Vintage Race Boat Shop

  We maintain vintage wooden boats.

 

APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit

 

Our first APBA sanctioned vintage race boat regatta was at Clayton, New York in 1992, where we got a chance to run our beloved vintage race boats on an actual race course, running some pretty hot laps. Since then, in the spirit of Gar Wood and Orlin Johnson, we have run our beloved Gar Wood Speedster Obsession on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit. Like vintage car racing, there are actually people out there who run their vintage race boats on APBA (American Power Boat Association) sanctioned race courses, and participate in a very active APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit.

Click here for our complete 2009 Schedule

These vintage regattas are run under the rules and regulations of the Vintage & Historic Division of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) and Tom Bertolini is our Chairman. This is pretty serious stuff, complete with surveyed race courses, safety inspections, drivers meetings, crane launching and demonstration heats usually of 5 or 6 laps. We do have fun, but safety is our main concern, and our APBA Vintage & Historic Division has a great record of running safe events.

APBA V&H Division

Lots & lots of photos

Details - Wolfeboro 2009

Recap & Photos - Wolfeboro 2007

For the past eight years, we have been “on the road” promoting, supporting and participating in at least six APBA vintage regattas every summer. Lots of fun, but also lots of expenses with the many miles, lodging and way too many days away from our shop. So this year we are trying to balance our road trips with local ACBS events, and this summer we are planning to participate at three APBA events - Detroit, Rideau Ferry and Wolfeboro.

Detroit APBA Gold Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Regatta - July 10-12, 2009

Tom Bertolini and Joe Schulte are hard at work, planning for this summer's Detroit APBA Gold Cup. This is perhaps the most exciting event on our vintage circuit - as we get to run with the big dogs - the unlimited hydroplanes. In addition to the spectacular Unlimited Hydroplanes, this is also a very large gathering of beautiful vintage race boats, including 3-point hydroplanes, Jersey Speed Skiffs, Gold Cup fast steppers, and fire breathing grand prix hydros. The vintage boats will on display all weekend, and will also ran demonstration heats on the historic Detroit Gold Cup race course. This year, we will again be located in the "Piston Park" area, close to the start/finish line, and the logistics will again be just superb - thanks to the event organizers. We will have lots of space,  3 cranes for just our vintage boats, and over 100 feet of good docking on the water. The boats will be crane launched, and the docks will be so long that we will be able to pre-stage our vintage heats at the dock. The boats will all be released all at once, great fun and very dramatic, especially on heats with over 8 race boats !!!

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Rideau Ferry Regatta - August 14-16, 2009

The Rideau Ferry Yacht Club invites you to come and join them in celebrating their 100th Anniversary this summer. Once again the R.F.Y.C. will be hosting the traditional race boat regatta that has entertained spectators for generations. Although the first regattas at Rideau Ferry date back as far as 1897, the Rideau Ferry Yacht Club was officially formed as the regatta organizers in 1909. Over the past 100 years the club has hosted some of the largest and exciting international race boat regattas in Eastern Canada. The 2007 regatta was reminiscent of the good old days back in the 50’sand 60’s. Many APBA Vintage inboard race boats joined in, as well as some top notch competitive CBF outboard race boats from both Canada and the USA. Over two thousand people attended the event by land and water, with feedback being very positive from local residents, tourists & participants who were newly introduced to the Rideau Lakes Region. This year’s regatta will be held on the August 15th & 16th weekend at the RVCA Conservation Area in Rideau Ferry, and promises to be as entertaining as ever. We have some of very historic Vintage Grand Prix hydroplanes in the line up this year plus many other exiting inboard and outboard race boats classes.

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Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta - Sept 16-19, 2009

The past will come alive as some of the best known race boats of bygone eras return to Wolfeboro, for our sixth Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta. Wolfeboro is now a major stop on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit, and this summer's regatta expands to 4 full days, and includes 70 Vintage race boats running demonstration laps on a 1 mile oval course, on beautiful Wolfeboro Bay. In addition to seeing and hearing these unique and beautiful boats run, spectators are invited to view them close-up in the pit area, at the Town Docks between 9 and 4, on both Friday and Saturday. This year our Wolfeboro vintage event is scheduled for the weekend after Buffalo, and as many of you know, our Wolfeboro vintage regatta is held every other year, alternating with Clayton, and we are becoming well known for our "flat water" and lots of water time. In fact, we run vintage heats every half hour for two full days. So if you wanna see lots of vintage race boats running at speed, you just gotta come to Wolfeboro in 2009!!!

Click here for a complete recap and lots of photos

 

 

ACBS Vintage Events

 

Since 1979, we have also been active members, supporters and promoters of our New England Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, where we continue to maintain our chapter Website, and are quite active participating at ACBS events here on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee. This summer we are planning to participate at three local ACBS events - our Spring Romp, 36th Annual Boat Show, and our Fall Foliage Cruise.

Click here for our ACBS Website

Click here for our complete 2009 Schedule

Click here for lots of photos

 

Spring Romp & Spring Gathering - June 13, 2009

This is a Spring gathering of our ACBS membership, and a celebration of our beautiful wooden boats. The afternoon begins with a Spring Romp, meeting at the Wolfeboro public docks at 1 PM for a scenic cruise. The route will depend on weather and water conditions. After our Spring Romp, we will gather at the home of Charlie & Ilona Train for a cocktail party, live music and a catered dinner. Lots of good friends, music, and of course lots of food and drink.

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36th Annual Boat Show - July 25, 2009

Our annual Antique & Classic Boat Show at the Meredith public docks is a huge gathering of beautiful antique and classic wooden boats, with large crowds and over 80 vintage wooden boats on display all day in a judged competition. This is quite a sight to behold, and for a special treat get to the docks early on Saturday morning to watch and listen as the vintage boats arrive under their own power - no trailer queens here. The sights and sounds are magnificent, and to get an idea of the magnitude of this gathering of wooden boats, please take a moment to view our photo album from last year's ACBS Meredith Boat Show.

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Fall Foliage Cruise - October 10, 2009

George Johnson started this tradition years ago, and now Charlie Train has stepped up to to revive our annual trek. This is a Fall gathering of our ACBS membership, and a celebration of our beautiful wooden boats. Those of you that live along the route are welcomed to join our entourage along the way to Center Harbor. After brunch we will take a scenic cruise up to Greens Basin at the northern tip of the lake, and then return home to Wolfeboro.

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That's our plan for a summer of fun - three events on the APBA Vintage Race Boat Circuit, and three ACBS vintage events here on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee ???!!!

And here are some related vintage race boat links:

   

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