, hair raising excitement!

[@drdesmo8489]

Your tour guide was absolutely fantastic. This is what Motorsport does to people, his passion and energy have been going for 30 years in his museum tours. And thank you very much for doing this video.

[@Stapleton42]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DIARRHEA-PANIC]

The most under-rated Museum SAVE THE HYDROS!!!

[@B_M_A]

The knowledge these OG museum workers / owners have is wild. Radiates passion.

[@Stapleton42]

Totally!

[@lee81147]

Allison engines came out of the P40 not the P51

[@deangawley5747]

@@lee81147 early P51's had the Allison, but it didn't perform well at higher altitudes and was replaced with the Merlin

[@JoePonkey]

I was waking through a factory in the north side of Detroit a long time ago. I glanced off to the side, and there was a hydroplane there. I took a diversion to go check it out, and there was an old guy at the stern, swinging wrenches and building the motor. He introduced himself as Danny Foster. I'd never heard of him before, but for the next 45 minutes, he told me who he was, who he had been and how he and his friends came home from WWII and basically invented modern hydroplane racing. He told me about the one he was working on. A Rolls-Royce Merlin engine from a P51 in WWII. He said he shopped all over the country to find that particular motor. Then, after paying $25000 for it, he shipped it over to Jack Roush to have it balanced and printed. Mr Roush saw the motor and HAD to have it. Jack Roush flies P51's, or did at the time. He knew that by FAA rules, only certain serial numbers of that motor are looked to be flown. This was one of those. So Jack Roush bought that motor from Danny Foster for $25000 and another brand new, crated, original WWII Rolls-Royce engine. Earlier on, I had excused myself to go smoke a cigarette. I called my wife to look up this old guy, Danny Foster, on the internet. She came back and was almost giggling. She told me, "Do not leave there without his autograph." So I told him about it, and he laughed. He said, "Look, son, if you come back here tomorrow, I'll give you what you ask for." I couldn't because of work, but my wife went back, and he gave her a paper tube. I didn't get to see it until I got home. A rolled up sheet diagram psuedo-blueprint of that boat that he was building the engine for. Miss US-1, I think. And a trading bubble gum card of him when he was much younger. I still have both. Absolute treasures. Not mine but this is how I met him... missus1.com/images/restore_08.jpg

[@Stapleton42]

That is awesome!

[@SatelliteYL]

Great story. 👍

[@j.edward4379]

I live in Tri-Cities Washington and grew up on the sound of piston engines in unlimited hydroplanes when we used to call them thunderboats. You not only heard them as they flew by, but you felt them in your stomach. It was AWESOME, and I miss it so much. My reoccurring dream is that somehow we could go back to the old engines, but I understand the reasons and all the difficulties involved in servicing Rolls-Royce/Allison engines. During the piston days, you could be anywhere in the Tri-Cities, and you could hear the engines. It was like a call to get to the river and watch. There was nothing like the sound of 5 or 6 boats screaming towards the start line at the beginning of the heat.

[@snazzyidiot]

It's still pretty exciting when they come to the area

[@user-zv5fs2wy7q]

OMG. I was born and raised in the Seattle area through the 50’s and early 60’s. We watched the Gold Cup races every year on Lake Washington. We used to build miniature hydroplanes out of wood and tow them behind our bicycles. This brings back so many awesome memories.

[@KyleP133]

As an elder millenial in the southeast I have the vaguest of recollections of how cool these boats were in the late 80s and early 90s... They would occasionally show up on broadcasts in those days. I'd pretty much forgotten all about it until this video. This has been such a cool trip and tour down memory lane. Thanks for doing this stuff for all of us! That warriors on the water bit is so cool!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@OTE_TheMissile]

I've been a lifelong auto racing fan & since picking up simracing as a hobby about 10 years ago have been on a mission to find different and interesting forms of motorsports to follow. A few years ago I stumbled across a small group of simracers working to develop a boat racing passion project game called HydroSim and started racing with them online semi-regularly. Driving a hydroplane is so incredibly different from a car, and the process of racing them is unlike anything I've ever done before, and I am having an absolute blast. It's such a unique motorsport and really doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Anyone who finds this stuff interesting, do not hesitate to get involved because there is an amazing group of people out there who live and breathe boat racing & love to share it with others.

[@arrowkart4j]

As a kid I got to see these race with these old aircraft engines and I always thought these guys are absolutely out of their minds. So much history with this stuff. Great work guys.

[@vincentdsnt]

The movie (Madison) is a great movie about the city owned Miss Madison Hydro and Gold Cup history. I grew up in Detroit and attended the Gold Cup dozens of years, Just Great stuff ! Bernie Little was the owner in those years, Bill Muncie was our hometown hero.

[@cl604driver]

Great movie for sure. Jim Caviezel is one of the actors.

[@brandonstaelens664]

I used to go to the hydroplane races at belle isle in Detroit as a kid. One of the coolest sights and sounds I've ever seen. Seeing a boat do 200 mph across the water is pretty unbelievable.

