Move over, ya big bully!

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."

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.

Fastest field ever set for Columbia Cup

By Hec Hancock
Reprinted from Tri-City Herald, June 28, 1980

After three days of qualifying that saw almost as many records broken as political promises after an election year, the fastest fleet of unlimited hydroplanes ever assembled is poised for today's Columbia Cup regatta.

Let by Dean Chenoweth in the Miss Budweiser, which set a world record on the two-and-a-half mile Columbia Cup course of 138.248 miles per hour, the 11 qualifiers averaged over 116 mph making it the fastest field ever assembled for a hydroplane race.

That average, incidentally, would be a mile faster — 117 mph— had the top speed of the new Pay 'n Pak turbine boat of 123.796 mph been allowed. That speed, however, was clocked before driver John Walters successfully passed his qualification test as an unlimited driver.

Saturday's unveiling of the Pay 'n Pak drew plenty of attention and ovations from the large crowd around the pit area.

As it was, the long awaited arrival and performance of Dave Heerensperger's Pay 'n Pak was the highlight of Saturday's qualifying activities. A crowd that lined the bank of the Columbia River burst into applause as the Pay 'n Pak, sounding more like a departure of a Hughes Airwest flight than a boat, roared away from the dock.

The boat's performance, particularly in view that it had only one test run and that as last as Thursday, was impressive. Walters turned in laps of 109.091, 123.796 and 114.943.

"Absolutely unbelievable," a happy Heerensperger said. "We have a lot yet to learn about the boat but this was a big step."

"I only used about 50 percent of my horsepower," Walters reported after the run. "It handles very well."

The Miss Budweiser opened the onslaught on the record book by posting a speed of 134.128 mph on its first warmup run Thursday. That broke the old mark of 133.929 set by Bill Muncey at San Diego in 1979.

On Thursday, Muncey regained the record, if only briefly, by averaging 126.364 mph.

Exactly 14 minutes later, however, Miss Bud had the record back having toured the course at 138.248.

However, despite the predictions by Bernie Little, owner of the Miss Bud, that the boat would do 140 mph Chenoweth and the rest of the beer boat team were content Saturday to settle for testing in preparation for today's race.

Fastest lap of the day was the 132.159 mph turned in by Steve Reynolds shortly before the course closed for qualifying.

The Miss Budweiser and the Pay 'n Pak, the two glamour boats of the fleet, won't have to wait long before their paths cross. Both boats are included in Heat 1A. Rounding out the six-boat heat are the Squire Shop, Kawaguchi Travel Service, Miss Tempus, and the Barney Armstrong Machine.

In Heat 1B will be Dr. Toyota, Atlas Van Lines, Circus Circus, Oh Boy! Oberto and Don Campbells' Food Service.

Heat 1A will start at 12 noon and followed by Head 1B at 12:45 p.m.

There will then be a redraw with Heat 2A to start at 2 p.m. and Heat 2B at 2:45 p.m.

The six leading point earners will then meet in the winner take all championship at 4 p.m.

A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected to line the banks of the Columbia River for the 15th running of an unlimited hydroplane race in the Tri-Cities.

Chenoweth Pilots Bud To Victory In Tri-Cities

Reprinted from Sea and Pacific Motor Boat, September 1973

Mickey Remund and the Pay 'n Pak had a substantial lead in the final heat of the APBA Gold Cup
until a broken propeller ended his run. Photo by Lee Stickler.

Going into the Gold Cup Race, Dean Chenoweth had one vivid memory of the unlimited hydroplane course on the Columbia River at Tri-Cities in South-Central Washington.

In 1970 the driver of Miss Budweiser was pitched violently from the cockpit and the boat sank. Luckily, Chenoweth escaped with minor injuries.

Chenoweth has another happier impression of the Richland-Pasco-Kennewick area after Gold Cup '73. He piloted the Bud to victory in powerboat racing's premier event by outlasting a Seattle-based Pay 'n Pak in the final heat. It was Chenoweth’s second Gold Cup win, his third victory on the circuit this season.

In the final heat, the Pak had a substantial lead after running the first lap in record time. But a blade of the Pak's prop broke, the boat bounced crazily a couple of times and settled to a stop. Patrol boats had to rescue the hydro from sinking just as Miss Budweiser hit the finish line.

Going into the final heat, Pak driver Mickey Remund had a perfect 1200 points while Budweiser and Atlas Van Lines each had 1100.

Bill Muncey's Atlas ended up second after making an unsuccessful charge at the Budweiser midway in the final heat while surprising Fred Alter drove Pizza Pete — the former Gale's Roostertail to third. The Pak was fourth and Notre Dame, fifth.

If you don't think the unlimiteds are going faster, consider the records set on the 2½-mile Columbia River course: In addition to the Pak's single-lap mark of 119.691 mph, Budweiser boosted the 15-mile speed mark for one heat to 111.386 mph.

Bud's 60-mi. speed average was a record 105.354 mph, almost five miles faster than the 1970 standard set by Notre Dame. Both the lap and 60-mile performances are the fastest in unlimited history.

Chenoweth Takes Gar Wood Memorial

Reprinted from Sea and Pacific Motor Boat, September 1973

Gar Wood Trophy race on the Detroit River--A context for hydroplanes. In the pits. Photo by Joe Clark.

The unlimited hydros were at it again, and it was Mickey Remund in Pay 'n Pak and Dean Chenoweth in Miss Budweiser that grabbed the silver. The Gar Wood Memorial on the smooth Detroit River went to Miss Bud after some intense racing in front of 400,000 fans.

