Reprinted from Unlimited NewsJournal, January/February 2010
 |
| George Henley |
One of unlimited racing’s most successful drivers passed away on December 14, 2009. George Henley, of Eatonville, Wash., was 72.
Henley made his mark on the sport as driver of Pay 'n Pak in 1974 and ’75. He won the Gold Cup and guided the boat to national championships both years. His involvement with boat racing goes back well before that, however. He was a crew member on Bob Gilliam’s Miss B & I in 1956. He had a successful career in smaller classes before receiving the cockpit assignment for Bob Murphy’s Burien Lady in 1970.
Henley displayed his driving talent in his first season with the unlimiteds. The under-funded boat finished third in the consolation heat at the Detroit Memorial. Then, while a large contingent of fans cheered on the shoreline, Henley drove the boat to second in the Seafair regatta, winning the final heat in the process.
Bob Fendler picked Henley to drive Lincoln Thrift’s 7-1/4% Special in 1971. It was another low budget operation. At the last race of the season, when a heavy rainstorm turned the pits at Dallas into a muddy slough, Henley took the boat out for a test run on Thursday afternoon. It was the only boat on the water that afternoon, and the next day local newspapers had photos of Lincoln Thrift on the front page of the sports section. Henley and Fendler didn’t win the race, but they scored big in the publicity department.
The next year, Henley became the first driver to compete with a turbocharged Allison engine. The boat made its first appearance of 1972 at Owensboro, where it finished fifth. It was a moral victory for the crew, however, as they proved their turbochargers would work. The following season, Henley drove the boat to second at Miami.
A few days after the 1973 Miami race, Fendler released Henley. Fendler had five different drivers in ’73. Henley drove Jim McCormick’s cabover Red Man at Seafair. That was the famous “race in the rain” when Pay 'n Pak and Miss Budweiser had their deck-to-deck duels. Everyone else, including Henley, was filler for the show.
Things changed for Henley the following season. Mickey Remund, who had driven Pay 'n Pak, parted company with Pak owner Dave Heerensperger and went to drive Fendler’s new Lincoln Thrift. Henley was hired to drive the Pak.
Mechanical problems dogged Henley at first with Pay 'n Pak. The boat lost a rudder in a spring test at Tri-Cities, and mechanical problems kept them out of the winner’s circle at Miami. Henley won the President’s Cup then won a deck-to-deck duel against Howie Benns aboard Miss Budweiser at Owensboro. Pak won the World Championship at Tri-Cities. Sand Point on Lake Washington was the site of Henley’s first Gold Cup win, again beating Benns in thrilling deck-to-deck duels. Pay 'n Pak won a total of seven races that year on its way to the national championship. Then, Henley stunned the racing world by announcing his retirement on November 21.
Jim McCormick took over the Pay 'n Pak seat for 1975, but lasted two races. The boat was fast on straightaways, but a handful in turns. Heerensperger coaxed Henley out of retirement with a hefty financial package. Gradually the boat was returned to its 1974 form, but Billy Schumacher and Weisfield’s had a commanding lead in point standings. Henley and Schumacher hooked up for some terrific duels at Madison, with Pay 'n Pak taking the win. The Pak was back. Henley went on to win another Gold Cup, and edged Pay 'n Pak past Weisfield’s to take the national championship. He won five of the last six races in the process.
When Heerensperger sold the Pak team to Bill Muncey at the end of the season, Henley retired as a driver. This time the decision was permanent. He drove water jet boats on the Snake and Salmon Rivers in Washington State, and was a Hamilton Jet dealer.
Henley maintained his interest in hydroplane racing throughout his life. He rarely missed the Tri-Cities and Seafair regattas, and his family played host to Seattle Outboard Association at Henley’s Resort on Silver Lake near Eatonville. Henley always had time to talk with the racers, whether they were veterans or rookies.
Smilin’ George Henley left us far too soon. He will be remembered as one of the nicest, most approachable drivers the sport has known. His accomplishments as a winner will keep him in the record book as one of the top drivers of all time.