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In 1952, spectators jammed the Lake Merritt shoreline by the thousands to view start of the 135 ci Hydroplanes at Oakland's 22nd Annual Fourth of July Regatta. Two of only three California 135s that qualified for the exclusive Gulf 100 MPH Club were a 1949 Canadian Peerless High Point winner, and a future 135 National Champion. Bill Dugranrut of Fresno pumps up the fuel pressure in his RIC-O-SHAY, 25-A, as the 135s slow to avoid "jumping the gun." Bill handmade the beautiful aluminum cowlings for his 1951 built Hallett and did the entire engine work on the Ford V-8 60 as well. At Salton Sea's 1-Mile Trials, Dugranrut's first pass through the traps was a stunning 105 MPH. A slower return run dropped the average to 101.241 MPH, just shy of the 1954 class record but fast enough to join the Century Club. The RIC-O-SHAY was sold to Texan Doc Triplett in 1955. Johnny Corea's SKIPPY, 40-A was often featured in magazine ads for I.E. Debbold Marine Hardware and Champion Boat Plans (despite the fact it was a Hallett hull!). The Dos Palos, CA, driver defeated 23 entries at Guntersville, AL to become 1955 National Class Champion. The boat was sold to Fred Galente in '56, renamed JOEY IV and later was destroyed in a 1965 crash. In 1953 SCREAMING EAGLE II, 6-A was the first to break the century mark for the 135's. On Seattle's Lake Washington, owner/driver William "Buddy" Holloway clocked 100.620 MPH only to lose the record to Fred Neeley's CUMON BABY, 15-A at 101.254, later in the year. However, Holloway did win the distinguished Pop Cooper Memorial Trophy for recording the year's fastest 135-ci hydro Competition Five-Mile heat. Piloting a new Hallett hull for 1954 and running an Arvel Lankford built V8-60 in SCREAMING EAGLE IV, Buddy reclaimed the record at Salton Sea with an average of 101.373 (retiring the record when class upped cu.in. to 150). During the 1955 Seafair Regatta, the boat was seriously damaged, and Holloway "knocked cold," when it shed both sponsons at 90+ MPH. |