Remund beat Chenoweth in the first heat, only to lose in the finals. Drama was added when Pay 'n Pak sheared a propeller in a trial run three days before the event and ripped off much of the hull bottom. With the help of other teams, the crew worked for 60 hours straight to repair the damage.

Gar Wood Memorial: 1, Miss Budweiser, Dean Chenoweth, 1100; 2, Pay 'n Pak, Mickey Remund, 1000; 3, Gale's Roostertail, Fred Alter, 925; 4, Red Man, Jim McCormick, 738; 5, Miss U.S., Tom D'Eath, 652.

The Great Race - '73 Seafair Race Was Classic Bud-'Pak Duel

Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 6, 1989

Mickey Remund and the Pay 'n Pak.

When former athletes get together, the rule of thumb is: The older they get, the better they were.

Similarly, the outcomes of legendary hydroplane races get more obscured as time passes.

"When people complain about how strung out and predictable today's races have become, it's usually because they are remembering how great that 1973 Seafair race was," said Bob Williams of the Unlimited Museum.

"That was a classic duel. People always think of the past as the golden days, but most of the races way-back-when were not close at all. The Slo-Mos, the Hawaii Kais and Bardahls used to bury people by bigger margins than today's boats."

In many ways, the 1973 Seafair World Championship hydro race was a bummer:

-- It was the first year racegoers had to pay for the privilege of seeing "their" race from the shoreline. Adults were charged $1 (either for a ticket or a Skipper pin).

-- Seattle Police kept overnight campers out of the parks near Lake Washington, another first. The party-all-night, puke-all-day set hated it, but homeowners near the lake loved the innovation.

-- It rained all day, causing a big drop in attendance.

Seafair officials, who estimated the crowd at 65,000, reported a $35,000 loss, as only $2,568 of Skipper pins were sold.

Those who braved the conditions, or watched the race on television, witnessed what is generally regarded as the best hydroplane regatta in history.

The Pride of Pay 'n Pak, with Mickey Remund at the helm, and Miss Budweiser, with the late Dean Chenoweth aboard, raced around Lake Washington's old three-mile course at world-record speeds for three heats.

In the championship final, Remund had a four-second lead after one lap, but claimed the checkered flag by a mere 25 feet. His average speed was 117.238 mph to Chenoweth's 117.086.

"If the race had been 50 yards longer," said one official after the race, "Chenoweth would have won it."

That may explain why Seafair officials, in this year's program, implied that Miss Budweiser won the 1973 regatta.

The Bud has won 10 national titles, including the past three, but the Pak won the 1973 race in Seattle and a stirring rematch at the Sand Point course in 1974.

The Bud did win the fastest heat of the 1973 race, Heat 1C, with a then world-record average speed of 122.504 mph. The Pak averaged 120.697.

In Heat 1C, Remund zoomed to a one-lap world-record speed of 124.424 mph trying to overhaul Chenoweth, who started from the inside lane.

In the next heat, 2C, the boats raced deck-to-deck for several laps before the Bud conked out to give the Pak an easy victory.

Then Remund turned the tables in the winner-take-all final when he outfoxed Chenoweth and grabbed the inside lane at the start, then held on for the victory.

Hydroplane driving was more arduous in the early 1970s. The best boats were conventional designs with the driver sitting behind the engine. The only turbine in the pits was the experimental U-95, which never left the beach. None of the pilots were protected by canopies.

The rain was hazardous. Because few drivers had helmets that offered full-face protection, most covered the lowered halves of their faces with bandanas.

After the race, many drivers, especially those in the back of the pack, believed the race should not have been held.

"That rain felt like being hit in the face with with a BB gun," said Tom D'Eath, who was the rookie driver of Miss U.S. in 1973.

"The visibility couldn't have been more than a couple of feet."

"I was really lost out there," said Chuck Hickling. "I could not see a thing. I had no idea which way to steer. That's scary."

But others, like Bill Muncey, who was driving the Atlas Van Lines that day, were philosophical about the elements.

"Visibility (for the drivers) was virtually nil, but an awful lot of people came out to see a race," Muncey said.

Remund said race conditions were not that far from normal.

"One thing about this sport is that you never can see that well," said Remund. "You have only about 80 percent visibility on a clear day."

D'Eath, who will drive Miss Budweiser in Sunday's Rainier Cup, said the next best heat involved Miss Budweiser and Miss Circus Circus driven by Chip Hanauer, on Syracuse's 2-mile course July 16. D'Eath won the heat with a 150-mph average. Hanauer later crashed his boat in the final heat while in the lead.

"The biggest difference between the 1973 heat and the one in Syracuse is the size of the course," said D'Eath. "Seattle was a 3-mile course in those days. If Chip (Hanauer) had hooked up on a 2½-mile course, we could have averaged 160. On a 3-miler, we would have run 170 per lap."

Miss Budweiser winner in Miami

Reprinted from The New York Times, May 24, 1971

MIAMI, May 23 (AP)—Dean Chenoweth drove Miss Budweiser to first place and $10,000 in prize money today in the Champion Spark Plug unlimited hydroplane regatta at Miami Marine Stadium.

Miss Budweiser averaged 94.543 miles an hour in the championship heat on the 2.5-mile course, finishing well ahead of Miss Madison, driven by Jim McCormick of Owensboro, Ky. Miss Timex, a boat racing for the first time under Tom Sheehy of Miami, was third.

Hallmark Homes, driven by Leif Borgersen of Seattle, was dueling with Miss Madison for second place when the Hallmark thunderboat's 1,200 horsepower engine died only one lap from the end of the six-lap championship heat.

