Miss Eagle Electic with Col. Warner Gardner as the driver won the following races in 1968...
6-2-68 Dixie Cup (Guntersville AL) - first race of the year.
7-21-68 Atomic Cup (Tri-Cities WA)
8-25-68 President's Cup (Washington DC) - I witnessed this one.
Two weeks later, while running 2nd in the closing moments of the final heat of the APBA Gold Cup (Detroit MI), Col Warner Gardner, the popular 52-year-old ex-fighter pilot, had a horrible crash and eventually died of the injuries sustained.
Its driver Col. Warner Gardner had perviously driven the Mariner Too (a different boat) to victory in the last race of the 1964 season - the San Diego Cup on 10-4-64.
He also drove the Miss Lapeer (also a different boat) to victory at the last race of the 1966 season - the Sacramento Cup on 10-2-66.
In 1968 he was driving the Miss Eagle Electric.
When I was 7 years old I remember watching this boat race.
Wasn't Eagle Electric the old Miss Spokane then became Miss Lapeer?
when I was a kid I would go down to the shop of Miss Spokane. Later I raced hydros! A dream come true. I was at the world championship in Lake tahoo in 1968. Such Crust was there, miss Excide, and Miss Bardahl, Ron Musson was my child hood hero.
Yes McKoosa, August 1968. I could hear her all the way in Kirkland. This boat won the first Tri-Cities race I attended in 1968. The crowd went wild for the hometown boat from nearby Spokane.
wow....this video shows what was great about Hydroplane racing in the 50s and 60s......the sound of that 12 cyl. Merlin makes the hair on my neck tingle......and, look at the nitrous fumes coming out of exhaust when it comes out of turn 2...man...that is so cool.....
I remember Miss Eagle Electric well. She never won any races of note, but was always a tough competitor. She always gave the top tier boats a run for their money and sometimes stole a heat away from them!
Let me tell you, we lived on Cheasty Blvd & when my brother & I heard the sond of those merlins we were off & running on our stingrays to the stan sayers pits for the day. Wow what a thrill.
I'm from the 70's era and continue to watch today, but any of you old-timers know whether these guys actually beat the straightaway speeds of today's boats? I mean, this guy has INSANE speed on the straights (200+?). And no cockpit? Absolutely insane.
I spent hours building little wooden hydros to tow behind my bike in the 60's and went to Seafair every year. The hydros were the coolest thing to happen every summer. Thanks for posting this.
Warner never knew the meaning of Holding Back!! He put me in the cockpit the day before the Detroit Gold Cup. I never saw him again. I will never forget Him or the U-25 Screaming Eagle. I still have the Miss Eagle Electric Shirt he Gave my Dad. I don't believe there are many of those around!
Hearing the supercharged RR powerplant, and seeing her rockin on the Hallet style drop sponsons out of the north turn takes me back too. I was born in '64 and lived up the hill from Seward Park. Back then, the roar of the thunderboats echoed through the neighborhood. And I could see a black speck in front of a long, white roostertail from my bedroom window. I was very, very young, but I can see it now.
@Spot712 Hey, that was a bad ass boat, my dad painted it!! he had a custom paint shop in compton ca.called cerny's custom paint, I think I was in like 5TH grade but ya, it was all kind of a gold--orange metalflake with the bird like tail I remember they had to modify the opening of the shop door to get it in the building! He (Dad) also painted the eagle electric top fuel dragster,with a matching paint scheme...Way cool!!
Miss Eagle Electic with Col. Warner Gardner as the driver won the following races in 1968...
6-2-68 Dixie Cup (Guntersville AL) - first race of the year.
7-21-68 Atomic Cup (Tri-Cities WA)
8-25-68 President's Cup (Washington DC) - I witnessed this one.
Two weeks later, while running 2nd in the closing moments of the final heat of the APBA Gold Cup (Detroit MI), Col Warner Gardner, the popular 52-year-old ex-fighter pilot, had a horrible crash and eventually died of the injuries sustained.
1969boss429mustang 2 months ago
In 1968 Col. Warner Gardner and the Miss Eagle Electric team was one of the top unlimited hydroplane racing teams that year.
They had won 3 of the 6 races going into the Gold Cup race in Detriot MI.
They were sitting second in points and had won an amazing 13 heats that year.
On 8-4-68 in Seattle WA they missed by a quarter of a second of tying the worlds record for one-lap on a three mile course.
They averaged 120.267mph the record was 120.536mph.
It was usually the fastest at the races.
1969boss429mustang 2 months ago
This is 1968 footage of the Miss Eagle Electric.
It was running a Rolls Royce engine.
Its driver Col. Warner Gardner had perviously driven the Mariner Too (a different boat) to victory in the last race of the 1964 season - the San Diego Cup on 10-4-64.
He also drove the Miss Lapeer (also a different boat) to victory at the last race of the 1966 season - the Sacramento Cup on 10-2-66.
In 1968 he was driving the Miss Eagle Electric.
When I was 7 years old I remember watching this boat race.
