Roostertail Talk

Episode 110: Radio Broadcast of the 1983 UIM World Championship

• David Newton • Season 5 • Episode 8

Share episode

Send us a text

Prepare to feel the spray of the water and the roar of the engines as we take you back to the 1983 Houston UIM World Championship, where 18 boats from three separate nations went head-to-head on the water. It truly was an unlimited race, with a variety of designs and engine types on display. Thanks to John Osterberg of Peoh Point Publishing, you'll be able to experience the raw thrill of the event as if you were there, so buckle up!

Jim Hendrix, Sam Cole and Phil Cole offer compelling insights into the final heat of the 1983 Budweiser UIM World Championships in Clear Lake, Texas.

This nostalgia-filled episode culminates with the unexpected triumph at the 1983 Budweiser UIM World Championships. Relive the heart-stopping final moments as Miller Irwin in the Miss Renault outperformed favorites like Jim Kropfeld in the Budweiser and Jack Shafer Jr. in the American Speedy to claim victory. If you're loving our journey through hydroplane history, we would appreciate your support through our website's support tab. Enjoy the ride!

Support the show

Help the podcast by subscribing to our new service, Roostertail Talk+. The podcast is still free to all on our website and through all major podcast platforms (such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Castbox, etc) but with Roostertail Talk+ there is more you can enjoy ! With this service you will get early links to new episodes, enjoy access to extra content, raffle prizes and more. This is a new service that we will be adding to as we move along. As always your support to make this show grow is very appreciated! https://www.buzzsprout.com/434851/supporters/new

Speaker 1:

Ruchatel Talk, a podcast dedicated to everything related to the sport we all love. Hi, jofine Racing, I'm your host, david Newton, and it's time once again to sit back, relax and welcome to Ruchatel Talk. It is August 22nd 2023, and this is Episode 110. Well, race fans, I know you're eager, and I am eager as well, to get interviewed and talk to some more people around the sport. Unfortunately, I've got a few people on the line to be interviewed actually three or four people right now but due to scheduling conflicts, I have not gotten an interview in for our next podcast.

Speaker 1:

So I decided to go through the archives and I found a race which, to be honest, it wasn't as excited to air it, but re-listening to the broadcast and kind of going back into the history of it got me kind of more excited about the history of this race, and I'm talking about the 1983 Houston World Cup. 40 years ago, 18 boats can you believe it? 18 boats from three different nations around the world went down to Houston, texas, for the Budweiser World Championships. It's crazy. I'm going to read the names off here in a little bit, but before I do I want to give a thanks to John Osterberg because he provided the audio quality of this race. It was broadcasted by the Unlimited Racing Network, which is no longer an active entity. Unfortunately, the races are no longer aired on the radio. So when all rights expired, when the network folded up and its principal stakeholders passed away. So I want to thank John Osterberg for this recording, which he made off of his own radio for his personal use and preserved it for us to hear and listen to today. So if you want to show your appreciation for John, he is an author, he's an avid hydroplane fan and he actually wrote a book entitled Dragon Days the story of the Miss Bartle and the 1960 kids who loved hydros. He was on earlier episode 50. We interviewed him about all about his book. It's a great read. If you haven't checked it out yet, show some support. You can buy it on Amazon or wherever ebooks are sold for only $19.99. So again, it's only provided as an ebook, not a physical copy. So hopefully you have an ebook or a phone that can read it. Well worth your time. Really recommend picking up that book. So today this race really interesting.

