Ron musson hydroplane driver

Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson. Williams, the museums director and author of hydroplane racing in seattle, has been driving unlimited hydroplanes for over a dozen years and was the primary stunt driver for the movie madison. It was established in 1949 to recognize those who have driven a power boat 100 mph or better in apba sanctioned regattas on a course approved for records. Hydroplane legend ron mussons 1965 seafair mustang gt converible. Veteran driver honored at spirit of detroit hydrofest. He was killed in a collision along with driver don wilson of the miss budweiser, during the presidents cup regatta in washington d. Musson likewise took second place in the diamond cup at coeur dalene. As motorboat racing is a dangerous sport, many individuals including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators have been killed in crashes related to the sport, either in a race, in qualifying, in practice or a private testing session. In 47 races entered, musson scored 16 victories, finished second nine times, and third six times. This led to his being named rookieoftheyear by the unlimited racing commission. He is perhaps best remembered for being the first driver in thirty years to win the crown jewel of power boating, the. He was the driver of the u40 miss bardahl unlimited hydroplane. A countdown of the most spectacular crashes ever to happen in unlimited hydroplane racing.

Hydroplane fatalities drivers and crewmen killed during unlimited hydroplane races and testing year driver site 1951 orth mathiot seattle, wa thom whittaker seattle 1961 bob hayward detroit, mi 1966 ron musson washington, d. Thompsons death came just a few weeks after what in powerboat racing history is known as black sunday, when on june 19, 1966, unlimited hydroplane drivers ron. Hydroplane legend ron mussons 1965 seafair mustang gt converible by dave cruikshank november 27, 2012 an annual rite of summer up in seattle is the thunder of unlimited hydroplane racing on lake washington during seafair, a decades old aquatic tradition that includes clowns, pirates, a torchlight parade and some of the fastest boat. Ron musson ron musson hall of fame hydroplane history. The original green dragon set the stage for ron musson and the bardahl team to become one of the legendary hydroplane dynasties in the ensuing years. Bill ritner, who owned the hydroplanes named wawa, used to bring three boats to hampton. Musson was the threetime defending national champion driver of the miss bardahl, and was now driving what was considered a radically designed cabover hull with the engine mounted behind the driver. Miss thriftway was driven in this race by bill muncey and finished sixth overall.

Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson explodes during the presidents cup regatta on the potomac river feet away from exploded plane is yacht where secretary of navy paul nitze. Kpro an apba entry class is the only pro hydroplane class running modified, recreational outboard motors. Ron musson, power boats, class of 1993 between 1959 and 1966, ron musson left an indelible mark of excellence on the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing. Turbines, as a hydroplane power source, were considered in the realm of science fiction at the time. Dead hydroplane racers memorial, coeur dalene, idaho. Photo caption reads new unlimited hydros reported abuilding for this season include 1 a tahoe miss for bill harrah, to be driven by chuck thompson, 2 a notre dame for shirley macdonald, probably to be steered by bill muncey, 3 a gale for gale enterprises, inc.

Betty bostick sifts through the pile of blackandwhite photos and yellowed newspaper clippings, uncovering memories of the golden age of hydroplane racing. He is best known for driving the unlimited hydroplane miss bardahl to. Ron musson lived for highoctane thrills at maximum velocity. The 3ton hydroplane will be placed in the main lobby of the coliseum, where her regular driver, ron musson, will appear each day to explain the sport and answer questions about his boat. Only one unlimited hydroplane driver has been killed since then. The 100 mile per hour club is conducted by the gulf oil corporation. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. During his racing career he won five gold cups and six national high point championships. Black sunday changed hydro racing hydroplane and raceboat. List of fatal accidents in motorboat racing wikipedia. Also in 1981, ron piloted keith trowbridges captran resorts to a fifthplace at san diego, after the scheduled driver steve reynolds had fractured his hand in a motorcycle accident a few days before the race. The hydroplane racer skimmed gracefully over the water like a smooth pebble skipping over a millpond. Individuals had been killed before starting in 1906 and in fact two men had gone to their graves in the 1951 gold cup at seattle, but they were riding in the same boat.