Billy Schumacher of Seattle escaped serious injury when his boat, Pride of Pay 'n Pak, did a 360-degree spin and ejected Schumacher into the water at about 150 m.p.h.

Nothing New in Miami

By Bob Greenhow
Reprinted from the Unlimited NewsJournal, June 1982

For the third year in a row Miss Budweiser and Dean Chenoweth took top honors at the season opener in Miami, Florida. The victory, on June 6, was Chenoweth's fourth at the Champion Spark Plug Regatta.

John Walters pilots the Pay 'n Pak around the course in Miami.

Seven boats came to the pits to open the '82 campaign. Testing did not commence until Friday afternoon, due partially to the short-lived [hurricane] Alberto. Bud was first out and promptly romped around the course at 122 plus — just fast enough to show the others that this team means business. But several hours later out came John Walters in Pay ‘n Pak. Surprise! Pak’s best was 124.48.

On Saturday morning Chenoweth was back out. He turned a quick one — 126.050, then cut the course and returned to the pits. By mid-day Walters had matched the mark. Both Pak and Bud tested during the afternoon, but neither made any more record attempts.

Meanwhile the rest of the field was also busy. George Johnson did a great deal of running in Executone, finally qualifying at better than 105 mph. The very same speed achieved by Tom Sheehy in Miss Madison which is sponsored by Rich Plan Food Service.

Atlas Van Lines was probably the most observed boat at Miami. The boat arrived in town still untested. She ran briefly on Friday, then Chip Hanauer qualified her on Saturday in the 112 range. On race day morning man and machine pounded out laps of 123 plus and 125 even. At those speeds the boat appeared light with a veering front end.

Captran Resorts, despite persistent engine problems slipped around the course at a bit over 92 mph. Fred Giese, son of the crew chief, was making his debut at the wheel.

Bob Miller was not able to test the Miss Rock until Sunday. Twice on Saturday the black boat refused to start.

Several laps were turned the next morning, the best at 92 plus, and Miller was in the race. But his problems were not over. After spinning in the lower turn, Miller hit a sandbar while returning to the pits. The boat was refloated, undamaged. Bob must have suffered some embarrassment.

With all seven boats qualified, the top five were slated to run in the first two heats. Then the consolation heat (scored at half-point value) would feature Captran Resorts and Miss Rock along with the two lowest point-earners out of the top five. The top two from the consolation would join the top three in the final.

Early during race week Miami was in the midst of a wet spell. However, starting with Friday some improvement was noted each day. But the ever-present cumulus clouds were just that when action was taking place. Heat one found Miss Budweiser returning to the pits at about two minutes before clock zero with a broken rod. Miss Madison and Executone could not be started. Pay ‘n Pak defeated Atlas Van Lines by a half a lap and averaged 117.995 in the process-a new record by nine and one-half miles. Sheehy was assessed a $100 fine for trying to start his boat during the heat.

Heat two was another duet. This time the participants were Budweiser and Executone. They started and finished in the above order. The others could not start at all: Atlas due to prime system woes and Pay ‘n Pak because of hull damage. Madison was unable to fire up. The winner's average was 105.448.

So Miss Madison and Executone filled out the field for the consolation heat. After leading at the start, Captran Resorts slowed down and was passed by Executone. George Johnson cruised to an easy win at a slow 75.308. Miss Rock, after starting third, eventually took over second after Captran died on the fourth backstretch. Earlier Miller had hooked on the upper turn. Miss Madison again failed to start.

Hopes were high for a Pak-Bud showdown in the finale. Not so. Pak developed engine trouble and stopped after going through the Atlas roostertail. She later re-started and and made it across the starting line, but went dead again shortly afterwards. Meanwhile Bud and Atlas made a fast legal start with the U-1 owning the inside and the lead. Chenoweth stayed in front to the finish, averaging 109.656. Hanauer, Johnson and Miller followed in that order.

The victory was number 12 in 15 race day efforts for the Miss Budweiser. But there remained the challenge of the Pay ‘n Pak and eventually the Atlas Van Lines.

You know... it just could be an interesting year.

Miss Budwesier outruns Pay 'n Pak at Detroit

July 2, 1973 — Detroit (AP) — The stage is set for a showdown between Miss Budweiser and Pay 'n Pak in Sunday's Madison (Ind.) Regatta.

Or what it actually will be, if it materializes, is Chapter Two in unlimited hydroplane's hottest 1973 rivalry.

The two went at it on the Detroit River yesterday and when the smoke cleared, Miss Budweiser and driver Dean Chenoweth owned the Gar Wood trophy.

Dean Chenoweth drives Miss Budweiser to a Detroit victory.

But just barely. It took a victory in the final heat for the Budweiser-Chenoweth duo to master Pay 'n Pak, piloted by Mickey Remund.

The rivals entered the finale with 700 points each after swapping first-place efforts in two preliminary heats. Pay 'n Pak won Heat 1-B, finished about 13 seconds ahead of Miss Budweiser and then Miss Budweiser averaged 102.369 miles per hour to Pay 'n Pak's 101.199 in winning Heat 2-B.

In the final heat, the boats were never more than 10 lengths apart, with Chenoweth and Budweiser prevailing by about four seconds. Miss Bud covered the 15 miles at a 105.980 clip while Pay 'n Pak averaged 104.489.

Miss Budweiser wound up with 1,100 points to Pay 'n Pak's 1,000. Surprising Gale's Roostertail, driven by Fred Alter, also had 700 points going into the finale and then ran third for a day's total of 925.

Red Man, with Jim McCormick of Owensboro, Ky., at the wheel, had a first and two fourths to take forth place in the overall standings with 738.