Speaker 1:

Let's look at who was there, because there's so many different, different entities there and so many different things it's kind of mind boggling to think about this, because 18 boats in the pits. You had your heavy hitters, the Atlas, van Lines, the Budweiser, but you had so many different hydros of different designs, power plants. You had no turbine engines 1983, I believe no turbines ran the year the Pay-In-Pack last ran in 82. And you had a year before the hydros kind of started to gravitate towards turbines, with I think three boats in 84 that ran turbines. So nothing turbine related at all in 83, all piston powered. But you had Merlin engines, you had Griffin engines, you had stock Allison engines, you had turbocharged Allysons, you had automotive powered. You also had some outboard engines at this race. So you had six different types of engines being used. A lot of people were talking about the outboards and the reliability and possibly looking at how we could use those motors in the sport more. A lot of questions there. But you also look at the designs of the holes. You had pickle forks, you had round noses, you had cab overs, you had rear conventional holes with the driver sitting in the back and you had a drop sponsored hole without lotter back U5 hole.

Speaker 1:

But you had not one but two tunnel boats racing along with the hydroplanes. One of them was an American craft, the U19 Miss USA. It was representative, it was from Don Erano, so that's a big name in tunnel boat racing. Back in the day His driver was Jimbo McConnell. Actually qualified at 102.970. That was a pretty large tunnel hole that was actually built and designed to be in the unlimited class, but one that wasn't designed for the unlimiteds. That came over from Italy, that's right. There was a boat from Italy, sponsored by Lewis, on the Lake Bernardo Molinari, which I was actually surprised looking back at the data here. He qualified at 111.940 miles per hour and that was a boat with their stories around it. He showed up for the race. The boat was under weight and under size. He actually had to add some things to make it the legal size for the race. I believe he added a wing lit thing on the back and the front to make it the correct length.

Speaker 1:

18 boats, though. The other notable, interesting one was actually from Australia, the VS 41, miss Baywaters bulk. They were their Merlin powered engine being used for them. That boat is actually still racing today, believe it or not, 40 years later, down there for the Griffith Cup and in their series in Australia, still running Merlin powered. They have an enclosed canopy though for it Still running strong.

Speaker 1:

But again, 18 boats in the pits. Not all of them qualified. I believe one didn't even actually get a qualifying attempt made, and that was actually I didn't say this one, but this actually was a step-all entitled Something Else. The ZU-4 representative owner was Bill Morgan and the driver as well. So just crazy to think about 18 votes in the pits. All these different power plants, all these different designs, truly unlimited. At that point, right, everyone's trying out all these different things to make their boats stand out and win.

Speaker 1:

All right other boats that were in the pits there actually Atlas VanLine Squirer Shop, miss Renault, you had the U5, that was the Lodderback automotive-powered one. Ric Gunite Special. You had the Miss Madison U6, miss Rich Plan, driven by Ron Snyder. U7, american Speedy Printing, driven by Jack Schaefer. The U8, executone, driven by George Johnson. U10, miss Beko, driven by female Brenda Jones. U12, miss Budweiser, driven by Jim Cropfelt. You had the U21, belair Yellow Pages, driven by Mitch Evans. U22, this was a round nose, not the Turban one Miss Tostiosti, driven by Todd Yerling. The U29, miss Industrial Air Tool, driven by Jerry Hopp, the Leland-owned that Drop Deck, Picofort. Miss Houston. U40, driven by John Priebost, and then the U80 Chet's Music Shop driven by Ron Armstrong. Another round nose with the Cabover design with that turbocharged Allison engine and those rear wings on there. So a lot of racing that went on that weekend.

Speaker 1:

Well, attrition played a huge factor. The first run of the final heat actually did not finish as the Aztvallines just sustained some damage and Chip Hanauer jumped out into the water to stop the running of the final heat. Some controversy around that, as there was speculation. He did that for a specific reason, so the Aztvallines had a shot to win the Hyatt points. Not indeed for saving his whole, speculation goes around about that but regardless his boat was damaged in that final heat so he did jump out to save his craft from sustaining further damage and possibly sinking. They'll talk about the shenanigans that went on at the start. There's some wild drivings, people getting cut off, which caused the boat to be disqualified and damaged going to the Miss Squire shop. So he was unable to run in the final heat. So a lot of attrition went on. So the heavy hitters and some of the people that you would think would have a shot at winning did not run in the final heat the Aztvallines, as they stopped the heat in the first run did not get to run for the rerun. The final six boats that you'll hear racing here today are actually not today, forty years ago for that world championship is the Miss Budweiser with Jim Cropfeldt driving, the Miss Renault with E-Milliner Irvin, american speedy printing Jack Schaefer, the Miss USA, that tunnel boat driven by Jim McConnell, and the Miss Italy with Renato Molinari. That's the other tunnel boat all the way from Italy, and then the Executone Telephones with George Johnson.