[@Bob61944]

I did also in the fifties and early sixties. Lived in Harper Woods and could hear them testing the boats in the weeks before the races. Also would go with my dad into the pits in the boat yards along Detroit river. And sometimes the stands next to the Rostertail restaurant. Saw Gar Wood there.

[@BK-qo5fn]

Thank you for this. I remember watching Jim Kropfeld pilot the Miss Budweiser and Chip Hanauer in the Miss Miller battle it out in the mid 80's. I appreciate all the hard work you two put into this amazing content.

[@Stapleton42]

You're very welcome

[@dv8photography]

Those were some great races in the 80’s.

[@mylanmiller9656]

I think Chip Hanauer was one of the most Colorful Hydro racers ever! Even if he didn't win he was hard not to cheer for.

[@cl604driver]

Chip Hanauer, there is another name I haven't heard in a long time.

[@cl604driver]

@@mylanmiller9656 Didn't he also have a pretty magnificent mullet back in those days? I think the hosts on one of the rock stations at the time used to make fun of him for it.

[@bartarkis]

The man you were interviewing is a great example of humility that knows and is right where he belongs. Do what gives you energy and joy that helps people and creates something, and you are rich. Thanks Mitchell

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man 💪🏻

[@ianmcgowan4347]

Incredible guide! As you say, his unassuming modesty is also I think, due to a very interested interviewer with a great attitude. Thanks for an awesome video

[@joshuabrown5123]

Those piston driven engines are still one of the best sounds in racing.

[@fritzkabeano1969]

In a sad way the turbine engines ruined the sport. This coming from a Detroit eastsider who watched the crowds dwindle from 500,000 to nothing today.

[@phatboizbackyardkustomz9006]

And in the air

[@lijahwayne6332]

Hydroplane racing is such an under appreciated form of racing. More for the reason that a lot of people aren’t aware of it even existing. It has cool history, even cooler boats, loud engines, what’s not to like. Love this stuff.

[@Stapleton42]

I agree. I didn't know anything about it really prior to this

[@OnlyNow8]

You hit it out of the ballpark once again!! Love those old hydroplanes! Hearing the history and evolution of them is every bit as fascinating as NASCAR history!

[@benwatkins7600]

You two suprised me in a wonderful way, as a former aircraft mechanic and motorsports enthusiast, this video was exactly in my wheelhouse!K Keep up the wonderful work you do,and I will continue to support and hopefully help your channel thrive! Bless you both!

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Ben!

[@jmel1746]

I grew on Lake Washington in South Seattle in the 1960s before the turbine boat era. My WWII vet dad was employed in the auto industry and told us stories of the all out war to win the Gold Cup from Detroit which became a rivalry between two cities, one famous for automobiles vs one famous for aviation. I burst with pride when I heard Bill Boeing and Stan Sayres invented a boat that used aerodynamics to skim over the water to confound and defeat the extremely wealthy tycoons in their cigar boats - a David and Goliath tale that added to my excitement as we could hear the thunderous sound emanating from a streaking thunderboat down on the lake 8 miles away from my elementary school playfield Perched in the hills (Sound travels long distances on water)! This resulted in myself and my best friends skipping school and taking busses to the Stan Sayres pits lakeside to ogle at these amazing contraptions whenever a race team tested a new boat. By high school, on race week, we snuck into the pits so many times they finally gave us a job giving pit tours and we'd sneak away to hide between the race trailers just to get a glimpse of our heroes, those daring daredevils brave or foolish enough to wrestle these machines with towering roostertails and ear-spliiting sound around a 2 1/2 mile race course. The turbine era came and the thunder turned into a whoosh. The speeds topped 200mph and most of our heroes either died chasing speed or in the case of some, were maimed for life. Between the little guy getting less chance to compete and maybe one or two boats having any chance to win a championship due to huge corporate sponsorship and the extreme expense to run a team, I moved on in life and yet I still see the Unlimited class morph into H-1 and survive to this day. Living in Texas, there's nothing like that here, but I'll never forget those days of my boyhood and the striking, memorable, exhibitions of speed, technology, bravery and/or reckless abandon I witnessed on the shores of the lake every August. Kudos to your channel, the Hydroplane Museum, the great tour guide and the fantastic volunteers whose work and dedication keep it alive and share these important stories and a sport unknown to so many.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man we appreciate you

[@johnanderson1818]

This one hits home with me! I live in Evansville Indiana and the Ohio river runs between us and Henderson Kentucky! Every year Evansville hosted what was called "Thunder on the Ohio". I saw my first race live in 1980. I was hooked! The sound of the old Allison engine's was deafening! I remember seeing Atlas Van Lines! That was my boat, from my first race! I hated miss Budweiser! She won way to much! Miss Madison was always a boat, that I rooted for! She was a local boat! When the hydroplane's started using turbine engine's. I think that was what changed my love for hydroplaning! The thunder was gone! I got to see a couple of gold cups! We hosted a few, here in Evansville! The driver's all loved Evansville! Huge track! It wasn't salt water and the driver's loved that! I miss those days! It's something that I hold dear! That's for sure! R.I.P. Bill Muncey!

