A
conversation with Hank Why and Linda Dabica in the Fall of 2000, led to my volunteering to
maintain the Website for our beloved
NH Boat Museum. I had designed, installed, and managed large
corporate information systems for over 30 years during my professional career,
and as I began to eye semi-retirement, thought it was time to apply some of my
skills to help our local boat Museum.
Then in the Spring of 2002, I finally took the plunge, casting off my career in
corporate America, and starting my new, semi-retirement career with my own
Vintage
Race Boat Shop located here in beautiful Wolfeboro, NH. It was
time to follow my dream and my bliss, working on vintage wooden boats and
maintaining my own, very active vintage Website. I was ready and
well qualified, after 25 years of on-the-job training while owning, rebuilding
and maintaining
my beloved Gar Wood Speedster
Obsession
Boats
and boat racing are in my blood. My grandfather, William Edgar John Sr, was a
naval architect, owned a shipyard in Rye, New York, raced in several inboard
classes, and was inducted into the
APBA's Honor Squadron in 1955. My father,
William Edgar John Jr. raced International-One-Design
sailboats on Long Island Sound where he was Fleet Chairman for many years and
was the first President of the IOD class, based out of the Larchmont Yacht Club
where he was very active. My grandmother was also active in the early days of
power boat racing in this country. She actually drove and won quite a few APBA
boat races, and I have two large trophies that she won in 1914.The picture
to the left is my grandfather's "Sally Ann Jr." a 225 hydroplane
that was the national champion. Also in the photo is my grandfather and
grandmother.
But
alas, my mother moved us kids up to Lake Winnipesaukee when I was very young,
and I spent my early summers at my grandmother's on Governors Island. She had a
Century Coronado with u-shaped dock, canvas cover and electric winch - very
cool. I also worked at the Goodhue Boat Yard in Glendale - on the gas dock - the
best job I ever had. Speaking of landmarks, Tup Goodhue and I played in a rock band
"The Fugitives" and we were the house band at Irwins Winnipesaukee
Gardens during the summers of 1965 and 1966. Tup and John Goodhue
used to race in the marathon water ski races on Lake Winnipesaukee, and I can
remember the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Shows on Paugus Bay and Boat-O-Rama at the
Weirs. These are just some of my memories of Lake Winnipesaukee - that
make it a very special place for me.
Then,
while visiting on vacation during the summer of 1979 - I read a "Jerry
Harper" ad in The Laconia Citizen for a 1948 Gar Wood with a Chrysler Hemi
motor. I went to see the boat and bought it on first sight. My life has not been
the same since. Now I still have my beloved
Obsession,
still trying to make it go faster, and still enjoy giving boat rides, especially
at APBA Vintage Race Boat Regattas. In fact, several years ago at a Detroit Gold Cup Vintage
Event, I gave Tom Pakradooni, current APBA Jersey Speed Skiff national champion,
a ride in my Obsession, and he was telling me stories of my boat when it raced
in the marathon water ski events on Lake Winnipesaukee. What a great boat ride
that was - driving my Gar Wood Speedster on the historic Detroit Gold Cup race course.
And now I have my very own
Vintage Race Boat Shop, happy as a clam, and maintain
this very
active and dynamic Website.
Objectives for our shop Website:
Thank you for taking the time to read
our story, and we hope that you enjoy our shop Website,
for it is a labor of love with our constant/daily updates. Please e-mail your thoughts, comments and
suggestions ???!!!
Bill John
Vintage Race Boat Shop
7 King Street - PO Box 332
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
603-569-5824
John1948@metrocast.net
If you get a
chance, please stop by and join our,
Saturday Morning Gatherings
Some
related vintage race boat links:
Vintage
Race Boat Shop