Speaker 1:

A couple other interesting facts and things thinking about this race before I release you to listen to this tape. Again, with Miss Italy, I said that they qualified at 111 miles an hour. So that tunnel boat from Italy was dual powered, outboard engines. Small, small craft really had a hard time handling the rough water from the other boats. It was, that's only see, less than about 25 miles an hour off of the top qualifier, which Atlas Van Lines qualified 138 miles per hour, so not as far back as you would think. Other it out qualified some other boats. It qualified faster than actually about a third of the boats that were there. So quite interesting that that tunnel boat went as fast as it typically have a harder time with ovals and it's just a such a smaller craft. In fact, the misexecuton qualified two miles an hour faster.

Speaker 1:

But also the, the nations that represented Italy was represented by a boat from Italy. Australia had a boat in the race as well. In France was actually represented as well, as they were sponsoring the Miss Renault from Detroit. So four nations were being represented there at the world championships. Quite a big deal back in 1983. Alright, that's enough of me rambling on. Let's listen to the race, sit back, relax and let's time travel back 40 years. It's the 1983 Budweiser UIM World Championships.

Speaker 2:

From Clear Lake, texas, just south of Houston. It's the Budweiser World Championship Thunder Boats 1983. Today's World Championship is brought to you by Showboat Marine, for the best in performance and protection for your boat, by Atlas Van Lines, the company that is getting America moving, and brought to you locally, in your area, by the 24-hour Christian voice for the Pacific Northwest, kxa Seattle Good News Radio 770. And now to the starting line in Clear Lake, texas, and Jim Hedrick. Thank you very much everybody. Jim Hedrick, along with Salmon Hill Cole and, of course, down in the areas, chet Simon A cat salmon, I should say, from KYST, will be handling our pit interviews on a special walkie-talkie. We'll be calling him in from time to time.

Speaker 2:

For those of you who have joined us late and did not hear the first part of our broadcast, this is a repeat of the World Cup, the Budweiser Clear World Cup. We had about a lap and a three-quarters to go when the Budweiser out front Atlas Van Lines had sustained some hull damage, slowed down, was in danger of sinking, the driver chip paneler went overboard into the water. That constitutes the stoppage of the race. The flares went up and now we have to do it all over again. What is more important in that going into this final heat of 1983, the Atlas Van Lines and chip paneler, by earlier performances here today, had taken a 131 point lead over the Budweiser for the National High Crown. Budweiser, even if they won the final heat and Atlas had to play second. Well, budweiser would have won the World Cup but lost the National Championship by only 31 points because there's only 100 points difference between first and second. But now that Atlas Van Lines has constitute the stoppage of the race by the unlimited commission APBA rules, he may not restart. All the Budweiser and Jim Cropfield will have to do is to finish first to win both the World Crown and the National High Point Championship.

Speaker 2:

We've had some injured boats. We've had a driver slightly hurt. We'll talk all about that and recap today's action after this, back here on Clear Lake in Clear Lake, texas, just south of Houston or north of Galveston. Take your choice. Let's call in Sam Cole for events of the day. Sam, yeah, jim, let's talk about that final heat.