[@Stapleton42]

I wish they ran on the Ohio river near Pittsburgh!

[@OhSixWRX]

This will be a good one. I grew up on the Columbia River and they still race unlimited boats every year. The boats in your picture I have seen race. There was was nothing cooler that a half a dozen Rolls Royce Merlins and Griffins. Allisons weren't as loud or fast as the Rolls were. Battling on the river. You could hear them from 10 miles away! Today they run a turbine engine and are faster but not the same. Missing the Atlas Van Lines. Bill Muncie was legendary in the sport.

[@Stapleton42]

That’s awesome man. Hope we get to see a race with these vintage boats someday

[@Richardrefund]

Yes, definitely more hydro racing stuff! I appreciate this video. Anyone who is into Motorsport in general can appreciate the innovation shown in this genre. Great job as usual in bringing us truly awesome content.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man we are doing our best

[@jcballar100]

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of random but AMAZING things you all have taught me about that I never would have known if it wasn’t for you guys! Thanks for all you do!

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Josh!

[@mikep4823]

This is why i like what they are doing in exposing the things we never get to see or the people behind the scenes that tell their part of the history. Old track days of how things where done.

[@fightfire-mv8bt]

Glad to see you branching out into other types of motorsports. As much as i enjoyed nascar in the "good old days" i grew up watching and participating in all different forms of racing and im glad you are opening peoples eyes to it. Really enjoy you guys content.

[@nickdoescher9957]

This sport needs all the media attention it can get so it can become huge again.

[@AbbStar1989]

@@nickdoescher9957 I agree. How awesome is this class of racing.

[@sotxbob]

Oh Man, I remember walking the hotel parking lots as a teen before the races. Seeing Atlas, Miss Bud, Squire Shop, Oberto & others tilted on their trailers is an image I will never forget even after being at the races. Good times/memories.

[@CanYouFoush]

I’m not used to channels I watch making videos about hydroplanes, it’s fun. First Bright Sun now Stapleton!

[@GP80888]

I remember watching these boats when I was a kid. I was always amazed how fast these boats could go. The rooster tails were 40ft tall at times at least it seemed. It was just a site to see. Again you are giving the world a look at something that’s so fascinating that could easily be overlooked. Thanks again for what you do no one else is doing this.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Greg!

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

I grew up in the 90s watching these and other forms of hydroplane boats. What a fun time and insane folks doing insane things, I got to watch that just doesn't exist in the same way any longer.

[@dingalsbe88]

Land Surveyor here, I'm the guy that sets the pins for the Columbia Cup in Kennewick WA. Been doing it for 20 years. But I don't know much about the history of the hydros... I'm just the guy with the coordinates and the technology to set up the race course.. pretty crazy. I'm sure none of the racers even know who I am.

[@arjovenzia]

I was wondering how they set up courses pre gps. duh, trigonometry works just fine on the water. if i had have thought about it a bit longer, I would have figured it out im sure. I thought about ya, buddy. I was involved in setting up courses for the Mirror yachting internationals in Sydney a few years ago. all volunteers, we just got a handwritten list of co-ordinates. The interesting thing with that, Is we adjusted the course throughout the day to factor in changing wind and tide conditions, and that was just a call over the radio. we were a safety boat during the actual race. If you dont know, the Mirror is a tiny boat, designed to be as cheap as possible and fit on the roof of a Mini. not the fastest of races, but quite technical if you want to win, which made for a great atmosphere. the ferries and ships in Sydney harbour have legal right of way, so would turn a Mirror into matches if it happened to loose a rudder or boom. was a really fun week.

[@dingalsbe88]

@@arjovenzia before we had RTK gps we would triangulate the pins in using 2 total stations, one total station on each side of the river. It took a very long day to do it this way. Now we use 2 RTK rovers... much quicker and more accurate IMO.

[@morgananderson9647]

These Hydroplanes meant so much in many ways to the City of Seattle & the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in the late, late 60's & 70's in the Seattle area. These boats and the boat races were SO important to the community. In the early 60's the "City Fathers" of Seattle were trying to show the US (& the world) that we were a "World Class" city. As part of showcasing Seattle, they decided to host the Worlds Fair in 1962, & built our iconic "Space Needle" as part of the fair grounds. From the mid 50's to until the 80's the only sports happening in Seattle, was the U of W Huskies. The locals took immense pride in these races. We'd get 250K people the day of the Race. There was also an airshow that would happen in between the heat races. One of the Boeing test pilots even barrel rolled a 707 prototype passenger liner over the race course, TWICE!!!. You could hear the boats in all the surrounding suburbs (miles away) & it was magic. Most of the neighborhoods kids, would make small wooden Hydros and pull them behind their bikes. We even had our own neighborhood races! When we got older, being in a boat on the course perimeter (The Log Boom) a person could walk from the length of the course on all the boats tied to the log boom, and it was a party on every boat! I was great to be a kid in those days! Sadly the Turbine engines I feel take away the visceral experience as they don't make all the noise. Imagine a NASCAR race with Teslas... Just not the same... I hope the boat racers figure out a way to go back to piston powered racers someday...