Other totals: Miss. U.S 652, Atlas Van Lines 450, Miss Madison 394, Lincoln Thrift 169, Mr. Fabricator 169, ValuMart 127.

Community-owned Miss Madison, driven by Tom Sheehy, was third in Heat 1-A, behind Gale's Roostertail, and Miss U.S., and then forth in 2-A, behind Red Man, Gale's Roostertail and Miss U.S.

In the sami-feature, for boats not making the final, ValuMart and Bob Gilliam triumphed with Miss Madison second and Mr. Fabricator third.

Boats Escape Damage

Average speeds were well below the course record of 121 m.p.h. because of rough water conditions. In contrast to last year's race, when a number of hydros were damaged, all came out of the Gar Wood competition in reasonably good shape and will move on to Madison.

Pay 'n Pak's strong effort was a mild surprise since the Seattle-based boat had sustained minor damage during a trial run Thursday. Owner Dave Heerensperger had repair materials flown to Detroit by charter, and the crew was able to ready the craft by race time.

Despite yesterday's runner-up performance, Pay 'n Pak continues to lead the national championship battle after four races, with 3,738 points to Miss Budweiser's 3,638. Red Man is third with 2,934.

Miss Bud has won two straight races, its previous success coming at Owensboro June 17. Pay 'n Pak won the opener at Miami and Lincoln Thrift took the second stop at Washington D.C.

Miss Budweiser Wins Final Race

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 20, 1974 (AP)—Dean Chenoweth brought the unlimited hydroplane season to a close today by piloting Miss Budweiser to a narrow victory over the Pride of Pay 'n Pak in the Admiral's Cup race.

Chenoweth, of Tallahassee, Fla., took two of the three heats at average speeds above 100 miles per hour. George Henley of Seattle, who had previously clinched the national title with Pay 'n Pak, took the final heat.

'Hot' hydros matched in first heat

By Del Danielson
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 15, 1971

EUGENE — Billy Schumacher, fastest qualifier for the third unlimited-hydroplane race in a row, will have his hands full in Heat 1A of the Emerald Cup at noon today.

Schumacher, winner of Seattle's Seafair Race last Sunday, drew into 1A with Dean Chenoweth and Jim McCormick, a pair of double winners running one-two for the national-points championship.

Schumacher pedaled the Pride of Pay 'n Pak to a qualifying average of 112.502 miles an hour late yesterday, upping his Friday mark by 6 m.p.h. Schumacher was the top qualifier for the Tri Cities' Atomic Cup three weeks ago and set a world qualifying record of 120.405 m.ph. prior to the Seafair event.

Four boats were unqualified at the time of the draw yesterday and were given extra time on Dexter Reservoir's 2½-mile layout. Another draw will be held at 11 this morning, putting the late-comers in heat selections.

The lineup, as it stands now:

Heat 1A — Van's P-X (Mickey Remund), Pride of Pay 'n Pak (Schumacher), Budweiser (Chenoweth) and Madison (McCormick).

Heat 1B — Hallmark Homes (Leif Borgersen), Valu-Mart (Bob Gilliam) and Atlas Van Lines (Bill Muncey).

Ron Larsen, George Henley and Dave (Salt) Walther reached the 95-m.p.h. (two-lap) minimum after the drivers' meeting. Larsen got Timex up to 95.541, Henley turned 95.188 in the Lincoln Thrift, and Walther clocked 99.554 m.p.h. in the Country Boy.

Terry Sterett and his Smyth Smoother Mover will be given a chance this morning.

Dexter, a picturesque pond 20 miles south of Eugene, was rippled by 10 m.p.h. breezes when Schumacher turned the Pride loose late yesterday. Schumacher posted three laps at better than 110 m.p.h. His best was 113.065, highly respectable for this short, pear shaped course.

The pit turn, with a 1,500-foot diameter, has been dubbed "Schumacher corner." The Seattle driver sweeps wide through the turn, where he gets maximum performance from the pickle-forked Pride.

The east corner, with a 900-foot turn, is "Chenoweth corner." There, the Bud driver hugs the buoys — his favorite tactic — in setting up for the straightaways.

The few spectators on hand were pleased with the draw putting the Pride against the Bud right off the bat.

"Schumacher is the guy to beat," Chenoweth said. "At the first of the season, I felt there were four or five boats I'd have to outrun, but now it's Billy. The Pay 'n Pak crews has that boat singing. Billy's the guy to beat if I want to win. And I do."

Schumacher, who ended a three-year victory drought when he won in Seattle last week, was smiling after the draw. Schumacher has a mathematical — although a long shot — chance of winning the national championship. He is 1,329 points behind Chenoweth and trails second-place McCormick by 596.

"I'm glad the Bud and Madison are in there with me," Schumacher said. "I can gain on both of them if I can get out in front."

McCormick, like Chenoweth, is concerned about the charging Schumacher.

"This big, first turn favors the Pay 'n Pak," McCormick said. "Billy will come through this corner like gangbusters. The small turn at the far end may bother him, but he'll be way out in front by then."

It was first announced that an 11-boat field would mean six of the big unlimiteds in one section, five in the other. But at the drivers' meeting, concern was voiced over the tightness of the east corner where the boats will mill around prior to the start. In that corner, the exit buoy is about 570 feet from shore.

Bill Newton, referee, took a poll of drivers. Most said there isn't enough room for six boats. Newton then ruled there will be two sections of five boats each, with the 11th — the slowest qualifier — designated the alternate starter.

Right now, that is the Lincoln Thrift. If Terry Sterett can better Henley's 85.188 m.p.h., Henley will be on the beach.

