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| The 1970 Pride of Pay 'N Pak |
The twin-automotive-powered PRIDE OF PAY 'N PAK of 1970 was inspired by the success of the 1969 7-Litre Class hydroplane RECORD-7, which was the first Limited hydro to run a heat at over 100 miles per hour.
The PAK and the RECORD-7 were both Chrysler-powered and featured the classic Ron Jones cabover design, which had been in disfavor since the accident to the cabover MISS BARDAHL at Washington, D.C., in 1966.
PRIDE OF PAY 'N PAK proved to be too heavy to be competitive with automotive power. Perhaps it might have run better if the propeller technology of today had been available then. The best it could do was a fifth at the 1970 Spirit Of Detroit Regatta with Ron Larsen driving.
Repowered with a Rolls-Royce Merlin and converted to a rear-cockpit configuration, PRIDE OF PAY 'N PAK "came alive" in 1971 and won three races with Billy Schumacher driving. The PAK also became the first boat to do a lap of 121 MPH on a 3-mile course (at Seattle). In 1972, it won the President's Cup with Billy Sterett, Jr., driving.
Sold to Bernie Little, the PAK raced for three years as MISS BUDWEISER and won ten races with Dean Chenoweth, Howie Benns, and Mickey Remund as drivers.
Sold to an Australian sportsman after 1975, the boat was renamed simply MISS BUD and won the Australian Griffith Cup in 1976 with Bob Saniga driving.
It is currently back in the United States and is scheduled for restoration by the Hydroplane And Raceboat Museum.
As for Ron Larsen, he achieved more success in the Limited ranks than he did at the Unlimited level. He raced U-boats from 1970 to 1974. His mounts included ATLAS VAN LINES (U-29) and PRIDE OF PAY 'N PAK in 1970, MISS TIMEX in 1971, NOTRE DAME in 1973, and MISS TECHNICOLOR in 1974. His highest finish was a third-place at Phoenix, AZ, in 1974 with MISS TECHNICOLOR.
He was plant manager for Keith Black Racing Engines and helped to develop the 426 cubic inch supercharged Chrysler hemi for use in race boats.
Ron passed away in 2005.