[@Stapleton42]

I agree. Piston power sound just can’t be beat. Maybe they could run the falconer v12

[@user-ls3bp9wn1v]

As some one who grew up living by Mission Bay in San Diego the noise of those things pretty much guarantees that they won't be forgotten any time soon.

[@DwightPerkins-i7t]

I grew up on crown point on Mission Bay and went to Mission Bay High school. I remember hearing the Lil Buzzard with Tommy Fults crash while we were in class. When the sound of the boat instantly silenced we knew it was bad. Found out that evening that he was killed ❤

[@jameslash3477]

Thanks so much for this post. I grew up in the Seattle area from 1963 to 1993 and in that time the thunderboats were a constant part of my life. When I moved out of the area I lost my connection to the sport and the awesomeness of the people doing it. I was privileged to have been young and healthy around those times and was often hanging around the boats with my pit pass during SeaFair. I didn’t even know this museum existed and it holds so many of my memories. Again, Thank You.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you for being here!

[@ronbuckner8179]

"Who's BILL MUNCEY?" He was my hero! That boat is/was a death trap waiting to happen. Watch some of the film. Bill was actually sitting on the boat, rather than IN the boat. Bill was the "Hydroplane God". I went school with his son. I'm 67 and live in San Antonio, but I still follow the hydro's from my youth.

[@tomb70]

The hydroplane museum in Kent Washington is run by the most amazing people I have ever seen. They are so friendly and it is definitely worth your time!

[@dinsdalep.8037]

This was awesome to see you branch out into another motorsport. Well done. I was an engineering student when Bill Muncey crashed and Chip Hanauer took over his ride and went on to win his first championship. The boat engineering team was supposed to give a lecture at the university but couldn’t make it. They sent Hanauer instead with some amazing film of races and behind the scenes content. As a racing fan it was great, and I have a signed hat from that day.

[@Stapleton42]

That’s awesome

[@mahki8925]

Being a H1 Unlimited Fan my whole life it's good to see more people being introduces into this sport.

[@garneauweld1100]

This museum is about the best thing about Seattle, Washington in my opinion. I was gifted a special tour even though the museum was officially closed. (no names mentioned) I don't know if the museum is open, or will ever reopen if it is closed, but if you can get a tour, expect to experience the most important place for boat racing in the United States.

[@Stapleton42]

It’s open to the public

[@geoffreyneish7999]

Amazing sport, I love it!! As a kid in the sixties my grandfather took us to the Miami Marine Stadium. WOW, for kids from Toronto we couldn't believe our eyes the noise and amount of boats racing so closely was mind-blowing!! And to think what we were witnessing would go on to pioneer so many aspects of racing today! TOO COOL, thanks for reminding me just how cool my grandparents were!! lmao. They raced sail boats out of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior! 🤙😜

[@walteranderson7676]

Old Miami Marine Stadium. I worked at Horatio's next to the stadium before joining the Army. And The Rusty Pelican was behind us, and Biscayne Marina shared the property.

[@cdestes1914]

My Dad got me into Unlimited Hydroplane racing when I was extremely young (5 or 6)…. I was at the Madison race in 1971 you referenced when the Miss Madison won the Gold Cup that year… we went yearly to Madison and almost always had pit passes… we even had a family acquaintance who worked on the Madison boat.. This video brought back a ton of memories…. Thank you and keep up the the great work..

[@tomboyd7109]

I remember hearing the hydros from over 15 miles away every summer where I lived near Seattle all through the 60's & halfway through the 50's as I was growing up. Good memories. Thanks!

[@Stapleton42]

thank you sir!

[@vicswanby454]

In the mid-seventies I remember standing underneath the pay & pack boat and the Atlas Van lines all those boats brought back so many memories for me from my childhood. I did not know they had a museum honoring and restoring these hydroplanes. Cool video and thanks for sharing this.

[@terryvuylsteke2434]

Again, you two take the racing scene to another level, thank you so much!!! Bravo!! To see this video took me back to when my Dad and his best friend worked on Miss Canada in the late 50's and early 60's with a Rolls/Merlin V12 that they ended up putting into a AA/Altered for a couple years until selling the engine back to the owners of Miss Canada for the boats restoration, but that's a whole story in itself. Keep up the great work, as always, Cheers from Canada.

[@Stapleton42]

That’s awesome!

[@mikeyates3373]

I'm very honored to have had to privilege putting these awesome boats in the water at Seafair a few years ago

[@pumpkinking5174]

I've done the drag racing experience hitting 130 in the 1/4 mile, drove a stock car at Pocono twice and recently did a hydro boat school in Springfield, OH. The hydro experience was by far the best out of the 3. Nothing like skimming the water at high speed! Killer video man!

[@Stapleton42]

thanks man!

[@jeffdieringer1]

This is one of the most informative presentations I've ever seen. What a pleasant gentleman giving the tour.