The Muncey Era Comes to a Sad End

By Joanne A. Fishman
Reprinted from The New York Times, October 25, 1981

''Dangerous? This is defined as one of the cruel sports. We figure anything less than death is a minor accident.'' So said Bill Muncey of unlimited hydroplane racing two years ago. Then, at the age of 50, Muncey was preparing to embark on his 29th year on the circuit.

Bill Muncey standing on the deck of the Atlas Van Lines in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1981.

Tomorrow on the shores of San Diego's Mission Bay, not far from his La Mesa, Calif., home and where Muncey last year set the record of 140 miles an hour for a 2.5-mile oval, an outdoor funeral service will be held for this driver who dominated the sport. In the process, he collected an unprecedented seven national championships and 62 career victories in unlimited hydroplane racing.

With airfoils and stabilizer wings, the unlimiteds are the fastest boats afloat, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200 miles an hour. Skimming the surface, the boats become almost airborne, riding only on the tips of two sponsons and half a propellor. And to hear their 3,000-horsepower airplane engines blast is to know forever why they are called Thunderboats.

No Accidents in 20 Years

Muncey had not had a serious accident in 20 years, although he had two notable ones prior to that. In the 1958 Seattle race, he lost his steering and drove his boat into a Coast Guard cutter at 100 miles an hour, puncturing the cutter's steel hull. Then two years later, in a race at Madison, Ind., his boat disintegrated beneath him.

A determined competitor, Muncey stepped on an oil patch and slipped off his boat's deck in the pits during the Detroit race a few years ago, breaking a bone in his right foot, recalled John Crouse, a longtime friend. Refusing medication, Muncey had his crew lower him into the boat and then went out and won three straight heats with that broken foot on the throttle.

This year had not been one of his outstanding seasons, though. Muncey had won only one race and was third in the national standings behind Dean Chenoweth of Miss Budweiser and John Walters of Pay 'n Pak. During the first two heats of the $175,000 world championship in Acapulco, Mexico, last Saturday, Muncey had finished second and fourth.

Tried to Make Adjustment

Muncey felt his boat, called Atlas Van Lines, was sticking to the water too much, and before the third and final heat, he had some adjustments made to make it ''a little more flighty,'' related Sam Cole of the American Power Boat Association.

Chenoweth recalled that the boats were ''flighty all day long.'' ''In the first heat,'' Chenoweth explained, ''my boat was all over the place, and they said Bill's boat was, too. We made a modification and ours got better after the first heat.''

Yet, Pay 'n Pak took off like an airplane in the second heat, traveling about 100 feet at about 10 feet off the water, said Chenoweth.

''All day long these boats were just acting wild like that and for no apparent reason,'' he said. ''There was no rough water, no wind, and no current.''

Classic Muncey Start

The conditions in the lagoon were perfect, with the surface as smooth as glass. In the third heat, Muncey made one of his classic starts, hanging back behind the other four boats as they approached the starting line and searching for a hole. Then, accelerating all the way, he ducked inside, left the others sitting at the start, and shot out to a five-second lead.

Muncey increased his lead as he pulled out of the first turn. Two-thirds of the way up the backstretch, his boat rose into the air, did a complete revolution and landed upside down. Muncey, who remained in the cockpit, was fatally crushed on impact, his spinal column severed, according to Cole, who was at the race.

Why did Muncey, who was vice president of marketing for Atlas Van Lines, persist in such a high-risk sport? After all, the monetary rewards were not predominant for him, because it cost several hundred thousand dollars to campaign a boat for a season, and the most the team could hope to make from prize money was about $125,000.

The lure was speed, certainly. But more, as Muncey put it two years ago, when he acknowledged that a racing person in his fifties is not the norm.

''It sounds irresponsible,'' he continued, ''but I don't feel that way. I'm feeling strong, and I expect to be competitive. There is still the child in me; I like to run and play like all the other kids.''

Chenoweth Wins Hydroplane Cup

Reprinted from The New York Times, August 10, 1981

SEATTLE, Wash. (AP) —  Chenoweth, driving Miss Budweiser, set lap and heat records as he won his second consecutive Gold Cup regatta for unlimited hydroplanes today. It was the fourth Gold Cup victory for Chenoweth.

Dean Chenoweth in Miss Budweiser (left) leads John Walters in Pay 'n Pak (right)
out of turn four during the final head of the Gold Cup on Seattle, Wash.

Pay 'n Pak finished second after challenging for four laps in the six-lap championship heat. Chenoweth finished with a record average speed of 123.814 miles per hour for the 15-mile heat. John Walters, in Pay 'n Pak, finished with an average speed of 122.223 m.p.h. The old record was set by Chenoweth last year at 117.391 m.p.h.

Chenoweth also set a lap record of 127.728 m.p.h. in the final heat, breaking Bill Muncey's record of 124.309 m.p.h. in 1977. The race was run in near-100-degree temperature on Lake Washington.

Turbos could steal the show in Pasco — Heerensperger

By Del Danielson
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, July 3, 1974

The first four races on the 1974 unlimited-hydroplane calendar have been strictly Pay 'n Pak — Budweiser duels, but the owners of the front-running Pak think the next outing could be won by an of one of a half dozen boats.

"I think there are six boats that could win in Pasco," Dave Heerensperger said earlier this week after returning from Detroit, where his boat ran second to the Bud.

Despite the dominance of the Budweiser and his Pak, Heerensperger feels "this is the best field I've ever seen." The affable owner thinks the turbine-powered U-95, Miss U.S., Atlas Van Lines, or Lincoln Thrift could steal the show from the two boats which, together, have triumphed in 11 straight hydro starts over the past two years.

