Hydro folk to draught beer-firm sponsor?

By Glenn Nelson
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, October 13, 1982

It may be Miller Time for the unlimited-hydroplane circuit.

Budweiser and Miller Brewing Co., at lager-heads over the beer market for some time, have embodied their competition in the spirit(s) of athletic endeavor.

Last night, the St. Louis Cardinals, owned by Bud chairman Auggie Busch, and the Brewers, who play in Milwaukee, home of the Miller corporation offices, opened baseball's World Series.

Next year, the two may take their stout rivalry to the waters.

Pay 'n Pak crew chief Jim Lucero made two trips to Milwaukee last summer to propose an unlimited-hydroplane sponsorship the the Miller people.

According to sources in both the boating and beer caps, Miller would not have allowed Lucero to travel all the way to Milwaukee if there was no interest in what he had to say.

Lucero has been actively recruiting new ownership for Pak president Dave Heerensperger's two hulls (one which has not tested competitive waters), his arsenal of turbine engines, assorted equipment and out-of-work crew.

Heerensperger retired from hydro racing shortly after an accident involving his driver, John Walters, in the Aug. 8 Seattle regatta.

Heerensperger said he has not been approached by Miller, but has received feelers from others not associated with Miller.

"Jim Lucero" has been talking to some people, but it's not his equipment to sell," he said. "They have to talk to me. It's my equipment."

The sponsorship would take a big gulp of of Miller's corporate coffers. The value of the Pak equipment has been estimated to be in the $500,000 to $1 million range.

What appears to be holding up the venture is the lack of an outside owner who would buy the boat with Miller's backing.

The development at least had Bernie Little, owner of the Miss Budweiser, foaming over the possibilities.

"If another beer company got into the sport, it would be a great challenge," he said. "I'm all for it. Let's go!"

Miller's entry into unlimited racing would shake up an already brewing rivalry with Budweiser. Miller High Lift sponsored an offshore race this year and Lowenbrau, a Miller subsidiary, has sponsored an offshore boat. Budweiser has been involved in offshore boat racing for some years, though its boats have not gone head-to-head with Lowenbrau's.

A rarity: Owners, drivers agree - Pak is favored

By Chuck Ashmun
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 3, 1975

Jim Lucero, left, Pay 'n Pak crew chief, and Dave Heerensperger, owner, watch as the 1975
national-points leader was lowered into Lake Washington for a test run. The Pak, driven by George Henley
of Eatonville, will be bidding for it's forth consecutive victory in today's Seafair Trophy race.
Staff photo by Pete Liddell.

The Pak is the pick.

Unlimited-hydroplane owners and drivers, seldom unanimous about anything, have given the favorite's role to the Pay 'n Pak for today's Seafair Trophy Race on Lake Washington.

A spot check with several camps in the Stan Sayres pits resulted in a near-unanimous agreement that it will be a four-boat race and a less-solid vote for the Pak to finish first.

Weisfields, Miss Budweiser and Miss U.S. are the three other boats given a good chance, but the general feeling is that George Henley will wind up as leader of the pack.

Henley has won 10 unlimited races in less than two full seasons and is aiming for his fourth straight victory of 1975 and second straight in Seattle.

Nine boats qualified before time trials ended, but the field probably will grow by the time the first race starts at noon today.

Closed-mouth race officials last night would not say definitely, but it seemed certain more qualifying tries would be made this morning.

"I'll take the Pay 'n Pak," said Tom D'Eath, Miss U.S. driver, when asked for his assessment of today's outcome. D'Eath was an exception in the he did not choose his own boat to finish first.

"I don't think it's fair for me to pick my boat, but I really do think our chances of winning are very good." D'Eath said.

"We've had all kinds of problems with our engines this week, but maybe that's not so bad. We had trouble all week in Detroit, too."

D'Eath drove to the first unlimited triumph of this career on June 29, winning with a Detroit-based boat rebuilt after it was gutted in last year's Gold Cup race here.

"I'm not superstitious, but after what happened in Detroit, this might be a good omen," D'Eath said.

"Budweiser, Pay 'n Pak and Weisfield's," said Bernie Little, owner of the Miss Bud, giving his choices, in order, without hesitation.

"I'm really serious. I think this is our race course. Mickey went out and hit 160 (m.p.h.) and came back and said he could really turn one on."

The Budweiser jockey, Mickey Remund, charged around the 2½-mile course at an average speed of 121.786 miles an hour soon after the boat was lowered into the water for the first time on Friday.

Remund's last previous ride on the Bud ended with him standing on the upright pickle-forked bow, grasping a tow line from a rescue craft, as his boat sank in the Columbia River.

Another driver, Billy Schumacher, went with a top three of Weisfield's, Pay 'n Pak and Budweiser for today's race, while his former boss, Dave Heerensperger, said:

"Pay 'n Pak, Budweiser, Miss U.S."

"I still think we can beat him when we have it all together," Schumacher said following the Pak's Gold Cup win in the Tri-Cities last weekend.

The Weisfield's driver did not seriously challenge the Pak in what was expected to be a duel of Seattle boats as mechanical difficulties cost Schumacher points as well as money.

"I think this is going to be a Rolls Royce race, although I may have a surprise coming in Heat 1B," he added.

Schumacher's competition in the second heat race will include the Miss U.S. and Lincoln Thrift, both powered by turbocharged-Allison engines.

"The Budweiser might have an advantage if the water's rough," said Heerensperger, who owns the Pay 'n Pak. "He's been doing better than anybody in the corners."

But Heerensperger believes Henley will finish first.

And the consensus is: Stick with the Pak.