[@bobwilson758]

Absolutely great fella ! Very knowledgeable and kind as well -

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@dandonovan2858]

Thunder on the Ohio was a yearly event in Evansville Indiana. Feeling the boats ROARING past you was so very thrilling.

[@MrCap1206]

Thank you for the awesome video! I grew up in Seattle. Even ten miles from the lake (Lake Washington) we could hear the incredible roar of those Merlin engines with their open short headers testing. The excitement was in the air, and we knew that the races were coming soon. The unlimited races were very popular and a love by most. As the races neared we built little wooden hydroplanes and towed them behind our bikes. When it rained we towed them through the puddles. In those days all the races were free. We got there early for the best area of grass to view the races from. On top of the exciting racing, there was always an incredible show performed by the Blue Angels, loud and low. Very thrilling time of the year growing up! Thanks again for sharing a different segment of motor sports. Great job!

[@craigmaverick]

Super cool! As a 57 year old Washington resident I've watched the hydros all my life. Chip Hanauer was the man back in the 80's and 90's! The Squire shop was where all the kids would go buy school clothes at in the mall back in the day. I'll have to check them out at lake Chelan this October, I didn't know that was happening. 👍👍

[@shawnm696]

Pretty neat museum. They were running one of the boats when I went a few years ago. Sucker was loud just at an idle.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

I preferred the gas burners to the turbines.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

@@AndyFromBeaverton In 1962, I went down to the San Sayres Pits...my favorite boat, Thriftway(renamed Century 21 just for that year), pulled out of the pit area for a qualifying run...When Bill started that boat, the overwhelming sound of that Rolls-Merlin engine was so loud, you had to cover your ears, until he cleared the Pit area!...a few minutes later, that beautiful boat was charging up the backstretch of the course, hitting 170mph, skimming across the water like some UFO!...An unforgettable image remains in my mind.

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

@@curbozerboomer1773 I watched the hydros in Seattle when the field was half turbine and half piston. As cool as the turbines looked and sounded. I'll always prefer the roar of piston power.

[@Ronaldl2350]

Please. Bring more of this type of racing to us. I bet you could get access to the teams that are racing today. Thank you for another great video.

[@kevinrandall1023]

My cousin John Walters raced the PAY 'n PAK back in the 80's. John was on my dad, Ron Randall's side of the family and dad used to race stock cars and wrench on stuff. He used to tell me stories later in life about helping John on occasion with the boats. This has brought back lots of memories. Love this stuff! Thank you...

[@joeyj8202]

What a wonderful pair of videos!! It was great the way Ken and Dan answered all your questions without being rushed in any way. Your questions were very spot on, too. I grew up in Seattle and worked extensively in San Diego and was always a true fan of the races. I thought I knew a fair amount about hydroplanes but I must admit that I learned more from your two videos than I had in all the prior years. Thank you for a truly first class job!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@andyanglin390]

I remember those days fondly. I can't thank you enough for the behind the scenes information, videos, pictures, a d most importantly all the fortunate and unfortunate things that the drivers went through. I remember Bernie Little well and the Miss Budweiser. Many thanks to all of your sponsors for your trip. Also one of if not the best museum tour's you've ever done. You are very very professional and respectful.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Andy! Hopefully you find some interesting history on our other videos too!

[@andrewjones9893]

Mitchell and Logan, once again you hit it out of the park with your content. Cheers and look forward to what you both spring on us next. Even down here in New Zealand we get to enjoy your passion for telling the story of many facets of racing.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks Andrew!

[@randygerman2176]

Thank you so much for this video! I grew up near Seattle in the 60’s, before there were any pro sports around and the hydros were a BIG thing! Kids like us would fashion small hydros out of wood and drag them behind our bikes. We watched the races on black and white TVs and when we were old enough to drive, made our way down to Seattle to watch them in person but the best times were had in the early eighties in the Tri-Cities Wa. The pits are on the Kennewick side of the Columbia river and was the place to be for qualifying. The day of the race the party shifted to the Pasco side. You could wade out chest deep into the water, drinks in hand and watch the boats come out of the turn and race down the straight away. When they went wide I would guess that the distance was about 50 yards and I often thought that a whole lot of people are going to have a really bad day if a skid fin or steering breaks, like what happened in 1958 when Bill Muncey, driving Miss Thriftway, lost a rudder and hit a Coast Guard cutter--sinking it! For me and many others the racing was at its zenith in those days with the Miss Atlas, Miss Budweiser, Miss Pay ‘n Pak, The Squire Shop, Miss Circus Circus and their fantastic drivers all sporting some variation of V-12 aircraft engines. The boats were truly beautiful but the SOUND! the sound was unbelievably awesome and putting all of these things together, the experience was unforgettable!

[@johnathanromero3944]

What amazing boats they are! Grew up watching the Mrs Budweiser and O’boy O’Berto boats battle it out as a kid! Man you’re bringing back the memories this week!

