1973 UIM World Championship
Lake Washington, Seattle WA, August 5, 1973

Would Brundage’s Rudder Shudder?
Movement Would Have Mixture of Olympics, Unlimiteds
By Del Danielson

Remund Sets 126.613 Hydro Qualifying Mark Hydroplane Handicap Qualifying Ladder Silent Seafair Thunder Would Brundage’s Rudder Shudder? ‘New Ball Game’ Sheehy Drives Miss Madison as ‘Labor of Love’ Return at Last, of Handy-Dandy Hydro Guide Fascination Thrived On a Shoestring Remund Wins It All — By 25 Feet The Champion Fog Cutter of the World Hydro Happiness Is a Special Italian Propeller Borrowed Prop Pushed Remund’s Pak To Victory Did Pak violate right-of-way rule? Should Pak Have Been Disqualified? Not All Drivers Were In Favor Of Racing in Rain Hanging Out The Monday Morning Wash ‘Floorboard is the Floorboard’ Summaries Statistics

Avery Brundage probably will croak when he hears about this, but there is a movement afoot to include hydroplane racing on the next Olympic Games program.

No, Bill Muncey and company will not race for Gold Medals.

It is likely, however, that an unlimited regatta will be held in Montreal in 1976, prior to or during that city’s Olympiad.

The Unlimited Racing Commission has been in contact with Montreal officials, including a member of the Olympic Organizing Committee. "They came to our race in Detroit," Buddy Byers, unlimited commissioner, confirmed yesterday. "They came to talk, to ask questions and get information. They are interested in putting on a race."

Byers said the Canadians talked about getting more countries than just the United States represented in the race because of the internationalism of the Olympics.

"There are three Australians who want to run their unlimiteds against ours," Byers said. "They are talking about resurrecting the Harmsworth Trophy, but I think a race in conjunction with the Olympic Games would be a better way to get the international flavor. The rules of the Harmsworth are just too restrictive."

The Harmsworth Trophy, older than the Gold Cup, has not been contested for years. The rules specify a two-boat race between a British representative and a foreign challenger.

"I think we’ve got to nail down the Montreal race at our November meeting this year," Byers said. "That would give the Montreal people time to get organized and raise the necessary money and it would allow time for any interested countries to build boats."

Byers admitted the American unlimited owners will have to "bend their rules" for such a race.

"Of course we would expect to make some changes," Byers said. "We would welcome the chance to take part in something like this.

"I personally think it would be great."

An opinion has not been received from the International Olympic Committee, nor from Brundage, former I.0.C. chairman whose adherence to his own brand of amateurism is world famous.

(Reprinted from The Seattle Times, August 4, 1973)

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