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.

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.

1973 Pay 'N Pak

By Ken Muscatel, Pacific Northwest Chapter, ACBS

It remains one of the most popular unlimited hydroplanes ever built. To this day, the deck-to-deck duels between “The Pak” and “The Bud” remain legendary. Dave Heerensberger’s Pay ’N Pak was as revolutionary in its design and construction techniques as it was popular for the futuristic wing on the back and big orange letters painted across the deck. Designer Ron Jones insisted the boat utilize a horizontal wing at the transom to assist in the craft’s high-speed stability.

1973 Pay 'n Pak

The cockpit was situated higher than those of contemporary unlimiteds, offering the driver exceptional visibility. The Pay ’N Pak also set itself apart as the first unlimited to be constructed using honeycomb aluminum—a strong, lightweight material developed for use in the aircraft industry. The result was a hull lighter, stronger and faster. At times, it seemed virtually untouchable.

1973 UIM World Championship

Between 1973 and 1976 the hull won four consecutive National Championships under the Pay 'N Pak and Atlas Van Lines names. Drivers Mickey Remund, ‘Smilin’ George Henley, and Bill Muncey found the winners circle 21 times, dominating during one of the most competitive eras in hydroplane racing. Facing worthy opponents like Miss Budweiser, Weisfield's, Miss. U.S., and Lincoln Thrift the boat usually lost only when suffering some kind of mechanical issue. So good was the boat ride that upon his first time in the hull, Bill Muncey chided previous driver George Henley for not winning more races with it. Ron Snyder achieved its 22nd and final victory for the Miss Madison team in 1983 as the Miss Rich Plan.

2017 Tri-Cities, WA

After retiring from competition halfway through the 1988 season, the hull was stored indoors until acquired by Ken Muscatel in 2012. The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum undertook a thorough, three year restoration back to its Pay ’N Pak configuration, making its public debut in 2017.

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 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.

The sport meets a “Winged Wonder”

Reprinted from Unlimited NewsJournal, January 2019

The tranquility of Stan Sayres Park was interrupted on the afternoon of April 9, 1973, when a crowd of hydroplane groupies and reporters gathered to witness the christening of a craft that promised to introduce the latest in hydroplane technology: a boat named Pay 'n Pak.

Dave Heerensperger, owner, Mickey Remund, driver, and Jim Lucero at the unveiling the revolutionary new Pay 'n Pak hydroplane in 1973. The "Winged Wonder" was the first hydroplane constructed of Hexcel honeycomb aluminum and to sport a horizontal stabilizer wing.

A few details about the new boat began to emerge from Ron Jones’ Costa Mesa, California, shop while the thing was still under construction early in 1973. A press release said that it would be “new and revolutionary” and that it would look like Heerensperger’s previous boat, but much stronger and with other changes, such as aerodynamic cowlings.

But, the biggest innovation was under the deck. The entire structure was built with a strong but lightweight material called Hexcel, a sort of aluminum sandwich, thin sheets of the metal on the top and the bottom and a core made of aluminum and set in a honeycomb pattern.

As the boat arrived for the christening, the crowd saw that it had a wedge shape, an effect created by the aerodynamic cowling that seemed to enclose the cockpit more than usual. The color scheme also was eye-catching, brilliant white decks with the name “Pay 'n Pak” painted in large orange and black letters.

What really caught their eye, though, was something that hadn’t been discussed in the accounts of the boat’s construction: a wing.

Standing about five feet above the deck and resting atop two vertical tails was a horizontal stabilizer, a four-foot wide slab of Hexcel, plastic, and epoxy that was as long as the transom was wide.

Through Heerensperger’s most successful years of racing hydroplanes, Jim Lucero was there at his side as his crew chief. Known as one of the most innovative technicians the sport has ever known, Lucero washed parts for the Notre Dame crew in 1965, served on the crew of the radical Smirnoff, then joined the Heerensperger team midway through the 1970 season. The following winter, at only 24 years old, Lucero led the effort to transform the Pride of Pay ‘n Pak to Rolls Merlin power and would thereafter play a key role in fulfilling each novel idea Heerensperger would have until he left the sport in 1982.