Next stop is the World Championship Regatta on the Columbia River at Pasco, July 21.

"The water will be better in Pasco," Heerensperger said. "That's always a great course and we had the usual junk water back east."

The U.S., Atlas and Lincoln Thrift are powered by turbocharged Allison engines. That's why Heerensperger feels they have a chance at victory.

"They've got to have more power than we've got - if everything is running right," said Heerensperger, who hinted that he might be thinking about the turbo setup as a future power plant for his boat.

So far, the turbos have been plagued by minor engine problems. "If they get everything worked out, they're plenty tough," the Pak owner added.

For now, Heerensperger will stick with the Rolls engines which have pushed his boat 56 points ahead of the Bud in the race for the national points championship. The Pak has 3,750 and the Bud 3,694.

George Henley, driver of the Pak, and Jim Lucero, crew chief, get the lion's share of the credit for the success of the Pak.

"George is some kind of driver," Heerensperger said. "He does everything we ask, tells us exactly what we need to know about the handling of the boat out there. He really knows what he's doing.

"I tried to hire Dean Chenoweth who I think is the best driver in boat racing. But dean was tied to business commitments and can't drive for anybody.

"George has been a very pleasant surprise. he's going to be as good as Chenoweth. he's not very far from that right now, really."

The Pak owner beams when asked about Lucero. "He's an unbelievable guy as far as devotion and wanting to win and what he knows about hulls and engines. Jim and Dax Smith are the main engine guys for u and we haven't busted an engine yet."

Heerensperger has mixed emotions about the move of the Gold Cup from the Stan Sayres Park area to Sand Point.

"I think the idea is right to charge admission," he said. It's the only way to keep big-time boat racing here and build big purses.

"But the Sayres course is better. I don't know why they don't just invest $50,000 in a big snow fence and put it up every year down there and keep the people off the streets like they do in Madison, Ind.

"The pits are great and the course is ideal!"

The boss of the Pak team hedged on the number of "true" contenders for the Gold Cup. "I said six boats could win in Pasco. Well, I think it will be limited to few real contenders here because of the rough water at Sand Point. But I don't want to be too negative on the Sand Point thing because charging is the only way we can build big purses."

Heerensperger would like to see another Northwest race on the unlimited slate. "We need another race out here real bad. We've added races in San Diego and Phoenix and Jacksonville and Dayton, all over the place. Everybody wants us to come and race. But if we had another race in the Northwest I think we could get another four or five boats. The sponsors would go for it.

"Portland, Eugene, Coeur d'Alene or Spokane . . . I'd really like to get one going in Spokane. They tell me there might be room for a course on Long Lake."

Heerensperger is not so interested in adding a big-market site in California as he is in his home area, the Pacific Northwest. "This is where all the enthusiastic people are," he said.

"The interest in unlimited racing is here in the Northwest. It's like Class C baseball and the major leagues when you compare this area with the Eastern race cities.

"This is where it's at."

Heerensperger plans to be married on August 3, the eve of the Gold Cup race here.

"It's going to be one helluva weekend, I'll tell you that."

Pak's 122.616 is '74 top qualifying speed

Reprinted from The Seattle Times, September 21, 1974

SAN DIEGO — George Henley yesterday pushed the Pride of Pay 'n Pak to the fastest qualifying time of the current unlimited hydroplane season in qualifying for tomorrow's San Diego Cup regatta.

Henley qualified the Pak at 122.616 miles per hour, bettering his mark set on the Gold Cup course at Seattle by one-tenth of a mile per hour.

Yesterday saw Dean Chenoweth back in the cockpit of the Miss Budweiser, the boat he piloted to national honors in past seasons before retiring. Chenoweth returned to active duty as a hydro jockey when Howie Benns, Budweiser driver, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident earlier this month.

Chenoweth was on the course four times, but the best he could do in a qualifying run was 110.089 mph. He tried different propellers each time and still isn't satisfied he's found the proper one for the course here, which is considered to be the fastest on the circuit.

Qualifying speeds: Pay 'n Pak, 122.616; Valu-Mart, 120.321; Atlas Van Lines, 119.363; Red Man, 112.219; Miss Budweiser, 110.089; Sunny Jim, 101.810; Miss Technicolor, 100.223; and Kirby Classic, 98.908. Lincoln Thrift and Super Cinder have not qualified yet.

Dual at Columbia Cup

Tri Cities, 1981 — The Miss Budweiser, with Dean Chenoweth driving, takes out the Pay 'n Pak with a wide drift out in the last preliminary heat knocking the Pak out of the final heat. The Pak was running hot all day until this.

Photo by Bill Osborne

"It was both frustrating and encouraging," recalled Pak driver John Walters. "I think that was pretty much the first time in a while, and that year, that anyone had been able to run with Dean and the Bud, especially from the outside.

"It was not the first time that year that I had to deal with getting pushed around and bullied. In Evansville that year we were fast, setting qualifying, course, and world records. But we still had some handling issues in rough water. So in the final, Chip (Hanauer) took one turn, and Dean the other. They spent a good portion of the five minute period almost off plane circling to churn up the water."

"In Dean's defense", continued Walters, "something weird was going on in the engine for me that heat. There were times the engine would decelerate, and lack throttle response. It got worse in this turn, and at this point the engine went to ground idle, and it would not accelerate. At that time it is hard to steer.  Had this not happened, I would have drifted out with Dean and maintained the boat speed."

