Don Starr Photo Album
My dad, Don Starr, was a local television reporter for WFLA channel 8 in St. Petersburg, Florida at the time many of these photos were taken-- mostly around 1963-65 at Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg.  An interview with Guy Lombardo led to an opportunity to drive Lombardo's 280  Tempo Jr. E-13 which was a Charlie Lloyd built hull.  That boat was later sold to local businessman John Barger and renamed Miss Edgewater Beach.  Later, Mr. Barger purchased a 280 Lauterbach hull from Charlie Dunn of Miami.  That boat was badly damaged when dad flipped it.  Dad also flipped a 98 cu in hydro while testing a Ford/Lotus engine.  After two accidents and a few close calls, he decided that nagging racing injuries and a growing family were good reasons to hang up his helmet & lifejacket for good.

Dad passed away in 1993. I was pretty young during his racing career thus my memory is a little fuzzy on some of the details. 
I sure would love to hear from anyone who knew my dad and any interesting stories about him or information regarding the history of the boats he drove. 
His racing years were among the most cherished of his life.


Don Starr, unidentified woman, Guy Lombardo


Don Starr & Tempo Jr. (Lloyd hull) at Guy Lombardo's "Port O'Call" at Tierra Verde, Florida early 60's
 


Tempo Jr.
 
 


Southland Regatta, Lake Maggiore, St. Petersburg, Florida
 
 


Southland Regatta
 
 


Miss Edgewater Beach E- 631 pulling away from the pits at the Southland Regatta
This boat was formerly the Tempo Jr. E-13
 
 


Miss Edgewater at speed
 
 


Turn three at Lake Maggiore
 

The new Miss Edgewater Beach (Lauterbach hull) at Lake Maggiore. 
I think this boat was the former E-71 Hurricane campaigned by Charlie Dunn of Miami,  Florida.
 


New Miss Edgewater Beach
 


Sitting out a starting clock problem
 


Don Starr after his first 1st place finish during a heat at Lake Maggiore.
 
 


Guy Lombardo giving an interview
 
 


Ray Gassner of Sunshine Baby fame, Don Starr & Gardner Gould. 
Gardner campaigned 2 boats in the 280 class in the 60's - Sayonara & Junk-e-nue - hope I got the spellings right Gardner.
 


 
 
 


 
 


This picture was done for the St. Petersburg Times with a camera attached to mount on the bow and triggered by remote control. 
Dad didn't have time to change out of his newscaster duds before taking the boat out so if you look closely, you can see that my dad is wearing a coat & tie beneath his lifejacket-- probably the best dressed driver on the lake that day! 
 


Dad at his regular day job.
 
 

 © Jeff Starr
 

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