According to crew chief Jim Lucero, who played a significant role in the boat’s design, the wing had two purposes: to add some lift to the rear of the boat and provide the hull better directional stability and control.

It also grabbed attention.

Fans argued over the merits of the wing. Would it cause the boat to become airborne? Would it come off when the boat hit high speed or ran into a large swell? It was just the kind of debate the sponsor side of Heerensperger dreamed about.

During a boat’s first season, especially a boat as innovative as Pay 'n Pak, there typically is a period of fine-tuning. The crew will try different props, shift the weight around, and make small changes to the sponsons. So, while the Pay 'n Pak team and the boat’s driver, Mickey Remund, worked on these things in 1973, their chief nemesis was their old boat, now painted Budweiser gold, red, and white and with Dean Chenoweth back in the team’s cockpit.

Remund and Chenoweth were locked in a struggle throughout the 1973 campaign. The Pay 'n Pak won the first race it entered, the Champion Spark Plug Regatta in Miami, then Chenoweth took his turn at the winner’s circle. And, so it went all year, with both boats winning four races. but, in the end, when all the points were tallied, Pay 'n Pak came out on top by a mere 275 points, giving Dave Heerensperger his first national championship.

Although the points race had been close, the record book was one-sided in favor of the new hydro. During the year, Pay 'n Pak had shattered 26 of 29 existing speed records.

George Henley was the most successful driver Heerensperger would have, winning a total of 12 races.
Photo by Bill Osborne.

In the years that followed, the Winged Wonder would win another national title in 1974 with George Henley behind the wheel and another the following year with Henley and Jim McCormick
sharing the driving duties. In three years of racing, the boat had won a total of 16 races.

Heerensperger pulled off another stunning deal after the 1975 season, this time selling his entire team to Bill Muncey. With the boat’s new owner behind the wheel in 1976, it won its fourth straight national title, this time with the name Atlas Van Lines painted on its hull.

In 1977, while Muncey raced a new boat, the Winged Wonder appeared in the two Pacific Northwest races as the Pay 'n Pak, but was showing its age. The sponsons came apart twice. Then it was sold to the City of Madison, Indiana, and spent the next 11 seasons as either the Miss Madison or carrying the names of various sponsors.

Remund 1st; Muncey 5th

MIAMI — (Special) — Mickey Remund wasn't satisfied with going Bill Muncey one better. He had to rub it in a little.

Remund, getting his first assignment in a "real" unlimited hydroplane, yesterday outgunned Muncey for the Champion Regatta trophy and twice broke a course record set by the defending national champion.

Remund, Garden Grove, Calif., piloted the Seattle-based Pride of Pay 'n Pak to three easy heat wins and a 1,200-point sweep against seven competitors in Marine Stadium.

Remund won Heat 1A with a record 106.867 miles-an-hour average. In Head 2B, Remund zipped around the 2½-mile course even faster, setting the standard at 111.150 m.p.h. Muncey, who won six of last season's seven races, provided Remund a target with a 05.448 heat last year.

In the final, Remund slowed to 102.389 m.p.h., but was not pushed after Muncey's Atlas Van Lines stalled on the third lap.

Remund, who had a "cup of coffee" in the underpowered Van's P-X a few years back, established himself as the 1973 favorite with his immediate success in the new Pay 'n Pak.

Yesterday's regatta was the first for the new Ron Jones-designed hull, owned by Dave Heerensperger of Mercer Island. The last time a boat won it's first race was in 1959 when Chuck Hickling captured the Apple Cup with the Miss Pay 'n Save.

Heerensperger, a fierce competitor, was more than pleased with the win, which earned his camp $5,445.

