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| The defending champ. |
As many as 15 of the giant thunderboats are expected to try and qualify for the $30,000 Marine Stadium battle, the kickoff of the unlimited schedule.
Pay 'n Pak, off its dominance of the unlimited circuit the past two seasons, is the pre-race favorite, but Dave Heerensperger's sleek craft is expected to be challenged by a host of formidable opponents.
Among those expected challengers will be the new wing-tail designed Atlas Van Lines with veteran Bill Muncey. With the new design and five time Gold Cup winner Muncey at the helm, Atlas Van Lines could give the Marine Stadium crowd the unlimited battle of the year.
Other boats expected to challenge the Pak include last year's Champion winner, Miss Budweiser, with Mickey Remund of Phoenix, Ariz. Remund, one of unlimited hydroplanes' hardest chargers, will challenge Muncey and Pak driver Jim McCormick for supremacy on the circuit.
McCormick, fully recovered from serious leg injuries suffered during a practice run for last year's Champion, also is the owner of an unlimited hydroplane, as yet sponsored.
Last year, after McCormick was injured, George "Skip" Walther, brother of race car driver David "Salt" Walther, took over the helm of the Red Man, only to be killed in front of the grandstands during a practice run as the boat crashed and disintegrated.
Despite this, Salt Walther might add his Country Boy to the list of probable entries which includes Just-a-Pest, Lincoln Thrift, Miss Madison, Weisfield's Diamond Mist (formerly Value-mart), and Miss U.S.
Miami, a hotbed of limited hydro racing, will have three drivers in this race, Tom Sheehy, Charlie Dun and E. Milner Irvin III, last year's rookie surprise who drive the Miss Madison to a forth place finish nationally. Sheehy is negotiating with numerous unlimited owners, but is expected to be in the cockpit of one of the giant thunderboats when the starting gun is fired. Dunn will be driving a yet unnamed unlimited out Virginia Beach, Va., while Irvin will be at the helm of the Lincoln Thrift.
According to Lee Evans, race director of the Champion Spark Plug Unlimited Regatta, the 1975 battle is shaping up as one of the finest in the race's history.