[@idroadking]

Been to this museum... it's awesome. Watched these fire breathing dragon boats racing as a kid here in the pacific northwest back in the 60's and 70's.... still gives me goosebumps when I hear one snarling & growling across the lake at speed.

[@fireballxl5328]

This was the sound that all others were to be judged by for the rest of my life !

[@johnbeyl3892]

I've been involved in warbirds since 1986 and have spent countless hours working on Merlins and Allison's. Like you, when I first entered that world as a circle track racer, I was blown away. Love at first bite. I became a two hitter at that point and as much as I loved and still love all forms of racing, my main emphasis swung to warbirds at that point for almost 30 years. If you ever want a real immersion in Merlins, the next time you're out near Tehachapi, CA, stop in and talk with Mike Nixon...you think a Merlin pulling 60" is incredible, try 130" in some of his world record race engines.

[@bobwilson758]

Holy smokes … that is the most boost in pressure I think I have ever heard of ! Wow - walking on thin Ice with , what … 4 x atmospheric pressure ? Not under water ! In the combustion chambers - With a internal combustion engine ! Dang guys , this isn’t for a 3 second pass = it is a real race . Ps : love NHRA and its people No rake intended to any racers . Thanks

[@johnjettfothergill4231]

I've always loved the piston engine Second World War fighters, Warbirds, Unlimited Air Racers, and Unlimited Hydroplane Racing. However, I'll play the bad advocate here for a moment. How many irreplaceable Merlin and Allison engines did both of those sports destroy when "stock power" was no longer enough? They may have been "a dime a dozen" in the early 1950s. But today? If you can find one, Yikes!!!

[@franzstigler3200]

I visited this museum a few months ago. I forget the name of the man who guided us but he was incredibly knowledgeable and quite entertaining.

[@bigwhiteslow]

I would love to see more Hydroplane history. Another one that people might love is dragboat history.

[@jamesblair9614]

The Unlimited Hydros, I only ever saw them on TV, but as a kid in the 50’s, I was in love with the sound of the big airplane engines, often sitting up completely exposed, where you could see all the mechanical parts, and that deep growl. The drivers were a special breed.

[@chriswilson8911]

Loved these as a kid and its a shame there is not as much coverage as there used to be.

[@douglasbard5334]

I was lucky to grow up in Detroit in the '60s and '70s. We went to the Gold Cup races at Belle Isle every year we could. The sound of the WWII fighter plane engines, the Allisons, and the Rolls Royces was amazing. Miss Budweiser and Atlas Van Lines were the boats to beat.

[@toddbowne8168]

19:19 This is THE BOAT... WOW. Spent a bit of time around this sport all my life. Great Video guys !!! 206 SEATTLE

[@bobjensen7901]

Thank you for posting this video and visiting the museum. I've been a fan of this sport since the 60's and love to see reactions like yours. I highly recommend checking out the museum event first weekend in Oct.

[@beachball5830]

I am a racing enthusiast and past competitor in m/c and car. Have always been fascinated by unlimited hydro's. This video is to me, one of the most entertaining and informative pieces I have ever seen on You Tube. THANK YOU!

[@Stapleton42]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shanew.williams]

Great video ! Being from Lake Guntersville,i remember,as a little boy, watching "Miss Budweiser" & the Unlimited Hydroplanes that set a world speed record here that stood for YEARS for prop driven boats. Those big engined boats drifting away from the dock, then the puffs of smoke out of each pipe then...Wooooom !

[@handymancon]

I had the opportunity to visit this gem with my son-in-law and it was wonderful. If you are going to Seattle, don't miss this gem. You would think that the boats are the draw, but the people who are keeping this beauty going are the real stars.

[@kennethstrong4409]

Thank you for the kind words. Really glad you had a good time at the museum.

[@jasonanderton3050]

Watched many of these very boats race in the 80’s. So badass that they still exist! Thanks for this content, brought back a bunch of childhood memories.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Jason!

[@troyfly6501]

Ok I’m the pilot you talked to in comments a week or so ago,,,,THIS IS AWSOME! Sooooo many similarities between this and flying! And I love the Allison/Merlin V12’s Keep bringing me these videos!!!

[@PAKiller1]

Wow, I went to every race on the Detroit River from 1970 to 2018, and this may have been the most informative video on hydroplanes I have ever seen.. I have been to the museum twice in Kent Washington and can not say enough about what a great place it is.. not expensive admission and the workers there act like they are very happy that you came to visit and are very informative

[@DonziFreak]

As a current boat racer, it’s really awesome to see this one your channel! Some of these guys were my heroes growing up as a kid! You should do some research on the other hugely influential form of boat racing known as “tunnel boats” (what I race). One of the most winningest drivers in any form of motors is Bill Seebold and he even has one of his boats on display in the museum in Daytona!

[@chriswong1109]

Please have the sound of an OMC KR Johnston Stinger GP or Evinrude Super Strangler if you do a tunnel boat video. Music!