"We've got one that Muncey's gonna chase all year, I hope," Heerensperger said after his boat crossed the finish line.

The Pay 'n Pak utilizes a horizontal stabilizer bar — a "bat wing" — on the tail fin to smooth out cornering.

"I think we will see a lot of those wings being built in the next 30 days," Buddy Byers, unlimited commissioner, said while congratulating Heerensperger.

George Henley of Eatonville, driving the Lincoln Thrift, placed second with 900 points on three second place finishes. Henley earned $4,095 for Bob Fendler, owner of the Lincoln.

Jim McCormick of Owensboro, Ky., was third with his Red Man (former Hallmark Homes).

Dean Chenoweth of Xenia, Ohio, was a disappointed fourth in the Budweiser.

Muncey's 300 points for a second in Heat 1A stood up for fifth overall.

Bill Wurster, in Bob Gilliam's Valu-Mart, and Charlie Dunn, in the Miss Madison, tied for sixth with 225 points each.

The unlimited fleet now heads for Washington, D.C., and the President's Cup on the Potomic River, June 2-3.

Fastest Lap Time

MIAMI, FLA., May 17, 1973 (AP WIREPHOTO)

FASTEST LAP TIME

Pay 'n Pak, an unlimited hydroplane of radical design, from Seattle, Washington, and driven by Mickey Remund, of Palm Desert, California, as it set an unofficial lap record of 119.1 m.p.h. in Miami's Marine Stadium. The boats are testing in preparation for Sunday's $25,000 Champion Spark Plug Unlimited Regatta with ten Super Speed hydros competing over a 2½ course.

Henley, Pak 'boys' do it again

By Chuck Ashmun
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 4, 1975

George Henley wrapped up the Seafair Trophy by driving the patched-up Pay 'n Pak to a
second-place finish in the final heat of unlimited-hydroplane racing yesterday on Lake Washington.
Weisfield's, piloted by Billy Schumacher, took the final heat, but the Pak increased its national point
lead by picking up 1,100 points during the afternoon.

Ho hum . . . just another race.

The Seafair Trophy Race had two fires, two accidents, a rhubarb, many mechanical casualties, a near drowning, and . . .

George Henley and Pay 'n Pak won.

If all of that seems familiar, it's because there have been controversies, collisions, infernos and conk-out hydroplanes before.

And Henley, Mr. Nice Guy on the roostertail roster, also was the winner of last year's hydro happening here.

"The boys did their work," Henley said. "That's why we won today. That's why we've been winning."

Yesterday, however, it took more than an oil change by Henley's "boys," the Pay 'n Pak crew put the bandaged Pak on top of the pack in a accident filled regatta.

"It'll take two weeks of work to repair the back end," said Dave Heerensperger, Pak owner, as he surveyed the damaged boat.

"We just patched it up, as well as the sponson, before heats."

Heerensperger, whose hydros have won three straight Seattle races and four of the past five here, was asked: "Do you own this water?"

"I can't walk on it," he replied.

Henley won with handicaps. The Eatonville driver crossed the starting line early, with his boat already damaged, in the first heat race of the day.

And he finished the final heat with the engine leaking oil.

In addition to collecting his fourth consecutive triumph, Henley put the Pak farther ahead of the Weisfield's in their season-long struggle for the national championship.

Pay 'n Pak picked up 1,100 points yesterday, while Weisfield's, which finished second, collected 1,025. The Pak's point total, with two races remaining, is 6,964. Weisfield's has 6,813.

The attrition rate much have been embarrassing to race sponsors. Nine boat — the smallest field since 1954 — started. Five finished.

After two heats of racing, only three boats had scored a point. And nine crews found the whole day point-less because of mechanical malfunctions.

Drivers were so eager to get going they took to the water about 2½ hours early — that is, five unqualified  throttle pushers attempted to qualify before the scheduled noon start, violating Seafair's contract with the city by doing so.

