Sept. 29, 2007: Lake Chelan test session.
The Miss Bardahl participated in an exhibition even on Lake Chelan in Chelan, WA. Organized by the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, the event featured the 1962-65 Miss Bardahl, 1955 Miss Thriftway, 1962 Miss Thriftway, 1960 Miss Burien, 1975 Oh Boy! Oberto. The purpose of the event was to run the boats and give rides.
Rides were given to those who participated substantially in the restoration and had yet to receive rides.
- Judy Smith (Dixon's wife, Ryan's mother): has been around hydroplane racing for over 30 years, starting with the Pay 'n Pak. This is her first ride in a hydroplane, and it is well deserved after the 7 year restoration effort.
- Jody Smith (David's wife): has ridden in fast vintage race car's but this is her first ride in a race boat.
- Karin Schott (Skip's wife): joined an elite few, as she has now ridden in a Merlin powered boat & airplane (P-51 Mustang)!
- Mike Campbell: is a long-time boat racer. He has driven his own inboard and was a crew member on the Miss Budweiser for several years. Currently, he is National Champion with electric model unlimiteds. Mike did a lot of the internal sealing and external painting of the boat.
- Jeff Campbell: is a long time boat racer, having spent many years on the Miss Budweiser crew. He is currently National Champion with the electric model unlimiteds. Jeff welded up the oil tank for the boat and helped in the painting process.
- Mark Smith (part time help throughout restoration & running; no relation to Dixon, David or Ryan): is a long-time boat racer, having started with the turbine Pay 'n Pak. He was the last crew chief for the Miss Budweiser, and has helped throughout the restoration. This was his first ride in a raceboat.
Bardahl was the first to fire and the first into the water. The boat ran eight times, coming back to the trailer once for refueling, a check over and a new prop. The three wives were in the first wave, following which the boat went back on the trailer. The Campbell brothers then received their rides. David then drove with Dixon riding. David previously has rode in the Miss Seattle, Miss Bardahl, and has driven the Notre Dame. Dixon then took the boat out solo to further evaluate the new propeller, followed by Mark Smith's ride.
The highlight of the weekend was the trial of a new propeller. The 2-blade (which was previously run in Seattle and Pasco) was used for the first set of rides, and continued to have a "buzz" in the floorboards (despite being balanced) and porpoising in the corners. For the second set of rides, a 3-blade propeller with about the same pitch and a decent rake profile was tried. Not only did this propeller hook-up well in the straights (providing a much smoother roostertail), it helped carry the transom through the corners, providing for a much better ride.
On the last two runs (with the new propeller), with Dixon going 140 MPH (3,600-3,800 RPM, 80" MAP) down the straights and entering the corners at 115-120 MPH, the boat looked just as it did in 1965, with an amazingly great ride. Nothing broke, nobody got hurt, the boat ran great, and a good time was had by all.
Photos courtesy of Jon Osterberg unless otherwise noted.
Read MoreRides were given to those who participated substantially in the restoration and had yet to receive rides.
- Judy Smith (Dixon's wife, Ryan's mother): has been around hydroplane racing for over 30 years, starting with the Pay 'n Pak. This is her first ride in a hydroplane, and it is well deserved after the 7 year restoration effort.
- Jody Smith (David's wife): has ridden in fast vintage race car's but this is her first ride in a race boat.
- Karin Schott (Skip's wife): joined an elite few, as she has now ridden in a Merlin powered boat & airplane (P-51 Mustang)!
- Mike Campbell: is a long-time boat racer. He has driven his own inboard and was a crew member on the Miss Budweiser for several years. Currently, he is National Champion with electric model unlimiteds. Mike did a lot of the internal sealing and external painting of the boat.
- Jeff Campbell: is a long time boat racer, having spent many years on the Miss Budweiser crew. He is currently National Champion with the electric model unlimiteds. Jeff welded up the oil tank for the boat and helped in the painting process.
- Mark Smith (part time help throughout restoration & running; no relation to Dixon, David or Ryan): is a long-time boat racer, having started with the turbine Pay 'n Pak. He was the last crew chief for the Miss Budweiser, and has helped throughout the restoration. This was his first ride in a raceboat.
Bardahl was the first to fire and the first into the water. The boat ran eight times, coming back to the trailer once for refueling, a check over and a new prop. The three wives were in the first wave, following which the boat went back on the trailer. The Campbell brothers then received their rides. David then drove with Dixon riding. David previously has rode in the Miss Seattle, Miss Bardahl, and has driven the Notre Dame. Dixon then took the boat out solo to further evaluate the new propeller, followed by Mark Smith's ride.
The highlight of the weekend was the trial of a new propeller. The 2-blade (which was previously run in Seattle and Pasco) was used for the first set of rides, and continued to have a "buzz" in the floorboards (despite being balanced) and porpoising in the corners. For the second set of rides, a 3-blade propeller with about the same pitch and a decent rake profile was tried. Not only did this propeller hook-up well in the straights (providing a much smoother roostertail), it helped carry the transom through the corners, providing for a much better ride.
On the last two runs (with the new propeller), with Dixon going 140 MPH (3,600-3,800 RPM, 80" MAP) down the straights and entering the corners at 115-120 MPH, the boat looked just as it did in 1965, with an amazingly great ride. Nothing broke, nobody got hurt, the boat ran great, and a good time was had by all.
Photos courtesy of Jon Osterberg unless otherwise noted.