[@HammerPowered]

I remember watching hydro boats racing on TV when I was a kid. I am far more into wheeled stuff than boats - but this stuff is still fascinating. Documenting this history is so important. Looking forward to the engine video.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@TheOGrivrrat]

Awesome video! I watched the hydroplane races growing up with my dad and this was great to learn the history from before I was born.

[@EAusen]

Thank you for doing this video! Lifelong hydro fan from Kirkland, WA. I've lived in AZ for 23 years now and still go back for the Tri-Cities, WA H1 race every year. Following and hoping to see a few more random hydro videos thrown into the mix.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!

[@darold1966]

That is a great museum. And, the older folks that are there every day are a wealth of informaion.

[@HoofHearted801]

I vividly recall being on the shore of Lk Washington for 1981 SeaFair and Bill Muncey, unable to turn the boat out of turn #4 and had to get out of the throttle otherwise he would have ended up on the shore. My first child was 6 weeks old and the temp was 101 degrees, so we were barely in the water to keep her cool. He came to stop a very short distance away from us. Later in my life we raced outboard tunnel hulls as SST 140, SST 120 and Formula 1 including Expo '86 in Vancouver. Seattle area has a robust history of boat racing enthusists.

[@Stapleton42]

That’s wild

[@DaveWrightKB9MNM]

After my parents split, my dad moved to Evansville, IN and I moved there as well. That’s when I first learned about Unlimited Hydroplane racing at the “Thunder on the Ohio”. Bill Muncie, Chip Hanauer, just to name a few. The V12 was still the preferred power plant and the turbine had just made its debut.

[@bobwilson758]

Good time to watch the sport !

[@rhysnolan7458]

My buddy and I from NZ called by that museum a few years back, it's almost unbelievable the enthusiasm from the guys there. I knew about hydros as I did a bit of sponsorship of a couple, but the guys there blew me away.

[@billvose7360]

Here on the East Coast Larry Lauterbach was the go to builder for the unlimited Hydroplanes. His big name one was "Miss Chrysler Crew".

[@bennyhelgeson401]

The Miss Bardahl vs IRS is an eye opener. The program of race engineers speaking to STEM students is great. I am like like you Mitchell I learned by doing or practical application so instead of abstract math problem talk to me about torque etc something I can understand. Thanks Mitchell and Logan

[@Stapleton42]

thank you benny!

[@jazzdirt]

You can see the joy in his eyes talking about those boats... So enjoyable watching someone passionately talking about something he loves..

[@Stapleton42]

I agree!

[@donaldvincent]

Back in the 1980's I was a big fan of this. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Nearby, Up the Ohio River was home to the "Holset Miss Madison" so we always cheered for her. At the time they were still using the Allison V-1710. They were falling behind as Bernie Little and the Miss Budweiser were using turbine engines. Thanks for posting, this bring back a lot of fond memories.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@BobWiersema]

Back in the early 80's I was in Seattle for business and got a chance to see the Allison powered Hydroplanes race. It was truly amazing. The day before the event we walled around and saw all the boats on trailers. Those hydraulic trailers are something else too. Thanks for the tour and the memories. I wonder if I saw any of those now museum boats race back then.

[@TheVegasbud]

I been watching Hydro runs since 1979 . Chip Hanauer baddest dude ever in my opinion drove with some of the old school legends of piston power .Then ushered in the early Hydro years with his aggressive approach on the water . Even his experimental driving with Boeing was awesome , he set a unofficial best qualifying lap testing a diesel hydro and he wasn't even in the race ! If 'm correct Oh Boy Oberto was the last piston power competing against Hydro's it was still the crowds favorite U4 just screaming coming past !

[@Stapleton42]

There’s still a piston powered one competing today!

[@garyw1750]

Thanks for continuing to find the gems of motorsports. If it has a motor, I'll watch it run. Unlimited boats have fascinated me from grade school. Front engines to jets, all amazing. I was unaware of the museum. On my next trip to the area I will be in the building. As always, a great video. Thank you both.

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Gary!

[@bobwilson758]

Hey , Right ! Could not have said it better myself ! I have always been “ eat up with it “ also !

[@billsmith5166]

Intelligent, focused, a great storyteller and he's clearly a kind man. That's a very rare combination of attributes. That 41 minutes flew by. Thanks for the video.

[@atheplummer]

I love your passion for motorsports history, and really appreciate this video. On that note, I wish Howard Pipkorn was still alive, as I would surely appreciate your video documentary of his plight through high performance boat building. He is famous for the brand of small race boats "Hydrostream", High performance V-pad and Modified tunnel designs. I own a piece of his legacy, a 1989 Hydrostream Voyager XT. It's a 6 passenger bow rider, modified tunnel, outboard boat that's only 20' long. I've been able to take this 'family' boat 98MPH with a Johnson 3.0L V-6 outboard, and also with a 3.6L V-8 Evinrude engine. This type of motorsport is the second most adrenaline dumping sport I've ever encountered. First is short track dirt track racing, but that's a story for another day.

[@metrickarma]

Awesome video!! Always love when you investigate new things. You have a true knack for knowing the right questions to ask of people no matter the subject!!