All that resulted from that impropriety was that Tom Kaufman, owner-driver of Mr. Fabricator, suffered shoulder and arm burns when his craft caught fire near the start-finish line.

The qualifiers also were too eager to get started. As they swarmed into the north turn, vying for position in the opening heat, Pay 'n Pak and Hamm's Beer collided, causing the damage which kept Henley's crew busy.

Still eager, four drivers crossed the starting line prematurely, leaving Bill Muncey, in Atlas Van Lines, as the only legal starter.

But Muncey's thirsty engine couldn't tolerate such a gift. He ran out of fuel nearing the finish line of the final lap, even though his crew had pumped 100 gallons into the boat which usually carries 80.

Muncey got the black flag, since his boat was creating a wake. Henley, penalized a lap for jumping the gun, scooted around the course a sixth time to take the checkered flag.

The next fire broke out on the Miss U.S. — the second time in as many years George Simon's boat had burned here.

This time, the firefighters got there quicker, but not before the cockpit was destroyed. The driver, Tom D'Eath, blown out of the cockpit by the explosion, was rescued from the water, unhurt.

That blaze delayed the start of Heat 2B, the only heat in which fans got excited about a two-boat duel.

Mickey Remund, Miss Budweiser's pilot, caught up with the Pak in the second lap and engaged in a brief battle before pulling up lame with a broken propeller

Except for that skirmish, and a brief Lincoln Thrift-Weisfield's exchange in Heat 2A, the racing was confined to fans dashing towards their cars after the regatta.

How many were there? Probably no more than one-fourth of the pre-race prediction of 200,000.

The other accident, which led to the controversy, came in the last heat.

Lincoln Thrift, which could have won the regatta by winning the final dash, got washed down as Milner Irvin fought for survival in a south-turn lane-changing incident.

The water blew off Irvin's windshield and face guard, injuring the driver and knocking the Thrift out of contention. But no foul was called.

Weisfield's won the final heat. Pay 'n Pak was second, but Henley had enough points accumulated to take the trophy.

Few fans seemed upset with the outcome — even though the winner of the last heat did not win the race.

It has happened before — at three other regattas this season.

And this was just one more race.

Pak owner, driver reach $ impasse; Remund out

Reprinted from The Seattle Times, September 26, 1973

Associated Press — An impasse in contract negotiations probably will keep Mickey Remund, national unlimited-hydroplane championship driver, away from the controls of the Pay 'n Pak next summer, Dave Heerensperger, the boat's owner, said yesterday.

Heerensperger, who said he's "in the market for a new driver," said Remund had demanded a 400 percent salary hike and call the demand a case of "the tail wagging the dog."

"I'm a hard-nosed guy. If I make an offer and my driver doesn't accept it, well that's it," he said in Seattle. "I'm still running the show."

He said he and his crew chief have not gone beyond the initial look at five prospective drives but added, "I don't think we'll have any trouble finding the right driver, with a national-championship boat and a great crew."

Remund, 36, had an established record as a limited-hydro pilot before joining the Pay 'n Pak team. The machinist from Palm Desert, Calif., was chosen to replace Billy Sterett, who retired from racing last year.

Remund named Pak driver

By Del Danielson
Reprinted from The Seattle Times, April 9, 1973

Mickey Remund, who gained his boat-racing fame in the cockpit of a 5-liter limited hydroplane, will pilot the unlimited Pride of Pay 'n Pak during the 1973 season.

The announcement that Remund will drive the Pride came at a press conference at noon today, but Remund has been employed by the Pay 'n Pak camp for several months. The Pride is fresh out of the shop, and Remund has been working with Ron Jones, the build, during construction.

Remund left for southern California after testing the Pride on Lake Washington this afternoon. He will attend his mother's funeral tomorrow, then return the Pacific Northwest. The Pride is scheduled for more testing — on the Columbia River at Pasco — later this week.