Speaker 2:

I had the opportunity of going over to our NBC TV truck and watching everything back over again as the boats came down the main straightaway after the start of the final heat. Ronnie Armstrong was in lane four, tom Deese in lane three, jim Cropfeld in lane two, chip Hanauer in lane one in the Atlas. Jack Schaefer was in lane five, milner Urban in lane six, on the outside of the race course. As they came down there, ron Armstrong started his turn. Tommy Deese was pinched between Jim Cropfeld and Ron Armstrong. Armstrong cut in front of the east. The Squire shop way up in the air on its side fell down off the rooster tail, skidded out Milner Urban and Jack Schaefer avoided him. Armstrong was penalized by Chief Referee Lee Shana's and fined $100 for that incident. As they went on along the Atlas van lines Let me say there at this point, the Atlas van lines was not damaged in that incident.

Speaker 2:

They went on around the race course. On lap two or three the right side of the deck of the Atlas van lines came off with water, pushing it out. We ran four laps of the world championship race. Chip Hanauer slowed down in the lower turn here, jumped in the water. We stopped it. After that the referees and officials held a meeting.

Speaker 2:

Our six boats buying for the world championship here this afternoon Will be the miss Budweiser Jim Cropfeld, let me point out here. Cropfeld came into the pit area, complained of steering problems in that boat and they did have some minor hull damage but evidently it's all Repair. American speedy printing, jack Schaefer Jr, out there. The miss Renault, milner, urban, miss USA, the outboard unlimited. Jim Bo McConnell moves up now. Louise on the lake, miss Italy, renato Molinaries, our boat, and the executive tone, george Johnson. He's already on the race coast of those by the six boats that will buy for $55,000 in this final heat.

Speaker 2:

And we got word that there was some minor damage To the person from Fairhaven, michigan, of Tommy D. He has possibly a bunch of nose from water. Okay, nothing is broken. Tommy, shake it up. Had a lot of cuts on his face from the accident. But everybody back in Detroit know Tom's okay, he's all right. Doc pinched of care of him, he's all right.

Speaker 2:

So the atlas and the squire, miss Houston, and the U80 Patterson's boat, which is chest music is out because of damage or one thing or the other. We've already named the three all tips. We're like Texas, let's go down the cat Simon in the pits real quick. The three all in it for now. They're running along with Um miss Renault, miss Budweiser and American speedy printing. That's it for the tips right now.

Speaker 2:

Okay, bill Cole, from your end, what do you say? Well, before the last team, jim, I said the miss Budweiser had to go for it. Now she's gonna afford to play it safe, it's burning. Little wants go for a national championship. He can finish third. But I think Bernie wants to go for the downs. I think you'll see him going all the way out from and Jim.

Speaker 2:

One more thing the first time in the world championships it's 1938 we have had a foreign boat in the finals, renato Malamari, from Lake Como, italy, and Louis Lake club special, and it's a twin outboard omc, power to hydro, very small in the fleet. I understand he's taking a look at these big boats and he said Italy will be next year with a bigger boat. We also have a four um engine outboard omc miss usa, driven by Jimbo mcconnell, and charlie strang is ecstatic about everything. Well, I'm sure he is. We're getting close to the one minute gun. We'll be back. The one minute gun has fired as the boats go up to the left of us, to corners number three and four for the start, and that's the last show we have. There will be no gun at the start, so don't worry about that, guys. Now, sam Cole, if you will. They're jacking up their corner.

Speaker 2:

Number three what I was going to tell you was is the chip man hours on the beach watching this. Renato Malamari was dug in Jim Cropfeld. As they dive into that turn Jim and Malamari, once the inside the miss Italy. And as they go in there, let's take a look. We're going to have Malamarian Lane one Cropfeld jacking for two.

Speaker 2:

Jack shape for the american speedy is about in four. He's out in everyone. Jimbo mcconnell, executive on everybody's in there. Some brown smoke up in there. Here they come, bring them down. Jim Hendrick, all right, as we go, and he's going to be run out of out of there. He wants to lay number one. It'll be the Budweiser.

