Jim Kerth Kerth, Hydro Crew Chief, Dead at 48

Veteran unlimited hydroplane crew chief Jim Kerth, who led the Atlas Van Lines racing team to a sweep of national honors in 1972 and won crew chief of the year honors in 1983, died Monday in Kennewick, where he had been hospitalized for cancer.

Kerth, 48, served as crew chief of various hydro camps, including the Notre Dame, My Gypsy, Myr's Sheet Metal, Atlas and Miss Renault. The Atlas boat in 1972 won six races, including the Gold Cup and World Championship, to capture national high point honors.

Kerth, the sixth-winningest crew chief in the sport, had retired from the sport last winter. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at Stan Sayres pits on Lake Washington, coincidental with a similar service at Mueller's Funeral Home in the Tri-Cities.

(Reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 18, 1985)

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