Three drivers saw duty in the Pride of Pay 'n Pak last summer. Bill Sterett, Sr., took over one race with Billy Schumacher quit at midseason. Billy Sterett was the pilot for the final three races of the year and wan the Washington D.C. President's Cup.

The Sterett family — including Billy's brother, Terry — has retired from unlimited racing.

This is not the first unlimited ride for Remund. He way limited duty in the Van's P-X in 1970 and '71.

Remund, of Garden Grove, Calif., holds the world straightaway record in the 5-liter class. In November, 1971, Remund pushed the Jones-designed Going Thing to 152.130 miles an hour through the kilo traps at Parker, Ariz.

On several occasions, Remund and the Going Thing were "over" the world competition record, only to stall because of mechanical failure. Two near misses were on Green Lake the past two summers.

"This is something I've wanted for quite a while," Remund said yesterday. "I really liked driving the Going Thing, but a guy can't make a living in a 5-liter."

"I think the Pride of Pay 'n Pak will be competitive in its first year. Jones builds a great boat, and the crew is top-notch. If we get enough testing time in, I think we can have the bugs worked out by Miami."

The unlimited season will begin May 20 in Miami's Marine Stadium.

"During testing, it really helps to have a regulation course set up. They've got that in Pasco, so we'll do a lot of work over there."

Remund's appointment fills the unlimited fleet's last vacancy for the coming season.

Ron Larsen, once the driver of the Pride of Pay 'n Pak, will pilot the Notre Dame. Dean Chenoweth, last year's Notre Dame driver, has returned to the Budweiser camp.

Bill Muncey, 1972 national champion, will return with the Atlas Van Lines. The backup Atlas of last season, still looking for a 1973 sponsor, will  make a the full circuit with Fred Alter at the wheel.

Charlie Dunn will again be the Miss Madison chauffeur. Jim McCormick hopes to compete at all '73 regattas, but is looking for a sponsor. Timex bailed out as McCormick's sponsor after last season.

Bill Wurster, a rookie last year will return in Bob Gilliam's Valu-Mart.

Remund's Hydroplane Wins At Record Speed in Miami

May 20, 1973, MIAMI (AP) —Mickey Remund established stadium record of 111.150 miles an hour in his Pay ‘n Pak unlimited hydroplane today on the way to capturing the $25,000 Champion Spark Plug Regatta.

Dean Chenoweth in Miss Budweiser holds the inside lane on Mickey Remund
in Pay 'n Pak as the pair go around the first turn at Miami's Marine Stadium.

George Henley, driving the Lincoln Thrift and Loan, was second and Jim McCormick finished third in his Red Man. The defending regatta and national champion,. Bill Muncey, was forced out of the race with engine trouble and minor injuries. He was treated for facial burns after being covered with hot oil from his engine.

Remund broke the previous record for the 2½-mile course twice. In the first heat he clocked a speed of 106.867 m.p.h., which also broke the mark of 105.448 m.p.h. set last year by Muncey.

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.

Muncey, No Longer No. 1, Will Try Harder

By Parton Keese
Reprinted by The New York Times, June 3, 1973

The question this year in unlimited hydroplanes is: Can Bill Muncey come back? Last year the question was: Can Bill Muncey be stopped? He wasn't much last year — winning every race except one in the Atlas Van Lines boat, but this year Muncey was beaten in the opening race at Miami after an extra curricular effort in an outboard had resulted in several broken ribs.

With at least eight of the 200-mile-an-hour thunderboats convening on the Potomac River in Washington this weekend for the President's Cup regatta, the new hero, so far, is Mickey Remund. He won the Champion Spark Plug regatta in Miami and set a course record doing so, 119.363 miles an hour for one lap and 119.048 for a five-lap average.

Remund has the helm of Pride of Pay 'n Pak, the new Ron Jones‐design. Also in the race are the two hydros that gave Remund his toughest competition before succumbing to engine trouble: Miss Budweiser (last year's Pride of Pay 'n Pak) and Lincoln Thrift, now with a new driver, Gene Whipp of Dayton, Ohio.

