1973 UIM World Championship
Hanging Out The Monday Morning Wash
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ITEM—Grinning Mickey Remund and his Pay ‘n Pak crew enjoyed the elation of victory and ten other opponents suffered the frustration of defeat in a rainy, zany day of boat racing in which about the only thrills were two electrifying bow-to-bow duels between the streaking Seattle hydro Pak and the beer-wagon named Budweiser.
COMMENT—In spite of a distressing procession of engine and other mechanical failures, the grim wire-to-wire battles between the Pak and the Bud made it all worthwhile. "One of the most exciting races I ever saw," was the breathless comment of old mariners after the Florida charger had won their first confrontation in an early heat. Then came the grand climax, when Dave Heerensperger’s magnificently-performing home town unlimited with a borrowed propeller, fought off challenge after challenge of the Gold Cup champion in the last and deciding event of the drippy afternoon. A bonus for the brave and hardy rain-drenched fans who defied the elements was a world record by some brilliant driving by Dean Chenoweth in Heat 1-C.
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This you won’t believe, but Red Man driver Jim McCormick wore dark sun glasses yesterday . . .
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Terse Verse — Love or hate the fan plan, the villain was the weather man . . .
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In spite of the good luck shamrock emblem on her hull, the ill-fated Notre Dame couldn’t fire up for either heat and her owner Shirley McDonald will ground the boat for the rest of the season.
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Popular Bob Gilliam, who opposes his millionaire opponents with boats built in his backyard, was given a rousing cheer when his Valu-Mart won the first heat Sunday
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Forgotten Man — In the shadows of the Seafair regatta was the fellow whose inventive genius revolutionized the game, designer, builder and former driver Ted Jones.
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Purely Personal Opinion — Dad Yesler’s old sawmill town must have the most dedicated hydro followers in the nation when 60,000 will turn out in the rain and fog to cheer as the intrepid daredevils go ‘round and ‘round.
(Reprinted from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 6, 1973)
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