At the season's opener, Schumacher had a close call at the wheel of the Pride of Pay ’n Pak. During the Champion Spark Plug Regatta, on Biscayne Bay at Miami Marine Stadium, the Pak's rudder linkage failed while he was traveling 150 mph, putting the boat into a 360-degree spin directly in front of the stadium. The two-time national driving champion was pitched out of his boat.
"The boat spun all the way around and clipped me on the back of my helmet. I was hospitalized for two weeks and couldn't lift my head," reported Schumacher.
Dean Chenoweth drove the Miss Budweiser to victory.