Owner/driver Bill
Fisk and his first exciting drive (130+ mph)
in a Grand Prix
hydroplane at Valleyfield in July of 1998.
Steve Kuhr, driving
the new cabover Irishman GNH-317, flying side by side with me driving my
vintage Irishman GP-317.
The
"Vintage
Irishman" and the "Original Irishman" side by side in the
pits at Dayton
photo
by Judy Fisk
Getting
Ready to run at the 98 Clayton Raceboat Regatta
.................................photo
by Bob Silva...............................
Bill
and a little "Air Time" with "The Irishman"
Clayton
Raceboat Regatta
photo
by Phil Kunz
Bill
on the back straight with Buddy Byers in " Chrysler Queen"
Clayton
Raceboat Regatta 1998
photo
by Phil Kunz
Bill
side by side with Bob Larimore's old "Heavy Duty" owned and driven by Bill
Wynn.
Clayton
Raceboat Regatta 98
photo
by Phil Kunz
Madison
Unlimited Governor's Cup 98.
Denny
Lemm put us in a great pit location between the "Miss Madison" & the
"Bud"
Here's
the hard working "Crew" Bill and Judy along with Chuck Holmes at the 98
Madison Regatta.
What
a pit location !!!
Missing
were Jim & Jon Orbanek.
Carl
Joshlin watches "The Irishman" fly over the "Budweiser".
Carl's
been with Bernie Little since the early 60's and gave
Judy
and I a great tour of the Bud transporters. Thanks Carl !!
Getting
ready for my run at Madison.
This
shot was taken just after the "Bud" flew over me and I got to check out
an unlimiteds bottom.
Hey,
how about it I'm in front of the "Budweiser".
"The
Irishman" coming down the front straight just after running under the Madison
bridge.
As
you can tell by the opening picture on this web page Mark Evans driver
of the Pico unlimited really liked the looks of "The Irishman" on the course.
He
gave us a hand loading the hydro back on the trailer, then tried out my
drivers seat. GREAT GUY !! Thanks for showing the interest Mark.
Bill
after running "The Irishman" at Madison
with
Mark Evans driver "Pico" U-100 unlimited
Vintage
Lauterbach hydros at Crystal Lake in Redwood NY Oct. 98.
Floyd
Waterson made arrangements with the Fishers Landing Racing Club (FLRC)
to run the Vintage Inboards in the morning as part of their Stock Outboard
event.
Once
the sun came out and melted the ice everyone had some great water time.
"The
Irishman" passing some cottages on the back straight at Crystal Lake around
115 mph.
photo
by Judy Fisk
"The
Irishman" powering through the second turn at Crystal Lake.
photo
by Judy Fisk
Vintage
Inboard Hydro group after a fantastic weekend at Crystal Lake NY 1998.
Getting ready to
take Irishman out for some fun!
Photo
by Christian Bergeron at Valleyfield in 1998.
Bill's
1st GP run in "The Irishman" at the 1998 Regates de Valleyfield.
photo
by F.Peirce Williams
Bill
with his best friend and full time "Crew Chief" Judy in the Vintage display
area at Valleyfield, Quebec.
This
was the beginning of a great summer full of "fast boats" and meeting great
"fast boat people".
"The
Irishman" ran fantastic all season and we're looking forward to more super
"fast boat" experiences.
Hey,
just mention you saw this web site and you can try the driver's seat on
for size at the next race. Bring your camera !!!
Bill
running over 130 mph in the "no wake" zone.
1998
Dayton Hydrobowl
photo
by Judy Fisk
Bill
trying out the drivers seat in "Slo-mo-shun" U-37 unlimited.
1995
Lake Tahoe Boat Show
Bob
Schroeder driving the "WILDROOT CHARLIE" U-54 in Buffalo NY on the Niagra
River
Photo
from Pete Hackett
"Miss
AMERICA VII" U-14 RUNS AGAIN
Owners
Jeff & Barb Magnuson
ENJOY
, WE SURE DID !!!
