Vintage Race Boat Shop

  We maintain vintage wooden boats.

 

Tavares CRA Spring Fling Race Boat Regatta

March 18-20, 2011

Recap & Photos ???!!!

 

After many years of wanting to make the Mt Dora/Tavares ACBS boat show and many years of excuses, last year we finally made our first trek south to sunny and warm Florida, and we returned again this year in 2011. We hauled our Jersey Speed Skiff My Precious to participate at both the CRA Spring Fling Regatta and then the Sunnyland ACBS Boat Show the following weekend. The weather was sunny and warm, the vintage race boats were beautiful and fast, and we had a great time. Many thanks to Dick Whyte and the entire CRA crew for a fantastic vintage event. We had a great time and now Tavares in on our annual schedule, so look for our NH Navy again at the Tavares Spring Fling in 2012 - a gathering of good friends and beautiful vintage race boats.

Regatta photos by F. Peirce Williams

 

On March 8th, we pulled My Precious out of winter storage and hauled to the shop to prep for the two day trek to sunny & warm Tavares, Florida. Special attention was focused on the trailer wheel bearings, lights and running gear. After a cold and snowy winter, we were very excited !!!

         

This year, we left Wolfeboro on Sunday morning March 13th and arrived in sunny & warm Florida the next day. The weather was sunny & hot, with temps in the mid 80's at our condo.

         

Many thanks to Tom D'Eath for letting us store our boat for a few days, and then on Friday morning me gathered at Tom's to haul a few blocks to Wooten Park for setup and safety inspections. It was a great day, a reunion of good friends as we staged and prepped our beloved vintage race boats. It was sunny and hot with temps in the mid 80's, and nobody complained !!!

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

       

After a full day of setup, safety inspections, renewing old friendships and fun in the warm Florida sun, we gathered at JJ Fin's for a lively evening of vintage banter, good food and grog.

       

       

       

We got an early start on Saturday morning, prepping for a full day of running hard and fast on the race course. The drivers meeting started promptly at 9 AM with a roll call by Gerri Prusko, a few words by the race director Marty Ferry, vintage rep Tom D'Eath and safety inspector Donnie McLean. Then Mike Yobe explained the course layout, followed by a question/answer session and finally, wrist bands were issued for all drivers and riders. No boats were allowed on the water without a safety inspection sticker and all drivers and riders were checked for the correct wrist bans. Safety is the number one concern at these vintage race boat regattas.

         

         

       

After the mandatory drivers meeting it was time to Rock & Roll, and we ran vintage heats

all day long. It was sunny and hot, the water was flat and we all got a chance to run twice. Everyone behaved, even Jeff Buckley in his Bat Boat and there were no incidents !!!

         

         

        

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

       

Perhaps the highlight of our afternoon, we sold a 283 Chris Craft Marine Motor to hydroplane legend Howie Benns for $1,200 cash and we also agreed to store the motor in our shop until he picks it up at our Wolfeboro Vintage Race Boat Regatta in September !!!

         

After a full day of fun in the hot Florida sun, on Saturday evening we howled at JJ Fin's again with lots of vintage banter, good food and grog. These vintage regattas are really social events, and every regatta is a reunion of good friends, with our beautiful vintage race boats in the background, pulling us together. All are welcomed to come join the fun, with or without a boat.

 

On Sunday morning, after a good night's rest, it was time to Rock & Roll again and we ran vintage heats all day long. It was sunny and hot, the water was flat and we all got a chance to run twice. Everyone behaved, even Jeff Buckley in his Bat Boat and there were no incidents !!!

         

         

         

         

         

       

       

After a second full day of fun in the hot Florida sun, on Sunday afternoon we gathered for our awards ceremonies and a few cold beers. It is important to remember that these vintage regattas are really social events, and every regatta is a reunion and gathering of good friends, with our beautiful vintage race boats in the background, pulling us together. All are welcomed to come join the fun, with or without a boat. After the award ceremonies, we packed up and hauled our Jersey Speed Skiff My Precious back to the Tom D'Eath vintage boat & salvage yard, to be stored until the ACBS Boat Show, the following weekend. We just love this stuff ???!!!

         

         

         

         

    

And many thanks to Dick Whyte and the entire CRA crew for another fantastic vintage event. We had a great time and now Tavares in on our annual schedule, so look for our NH Navy again at Tavares in 2012 !!!

Classic Race Boat Association

Regatta photos by F. Peirce Williams

Tavares Vintage Regatta - 2010

 

Here are some related vintage race boat links:

 

The Vintage Hydroplanes

Classic Race Boat Association

American Power Boat Association

Hydroplane & Race Boat Museum

The Vintage Circuit

Photo Archive of Vintage Events

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