The Irishman GP-317

The Irishman GP-317
Past History

This Lauterbach inboard hydroplane was originally built in 1971 as the famous Maryland Miss J-777 for Don Dunnington from Silver Springs, Maryland.

Don was a very colorful personality and won many races in his illustrious career. On August 14, 1971 he set the APBA 7-litre World 5-Mile competition speed record of 82.192 mph at the 32nd National Sweepstakes Regatta in Red Bank, New Jersey.

The following summer in 1972, Don and Maryland Miss won the APBA 7-litre Div. II National High Point Championship.

J-777
Don Dunnington and Maryland Miss
Miami Marine Stadium - 1971

Maryland Miss J-777 at New Martinsville
New Martinsville, West Virginia.
(Driver unknown)

Maryland Miss J-777

Maryland Miss J-777
Happy Hooker J-717
Driven by Don Lustombo

GP-500 Mink driver Jerry Hawley GP-500


	The Mink GP-500 Driven by Jerry Hawley

This boat campaigned through the years as:
1971 Maryland Miss J-777 - Owner/Driver Don Dunnigton
1973 Rudy's Comet II J-777 - Owners: Rudy Gurley & Norm Lauterbach, Driver: Hank Lauterbach
1973 Candy Man J-777 - Owners: Rudy Gurley & Norm Lauterbach Driver: Larry Lauterbach
1973-74 Hooker Too J-717 - Owner: Warren Wilhelm, Driver: Don Lustumbo
1975-76 Happy Hooker Too J-717 - Owner: Warren Wilhelm, Drivers: Don Lustombo, Larry Lauterbach & Andy Miller
1978 The Mink GP-500 - Owner: Joe Less, Drivers: Gerry Hawley, Paul Reid & Joe Gimbrone
1980-85 The Irishman J/GP-317 Owner/Driver Steve Kuhr
1988-91 Tradition CJ/GNH-88 Owner/Driver Pierre Villeneuve

This boat's major accomplishments:
1972 Maryland Miss J-777 - Driver Don Dunnigton - APBA National High Points Champion 7-Ltr. Div. II
1973 Rudy's Comet II - Driver Larry Lauterbach - APBA Nationals 1st place Dayton Hydro Bowl (DSQ illegal carb)
1974 Hooker Too J-717 - Driver Don Lustombo - APBA National Point Champion 7 Ltr. Div. II 22races 8,750 pts.
1975 Happy Hooker Too J-5 - Driver Larry Lauterbach - 1st APBA Summer Nationals Decatur, Ill.

Speed Record:
1971 Maryland Miss J-777 Don Dunnigton set APBA World Competition Speed Record
5 mile lap average 82.192 mph Red Bank, NJ

Tradition GNH-88 driven by Pierre Villeneuve

I purchased Tradition GNH-88 from Owner /Driver Pierre Villeneuve from Quebec City. He campaigned it from 1988 to 1991. After seeing a For Sale ad and then talking with Paul Reid at the 1997 Valleyfield Regatta we traveled to Quebec and after a spirited discussion in French/English the deal was made. Pierre V. and Pierre DuPont did a super job rebuilding one of their old race motors and throughout the winter of 1997 got the vintage hydroplane race ready. A few years later, a broken rod beached us and we since have rebuilt the motor with a Modified 1971 Chevy 427 Tall Deck 427 ci/625 hp with Ross pistons, Oliver billet rods, Crane roller cam, roller rockers, stud gridle, Vertex mag., L-88 corvette aluminum heads ported by Sagretti, Edelbrock "Torquer II" manifold with 600 c.f.m. Holley 4 bbl carb.

After researching the hydroplanes previous racing history and colorful owners background, I decided to restore the hull as Steve Kuhr's Irishman GP-317.

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