By Chuck Ashmun
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 1, 1975
George Henley and the Pay 'N Pak, an unbeatable combination in recent weeks, jumped into the lead quickly today as qualifying began for Sunday's Seafair Trophy race.
Henley qualified the Pak at 121.130 miles an hour in what he described as "an experimental trip" around the 2 1⁄2-mile Lake Washington course.
"I'm still trying to find my slot," said Henley. "We'll have to change some things on the boat and try again."
Henley has won the past three races on the unlimited hydroplane circuit this season.
The Hamm's Bear driven by Jerry Bangs, was the first qualifier of the day. Bangs, Seattle attorney, was clocked at 109.090 m.p.h., easily exceeding the qualifying requirement of one lap at 100 m.p.h.
The only other qualifier this morning was Vernors, driven by Bob Miller of Everett, at 104.927.
George Simon, Detroit owner of Miss U.S, said he likes the new hydro course here.
"This course is going to help the turbos, there's no question about it," Simon said. "You're going to see some 130-mile-an hour laps out there, because with the wide turns they won't have to decelerate."
The "turbos" are those boats powered by turbo-charged Allison engines.
The Miss U.S. and its near-twin, Lincoln Thrift, gradually have been changing the unlimited-racing routine from what once was often a two or three boat race into a checkered-flag chase which now may feature as many as a half dozen hydros.
The Miss U.S. driver, Tome D'Eath, likes to run wide. On the new 2 1⁄2-mile Lake Washington layout, he should be able to keep up his momentum in the long, broad corners.
D'Eath and Milner Irvin, Lincoln Thrift throttle-pusher, gave Tri-Cities race fans a side-by-side roostertail show last weekend in the Gold Cup regatta which need edit.
The 2,000-foot turns here should be even more advantageous for the turbos than the 1,200-foot "corner" they negotiated on the Columbia River.
Regardless of which boats have an advantage, few if any will qualify faster than the Weisfield's.
"We've been the fastest qualifier at every race so far this year," said Billy Schumacher, Weisfield's driver. "I don't see any reason to change things now.
"Regardless of how fast you qualify, it will be a new course record with the new course."
And Schumacher wants that record. After setting 10 course records earlier in the season, he missed setting a mark in the Tri-Cities qualifying and now seems to regret that decision.
"Jerry Zuvich is a kind of guy who doesn't like to sit still," added Schumacher. "He's been building two new engines this week." Zuvich is boat manager for the Weisfield's.
Pitter Patter: Ignore those stories you might have heard about feverish activity in the pits last night. Half of the fleet had checked in, but most of the activity was confined to the Budweiser boat shop, where Bernie Little's crew worked on restoring the aging beer wagon. It took on water through a damaged sponson and sank in Pasco . . . Poetry aficionados would not shudder of the felt-pen note scribbled near a small spit on the Lincoln Thrift's hull: "Do not worry, do not fret . . . this is as big as the crack will ever get" . . .
The myth about hydro drivers' glamor and wealth can best be dispelled by describing what Bill Schumacher and Tom Martin did yesterday morning . . . Schumacher was scheduled to start making doughnuts at his father's bakery at 4 a.m. Martin, Shakey's Special driver who owns several pizza outlets said: "That about the same time I got to bet after working on my books." . . . Ron Jones, California boat designer, reportedly has received four firm offers already for new boats next season . . . If you guessed Little, Heerensperger, and Les Rosenberg you've come close enough. Go directly to your Environmental Protection Agency office and pick your tape recording of the Vernors roaring around the course . . . Second prize is two tapes . . .
Speaking of the pollution-control people, Simon, when asked if his driver got lost in the smoke which covered the Columbia after the Miss Shenandoah got hot last weekend, asked" "Do you work for the E.P.A.? . . .