Speaker 2:

Come up in lane number two. Over there in lane three is the miss reno, 10 seconds and 10 seconds ago here, because miss usa, american speedy, printed on the far outside is the executive, don't as they come down very close to four seconds. Three seconds, two seconds, one second. They're on the money without a ballerina from Italy on. But here comes budweiser up fast and miss usa, along with american speedy printing and the executive and a reno is in the inside hidden by the rooster tail as they get on the corner number one, fam Jim. As they dive in there, reno malamari, in there, jim Cropfeld and this budweiser put his boat out on top. He's about four or five seconds ahead pulling away from the field.

Speaker 2:

Jack shape for american speedy printing, your second place boat, right now on his hip, the miss reno, milliner ervin and third, coming around side, malinari. Uh-oh, milliner ervin just ate a way of a water from malinari as he came out of there and headed up the back Press. But jim crop felt the miss budweiser is your leader, phil cole. Jim crop felt moving up the back Press with jack shape for the american speedy printing special, his nearest pursuer, ronato malamari from lake komo idly is in third a big battle for fourth and fifth Executon going into fourth reno left in fifth place, crop felt in the upper turning good shape in the budweiser as he moves around that corner. Bit shaper, really them in just a little bit. It's a two boat race now. If anybody's going to catch budweiser the rest of the way through this race it's going to be american speedy special, jim indrick.

Speaker 2:

As they come down to complete lap number one, bernie little smith budweiser, the owner from lakeland florida, the driver from sycinetti and the crew from seattle spread out as they come down to budweiser Slowing down here. Budweiser slowing down here. Budweiser slowing down. He's voted jim. He's blowing an engine and it's trying to be american speedy. He's going to take over. Oh no, he's trying to get it going again. He may have gotten it going. He's trying to nurse it. Yeah, he's coming out.

Speaker 2:

Jack shaver jr From american speedy printing is going to head down to you, sam jim. It's what we said earlier. The pressure was on. Crop felt the finish. He's going to try to nurse it around.

Speaker 2:

Jack shaver league takers your leader. Crop felt returning to the pit and the miss budweiser, our national champion of the atlas van lines, jimmy crop felt trying to keep it. Nurtain, jack shaver jr. The euston boat. Bob taylor out of euston, texas, american speedy printing is your leader. But here comes millner urban. Jack shaver has slowed down. Okay, the Miss Vanolica takeover. Jack Shafer's float way down the back chute. Here comes Bill Irwin, bam Cole. Let's go to Phil Cole, phil Down here first. Jim Crossbell is on fire in the Budweiser. A lot of brown smoke coming out of this Budweiser. Crossbell is just trying to get back to the pit area Out here. Jack Shafer is slowing down and coming to a stop In the American feeding that leads to Miss Vanol, a brand new boat this year, out in first place, and what a huge upset this would be.

Speaker 2:

We've seen all the favorites go by the wayside now, and now it's up to the people's churse, as they used to say in Brooklyn. And the people's churse right now is Milner Irwin, who didn't want to race on this water, who said it's too rough, but now finds himself in first place with the executive tone in back of him and in back of him Renato Molinari from Italy. So it's still anybody's race. Let's watch what happens. Well, the Budweiser is down in the pit. They look like the fire is out, but Bernie Little and Jim Crossbell, after a fine season, could have had it all if they got to keep the joint. They had the national championship and the world championship and it was all blown right there.

Speaker 2:

As the complete lap number two, it is Milner Irwin and Jerry Shannon, miss Vanol, going down to start lap three. Second place is George Johnson, the executive tone. Third place, from Italy, is Renato Molinari in the Louis League Club. Fourth place is Miss USA with the rookie Jimbo McConnell, as they come off of corner number two on lap three Down the back shoot. Here's Sam Cole, jim, as he comes down there, milner Irwin brings it around.