Thanks
Jeff & Barb
Photos
taken by Bill Fisk Hammondsport NY 7/99
I enjoy anything that can be raced and
goes fast. My racing career began in Microds at age 9 when I became to
old and had to retired at 13. After High School , College and 4 years in
the Air Force it was back to racing. First on 2 wheels Motocross and a
little Flatrack motorcycles, then after getting run over a few times I
got into Sprint Karts. I am a past Avon N.Y.Track and Cam Am Champion in
IKF, racing single and twin engine Karts. Next step was into Enduro or
roadracing with Coyote Products from Spencerport N.Y. I spent 6 years racing
on all the major tracks on the east coast from Watkins Glen to Daytona.
It was competition in WKA at its best with high speeds (115 ) racing for
trophys and I've got a room full to prove it. In 1978 was the highlight
of my Karting career when I won the WKA Open Heavy National Point Championship.
Next after a major crash at Mid Ohio (but I was in the lead) Judy and I
got into boating. First it was for recreation, then we saw an Antique Boat
Show in Clayton N.Y. in 1982 and we were hooked. Wooden boat collecting
has been our hobby since and we've enjoyed many unique experiences. Then
in 1991 John Clark started talking about a Raceboat Regatta of Vintage
Raceboats in Clayton sometime in 1992. Well, I was ready for a little more
speed and the pictures on this web page are the results.
If you can supply any information or pictures
of these Raceboats
Blue-Bye-U SK-421
1964 Glen-L 17'
Flatbottom
Powered by a 421
Super Duty Pontiac thru a Halibrand V-Drive
Bill & Judy
running Fly-bys at the 1994 Clayton Raceboat Regatta
Photo by Karine
N. Rodengen
Tradition GNH-88
Owner/Driver Pierre
Villeneuve
"Budget Buster"
A-33 & E-30
Drivers Ray Lynn
Jr. & Sr.
Built 1962 by Harold
Ruark
powered by a Buick
V-8
Ray Lynn Sr. running
as E-30 won the 1970 Red Bank National Sweepstakes Trophy in this hull.
Doc's Rocket
A-47
Dayton 1972
Owner Rudy Gurley
Driver Doc. Davis
Came To Play
A-150
Clayton Raceboat
Regatta 1992
Owner/Driver Bill
Fisk
" DIXIE BABY " I
- 32
1926 MSVPBA 725
Class
Stepped V-Drive
Hydro Powered by a 725 "Hisso"
Original Owner L.A.Layne
"The Houston Wildcat"
Winner "Webb Trophy"
and the 1928 "Richfield Oil Cup"
Presented to Layne
by Charles Lindbergh
| Coming back into
the pits after a few laps out on the course. The Irishman lost a
piston/rod in Sept. 1999 in Toronto during an exhibition run. But all was
not lost as that's how my vintage hydroplane ended up being used as a pit
prop in the Miss Madison movie. I was then able to spend time working
as a crew member on the movie, helping out with the unlimited vintage hydroplanes
featured in the movie. In the off season, we rebuilt a 427 Chevrolet motor
for the hull. The engine block started out as a stock bore Tall Deck that
a local drag racer was going to build into a blower motor. The block was
overbored .030", Oliver billet rods, Ross forged pistons, full roller
Isky cam kit, and lots of dollars. The engine ended up at around 625 hp
which really keeps my reflexes sharp when I hit the GO pedal. |
 |
 |
Throughout the summers,
my crew chief
Judy and I have
a blast traveling and running the hydroplane at:
Detroit Gold
Cup - Detroit, Michigan
Hydro Bowl
- Dayton, Ohio
Antique Raceboat
Regatta - Clayton, New York
Madison Governor's
Cup - Madison, Indiana
Crystal Lake
and Buffalo Classic Boat shows in New York
GP America
- Tonawanda, New York
Wine Country
Antique Boat Show
National Offshore
Race - Toronto, Ontario
Regates de Valleyfield
- Valleyfield, Quebec |
For display &
promotional information contact:
Bill Fisk - Williamson,
New York phone (315) 589-8242
See you at the next
Raceboat Regatta!
© Bill
Fisk
|