Others running are Gale's Roostertail, Red Man, Notre Dame (new driver, Ronnie Larson), Miss Madison and Atlas, with Muncey reportedly recovered from his wounds. Not entered are Miss U.S. and Valu-Mart.

For a new boat on the seven-race circuit, victory in the first regatta is a surprise, while a record is shocking. There were even a few snickers in the pits when the Pay 'n Pak crew announced that the low-profile pickle hull had been clocked unofficially at 119 miles an hour-plus on her first practice run.

“Don't you think that's exaggerating just a little bit?” replied one of the other drivers. This is a pretty tight course. Are you trying to tell me Remund broke Muncey's record by an honest 6 miles an hour?”

Mickey answered his critics later, of course, when he made the record official. Although Muncey drove despite his aching body, Pay 'n Pak's most serious challenger turned out to be Dean Chenoweth, the former national champion, in Budweiser.

In the second heat at Miami, Remund and Chenoweth tangled in a thrilling three-lap duel, which ended when the Bud's engine blew in a sheet of flames on the back stretch.

In the Atlas Van lines camp, there were signs that all was not well beside Muncey. The new fuel-injection system developed by Jim Kerth and Lee Schoenith, the owner, was one source of problems.

“With the cold weather we've been having up in Detroit,” Schoenith said, “we have not had a chance to do enough testing. I would say that we're 90-percent home free, and I'm sure we'll have it worked out as the season goes on.”

Another new boat that has caught spectators' attention is Lincoln Thrift, a turbocharged cabover design. Although it had its problems trying not to spin out on the tight Miami Stadium turns, it is tremendously fast. If Lincoln can straighten out and Budweiser's engine holds up and Pay 'N Pak continues hot and Muncey gets back in the winning groove, the Potomac could be boiling before the day is over.

Winged Pay ‘n Pak Sets Record in Regatta Victory

July 9, 1973, MADISON, Ind. (UPI) - The winged Pay 'n Pak dominated the field Sunday to win the Indiana Governor's Cup for unlimited hydroplanes. The $25,000 cup race is the main prize at the two-day Madison Regatta on the Ohio River.

An estimated 100,000 spectators lined the Indiana and Kentucky shorelines to watch the event in sunny, 90-degree weather.

Pay 'n Pak, driven by Mickey Remund, Palm Desert, Calif., roared to a record 104.106 miles per hour to finish one-half lap ahead of Miss Budweiser in second place.

The two "thunderboats" were tied entering the 15-mile finale after each picked up a pair of heat victories. Miss Budweiser was driven by Dean Chenoweth, Xenia, Ohio. Third in the five-boat final was Lincoln Thrift, followed in fourth by Redman and in fifth by Mr. Fabricator.

Pay 'n Pak accumulated 1,200 points for the afternoon with Budweiser getting 1,100. Lincoln Thrift had 675, Redman 525 and Mr. Fabricator 469.

At the start of the last race, it appeared the final heat would be a head-to-head showdown between Pay 'n Pak and Budweiser. Chenoweth took the lead at the gun but Remund brought his boat alongside as the two battled the entire first lap.

But Miss Budweiser stalled on the second lap and Pay 'n Pak shot into the lead for good. The Budweiser driver said after the race that his boat was having carburetor problems and the engine was getting too much fuel.

Remund also had a difficult time. In the final heat when two of the three spokes on his steering wheel broke. The first broke prior to the race and the second on the backstretch of the first lap.

"When we ran that first lap almost side by side, the steering thing was all I could think about," he said. "If I'd lost control, I would have crashed into him since he was right beside me."

Despite performing well in qualifications, Miss Madison had her problems, finishing fifth in the first heat and third in the second and did not make the final race of the day. Sentimental favorite and community-owned Miss Madison was sixth with 352 points earned in heat races.