Speaker 2:

This boat, mil, by John Stottiker of Cawcawland, michigan, a brand new boat this year, the fastest turbo chart Dallason boat we've ever had on the circuit. Milner Irwin, a brand new boat, jerry Shannon, the owner, out of Detroit, michigan. He's on his way to what could be his first win as an unlimited hydroplane pilot. And what a win there will be. And we've seen Jack Schaefer sitting disconsolently out on the Balbus boat. He had the world championship in his grasp for about one half of a lap until it slipped away from him. Jim Groffmeld headed his hands for five and a half, almost six laps before it slipped out of his hands. And now Milner Irwin has it in his hands At the end of lap number two.

Speaker 2:

Milner, lap number three, pardon me, milner Irwin in the Miss Vanol, in first place, jim Hendry, as they come down to complete lap number three. It is as they come down to complete lap number three. It is Milner Irwin Coming down here in Miss Renault, with three more laps to go halfway down. And great a good about a good 10 second lead over Renato Malinari from Italy who, in second place, is slowing down. Slowing down now, I believe, is the executive tone. Executive tone is dead on corner number four. That makes it a pre-boat race. Now. Miss USA with Jumbo McConnell takes over third place.

Speaker 2:

If something happens to Renault now, I guess who's going to be left? He is a lap down. That's what I was being told while everyone was worrying about everything else. He's a lap down. He's penalized for cutting off the Miss Renault one lap down in that turn. But Jim Mo McConnell is in second place. Okay, that was official word from referee Lee Shiniff that the Italian entry, louis, the club driven by Renato Malinari from Como, italy, is not in second Penalized.

Speaker 2:

Next lap for Chopin. A boat is now in third. So this is the way it sets up. As they're running speeds of about 111 mile an hour, your lead boat in corner number three, coming down to complete lap number four, with two more left to go, will be the Miss Renault with Miller, when Jerry Shea is probably jumping up and down on that deck right now. Second place, jim Mo McConnell in Miss USA with four horse power, four outboards, omc horse power and third place from Italy, renato Malinari. And this race is official. Right now it's over three laps. So this race is now official. If somebody jumps in the water now, they let them swim to shore. The race is official. Here's the Renault coming down at the end of lap number four. He'll get the green flag the next time around.

Speaker 2:

And this sixth lap race on UIM rules Milner Urban, the only conventional hydroplane left out there, along with two outboards, and Jim Bo McConnell is one of those in the upper turn. Renato Malinari from Lake Como, italy, is the other one and he's coming the number two corner, as we call. So it looks like it's going to be the mr and all now, if bill nehran can keep everything going. But remember, two days ago he blew a turbocharger and had a turbo fire, and that turbocharger has been a little bit erratic. Jim, he's got a lap and a half to go. He's about to wildly down the back shoot and no Erwin from coral cables for now can hang it on the hook for another lap and a half. He will be the 1980 world championship driver. And boy, I'll tell you what a way to go.

Speaker 2:

When the Budweiser with a lap of three quarters was out in front, the Atlas van lines had a problem with the lap of three quarters ago, jumped into the water, stopped the race on the restart but led for one lap and then had something blowing. The engine went to the pit and all of a sudden it was Jack Shaver Jr taking over in the American speedy printing. He had it all his way. Another half lap he was down. Overtaking is a brand new boat, miss Renault, coming around to get the green flag, sam, as he comes towards you, and he has got one more left to go after he passes your point. That's right, jim. The green flag waiting for Milner Irvin, carl Gable, florida. He's driven to miss Madison earlier. Jim set out for a year and has come back with Jerry Shane, his team, as he brings it along the line here.

Speaker 2:

The first win for Renault and you know we've got an international winner for the world champion. Jimmy holds on because they've been passing out French flags all week, and that's right. Renault made in France for AMC 106.132. The last lap for the miss Renault and Milner Irvin 106.132. He's fighting the way down. He's not taking any chances whatsoever. His closest pursuer is a lap behind him, that's Renato Malamari. Then behind him is Jim Bo McCombell in the miss USA. So one, three, two, that's the way they go around this race course Irvin on his last lap on the green flag.

