Roadrunner Y-88

Art McDougall's
ROAD RUNNER Y-88

Art McDougall's original **Roadrunner**.
This was his first, built from Ingram plans. The picture is from Charles Marshall who for many years was Treasurer for Region 3. Art believes it goes back to '54 or '55, "judging from the pristine condition of the Mahogany decks and the red tipped exhaust". Art's first race was St. Michaels, Maryland in 1954.
Photo submitted by Bob Jones


Art McDougall raced several 48 ci and 850 cc hydros from 1954 to 1976. The next ROAD RUNNER Y-88 was built by Henry Lauterbach, probably during the winter season of 1955 -1956. It was one of two sister hulls built at the same time. One was bought by the great Frederick C. "Doc" Moor and the other was bought by Buddy Cox. The earliest photo I have of either boat was taken by my wife, Grace, at a regatta in Norfolk, Virginia on July 4, 1959. It shows Buddy Cox in Y-100, leading Doc Moor in Y-1.

At the time I was chasing both of them, well back in my first 48 hydro, Y-88, built from Kenny Ingram plans and first raced in 1954. This picture shows the Ingram. Over my 22 years of campaigning the Y class boats, I have owned several different manufacturer's hulls, but always wanted a Lauterbach hull. When Doc Moor decided to switch to a Ron Jones cabover for the 1961 season, he sold me his well worn Lauterbach, Southern Air Y-1.

I drove to Doc's home to pick up the hull, installed my own Crosley engine, and went to the February, 1961 regatta at St. Petersburg and won the 2nd elimination heat and took 3rd place in the final. This picture shows the Lauterbach at St. Petersburg still with the name Southern Air and Doc's Y-1 decal on the fore deck. When Doc owned it, the name was Southern Air and either Y-1 or Y-17 depending on his High Point status. After St. Petersburg, the boat was taken back home to Alexandria, Virginia where a major rebuild was done before starting the 1961 racing beginning in May. Since this was in the middle of winter, the boat was brought into our living room where a new bottom was installed along with several broken frames and finished in time for a very busy racing season. We raced almost every weekend at regattas in Md., Va., NC, Del., Pa., N.J., W.Va., Ohio and N.Y. until the end of racing season in the north about the middle of October.

During this period Doc and I waged a spirited battle for high points. When my season would normally have concluded, racing still continued in Miami, Doc's back yard. Since we were neck and neck in point totals, it became necessary to make an additional 7 trips to Miami to finally come out ahead for the year. As a result, I ended the 1961 year with a total of 35 races entered, 10565 points, only a few points more than Doc Moor.

For this performance I was inducted into the Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame, and garnered the APBA High Point Decal and use of the Y-1 boat number during the 1962 year. The year 1962 also went well and I was able to again obtain the high point award, although with fewer races attended. For the second year, I was inducted into the Hall of Fame. After two years of intensive racing, I made no further attempt to gain the high point award, reverting to a reduced schedule when we moved to Orlando, FL. This photo is Grace and I and our feet on the Y-88, while waiting for our heat to start was at a race in Sarasota, Florida.


This racing hull, when owned by Doc Moor, was the one he used so successfully between 1957 and 1961 during which he won several high point awards and National Championships. He also set the straightaway speed record and competition record in 1959 with this hull. It was for all these reasons that I was so happy to buy his record breaking hull and be able to compete successfully with him until he switched to the Sunbeam Imp engine and fully developed it's racing potential. This photo is about 1973.


Stuart Sailfish Regatta 1969

The only engine used seriously by me was the Crosley. I had, over the years, experimented with a SAAB 3 cylinder 2 cycle car engine, a Triumph twin 650 cc motorcycle engine, and a 3 cylinder Evinrude outboard engine as possible replacements for the aging Crosleys with only marginal success. I think I was at least partially responsible for Doc's introduction of the Sunbeam Imp engine as the accepted replacement for the Crosley engine in later years of Y class racing. I found it increasingly difficult to be competitive with the Crosley, so after 22 years, I decided to retire from hydroplane racing. Eventually the boredom drove me to radio controlled powered model boat racing, where I was very active for another 22 years.

1963
Pasquotank River Yacht Club Race Program

1958 July 6

Art McDougall
April 1943
Naval Architect

Art & Maggie

Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame

The above 9 scans provided by James & Joy Miller.

ROAD RUNNER Y-88 is now owned and was restored by Ray Maloney. A webpage on this website features the restoration efforts of this hull soon with thanks to brother, Steve Maloney. Ray also owns and restored Go Go Girl E-42, and another 48 ci class, Aimless Lady. Brother Steve owns Little Big Man Y-52.

Click here to see the restoration of Road Runner Y-88 boats.
Click to see a R/C Model of ROAD RUNNER Y-88 by Bill Clark and Hap Mulvaney

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