Exide U-75 1963

 

  Boat Statistics

Boat Name:

 

Year:

Designation#:

 

 Exide

1963

 

U-75

Owner/Driver:

 

Year Model Built:

 

 Doug Tulip

 

2002

Builder:

 

Construction:

 

 

 Pete Schille

 

 Plywood

Motor:

 

Speed Controller:

 

 Astro 25 5-turn

 

 AstroFlight

Prop:

 

Paint Colors:

 

 

 Octura 447

 

 Red, with White & Blue trim

Type of Graphics:

 Radio:

 

 

 Hand Painted

 

 J. R. Racing

This model was originally owned by Gary Simpson, who had to give up competing due to his health.  Doug Tulip bought the boat in 2005 and has had his brother David out testing it.  I think this is David's ride now.

The first Miss Exide was a short-lived boat, which was destroyed in only her third race (the 1963 Diamond Cup on Lake Coeur d’ Alene in Idaho). Her driver, charismatic Czech Mira Slovak (William Boeing’s private pilot), was seriously injured in the accident. A replacement boat was quickly readied (the former Miss Wahoo), and competed through the 1965 season, with Burien milkman Bill Brow driving. The second Miss Exide won four races, and set the Gold Cup qualifying mark (in Seattle, 1965) which stood for many years.

Both Miss Exide hydroplanes are remembered fondly by hydro enthusiasts around the country, and particularly in the Seattle area, where the boats were based.