Speaker 2:

Lap up the backstretch, jim, and it looks like we have a total surprise world champion here at Clear Lake. That we all talked at was that lines. We all talk Budweiser and, but the fates of that's racing. You're gonna have the miss Renault winning her first race in an inaugural season. And what a win for Jerry Shadeth and, of course, jim Curtin, the rest of that crew, with Miller Irwin, if you can keep it together. He's just doing a little over 102 mile an hour, about a 102.7 right now, and he's flowing way down the apex, but he wants to make sure, as Phil told you, the turbos hold in and our national champion will be the Atlas that lines, by a mirror, 131 points because the Budweiser all he had to do is finish in women national championship but did not went out after one lap and of course, loses the world crown too.

Speaker 2:

But here it comes the checker flag for Jerry Shadeth, miss Renault from Carl Gabriel, florida, the driver, miller Irwin. And what a surprise and what a victory here in Houston for the Budweiser Clear World Cup, renault the winner. And they work very hard. You've got to say that, sam. Oh, definitely, what a win. It was there. You know, jerry Shadeth was talking this weekend down here. He said he was gonna have to spend about the next six months working on his sponsorship package for next year. But you know, renault, with a world championship in Formula One racing and a world championship in hydroplane racing, I think that's gonna keep them around for at least another year or two. Okay, as the second place checker flag comes out of Jimbo McConnell, a rookie driver in four OMC outboard powered, unlimited hydro, that'll make Jerry Carbreck buddy happy for a second place finish. And third, we'll go to the Italian entry up right, not to Malinari and Louis Licklub, jim Hendrick along with Sam and Phil Cole back here, clearlake, texas, just south of Houston. A final race of 1983 is over. Let's quickly go down. A cat climbing in the pit cat all right, we're getting some interference from cat there, cat here all

Speaker 2:

right, we're getting interference from the Coast Guard or somebody in our frequency, so let's go right quickly to Phil Cole. The third place finisher just went across the started start finish line, renault Malinari in the Louis Licklub. Both the boat from Lake Como, italy, executon, has restarted and will try to finish within the 15 minute time limit from the start of the race to pick up a fourth place. But he's already picked it up now. But the fact that he's running again, so they may flag him off, and so we have a complete surprise winner the miss Renault as the miss Budweiser, the Atlas Bandlines, the Spire Shop of the Miss Houston as they call it.

Speaker 2:

All the other top runners went out with one reason. Another left only the miss Renault, the American speedy special running. It looked for a moment as though American speedy was the world champion, but that too died a glimmering and the miss Renault just kept running for the last two or three laps to solve the way the world championship and start a celebration down in that scene of pits that probably won't end until next May. And a checker flag is going out to the executive with George Johnson for a fourth place finish overall. Fifth will go to American speedy printing and six to the Budweiser, jim Hendrick, along with Sam and Phil Cole. Let's see if we can reach cat Simon, the pit area again. Cat, nope, we can't hear you. Cat, I'm sorry you're being cut out. You either got to hold that hammer down or whatever interference you're getting right now let's call in Lee, shaniff Lee, your brother, jerry, winning his first victory as an owner and unlimited playing racing.

Speaker 2:

But Jim was the most unusual win. I'm very happy to see. There were no team win it. They've worked real hard this summer. They have a new boat. Milner Irwin's done an excellent job driving the boat all summer and Jim kerth is a crew chief, and they've done a lot, I think, for the sport, and this is going to probably cat mop to have a bigger year next year. Well, I'll tell you, for a new spot to come in the sport, to win the world title, they've got to be walking out air at AMC in Detroit, that's for sure. And now, what about? What a surprise all I'm.

Speaker 2:

You have to feel sorry, though, for Jim cropville and bring a little team. They won a lot of otters. It's great win for Renault. That's racing and that's what makes it all happen. But boy, all they have to do is finish any position to win the national high point, and if you went first he'd wrap some both up and it looked like it was a shoe in till something. Let go. Well, jim, you know you've got to finish to win and that's both. In any sport there is, I know Bud Tritehardt they look good.