Top 10 most spectacular hydroplane crashes youtube. Miss bardahl, the 1965 san diego champion, set longstanding world speed records on the 3mile mission bay course in 1965 with ron musson driving. Betty was widowed from ron musson, champion hydroplane driver previous to her 38 glorious year marriage to wally bostick. Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson explodes. Ron musson was my favorite hydroplane driver of all time. Earlier in the day ron musson, driver of the miss bardahl had. Betty bostick obituary seattle, wa the seattle times. There was another competitor from new jersey who also brought three boats to hampton, all named jersey devil. Thompsons death came just a few weeks after what in powerboat racing history is known as black sunday, when on june 19, 1966, unlimited hydroplane drivers ron musson miss bardahl, rex. Driver ron musson in the miss bardahl u40 boat races on the water during the gold cup motorboat race on august 26, 1961 in pyramid lake, nevada. One of the most amazing feats in unlimited hydroplane history was performed by ron snyder at lakeoftheozarks, missouri, in 1983. The late ron musson is the 1993 power boating inductee into the motorsports hall of fame of america.

Between 1959 and 1966, ron left an indelible mark of excellence on the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing. Or notre dame, a new boat, with bill muncey, a four. Heat 1c was taken by the radical new frontdrive miss bardahl, piloted by ron musson. One year, famous driver ron musson showed up with boats named chromate, and chromium. Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson explodes during the presidents cup regatta on the potomac river feet away from exploded plane is yacht where secretary of navy paul nitze watching race tail fin bobs in the water race continues into final heat cu boat seven notre dame driven by rex manchester as it moves into finish. Budweiser driver dean chenoweth, miss bardahl driver billy schumacher, designerbuilder jim lucero, pay n pak owner dave heerensperger, and gale team leader and unlimited czar lee schoenith. Miss bardahi to be on display at national motor boat show. Thunder and the glory an era when the hydros reigned.

Some of the sports best drivers, including ron musson, mira slovak and billy schumacher, drove for bardahl. Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson explodes during the presidents cup regatta on the potomac river feet away from exploded plane is yacht where secretary of navy paul nitze watching race tail fin bobs in the water race continues into final heat cu boat seven notre. The hydroplane and raceboat museum in kent, washington, is the only national museum dedicated exclusively to unlimited hydroplane racing. Unlimited hydroplane crashes 1966 black sunday youtube.

Miss bardahl, driven by ron musson, was the winner. He is best known for driving the unlimited hydroplane miss bardahl to three american power boat association gold cup championships in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Hawaii kai iii the pink lady 1958 gold cup champion driver. If i havent done anything else, getting canopies on boats that would allow drivers to survive has been something of a great accomplishment, jones, whose son ron jones jr. Team timeline 19612019 miss madison unlimited hydroplane. Ron is the only driver to pilot three different miss madison hulls in competition between 1976 and 1988. Notre dame, the seattle boat driven by rex manchester, won heat 1b. The hydroplane and raceboat museum is the nations only public museum dedicated solely to powerboat racing. It was the worst day in unlimitedgold cup racing history. Musson could pilot just about any speedboat, and was compelled and propelled to master the biggest and. Miss barhdahl hydroplane boat driven by ron musson explodes during the presidents cup regatta on the potomac river feet away from exploded plane is.

The gold cup, unlimited hydroplane racings kentucky derby, super bowl and indianapolis 500, has had a long history of dramatic confrontations. On august 8, 1965 he became the first driver in 30 years to win three consecutive american power boat association apba gold cups. This changed when ron musson became the driver in 1961. In 1983 the late bob williams founded the unlimited hydroplane hall of fame and museum. Hydroplane staple sandy ross hooked by waves over yonder. Chuck thompson detroit 1967 bill brow tampa, fl 1968 warner gardner. He is perhaps best remembered for being the first driver in 30 years to win the crown jewel of power boating, the apba gold cup, three times.

Jun 30, 2011 also in 1981, ron piloted keith trowbridges captran resorts to a fifthplace at san diego, after the scheduled driver steve reynolds had fractured his hand in a motorcycle accident a few days before the race. Ron snyder of piqua, ohio, became driver of miss madison and placed third in the indiana governors cup. In forty seven races entered, musson scored sixteen victories, finished second nine times, and third six times. The hydroplane museum store 43 followers hydromuseumstore 654 hydromuseumstores feedback score is 654 100.

