Cumon Baby I

Cumon Baby 15-A

The hydro on this webpage was the first Cumon Baby hull built by Frank Neely in 1951.

Cumon Baby 15-A
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Early 1950s - Photo credit to Charles Marshall

Cumon Baby 15-A
Salton Sea, California 1952

Notice the pointed bow and narrow transom with the wide flared out non-trips.

Cumon Baby 15-A
Salton Sea, California 1953

This boat set the Mile Straightaway Speed Record on October 19, 1953
by Duane Allen @ 101.254 mph at Salton Sea, California.
Cumon Baby I was the second 135 ci hydro to break the 100 mph mark.

Thanks to Will Neely (Frank's son) for providing the document.

Mile Straightaway Speed Record
Cumon Baby 15-A

Frank Neely built his next hydroplane - Cumon Baby ll incorporating many of the better features of the original.
That webpage can be seen here.

Here are some later campaigns after Frank sold the hydro.

Cumon Baby I was sold to S.F. (Frank) Steed of Tyler, Texas who renamed it Tex A-6 in 1955.

Tex A-6

Mr. Steed then sold Tex A-6 to Lt. Col. Warner Gardner and he campaigned the hydro as Glo Gal A-3

A-3 Glo Gal
Columbus, Ohio 1960
Col. Warner Gardner - Owner/Driver
Phil Kunz photo

This one of a kind hydro was last seen in the Detroit area in 1962.
Photo credit - Mr. Phil Kunz
(Click here to see the "Wanted Poster" on Mr. Kunz's website).

Any info on the whereabouts of this hydro would be appreciated.