[Jeff Higgins]

I was lucky enough to grow up just outside of Seattle during the real heyday of unlimited racing. I don't think I ever missed a race on Lake Washington from the time I was in a stroller (my dad was a huge fan, and even helped out on a decidedly small time, Seafair race only effort when I was little). He never missed a race until the day he died. We even drove over the mountains to see them in the Tri Cities, on the Columbia river every year. My dad was hooked, and he did his best to get us kids hooked.

My dad did not live long enough to see the end of the reciprocating engine era. The only turbine boat he had to suffer was the first one, the rather unsuccessful U-95 effort. As much as he hated Bill Muncey, he actually cheered the Atlas Van Lines driver when he ran over and darn near sank that soulless turbine boat off of Sand Point one year. He hated that boat, and said more than once that if they ever took over, it would be the end of unlimited racing as we know it.

How prophetic. Unlimited racing is currently in its death throes. Most of us blame the "vacuum cleaner" boats. Does anyone not believe that if they got back to the reciprocating engines, they couldn't make a significant comeback and attract fans once again?

Real unlimited boats, as I remember them. Granted, not full bore racing, but how glorious the sounds: