SEATTLE (Special) - David Heerensperger, President of Pay 'n Pak Stores, Inc., announced here today that he has temporarily retired the trimaran Pride of Pay 'n Pak unlimited hydroplane due to a structural weakness discovered in the hull, and replace it with a new thunderboat purchased this week from Les Staudacher, Kawkawlin, Michigan builder.
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| The Pride of Pay 'n Pak |
The new hydro, which retains the name Pride of Pay 'n Pak, will also sport the team's Indian red, gold and black colors and U-25 racing number when it debuts in the APBA Gold Cup Race, September 28 at San Diego, California.
Tommy Fults, 1968 rookie-of-the-year in hydro racing, continues as the driver with Jack Cochrane crew chief, Heerensperger said.
"A thorough inspection of the present hull this week determined that one of the spars connecting the hull to the outrigger sponson has a severe head crack and must be replaced. Since there is not enough time to completely tear the hull down, fix and test it before the Gold Cup, I decided to temporarily retire the outrigger boat and buy a new racer, even if it's just for one race," Heerensperger stated.
The Pride of Pay 'n Pak outrigger hydroplane, a radical new development, did not realize its predicted potential on the hydro circuit this season. Its principal problem was one of dragging too much boat in the water. The crew made many modifications attempting to correct the fault. Nothing worked sufficiently, although all help alleviate it to a degree.