Musson, 38, was the gold cup winner and unlimited high point winner for the past three years. Mar 08, 2017 only one unlimited hydroplane driver has been killed since then. Hours later, drivers rex manchester and don wilson also died when their boats collided. Her closest rival, miss madison, a boat owned by the 10,000 citizens of madison, ind. Hours later, drivers rex manchester and don wilson also died when. In the tradition of fellow midwesterners bill cantrell, marion cooper, ron musson, buddy byers, jim mccormick, dean chenoweth, and jim kropfeld, ron had made his presence felt in the unlimited classthe thunderboats of the racing world. Price beacon journal staff writer ron musson lived for highoctane thrills at maximum velocity. Legendary hydroplane owner ole bardahl inducted into motorsports.

Black and white film negative of miss thriftway at left, dead in the water, and miss bardahl at right, passing her at the 1963 gold cup race on the detroit river. Drivers and crewmen killed during unlimited hydroplane races and testing. Ron musson, 37, a threetime national driving champion from seattle, was killed when his radicallydesigned new miss bardahl disintegrated at 160 mph. He was the first to install an f16 safety canopy on an unlimited, starting with the miss budweiser and the miss 7. Hours later, drivers rex manchester left and don wilson right also died when their boats collided. It could be miss bardahl, the green and yellow defender, driven by ron musson. If you would like to showcase your vintage hydroplane on our site. Hydroplane staple ross hooked by waves over yonder.

Between 1959 and 1966, ron musson left an indelible mark of excellence on the sport of unlimited hydroplane racing. Musson won two races in 1961, including a world championship. U64 miss vernors unlimited hydroplane, orillia, on 2020. He was the first to install an f16 safety canopy on an unlimited, starting with the miss budweiser and the miss 7eleven in 1986. Here are pictures of seattles legendary ron musson in 1965 proudly holding the gold cup the sports most coveted trophy. For 1965, musson planned to drive a radical new miss bardahl. He is perhaps best remembered for being the first driver in thirty years to win the crown jewel of power boating, the apba gold cup, three times in succession 1963 1964 1965.

The hydronation the saga of ron snyder by fred farley. Jun 17, 2016 ron musson perished in a hydroplane accident on the potomac river. Ron musson perished in a hydroplane accident on the potomac river. South lyon sandy ross has spent his life involved in hydroplane racing and this year is being honored at detroit hydrofest. The saga of ron snyder hydroplane and raceboat museum. Nov 27, 2012 hydroplane legend ron mussons 1965 seafair mustang gt converible by dave cruikshank november 27, 2012 an annual rite of summer up in seattle is the thunder of unlimited hydroplane racing on lake washington during seafair, a decades old aquatic tradition that includes clowns, pirates, a torchlight parade and some of the fastest boat. He was just 16 months old when rex manchester in the notre dame, ron musson in the familyowned miss bardahl and don wilson in the miss budweiser were killed june 19, 1966, during two separate. On june 19, 1966, ron musson center perished in a hydroplane accident on the potomac river. He was just 16 months old when rex manchester in the notre dame, ron musson in the familyowned miss bardahl and don wilson in the miss budweiser were killed.

Hydroplane legend ron mussons 1965 seafair mustang gt. A former resident of akron, ohio, and seattle, washington, musson joins fellow boat racers bill muncey, gar wood, dean chenoweth, and bill cantrell in that distinguished hall, which has its headquarters in novi, michigan. Musson, ron power boats 1993 inductees hall of fame. Entry level classes for the pro series classes are gasolinefueled kpro apba sanctions only and osy. Nov 07, 2010 a countdown of the most spectacular crashes ever to happen in unlimited hydroplane racing. Ron musson, power boats, class of 1993 in forty seven races entered, musson scored sixteen victories, finished second nine times, and third six times.

In assessing the total contribution of ron jones to unlimited hydroplane racing, the many race victories, speed records, and forwardthinking innovations speak for themselves. Both drivers don wilson and rex manchester were killed around 7. Manchesters death marked the third racing fatality of the day. Ross, a former hydroplane constructor, driver, crew member and current racing historian, is the honorary race chairman. For his overall performance throughout 1964, ron won his first national high point driver championship in the unlimiteds. Ron musson died june 19, 1966 was a hydroplane driver from akron, ohio. Driver ron musson in the miss bardahl u40 boat races on the. Mark bardahl manchesters page hydroplane and raceboat.