16-Cylinder Revolution

The new twin-Chrysler-powered Unlimited Hydroplane is out to revolutionize Gold Cup racing.

Reprinted from Hot Rod magazine, September 1970

With those big World War II Allison engines becoming scarcer than hen's teeth, Dave Heerensperger, Chairman of Pay 'n Pack Stores, decided to use a pair of Keith Black "elephants" to power his new unlimited hydroplane, "The Pride of Pay 'n Pack." Hull design is by the father and son team of Ted and Ron Jones of Costa Mesa and follows their new and revolutionary pickle-fork tunnel-hull configuration. The relatively new driver-ahead-of-engine design, known as cab-over, attains the desired effect of moving the center of gravity farther aft than in the conventional three-point hydro. Most three-pointers will average 150 to 160 in the chutes but slow to about 80 mph in the turns. The new low profile, combined with tunnel-hull lift, will produce about 150 in the chutes, and the relocated C/G will result in not under 110 in the corners. "Pay 'n Pack" is shorter (28'6" as opposed to most unlimiteds' 30-31'). It's also wider - 13', about a foot more than usual. Water pickup and pitot tube are in leading edge of rudder.

The unique tunnel hull is constructed of white oak, northern ash, mahogany and birch plywood, with the underside completely sheathed in aluminum. There is over two grand invested in aircraft stainless steel braid covered lines and fittings. The custom-made V-drive gearbox was built by Casale and has a ratio of 1.67:1. This super-light box has an integral oil pump for lubrication, plus a water-cooled jacket. The usual unlimited gearbox weighs about 300 to 400 pounds. Weight saving is a big factor in this boat's performance. The bare hull weighs only 1900 pounds; in racing trim she will weigh about 5000 pounds. Most unlimiteds weigh from 6500 to 8000 pounds. Special linear electric drive motors are used to actuate the engine couplers. The couplers can be operated from the cockpit, allowing on-the-beach runups without a spinning prop; or in case of engine failure, the boat can finish on one engine. Tommy "Tucker" Fults was the first driver but relinquished the helm to Ron Larsen when it seemed that some time-consuming debugging was going to have to be done.

A pair of these 473 Chrysler hemis on alky are rated at 1100 hp each. The GM blower utilizes a Cragar drive and manifold on the Chrysler block equipped with Forged true pistons and rings on Carrillo rods turning on a Moldex crank. Keith designed the cam and uses the new Spalding solid-state CD ignition. The Black dry-sump unit has two scavengers and delivers 105 psi at 185° through special oil coolers. With couplers at each end, engines are interchangeable and can be switched in 15 minutes. Fin holds boat in turns.

Hydroplane Owners Gambling

May, 1973

Multimillionaires David Heerensperger of Seattle and George Simon of Detroit are out to shake up the Old Guard when the 1973 unlimited hydroplane season opens May 18-20 with the $25,000 Champion Spark Plug Regatta at the City of Miami Marine Stadium.

Sparing no expense in the costly fight to rule the waves, both tycoons are gambling on a bold and innovative approach to Gold Cup warfare this year.

Heerensperger's Pay 'N Pak and Simon's Miss U.S. reflect the latest approach to the aerodynamics of high speed water racing. Utilizing lightweight construction materials such as titanium, magnesium and aluminum, both rigs are between 500 and 1,000 pounds lighter than most other boats on the circuit.

Improved cornering ability and acceleration off hairpin turns like those at the Marine Stadium are the primary goals rather than top straightaway speed.

Built by Ron Jones of La Habra, Calif., Pay 'N Pak utilizes Hexel honeycomb aluminum desk structure and and cowling designed by the Craig Breedlove speed team. The Seattle-based thunderboat also boosts a horizontal stabilizer bar, on the stern. The top wing is about 20 square feet in area and can  be adjusted when the boat is in the pits.

Pay 'N Pak crew chief Jim Lucero explains, "The horizontal stabilizer wing is a safety device to trim the boat. If the nose is too high, the wing should correct the boat's attitude."

Heerensperger has named Mickey Remund, a record holding limited hydroplane driver, to drive the new Pay 'N Pak. Remund impressed a full house at Marine Stadium last summer by racking up a local speed record with his five litre hydro "Goin' Thing."

Remund's crash helmet is equipped with a two-way radio so that he's in constant touch with Lucero. Should the boat's 12-cylinder supercharged Roll Royce power plant quit during the race, Lucero can relay instant instructions to Remund.

Heerensperger isn't the only owner who's making waves with dramatic changes in 1973. On the Eastern front, U.S. Equipment Company magnate George Simon is unveiling the latest in a distinguished line of "Miss U.S." thunderboats. The new beauty is a Staudacher hull constructed of titanium and magnesium that tips the scale at just under 5,000 points and is expected to be the lightest rig on the tour this season.

Besides Pay 'N Pak and Miss U.S., the lineup of the Champion Spark Plug Unlimited Regatta includes defending champion Atlas Van Lines with Bill Muncey at the helm, Miss Budweiser drive by Dean Chenoweth, Red Man piloted by former Gold Cup winner Jim McCormick, Miss Madison with Miamian Charlie Dunn, Jr. at the control and Lincoln Thrift and Loan chauffeured by George Henley of Eatonville, Wash.

Official testing gets underway on May 17, with qualifying runs slated on May 18-19. Race action begins at noon on May 20, with a non-stop action program that alternates limited heats of hydroplanes and runabouts with the world's fastest unlimited Gold Cup thunderboats.

Will Pak's cornering be enough?

Weisfield's sets course record

Special to The Courier-Journal

DAYTON, Ohio — Can Weisfield's handle the tight comers on the Eastwood Park Lake course? And can it handle the Pay 'N Pak?

Those are the two biggest questions to be answered today when the city stages its second annual Hydroglobe Regatta for unlimited hydroplanes.

The Weisfield's hydro, driven by Billy Schumacher, leads the national championship standings after five races with 4,763 points to second-place Lincoln Thrift's 4,201.

But it was the Pay 'N Pak, with George Henley at the controls, that prevailed at last Saturday's Madison Regatta — and many think the snug Eastwood Park Lake course suits the Pak much better than Weisfield's.

The Pak, on the other hand, corners tighter than any other boat in the fleet, so it has to be ranked as the favorite on the two-mile Eastwood Park Lake course. (All other courses on the circuit measure 2 1/2 miles and thus have wider turns.)

Too, the Dayton layout proved to the Pak's liking last year when Henley piloted the hydro to a perfect winning score of 1,200 points.

However, Weisfield's set a new course record 109.091 miles per hour in yesterday's qualifying, bettering the Pak's 107.463 of last year. Pay 'N Pak qualified at 107.784 as did Lincoln Thrift. Other qualifiers:

Miss U.S 104.348; Miss Budweiser 104.348; Miss Madison 98.765; Atlas Van Lines 97.495; Miss Vernor's 95.491; Miss Boot Head 93.385; U-95 90.000.