The Joe Guess 266 cubic inch vintage hydroplane that was owned &
restored by Tom D’Eath of Bradenton, FL.
The hydroplane's restoration was finished in the spring of 2003 by
Tom D’Eath, three time APBA Unlimited Gold Cup Winner, 1998 APBA Honor
Squadron Inductee, 2000 Hall of Fame, and former chairman of APBA Vintage
& Historic Division.
RECORDS
12/27/56 Hollywood, FL Sid Street Z Z Zip DeSoto/Guess 132.600
12/29/58 Miami, FL Sid Street Z Z Zip DeSoto/Guess 146.945
01/31/69 St. Petersburg, FL Gordie Reed Iroquois Chief DeSoto/Guess
148.638
After many years of trying, I have been able to purchase the Z-Z-ZIP
from Carl Schmidli of North Tonawanda, NY. Carl stored this 1955 Joe Guess
raceboat in his polebarn for the last 20 years. He bought the Z-Z-ZIP from
Gordie Reed, with the intentions of racing it, but that never happened.
To my surprise, the boat was kept in beautiful condition. Thanks to her
previous owners, Al Brinkman, Gordie Reed and especially Carl. To me the
most remarkable aspect is that all the original parts are there and intact.
Including the Hi-J record holding propeller, the original aluminum cowlings,
and the record setting Clay Smith, Bobby Sykes, Sr. and Keith Black DeSoto
crossram fuel injected V-8 engine with a Wilber Houghton custom built gearbox.
Would you believe that even Sid Street’s aluminum paddle was still in the
cockpit!
In the hot 266 hydro class from 1956 to 1971, the King of Speed in
a straight line was the Z-Z-Zip/Iroquois Chief.
The boat was designed and built by Joe Guess of California. Powered
by a Bobby Sykes’ DeSoto engine. The first owner/driver and brain trust
behind this package was Sid Street, the legendary racer of Kansas City,
MO. Sid Street was responsible for two of the boat’s three records. The
first one being set in Hollywood, Florida on December 27, 1956 at 132.600
mph. The second and most noteworthy, quite a milestone, was set on December
29, 1958 at an astonishing speed of 146.945 mph.
The Z-Z-ZIP was sold and became Al Brinkman’s SEA BISCUIT.
It was then sold again and renamed IROQUOIS CHIEF by Gordy Reed
who drove it to a speed of 148 mph, retiring the old 266 class record.
Bobby Sykes went on to work for renowned engine builder Keith Black. Subsequently
he was hired by old boat racing friend Bill Stroppe (in ‘47 Stroppe drove
the 225 MISS ART HALL) where Sykes built engines for NASCAR racers.
In all, Joe Guess built 4 hulls. All different from any other design and
there were all very fast.
The next 3 photos were taken by Phil Kunz
in Columbus, Ohio on the Scioto River, June
14, 2003.
First time in the water in more than 30 years!
Z-Z-Zip
Biographical
©2003 Tom D'Eath
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