Gale's Roostertail was seventh with 300. Valu-Mart and Atlas Van Lines competed, but failed to score.

Atlas was the defending Regatta champ and the No. 1 boat in the American Power Boat Association races last season. But driver Bill Muncey, San Diego, Calif., experienced mechanical problems all week and his craft went dead in the water while leading a preliminary heat.

Pay 'n Pak passed Muncey and Atlas en route to a record 106.888 winning average in that heat.

Mechanical problems plagued many of the other boats in the nine craft event, but there were no accidents or sinkings.

Earlier in the week Pay 'n Pak, the first "thunderboat" to utilize the stabilizer wing, roared to a qualifying record on the 2½-mile Ohio River course. Remund posted a 115.908 clocking Thursday.

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."

Stabilizer may not help Pay 'n Pak

PASCO, Wash., July 21, 1973 (AP) - Mickey Remund, driver of the baddest boat on the unlimited hydroplane circuit, says he's not sure the Pay 'n Pak's unique stabilizer has contributed to its success this year.

The eight-foot-long wing-like bar is mounted over the tail of the Seattle based Pay 'n Pak, current national point leader, in an attempt to provide a smoother ride for the hard-charging boat that reaches speeds of 160 miles an hour in the straight-aways.

Remund and the Pak - a new boat this year - are the favorites for Sunday's Gold Cup Regatta on the Columbia River.

"It's a good conversation piece," Remund said in an interview Friday. "It may not be helping us at all. We don't know. We think it is.

"When the season's over, we hope to take the stabilizer off and try the boat without it, just to see what happens."

Remund made clear that he thinks the boat runs smoother because of the stabilizer. It's just that he's not sure if it runs faster.

The Pak leads the list of 10 thunderboats that qualified for Sunday's race as of Friday night. Remund, of Palm Desert, Calif., averaged 124.310 m.p.h. for two qualifying laps this week - a new Gold Cup and course record.

The next closest qualifier is the Atlas Van Lines of Detroit, driven by Bill Muncey, at 116.863 for two laps.

The other eight qualifiers as of Friday night were Pizza Pete of Seattle; Miss Budweiser of Lakeland, Fla.; Lincoln Thrift of Phoenix, Ariz.; Miss Madison of Madison, Ind.; Shakey's Special of Seattle; Valu Mart U16 of Seattle; Notre Dame of Seattle, and Mr. Fabricator of Carrollton, Ohio.

Three other boats were in the pits Friday but failed to qualify. They will get another chance Saturday. They are Miss U.S. of Detroit, the Valu Mart U21, and Murphy's Marina of Seattle.

Two other boats, both named Red Man in honor of the chewing tobacco that sponsors them, are reportedly en route to the Gold Cup site. Their appearance would bring the field to 15, the largest Gold Cup fleet since 1967, long time hydro enthusiasts say.

Pay ‘n Pak Victor

MADISON, Ind., July 8, 1973 (AP) —Mickey Remund, driving Pay ‘n Pak, won the 26th annual Madison Regatta for unlimited hydroplanes today.

Mickey Remund pilots the Pay 'n Pak to victory at Madison.

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 22d Indiana Governor's Cup.

More than 90,000 spectators lined the Indiana and Kentucky banks of the Ohio River in 90‐degree heat and watched as Pay ‘n Pak retained its lead in the American Power Boat Association standing.

Both Pay ‘n Pak and Miss Budweiser easily won a pair of preliminary races and went into the championship run tied with 800 points. The two thunderboats had run side by side for the 1½ laps of the six‐lap final before Miss Budweiser 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 half a lap. Lincoln Thrift was third with a rookie, Danny Walls of Bellevue, Ky., at the controls. The other two boats in the final heat—Red Man, driven by Jim McCormick of Owensboro, Ky., and Mr. Fabricator, driven by a rookie, Tom Kaufman of Carrollton, Ohio, suffered engine problems and failed to finish.