Norfolk's Curtis Estes highlights a strong 280 cubic-inch hydroplane contingent entered in the Hampton Cup Regatta Saturday and Sunday at Mill Creek. The amiable insurance agent captured top racing honors at the same Hampton Regatta a year ago.
Estes achieved national prominence in his second year of hydroplane competition. He was the 1961 National High Point champion. The following year Estes accomplished an unprecedented feat by taking first place in every race that he completed, including the National Championships held at Guntersville, Al., and eventually became the high point champion for the second straight year. Skippering his old Wa Wa, a 266 cubic-inch hydro, he snapped the World's Competition record in the same year and was elected to the Hydroplane Hall of Fame in 1961-1962. In November 1962, while attempting to establish a world straightaway Record in Norristown, Pa., he was involved in an accident. The Norfolk pilot sustained 17 broken bones, punctured lung, and a rather severe brain concussion. As a result Estes was inactive in racing for several years. He returned with his new Miss Norfolk and was last year's high point winner. When asked of the Hampton Regatta, Estes stated, "It is an excellent course with ideal spectator conditions." "I feel that I can place the top three again this year," Estes said while explaining his boat's chances in the two-day affair. Richmond's Frank Farmer and Maryland's Les Shoop figure to give Estes a solid battle for the top position. The 48 cubic-inch hydros begin the regatta with a 1p.m. starting time.

HOSE IN NOSE
"The first week was terrible," Curt recalls. "They had an oxygen hose in my nose, needles for glucose in my arm and two tubes in my side to drain blood from my lung." Physicians feared that Estes had suffered a fractured skull and a fractured vertebra in his back as well as other known injuries. The final injury list was bad enough: nine broken ribs (one removed) a broken shoulder and a brain concussion. "The amazing thing," says Curt, "is that there won't be anything permanent. In two months I'll be all right." The rib was removed so that the lung could be repaired. "There are a lot of odd things about all of this," Curt says. "On the last day of September I broke the three bottom ribs when I flipped at Elizabeth City. At Norristown I broke the other nine and didn't hurt the bottom three. They were still taped up from the first flip." The Elizabeth City accident came during a race that Curt won with his 280 cu. in. Hurricane. The boat was demolished and Estes has told it for junk.
The Wa Wa Too is owned by Bill Ritner, a millionaire sportsman from Gladwyn, PA. Estes had raced two seasons for Ritner, who lost an arm in a race several years ago. "Something else that's odd- my wallet. I never take it with me when I'm racing. For one thing it's uncomfortable the way you have to sit in the boat. I had about $360 in the wallet and Norristown was the first time I had ever taken it with me. I lost it- and my watch, too."
 
 
 

SET TO RETIRE 
Estes figures the two accidents have cost him close to $8,000, including hospital and medical expenses and some $4,200 worth of his 280 hydro. It's impossible to total the mental cost on the families of Curt and his wife, Edith. That's one reason why the 35 year old Norfolk resident has all but decided to retire from speedboat racing.
"There's a doggone good possibility that I won't mess with the water any more. There's too much emphasis on the singular in all this. That's wrong. There are a whole lot of people involved." Curt and Edith have two boys, Curtis Jr., 5, and Chuckie, 3. Curt remembers the assistance received from both sides of the family. He realizes, too, that most people will think he's foolish to even consider motorboat racing in the future. But he has his own reasons. "What happened doesn't seem unpleasant now. You don't remember much about it, anyway. For one thing, you don't remember pain. At least you don't remember it vividly. And you sort of forget how serious it was at the time." "I'm interested in engines and the theory behind them- and the fuels. But I'm only interested in them if I can be the one who tries to get the best performance out of them. I'm not interested in building engines and letting someone else drive them. Other people may think that's silly but that's the way I am." 

CAUSE UNKNOWN
Estes says it's impossible to determine what went wrong in either accident. Most spills occur on turns when the speed is reduced. Both of Curt's flips came on the straightaway. "When you reach top speeds, the boat is light. It's practically airborne. It's like an airplane- wants to take off. I just don't know what happened. It could have been a rough spot of water or a puff of wind." "I know one thing. Nobody's ever flipped at 136 miles an hour before and come out of it this well." Ritner telephoned Estes recently and asked if Curt intended to race the Wa Wa next season. "I told him I hadn't decided. If I do decide to race again, it may be cars. I've got a good offer to drive a car. They're pretty doggone safe, you know- safer than your son going out on the football field. There are very few fatalities in stock cars." Curtis has raced stock cars for seven years, motorboats for three. One of his hydro titles this season was won in the Norfolk Inboard Association Regatta. His boat was the Wa Wa. Last Thursday week Curt returned to his job. He is an insurance adjuster and he specializes in bodily injuries.

NORFOLK- Curtis Estes, having his best year in motor boat racing, said today he has been voted into Gulf's Marine Hall of Fame. A relative newcomer to the "rooster-tail" fraternity, Estes was accepted on the basis of outstanding achievement as a motor boat pilot. He will receive his award in New York next month at a Hall of Fame banquet to be held in conjunction with the National Motor Boat Show. This starts in New York Coliseum the weekend of Jan. 12-13-14. Estes, a devotee of revved-up engines, first gave vent to his craving for speed by driving stock automobiles. One year he was Virginia's high point man in the sportsman class. The he turned last year to motor boats. His selection to the Hall of Fame in his second year makes it all that more amazing. Two other area drivers reached the Hall of Fame, Lauterbach and Bob Rowland. Estes drives a 280 cubic inch hydroplane called "Hurricane" and is on the threshold of the National 280 Championship on the basis of a point system. Estes says he has accumulated about 10,000 points. Estes will make the championship official in the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami, FL. the last week of December. That's the final racing event of the year. He will compete first in his own Hurricane to wrap up the national championship, then go for the nine-hour endurance title in a new ski boat designed and constructed by Portsmouth's Henry Lauterbach. The Ford engine in Lauterbachs craft will turn up 380 horsepower. Driving "Hurricane" in a myriad of rivers and bays under always changing conditions, Estes proved his right to the Hall of Fame by winning 17 races and finishing runnerup in six others. "Hurricane" at the moment is undergoing a thorough checkup by Estes mechanic and advisor, Ty Bain.