1969boss429mustang 2 months ago
Wasn't Eagle Electric the old Miss Spokane then became Miss Lapeer?
when I was a kid I would go down to the shop of Miss Spokane. Later I raced hydros! A dream come true. I was at the world championship in Lake tahoo in 1968. Such Crust was there, miss Excide, and Miss Bardahl, Ron Musson was my child hood hero.
scottwins2 5 months ago
New hydro's suck.
grapeview61 5 months ago
Yes McKoosa, August 1968. I could hear her all the way in Kirkland. This boat won the first Tri-Cities race I attended in 1968. The crowd went wild for the hometown boat from nearby Spokane.
finn409 5 months ago
This video is what unlimited hydroplane racing is all about.....
daveydaveblonde 7 months ago
Was this not the August 1968 morning the late,great Col.Warner Gardner set the qualifying or lap then record of 120 mph?
McKoosa 8 months ago
wow....this video shows what was great about Hydroplane racing in the 50s and 60s......the sound of that 12 cyl. Merlin makes the hair on my neck tingle......and, look at the nitrous fumes coming out of exhaust when it comes out of turn 2...man...that is so cool.....
daveydaveblonde 1 year ago
Incredible audio. Clearly they're winding that Rolls Royce out harder than the U3 does their Allisons (probably to help save con rods).
VMac822 1 year ago
Fantastic. I grew up in Lake City, close to Sand Point, and we could hear the hydros from there!
3650483 1 year ago
Hail to the Colonel, Warner Gardner!
DetroitDen 1 year ago
Comment removed
mack19751 1 year ago
I remember Miss Eagle Electric well. She never won any races of note, but was always a tough competitor. She always gave the top tier boats a run for their money and sometimes stole a heat away from them!
Greg98233 1 year ago
That is back when boats were boats. None of the whine like a jet stuff.
dawgdan1 1 year ago
LOUD. Allison? Rolls Royce sounds sweeter.
deepkeel65 1 year ago
Back when the balls were big!
Nitromethodic 1 year ago
Let me tell you, we lived on Cheasty Blvd & when my brother & I heard the sond of those merlins we were off & running on our stingrays to the stan sayers pits for the day. Wow what a thrill.
seahwak69 2 years ago
Comment removed
dooalittledippsy 2 years ago
I'm from the 70's era and continue to watch today, but any of you old-timers know whether these guys actually beat the straightaway speeds of today's boats? I mean, this guy has INSANE speed on the straights (200+?). And no cockpit? Absolutely insane.
weaselworden 2 years ago
Nothin like the sound of piston motors runnin from back in the day
Hoppitude 2 years ago
I spent hours building little wooden hydros to tow behind my bike in the 60's and went to Seafair every year. The hydros were the coolest thing to happen every summer. Thanks for posting this.
klokker0007 2 years ago
Nice! Nothing like the sound of a piss wound Supercharged Rolls Royce Hydroplane on Lake Washington. Doesn't seem like he was holding back much!!
donnyb2001 2 years ago
Warner never knew the meaning of Holding Back!! He put me in the cockpit the day before the Detroit Gold Cup. I never saw him again. I will never forget Him or the U-25 Screaming Eagle. I still have the Miss Eagle Electric Shirt he Gave my Dad. I don't believe there are many of those around!
wingverine 2 years ago
YES! Thanks for posting. Miss Eagle Electric 1968 Atomic Cup champ!
karmices 3 years ago
Gives me goosebumps!! We need the thunder back in the "thunderboats". Love the nitrous smoke coming out of the turn.
couleekurt 3 years ago
Great Video!!!! I haven't seen that footage of Scream'n Eagle before!! Look at the Colors of that boat He was on it Baby, listen to her Sing!!
wingverine 3 years ago
this takes me way back. wish they would still run the 3 mile course.there is only one lake washihgton.
desing500 3 years ago
Hearing the supercharged RR powerplant, and seeing her rockin on the Hallet style drop sponsons out of the north turn takes me back too. I was born in '64 and lived up the hill from Seward Park. Back then, the roar of the thunderboats echoed through the neighborhood. And I could see a black speck in front of a long, white roostertail from my bedroom window. I was very, very young, but I can see it now.
AtomicDawg713 3 years ago
Awesome video.
1967 I believe.
HVAC25000 3 years ago
1968
russ9358 3 years ago
Totally awesome,this would be great if someone made a replica of the screaming eagle and brought to vintage events.
Spot712 3 years ago 2
That is my Dream, I will be that Guy! Miss Eagle Electric will Scream AGAIN!!!
wingverine 3 years ago
@Spot712 Hey, that was a bad ass boat, my dad painted it!! he had a custom paint shop in compton ca.called cerny's custom paint, I think I was in like 5TH grade but ya, it was all kind of a gold--orange metalflake with the bird like tail I remember they had to modify the opening of the shop door to get it in the building! He (Dad) also painted the eagle electric top fuel dragster,with a matching paint scheme...Way cool!!
maykenbaykin 1 year ago