Belle was built sometime in the early to mid 1950's by Fred Wickens originally as 135 cu in. class hydroplane. 
The boat ran a Ford Flat Head up to 1963 when the class engine change to 150 cu. in. was implemented. 
From then on we ran a Ford Falcon motor with 12:1 aluminum dome pistons, Isky roller cam and three Zenith down draft carburetors. 
This combination produced around 200 HP @ 7800 RPM's.

Accomplishments
1960 - Eastern Divisional Champion & National Champion US-1 (won 16 of 18 races)
  1964 - National Champion
1965 - Second at the Nationals to the Rudy's Comet
 1967 - Second at the Nationals to the LaCuccaracha
1968 - National Champion

1960 - July 3 - Competition Speed Record - Morgan City, Louisianna - 70.094 mph
1960 - Sept. 25 - Competition Speed Record - New Martinsville, West Virgina - 71.034 mph
1960- Oct. 2 - Straightaway Speed Record - Elizabeth City, North Carolina - 86.372 mph
 

July 3, 1960
Morgan City, Louisiana
Competition Speed Record 70.094 MPH
 
 

October 2, 1960
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Kilometer Record 86.372 MPH
 
 

September 25, 1960
New Martinsville, West Virginia
Competition Speed Record 71.034 MPH
 
 

High Point Award
 
 
 

Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame - 1960

Belle A-66
1963
This picture was after the change from the Ford Flat Head to the Falcon engine. 
We built two engines. One was bored to 149 cu in. We had oversized valves and a few other changes. 
The engine that we left at 144 cu in. was actually faster. 
We eventually put a roller cam in the smaller engine and it really came to life. 
We talked about fuel injection, but never tried it.
 

Belle A-66
Nationals - Morgan City, Loisianna 1964
We took first place. The Belle did not have blazing speed down the straightaway, but could turn wide open and on a dime. 
You never had to lift the throttle going into the turn. You never had to "set it up." It sort of acted like a cab over.
When you turned it, it turned. It had a very wide transom which I think helped it to turn like it did. Also, the acceleration was terrific.
 
 

From Boat Racing Magazine 1964

Prior History of Belle
The boat was purchased from S.F. (Frank) Steed of Tyler, Texas by Weldon Ropp of Miami, Florida sometime around 1956 or '57. Mr. Benny Bass bought the boat from Weldon in 1959 but was registered under Mr. E.A. Latarde. My dad, Johnny Landaiche, was offered the ride in 1959. As the story goes, the boat was driven by a man by the name of Red Becker. He was constantly told that he could never beat another local boat by the name of Miss Nehi. My dad had just had a bad accident in a 266 in Biloxi, MS in early 1959 and was almost killed. He said that he was going to quit. Later that year, Mr. Bass asked him if he wanted the seat in the Belle. At that time it was still called the Miami Belle. Mr. Bass had one condition. My Dad was to go out and get a feel for the boat in the first heat. The Miss Nehi won and my Dad placed second. Mr. Bass then told my Dad, that if he could not beat the Miss Nehi in the second heat, he was out of the seat. 
Well, my dad won and the rest is history.

We purchased Belle from 'Frank' Steed who campaigned the boat as Tex A-6 in the late 1950's.
Photo credit - Mr. Charles Marshall
 

Tex A-6
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Photo credit - Mr. Charles Marshall
 

Belle A-66
1965 Nationals - St. Petersburg, Florida
We were the defending champion. Rudy's Comet won and we placed second.
My dad was famous for getting the inside on the start. A couple of boats forced there way between my dad and the Comet. 
(My dad thought that it was planned, but who knows.) Well, at that time the course at St. Pete was a triangle. 
As they came out of the first turn, the Comet was on the inside and my dad was on the outside. They ran neck and neck as they entered the top of the triangle.
The Belle pulled the Comet through the turn and came out on top, but the Comet was faster down the straight.
If memory serves me right, the time on the Comet was 76.503 and the time on the Belle was 75.503.
 

Belle A-66
1966 Eastern Divisionals - Dayton, Ohio
Belle ran second to the Lil Mogul.
Going into the first turn we busted the inside air trap. We could not run the second heat.
 

Belle A-66
1967 Nationals
Guntersville Alabama
Results (from Propeller) - 150 cu in class:
 1st - La Cucaracha
 2nd - Belle
 3rd - Rudy's Comet
 4th - Cumon Baby
 5th - Woody Jr's Special
 

Belle A-66
1968 Nationals
Tonawanda, New York
Belle - National Champion winner
 
 

Belle A-66
1969

 My Dad sold the boat to Gary Fritz in 1969. 
We would very much appreciate any leads to its whereabouts.

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