"We will never know if I would have been able to beat him off the pin to the finish line," continued Walters. "But that was my plan and thinking when we entered that last turn. And for the record, the p-3 line fitting on the fuel control broke. That was what was going on earlier in the heat and it failed here. "

"The move by Dean was not surprising to me," added Walters. "He would do that occasionally. It was especially effective in Detroit with the wall there."

Chenoweth, Bud win first Tri-Cities Gold Cup

Takes advantage when Pay ’n Pak breaks down with lead in the final.

Reprinted from Tri-City Herald, July19, 2015

July 22, 1973: The first Gold Cup race on the Columbia.

Dean Chenoweth picked up his second career Gold Cup victory, driving the Miss Budweiser to some record times.

The Bud set marks for a 15-mile heat race (111.386 mph) and for a 60-mile average (105.354 mph) as the Gold Cup was held on the Columbia River for the first time.

But it had to be the Pride of Pay ’n Pak and driver Mickey Remund as the oddsmaker’s favorite going into the final heat.

Remund had driven the Pak to first-place finishes in all three of his heats, giving the team a field-best 1,200 points entering the final.

Chenoweth and Bud, meanwhile, along with Bill Muncey and the Atlas Van Lines, each had 1,100 points after three heats, winning twice and placing second once.

In the final, Remund had the lead early and was dominating before the propeller broke on the Pak.

That left the battle for first between Chenoweth and Muncey, who were dueling hard for the lead.

But Chenoweth had the lead the entire way on Muncey, although the latter was always within a roostertail.

“I knew that if we pushed hard, somebody would have to break,” Chenoweth told the Herald after the race. “So I stuffed my foot into it and went as fast as I could.”

It was heartbreak for the Pak team, which lost the national high-points lead and headed to Seattle trailing the Bud by 100 points.

“I don’t know what happened,” Remund said after the race. “Everything from the gear box to the prop is destroyed. The damage is almost the same as we had in Detroit.”

Part of the prop flew off and gouged a hole in his boat.

Things would get better for Remund and the Pak, as the team eventually regained the national high-points lead and won the season championship.

Pak Breaks; Bud Wins Gold Cup

Reprinted from Pay 'n Pak Racing News, Volume V, Issue 2

The sun streaked, wind dappled Gold Cup course at the Tri-Cities on the Columbia was the elation of victory and the frustration of defeat for the Pride of Pay 'n Pak.

In front of over 80,000 sun burned spectators Mickey Remund, who had qualified the Pride of Pay 'n Pak at 124.310 mph on Thursday, drove her to three straight heat victories Sunday and to a great 7 second lead in lap 2 of the final Gold Cup heat, but then it happened.

As the Pak, apparently hitting something or breaking a prop, tore a hole in the bottom of the boat.

Dean Chenoweth in the Budweiser (last year's Pride of Pay 'n Pak) drove on by and to final victory. But not until he had held off 2 screaming challenges by veteran Bill Muncey in last year's champion boat, Atlas Van Lines.

After setting the qualifying record (earlier in the week) the Pak and Mickey Remund set a new Gold Cup lap and heat record in easily winning heat 1A. Budweiser can back to beat that record in heat 3A in a head-to-head duel with Atlas Van Lines. Budweiser bested the record by only 24/1000th of a mph (110.929 over 110.909).

In a torrid final heat Pay 'n Pak broke the one lap record on a 2½ mile Gold Cup course with a streaking 119.691 and the "white machine" was on its way to a new heat record when she faltered in a shower of spray went dead in the water.

At the start of the final Gold Cup heat (with a perfect 3 for 3 record and 1200 points) the Pak had a slim lead in lane 2 as the thunderboats hit the line with Budweiser just to the outside and Pizza Pete in the No. 1 inside lane.

Remund came out of the first turn in front and by the second turn had built up a six or seven second lead. In the process he smashed the Gold Cup single lap record (119.691 mph).

By then Budweiser was second, Atlas Van Lines third and Pizza Pete and Notre Dame battling for 4th.

Dean Chenoweth in the Bud leaped in front as Remund and the Pak went dead in the water and never lost the lead. Muncey and the Atlas made a real challenge midway in the heat and closed within three seconds on the third lap but finally pulled off.

The eventual victory boosted Budweiser into the national points leading by a very slim 100 points. The see-saw battle for points lead saw Pak over Bud by 200 points coming into the Gold Cup.

The outcome recalled the Pasco Atomic Cup race of 1972 when the Pride of Pay 'n Pak had apparently had it all won and just as she crossed the finish line Bob Gilliam was tossed out of Pizza Pete and the final heat had to be rerun. In the rerun... (well in the lead) the Pak blew an engine and had to be towed back to the pits.

Mickey Remund - Good Sportsman!

When the Pride of Pay 'n Pak went dead in the water in the second lap of the final heat of the Gold Cup Sunday and Mickey Remund realized his boat was sinking he had the perfect right to jump in the water, stop the race and force a rerun.

But, accessing the damage properly, he stayed aboard and frantically waved off the rescue boats allowing the race to finish.

As the final checkered flag was flashed for Budweiser the Pak's "wing" was already under water. It was close!

Was it worth the risk? Mickey thought so, as he put it on KORD radio, "I believe we'd stay up long enough to finish the race, I would hate to be the one to stop the race 'cause something even worse could have happened in the rerun."

The fact that Mickey had a hole in his boat that couldn't have been fixed for a restart and the fact that he didn't sink entirely before the course closed and help got to him doesn't take too much away from Mick. When you're responsible for such a valuable piece of property any such decision has to be hard to make. As Mickey put it, "If it looked like we'd lose the boat I'd have been wet in a second and I knew the referee and judges were watching closely and had the flair guns in their hands."

