San Diego, California (Special) —A 16 cylinder revolution made its debut on Mission Bay here May 7. Despite nagging and frustrating last minute problems, the startlingly different hydroplane Pride of Pay 'n Pak wet her full for the first time and caused a cyclone of comments from unlimited hydroplane followers i this sunny community that will be home for the 1970 APBA Gold Cup.
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| The 1970 Pride of Pay 'n Pak. Photo by Roger Newton. |
A scheduled May 6 christening was moved back one day due to a welter of problems which included a boat trailer that wouldn't accept the hull for which it was built, a maddening motor mount problem which consumed five hours and other frustrations, all unexpected but all commonplace when an intricate piece of machinery is involved.
Even after it arrived the Pride of Pay 'n Pak went through pre-christening trauma, with small fuel leaks found around main tanks and an electrical problem disrupting first testing efforts. But at 1:15 p.m. 1970 Gold Cup Queen Sharon Yettra smashed a flagon of champagne on the Pay 'n Pak bow and the first auto-engine, low-profile hydro was in business.
Pay 'n Pak Stores Chairman of the Board Dave Heerensperger, who is APBA owner of record for the boat, was almost as nervous as builder Ron Jones who, in turn, rivaled engine wizard Keith Black in goose pimples. Driver Tommy Fults and crew chief Dan Olsen shared in the butterflies.
Butterflies, however, have a way of disappearing in direct proportion to departure of bugs that complicate the successful debut of a racing machine into competition.
One thing was for sure in San Diego. The new Pride of Pay 'n Pak caused a lot of "gee whiz" type of admiration among onlookers. Throw out any preconceived notions about how a hydro looks. The Pay 'n Pak for all its 28 feet 6 inches in length, looks short and wide -- and formidable. Her two Chrysler Hemi engines squad behind driver Fults, who sits at the rear of a pickle-fork nose section.
The Pay 'n Pak tail fin is a classic jet design -- much like a 707 tail. And, though her profile is low, she looks thick and tough and strong.
Her maiden appearance at San Diego was in construction colors. Only the tail fin was painted in the luminescent gold that will be a principal color. The rest of the boat was in plain raiment. When completed, the Pay 'n Pak will be gold and orange and will be one of the most colorful of the thunderboat fleet.
"We think we've found most of our pre-launching bugs," said owner Heerensperger, continuing "just getting the boat on the trailer and in the water erases many problems. Now, we'll begin our test program, iron out our problems and get ready for the first race."
Prior to her appearance at Tampa, Florida, for the May 31 Tampa Suncoast Cup event, the new creation will be fitted out complete and all systems perfected, Heerensperger said.
He pointed out that in case any bugs develop in the planned program, the Pay 'n Pak Lil' Buzzard waits in the wings. "We don't plan to campaign the Lil' Buzzard until the Tri-Cities Atomic Cup in mid-July, but she is available in case we feel she's needed before that time," Heerensperger said.
Pride of Pay 'n Pak represents all the stores in a growing group of electrical, plumbing home and auto supplies retail outlets in Washington, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
Home office for the organization is in the Seattle suburb of Kent, Washington. The boats are also headquartered in the Seattle area.