Atlas, Muncey may be upstaged by Pay 'N Pak today
By Gary Schultz, Courier-Journal & Times Staff Writer
June 17, 1973
OWENSBORO, Ky. — Atlas Van Lines was the bully of the unlimited hydroplane fleet in 1972, winning a phenomenal six of seven races and taking first in 18 of 21 heats.
That was last year.
This summer the Atlas is fast becoming just one of the boys, a troubled boat like many others, showing promise at times and then proving a disappointment when the big moment comes.
But if the Atlas and driver Bill Muncey are ever going to come alive again, it would seem today might be the day. That's because the Muncey-Atlas duo is back in what you might call friendly confines.
The Ohio River. The Kentucky Governor's Cup race. Muncey has owned 'em both for three straight years, winning aboard Myr's Sheet Metal in 1970 and then steering Atlas Van Lines to victory in both 1971 and '72.
So tradition is on Muncey's side . . . but what about the more necessary ingredients — what about the equipment?
"We're running pretty well," Lee Schoenith, the Atlas owner, said yesterday, "but it might not matter how well we're running because the Pay 'N Pak is running fantastic. We're fast enough to beat the others — but the Pay 'N Pak . . . well, it'll be so-o-o tough."
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| Photo by Hank Kosciuszko |
"After going through 21 heats last year and never breaking down even once, it's been pretty unbelievable what's happened this year," Schoenith said.
"At Miami, for instance, our nitrous oxide valve broke. That's the first time I've ever heard of one breaking. And then at Washington, the drive on the oil pump broke. It's been little things, nickel-and-dime stuff."
The little things, meanwhile, have been holding together just fine for the Pay 'N Pak and driver Mickey Remund.
It's almost a rule that a brand-new boat — like the Pay 'N Pak — does not meet with success in its first season. The inaugural campaign is supposed to be one of "working out the bugs."
Not so with the Pay 'N Pak. It collected a perfect score of 1,200 points with three consecutive heat victories in the season opener at Miami. Then, in the second race, on the Potomac River at Washington, D.C., the Pay 'N Pak tacked on two more heat wins before running forth in the finale and finishing third overall.
Today's competition, which begins at noon (CDT), is the third stop of the year on the hydro circuit. Pay 'N Pak leads the national championship standings with 2,169 points. Lincoln Thrift, the Washington winner, is second with 1,925 and Miss Budweiser third with 1,569. Atlas Van Lines is a distant fifth with 825.
Having trouble in the corners
Remund figures the Pay 'N Pak's stiffest challenge today will come from Dean Chenoweth and Miss Budweiser.
"If Muncey wasn't having a lot of minor problems," the Pay 'N Pak driver said, "I'd be most worried about him. As it stands, though, I'd have to say the Budweiser is the one to watch. They seem to be coming on nicely."
Bernie Little, the always-optimistic owner of Miss Bud, agrees with Remund's sizeup.
"The favorite has to be the Pay 'N Pak," he says. "But we're ready to cause some trouble (the Bud finished fourth in Miami and second at Washington).
"Our boat's got 'em all beat down the chutes - we're getting 160 (m.p.h). Where we've been getting hurt is in the corners. Dean's been slowing down too much — but that's understandable, because he's only driven this boat in two races.
"But he's got the hang of it now - he's going to keep scooting all the way. We're going to be okay."
If two other boats — the Valu-Mart and Mr. Fabricator — meet the 95 m.p.h qualifying minimum before the course opens, the Owensboro Regatta will have 10 starts. Each boat will compete in two 15-mile preliminary heats with the five highest point-getters moving on to the final.