Sooy Family Photo Album

Double Eagle H-450

Dick & David Sooy
1953

Dick & David Sooy

Double Eagle T-777
Susan Sooy

Double Eagle T-777
Susan Sooy
The above 3 photos are from 1974 - 1976

We all ran boats with the same name. Dad had the 7-litre and Dave ran the 280. I actually had 3 boats in a very short time.
That's what happens when your Dad is a boat builder and somebody wants to buy one. He would sell mine and build me a new and better one.

I was US-1 National High Point Champion in 1976. Dad was also High Point Champion for that year and Dave was #2 in the highly competitive 280 class.
Region 3 awarded us “Family of the Year” instead of the usual “Man of the Year” trophy. That was very special to us. We were living the high life.
Dave was 25 and was working full time with my Dad building hydros and I was 22.
We were old enough to appreciate the talent and dedication of our Dad. Little did we know that our world was about to change.
Dave was killed in his race boat at the Orange Bowl Regatta held at the Miami Marine Stadium in Florida in January of 1977.

Bill Block in Mist Maker E-109

I was visiting with the wife of Bill Block (Ruth) who still lives in Northfield, New Jersey. She said Bill built his boat from a Sooy design with Dick helping him along the way. As most of the racers did, he would work late almost every night in his small garage. As it turns out, Dick & Ceil Sooy and Ruth & Bill Block were friends, even before they were married. They always lived within miles of each other their entire lives. Even though Dick and Bill are both passed, Ruth and Ceil remain best of friends.

Ruth & Bill Block were long time members of the Winding River Boating Association.

Ruth was a score keeper on the starting line and Bill was not only a driver for his own boat and a few others, but was involved with the Safety Boat for Region III.

Cavalier Too E-351 & Mist Maker E-109

Mist Maker E-109 & Vagabond E-103

Ruth told me that after the death of Dave Sooy in his 280 at the Orange Bowl Regatta in 1977 (Dick & Ceil’s son), Bill retired from racing.
Ruth soon followed and retired from score keeping at the Region III and IV races.
I want to thank Ruth for giving me some of her photos.
I told her that I would look forward to sharing her husband's past with the Vintage Hydro folks.
If anyone would like to share a story or would like to give a shout out to Ruth, just let me know, I would be happy to pass it on.
You can contact me, Forrest Elkins at DblEagle2@Verizon.net

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