Lou fageol? who won the first race owned Bill Cantrell's Indy 500 car, Bill finished second to Lou in the heat in the video. I almost met Bill, he had a driveline shop in Madison Ind, I got to know his partner but never met Bill, just heard stories about him. He raced unlimiteded, raced the Indy 500, raced stockcars on Riverside I saw, and was a pro wresler and game warden, jeez Bill got around and lived to a ripe old age. poor guy missed out on meeting me.
Hey I was there for many of those races, unsure if I was there for this one. To this day I watch it on TV all day long. The old piston boats were noisier & much more exciting to watch than the new turbine powered boats. thank you for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was back in the days when hydroplane racing was a real endurance test- for the drivers as well as the boats. Ten(!) laps around the course for each heat...WOW!
I sure do miss the roar of the piston boats- REAL engines with REAL drivers braving the REAL elements of racing on the water at breakneck speed.
Lou fageol? who won the first race owned Bill Cantrell's Indy 500 car, Bill finished second to Lou in the heat in the video. I almost met Bill, he had a driveline shop in Madison Ind, I got to know his partner but never met Bill, just heard stories about him. He raced unlimiteded, raced the Indy 500, raced stockcars on Riverside I saw, and was a pro wresler and game warden, jeez Bill got around and lived to a ripe old age. poor guy missed out on meeting me.
505197 10 months ago
150mph, amazing machines
tHoM0r 1 year ago
Hey I was there for many of those races, unsure if I was there for this one. To this day I watch it on TV all day long. The old piston boats were noisier & much more exciting to watch than the new turbine powered boats. thank you for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
superskier 1 year ago
What a great video. Different boats, different world view, different country. Thanks for uploading.
klokker0007 1 year ago
Thanks a bazillion for uploading this clip!
This was back in the days when hydroplane racing was a real endurance test- for the drivers as well as the boats. Ten(!) laps around the course for each heat...WOW!
I sure do miss the roar of the piston boats- REAL engines with REAL drivers braving the REAL elements of racing on the water at breakneck speed.
Thanks again!
NipkowDisk 1 year ago
Interesting to see where the sport was back then and how far it has come to today.
gypsyjoes 1 year ago