As a kid, I remember the last time the Greed Dragon raced in Detroit for the Gold Cup . I became a Dragon fan the first time I saw and heard it run up the backstretch. Being a Dragon fan was not what you would expect in Detroit at that time. Racing was in a golden period with everyone having a shot at winning.

 

It was the final heat. Bardahl had run hard all day, a win would do it. I was dressed all in Bardahl green. Had on my Bardahl pin for luck. I had found a way to watch the race from the DYC docks (the first and only time in 50 years). Each time Ron Musson ran by, I would wave wildly like he could see me. Just before the final heat started (around the 1 minute gun), Ron ran up closely to the docks, right at me, too close. Suddenly he looked up, I could see the gages in the cockpit, he gave me a thumbs up ! The sound was tremendous ! I almost fell over. What a thrill. I know he won but I don't remember much after that.

 

What a great site, and how wonderful I might get to see the Dragon again. As you can see, this one holds a special place for me. Good luck with the restoration.

 

Tom Jewett, a Bardahl fan

Winston Salem, NC

 

My Green Dragon story begins in Detroit when I was 6 years old. My Dad was a big boat racing fan back in the late forties and fifties, my grandpa (Pip, we called him) didn't seem too interested so my dad would take the streetcars down to the river to see whichever race was going on, Gold Cup, Silver Cup, Harmsworth, etc.

 

I guess they took me to the ill-fated 1961 Silver Cup where Bob Hayward died when Miss Supertest flipped in the Belle Isle turn, Ron Musson won the race on accumulated points but I was too young to remember.

 

But I DO remember the 1963 Gold Cup! My Dad was a Muncey fan and picked the Thriftway to win, for some reason I picked the green one with the big black engine sticking up out of it! It was a real lousy day-dark, rainy, I can still remember Muncey dead in the water at the start, trying to restart the Thriftway with a big stack fire - how bright it was right down in front of us. This was the changing of the guard, the Thriftway Dynasty was over. I was hooked ! Where boats like Thriftway and Notre Dame and U.S.5 looked "pretty" with their full cowlings, the dragon was a hotrod all the way, black scallops, bare engine and the secret agent on the tail, what could be cooler than that ?

 

Randy Roe,

Taylor, MI

Bardahl fan for life !

 

*"Well Add this One to Green Dragon. & Gold Cup Boat Race Stories. Please. Because this One Is Very Much The Thuth To In 1962. Al Bacause Of Both The A.B.C's Wide Owrld of Sports. Tv SHow + The 1962,Gold Cup Boat Race My now 44,Year Old Autistic Savant Son Johnny,Beaver. First Saw You His Very First Gold Cup Boat Race on The Tv Set there In Detroit. On A.B.C's. Wide World Of Sports. Just on Month Before He Finely Learned How to Talk. & So First Saw & Because with Form Of Autism. Mesmerised Bo Both The Looks Of The. Prop & Motor Raceing Sound Of The U-40 Miss. BARDAHL,Green Dragon Raceing By On The Tv Set right In Front Of Him Making The "Alittle,Little,Little! Arewa,Rewa,Rewa! Eeeeeeeeeearrren! Alittle,Little,Little! Arewa,Rewa,Rewa! Sounds to Him Over Our Old Black & White Hi-Fi. Tv Set. From R.C.A. But any How Now He WOrks In The Hot-Pits. for Hydro-Prop. & The A.P.B.A. & also Races Some of them to also. & Stil with His Form Of high Funktioning. Autism. with Excited About some He Stil Yet today Mocks & Makes those Very Same U-40 Miss. BARDAHL Green Dragon hydro Race Boat Sounds. Just As Go As He di it in 1962,

 

Again His Father Mr. Elmer,Larry,Beaver,Sr Age,89.

& Johnny,Beaver Age,44

Both Of Carmi IL.