Detroit, Gar Wood the Speed King.

[Benierz]

Not to many offshore people know about Garfield Wood and his contributions to the Boat Racing Communities, whether offshore or hydroplane. It would be nice to see a big offshore race occur on the River Gar Wood Called home. I will be covering more race in the near future. Thanks.

 

[cosmic12]

You would be surprized at the knowlage around here. I know quite a bit about the old woodies and the raceing history and I am not even close to knowing what the Icons on the board know. Stick around and do some reading in the histoical threads.
Glad to have you on board and enjoy.

 

[FastDonzi]

Yeah, Brownie, T2x & 7Xchamp will chime in and tell the story of teaching Gar to drive a boat:sifone:

Great Photos by the way,More are allways welcome:drool5:

 

[MattBMiller]

Cool pic with the skyline and the Belle Isle bridge!

 

[Ratickle]

Nice shots Bruce......


I'll see if T2x is around and steer him this way....

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

How 'bout some shots of Miss America IX running a ton back in 1925ish...

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

And great pics by the way! Thanks for sharing them. Love the hydros!

 

[Benierz]

to all: Thanks for your replies. I'm looking forward to covering the Harrison Township Race and St. Clair River Classic. Someday I would love to cover more Offshore Races.

 

[T2x]

You have to hand it to a guy with that many moving parts percolating in front of him. Back then, shrapnel was a major source of injury.

Contrary to popular belief, none of us is really old enough to have been directly involved with Gar Wood during his prime. However, I have been all over the country and seen pictures of his boats at various venues. He is one of the biggest names in boat racing history and ranks with E.C. Kiekhaefer, Billy Seebold, Bill Muncey, and Bill Sirois among very few others at the top of the pantheon IMHO.

 

[FastDonzi]

Yeah, Gar was building and racing before Brownie was even born. And I believe Brownie is the oldest of the Icons on this board.

 

[Ratickle]

Yeah, Gar was building and racing before Brownie was even born. And I believe Brownie is the oldest of the Icons on this board.

Was he still around when Brownie got into it????

 

[TCEd]

As a kid i got to see the piston powered hydros run off Belle Isle and it was a thrill. Bill Muncey was my hero when he ran Atlas Van lines.
I also remember the Gale boats, Maverick ( a west coast boat), Chrysler Crew ( powered by hemi's).
Sadly a lot of men died in those boats.

In the late 50's or erly 60's the Harmsworth Trophy race was run with only two boat, a Canadian vs. American in a best of seven series. They alternated each race at a site in Ontario and the Detroit River. Big stuff for the time.

ed

 

[Ratickle]

Yep, sad time. I remember Chip driving the boat after. I got to see Bill drive one time, that was it.....


http://www.thunderboats.org/history/history0251.html

 

[olredalert]

-------My Grandfather lived next door to Phil Wood, Gars brother, in North Miami Beach. I am told that I was actually in a boat of my Fathers with both Phil and Gar, but sadly, I dont remember it. Dad told me we ran over something that day and had to be towed in. This statement actually makes me officially feel older than dirt!!!:ack2:.........Bill S

 

[Ratickle]

-------My Grandfather lived next door to Phil Wood, Gars brother, in North Miami Beach. I am told that I was actually in a boat of my Fathers with both Phil and Gar, but sadly, I dont remember it. Dad told me we ran over something that day and had to be towed in. This statement actually makes me officially feel older than dirt!!!:ack2:.........Bill S

Just rearrange the letters in your site name....:sifone:

 

[cowisl]

How 'bout some shots of Miss America IX running a ton back in 1925ish...

Nice boat...jeff did a great job

 

[Brownie]

I have a frickin' bulletin for you. I raced against Gar Wood, Sr. and Jr. in the 1964 Bimini Handicap. I finshed second overall in my 23' Formula. The Woods won the leg over, but couldn't answer the gun to come back, Their boat had two 1710 Allisons.

 

[fund razor]

I have a frickin' bulletin for you. I raced against Gar Wood, Sr. and Jr. in the 1964 Bimini Handicap. I finshed second overall in my 23' Formula. The Woods won the leg over, but couldn't answer the gun to come back, Their boat had two 1710 Allisons.

This made me wonder if the older boats like Miss America with the forward power and aft cockpit influenced/inspired you when you did the SuperNova with the forward engine placement (and a special V drivelink, I think).

 

[Ratickle]

I have a frickin' bulletin for you. I raced against Gar Wood, Sr. and Jr. in the 1964 Bimini Handicap. I finshed second overall in my 23' Formula. The Woods won the leg over, but couldn't answer the gun to come back, Their boat had two 1710 Allisons.

Uh-Oh, now Rich knows how old you are, all this time you've been telling him 49.....:sifone:


Finish the story, Brownie.....:bigear:.....

 

[Brownie]

One of the things I remember about that race was that my passenger, Skitch Caroll, had on a pair of Raybans with the first "Frog" straps I had ever seen. Crossing the "hump", you didn't dare let go of the grab bar. Skitch's glasses came off, swung behind him, started twirling like a propeller, and strangled him unconcious!