By Jini Dalen
Reprinted from the Tri-City Herald, July 18, 1974
George Henley’s name isn’t even mentioned in the American Power Boat Association listing of major hydroplane race victories through 1973.
Bill Muncey’s wins take up the better part of two pages.
But, said Henley today, “We’re having our fun this year.”
The 37-year-old Eatonville, Wash., driver of the U-1 Pay ‘N Pak after four races is the points leader in the 1974 national standings.
Howie Benns of the Miss Budweiser is just six points behind with 3,894 and the veteran Muncey, Atlas Van Lines, 1750 points behind with 2,144.
This is Henley’s first season in a top-ranked hydro and he’s loving it.
“I feel good in this boat. The crew gives me a lot of confidence - the way they inspect the hull, keep the equipment in shape.”
At first, he said, he had some difficulty getting used to the Pak itself, sitting far back behind the engine, almost under the wing-like stabilizer on the tail.
“But every race I learn a little more so now I’m comfortable,” said Henley, who took the checkered flag at Washington, D.C. and Owensboro, second place at Detroit.
Naturally enough, Henley considers the Budweiser his Championship race Sunday.
“They’ve been giving us a good go-round all year,” he said.
And with the “fan plan,” which pits fast boats against fast boats in preliminary head, “We’ve got to beat the Bud in the qualifying heats to stay on top in the points race,” he said.
But Henley doesn’t foresee a two-boat context.
“I know the Valu-Mart and the Miss U.S. can move. The Lincoln Thrift is capable of taking it. So’s the U-05.
“And it’s gonna be fast.”
Henley, who heads sales, service and promotion for Hamilton Jets, Tacoma, manufacturers of marine propulsion systems, has been racing since 1954, starting with outboards and moving to inboards in the early 60’s.
He was the 225 class National High Points Champion in 1969, then piloting the unlimited Burien Lady in 1970 and switched to the Lincoln Thrift Special one year later.
The soft-spoken father of two got into racing “because I’ve always loved boats - speed boats, fishing boats, charter boats - all kinds of boats.”
And he’s pleased to see a revival in unlimited racing, a sport thought to be dying only a few years ago.
“All the sudden we have good competition,” he said. “This season we have 11 races - that’s good even for limiteds.”
“And there’s lots of new drivers coming up. It makes me feel good to race with them and to be competitive.”
This year, said Henley, the boats are running fast like they’re supposed to. “They’re not breaking up.”