Speaker 2:

Atlas Tritehardt had problems, it just was the whoever was the fittest today won the race. Sam, when we stop that final, that heat before, do you think Chip Hanauer had that in mind when he went in the water? I really don't know why Chip went in the water. I'll have to talk to him. I don't believe the Atlas boat, the way it's built in the construction, that it would sink anyway. It's not supposed to. Why Chip jumped in the water, I really don't know. But our rules are very clear when a man goes in the water we will stop the race for safety sake, and that's what we did.

Speaker 2:

You know one thing I went to the TV truck between the two races and saw the replay of the incident down there. Your officials were right on top of that and they don't have the benefit of a lot of TV cameras. Well, I want to compliment my officials today. Don Jones was up in back of me when I called two boats jumping the gun that one heat. The videotape showed I was right. So how about that new system? That's something I'd like to see at all races next year, sam. It's an excellent system. We have used here today as a backup. Now you know it's by my back to call it. Let's see if we can catch up the Cat family when we're having problems with our walkie-talkie Cat. You there, yeah, I sure am Jim, and right now with me I'm the Otherwise the real champion for racing on a limited level.

Speaker 2:

Congratulations, thank you. It's a pleasure, no matter how you do it. I'm sorry the other boats weren't running with us. Well, there's a heck of a day today and you and Mr Dillon are the problem with the top of the water and obviously this time you didn't have a whole lot of problems with it. We didn't have any problems with it. We didn't really just have to run too fast without the other boats there, so that helps a bit. Well, a lot of damage done to a lot of boats, but it was certainly an exciting race today and once again, congratulations to you.

Speaker 2:

This evening was on this for now and this week for a whole hour. There's an awful lot of excitement as you cross the finish line and a big yelp of excitement went up some, mr Dillon. Thank you, sam, and congratulations once again, miller. Thank you very much. Thank you, jim, back to the booth. Okay, we're having problems with the walking talking interference we didn't have earlier today, but we can make it out. Miller Irwin very happy. Joy Shannon very happy. We thank Cat Simon for that report.

Speaker 2:

All right, quickly, sam, if you will wrap up the final standings of World Cup 1983, budweiser Clear Cup. Our winner, the Miss Renault, miller Irwin, coral Gables, florida, the first outboard powered unlimited hydroplane ever. Jim Bo McConnell. Third, renato Molinieri and Louise on the lake, representing Italy. Fourth place will be Executon George Johnson. Fifth place, american speedy printing, jack Schaefer. Sixth place, miss Budweiser, jim Cropfeld. Renault's overall speed 105.986.

Speaker 2:

And one quick thing before we sign off. Everyone in unlimited hydroplane racing would like to wish the best. There's wife Carolyn who's critically ill in a hospital in Madison, indiana, bob, unable to be with us out here, but everyone here is praying for and wish her a very speedy recovery. Amen to that. And we thank, of course all the gang that helped us so many times, our security guys down in Seattle that helped us so much, and all around the network. We thank Eddie Bush, of course, our producer, engineer Patrick Sam Cole, phil Cole, cat Simon, so long. Today's Budweiser World Championship has been brought to you by Atlas Vent Lines, getting America Moving, by Showboat, marine Topson Performance and Protection for your boat and brought to you locally, in your area, by behalf of the Unlimited Racing Commission. Our boat crews and sponsors, we thank you for joining us this summer for Thunderboats 1983. Until next season, this is Hank O'Neill and this is the Unlimited Radio Network.

Speaker 1:

On the website, you can sign up for an email subscription list to get notifications on upcoming episodes, hydro news, podcast updates and much, much more. Finally, this is a free podcast to all of our listeners and if you're really enjoying your experience and want to help us to continue to grow and expand, please donate. You can find a link to donate through PayPal on our website through the support tab. So until next time, I hope to see you at the races.