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man. I love it too. It’s like finding a new banger song to blast on repeat by accident 😂

[@TheCrewChief374]

This one should be good, because I will add that back in 2002 I got to finally see Ms. Budweiser parked in front of a auto salvage in Tulsa, Oklahoma on a trailer with a see through side panels. Which by itself was unique an awesome, yet even more so was the fact that the man who my friend at the salvage knew, was the guy who created and owned Ms Budweiser. Which when I first seen it thought it was just a replica or something along those lines, and I was like no way when the friend of mine who owned the salvage explained that this was the guy who started was the main guy with Ms. Budweiser. Sooooo to say I was floored was an understatement, because it was not something I truly expected to ever get to see in my life! Yet I got to see the Ms. Budweiser with the owner which was beyond belief for me to fathom would ever happen!

[@Stapleton42]

You met Bernie Little? Thats freakin awesome

[@TheCrewChief374]

@@Stapleton42 Yes he knew the owner of the auto salvage which was owned by a friend.

[@MX304]

Which Miss Budweiser was it? They raced 22 different hulls between 1963 and 2004. A couple of the last turbine Miss Budweiser hulls are still in use today, although they have been modified. The current U-11 is the old T4 bud hull. The Graham Trucking team has the T5. The T3 and T6 are owned by Scott Bartush. Bernie Little's son, Joe, owns the T2 and one other hull that I can't remember.

[@TheCrewChief374]

@@MX304 All I was told is it was the original Miss Budweiser, because my first thoughts were that it was a replica for show. Yet that turned out not to bw the case from what I was told by Mr. Little himself who was the guy I got to talk to about it, since he was the guy who was talking to my friend who owned the auto salvage. (I was just amazed it wasn't a replica and that I got to have my own experience seeing any Miss Budweiser at all, as I am an all around motorsports enthusiast without a doubt it was a highlight in my life!)

[@loganerwin42]

That’s wild. Tulsa, Oklahoma of all places! Was he passing through?

[@doomman700]

I was a kid 10 years old in 1980. We were in Tn and in a rest area. That U-1 miss Budweiser boat rolled in, on the trailer lifted for highway travel. I ran over and as the driver got out of the rig he handed me a poster of that boat. Great memories and as soon as I saw that U-1 sticking up I knew the boat. Awesome vid Mitchell

[@Stapleton42]

That’s awesome. Hauler drivers were really the first PR guys 😂

[@donfronterhouse4759]

Back 20 years ago,my favorite PS2 game was Hydro-Thunder. It was was , well,a game racing these boats. I loved it and spent days on end playing. It was the end of my video game career. I started out the Pong in the late 1970s and aged out at about 40 in 2005. I'd love to race one of these though, it'd be great!

[@jamesconnors9388]

You totally brought me back to my childhood bud. I remember watching these boats on TV in the 80s. Those boats were insane to watch. Thanks for the trip back in time

[@socalfun64]

Brings back so many memories. Watched on TV as much as it was on.😊

[@davidbaldwin1591]

I don't have time or money to go everywhere, so thank you for making the trip. I've only been to Seattle once. Saw the Museum of Flight by accident. One of the best days of my life so far.

[@Stapleton42]

Thanks man!!

[@WhatHappensIfIDoThis]

I grew up close to Madison, IN & have several friends from there & the races are one of the coolest events i have ever attended!!! The amount of access & how amazing those hydroplanes corner is one of the true joys of racing you will ever experience!!! Thanks for the great video!!!

[@chrisguillen1495]

This history content sure is entertaining. Thank you for filming and posting such great content man. You might not know it but you’re doing future generations a favor, archiving these historic stories. Thank you!

[@Stapleton42]

Thank you Chris

[@rickbullock4331]

My Dad was a fan of hydroplane boat racing. He belonged to the Toronto Hydroplane Club in the early 1950’s. The famous Canadian band leader, Guy Lombardo, was big into hydroplane racing back in the day. Very expensive when you get to the Unlimited class of racing.

[@1badhaircut]

Yes Guy Lombardo was all-in … and Don Johnson

[@orhusky]

I grew up in Tacoma Wa. in the 60s and 70s loving the thunder boats on lake Washington. Please please more on this form of Motorsport racing. ❤

[@erikalbertson7483]

It is crazy how much history is in that building ! Occasionally, the unlimited hydroplane races would be broadcast on tv, and I loved the Miss Budweiser boat. It's amazing how big these boats are when you see them tilted up on their trailer. Great video !

[@Stapleton42]

They’re huge!

[@curtismartin2866]

I grew up in Seattle in the 70's. In those days, before professional sports in Seattle, the Races were THE event of the year. I had to chuckle that you said they were "occasionally" on TV. All 3 local TV stations would broadcast the entire day. We'd flip between stations as the pit crews were interviewed. There was always drama as crews raced to get the boats ready for the next heat. Multiple helicopters would be overhead as well. I was introduced to hydroplanes the year that the Bud and the Pak went deck to deck all day and I've been a fan ever since.