"After all we want to get 'em at Seafair."

Top Hydros Ready for Final Duel

Special to The New York Times, Oct. 20, 1974

Pride of Pay 'N Pak and Miss Budweiser, the boats that have monopolized the winnings on the unlimited hydroplane circuit for the last two years, meet today in the final regatta of the season in Jacksonville, Fla.

George Henley has piloted Pay 'N Pak to a national high‐point total that Miss Budweiser cannot make up in this last race. Pay 'N Pak was the winner of the Gold Cup in Seattle two months ago. At the last meeting of the thunderboats, in Madison, Ind., last Sunday, they dueled to what has become their accustomed finish — Pay 'N Pak first, Miss Budweiser second.

Howie Benns, the 35‐year‐old rookie who piloted Miss Budweiser through most of this year, returned command of the boat to Dean Chenoweth after breaking both his legs in a motorbike accident in Phoenix last month. Chenoweth won the Gold Cup with Miss Budweiser last year.

Long Course Favors Miss Budweiser In Seafair Regatta

August 4, 1973. SEATTLE (AP) — It is widely believed among unlimited hydroplane experts that Seattle’s long course will benefit the Miss Budweiser in Sunday’s $50,000 Seafair Regatta.

The Lake Washington oval is three miles, compared to 2 1/2-mile courses for most races on the unlimited circuit. Budweiser, the theory goes, can accelerate to greater straightaway speeds than her chief rival, the Pay ’N Pak. It’s just that it takes the Bud longer to reach her top speed. Thus the longer the straight stretches—called chutes—the better the Bud’s chances.

On the other hand the Pay 'N Pak, aided by its horizontal stabilizer wing mounted above the stern, rides smoother and faster through the turns and hits her best straightaway speed earlier once out of the corner.

Budweiser owner Bernie Little, of Lakeland, Fla., is clearly among those who say the Bud’s performance will improve here Sunday.

"We’ve got chute speed we haven’t used yet," Little said Thursday after driver Dean Chenoweth qualified the beer wagon for Sunday’s race with an average of 121.901 miles per hour over two laps.

However Pay ’N Pak jockey Mickey Remund apparently doesn’t buy the whole thing. He followed the Bud’s qualifying run Thursday with a better 122.728 m.p.h. The Pak is a Seattle-based boat.

Other qualifiers after one day of time trials: Shakey’s Special of Seattle, 106.299; Atlas Van Lines, Detroit, 105.059; Miss U.S., Detroit, 102.762; Mister Fabricator, Carrollton, Ohio, 102.370; Red Man I Owensboro, Ky„ 102.344; Value Mark U-16, Seattle, 102.177 and Pizza Pete, Seattle, 100.022.

The Budweiser-Pay ’N Pak matchup should be the hottest on the course Sunday. Between them, the two boats have won five of the six regattas this season and are just 100 points apart in the 1973 point standings.

After winning the Gold Cup in Pasco, Wash., two weeks ago the Bud leads the field with 6,238 points. The Pak has 6,138.

Mickey Remund Drives Pay 'n Pak To Regatta Title

Out Duels Miss Budweiser For 22nd Governor’s Cup

By Mike Harris
Associated Press Sports Writer
July 9, 1973

MADISON, Ind. AP - Mickey Remund in the Pride of Pay ’N Pak smashed a series of records Sunday to win the 26th annual Madison Regatta unlimited hydroplane race.

The 34-year-old driver from Palm Desert, Calif., out dueled Miss Budweiser, driven by Dean Chenoweth of Xenia, Ohio, in the final 15-mile heat to win the 22nd Indiana Governor’s Cup.

A throng of more than 90,000 spectators, stretched along the Indiana and Kentucky banks of the Ohio River, watched in sweltering 90-degree temperatures as Pay ‘N Pak retained its lead in the American Power Boat Association standings.

Both Pay ‘N Pak, and Miss Bud won a pair of preliminary races easily to go into the championship run tied with 800 points. The two thunderboats ran side by side for the first 1 1/2 laps of the six-lap final run before Miss Bud momentarily lost power in the downstream turn of the second lap and fell behind for good.

It was the second victory of the season for Pay ‘N Pak and snapped Miss Budweiser’s string of victories at two.

Pay ‘N Pak’s final margin was one-half lap. Lincoln Thrift was third with rookie Danny Walls of Bellevue, Ky., at the wheel. The other two boats in the final heat—Red Man, driven by Jim McCormick of Owensboro, Ky., and Mr. Fabricator, driven by rookie Tom Kaufman of Carrollton, Ohio, suffered engine problems and failed to finish.

Pay ‘N Pak broke Madison 2 1/2-mile course records for one lap, a 15-mile heat and 45 miles for three heats.

Remund drove his Rolls Royce-powered machine to victory in the day’s first heat at an average speed of 104.126 m.p.h, erasing the old mark of 104.026 by Jack Regas in Notre Dame in 1968.

The new record, however, fell in Remund’s next run. He toured the course at 106.888 m.p.h. and established a one lap standard of 112.080, shattering the 109.489 turned in by Bill Muncey and the Atlas Van Lines two years ago.

Pay ’N Pak won $4,275 of the $25,000 total purse to push its season earnings to $18,375. Miss Budweiser picked up $3,150 for second place and remained the top money winner on the power boat circuit this year with $18,600. Remund and his boat now have a total of 4,938 points this year to 4,738 for Miss Budweiser.

The thunderboats now head for Kennewick, Was., and the Gold Cup race on the Columbia River July 22.