I did get to talk to Annie Johnston a few times and she told me that her and the kids would tow the boat behind their station wagon to the different race sites and Dr. Johnston would fly out after work on Fridays. They went as far as Miami Marine Stadium and Lake Tonawanda, New York. Sometimes he would be the race doctor at these events. Some of the older racers here in the northwest have all told me of an incident that happened at Dr. Johnston's last race.
 
 

 
The race chairman had notified all the drivers to stay clear of the start finish or have their drivers status revoked. Doc Johnston figured that this was his last race anyway, he might as well have some fun. They say that he went past the official dock real close and at about 150 mph, washing everyone down with spray. 

The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Seattle has a movie about Hydro racing in Region 10 from the 60's and 70's. Annies Dodge II is shown racing several different times in that film. Someone stood on shore at most of the races and got a clip of every boat that went by. I even found myself racing my brother's 280 at Greenlake in Seattle. Dr. Johnston drove her for years and sometimes had his good friend Bill Muncey light up the lake with her. 
 
 

A photo on the original Annies Dodge I.

 
Restoration and Presentation

Annies Dodge 2 is 21' 8" long and 8' 2" wide. It's my guess that it is of Jones plans. This boat had a 426 blown Hemi when racing and and currently has a  blown 392 Hemi in her now.  I bought the boat in about February of 1996. It did not have a motor. One thing I noticed as I was dismantling the hydro was what I'm sure was a nitrous bottle mounting bracket. She had a hand held fire bottle, so the bracket had to be nitrous. When it came time for a  new motor, my friend had a blown 392 hemi dragster motor just sitting around, and I eventually talked him into selling it to me.   The motor seemed perfect for the restoration project because of the old style 671 blower, aluminum scoop and hard to find Mickey Thompson magnesium valve covers. It also has a matching M/T timing chain cover that I'm told is very rare.    I knew of a young drag racer named Jason Howell that has helped me immensely. He is a master fabricator and owns a nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster. He built 2 new fuel tanks. A new oil pan for the motor. New motor mounts, lined up the motor, and made me a set of short zoomies that are perfect.   The rest of the motor was done at Doug's Racing Stables in Fife, Washington. The motor was completely gone through and new Ross pistons and Brooks rods were installed. This hydro runs on alcohol with a gas assist to start it.    The power is transferred to a Casale up and down gearbox, but gear ratio is unknown at this time. Ron Jones, Sr. was here and recognized that he had built the rudder steering box but did not mention the hull.  I have 1 prop that is a Record 2-blade 12-1/2 x 20-1/2.   I am told she had great shoot speed but did not turn well. After seeing that the skid fin was only about 2-1/2" long, I knew why. I made a new that is about 5 inches deep.   The shaft log has a Jones stamp on it and the strut is unmarked.    Time to flip her over. Thanks for visiting the restoration section. The next section is how she is presented today after the restoration.        Annies Dodge 2 was the featured boat at the 2002 Region 10 winter meeting in Fife, Washington at The Executive Inn. She was front and center and the line was long to sit in the seat and have a picture taken with her.   Annie told me she had some bad times with the trailer and urged me to get rid of it! I have restored it as best I can, but it does need new axles.   Since her debut there, I have been contacted by many race groups to show her and run fly bys with her. I am still searching for more information on this hydroplane.       Inboard racing event, Tastin' & Racin'  at Lake Sammamish in Issaquah, WA. on June 8, 2003.       What a weekend at Pateros, Washinton on the mighty Columbia River! David Kancianich launched his vintage Divison 1, 7 Litre Annies Dodge 2 with Tacoma Inboard Racing Association Commodore Tim Hamilton at the wheel.     There were many vintage drivers in attendance, notably Dale Burneson (Country Girl) and Fred Wright to celebrate Annies Dodge 2 return.     Tim was able to make a few, real exciting, high speed passes around the course both days. On Sunday afternoon, he came in close to the shore at an estimated 140 mph with his right arm held high in the air thrilling the hugh crowd of boat racers and spectators alike with the noise of a full blown 392 Chrysler Hemi and 150 foot roostertail.    What a thrill to see Annies Dodge 2 on the water again! The above 4 photographs were taken by Donna & Jerry Wold, with captions by Randy Wold, at the Pateros Regatta August 2003.    David K sold the Hemi engine and put his flatbottom PS Dodge in Annie. Pateros, Washington 2009