TBT – This week’s vintage hydroplane throwback is about the greatest unlimited Karelsen ever built, The 1968 Miss Budweiser. The 1967-68 Miss Bardahl may have been flashier and more popular, but not as successful as her clone the ‘68 Bud. This great hull raced for 5 years as the Miss Budweiser, winning eleven races, including two Gold Cups and collecting three straight national championships, a feat that very few boats have ever done. The only remaining Karelsen in existence was almost lost after a violent crash that sent her to the bottom of the Columbia River during the 1970 Atomic Cup. The entire right sponson and part of the hull was ripped away. Bernie Little was quoted saying “We will repair the damage and win in Seattle” and 14 days later, Bernie and Dean Chenoweth hoisted the famous Seafair Trophy in celebration of the victory. However, after a below par ’72 season without any race wins, Bernie needed to upgrade so the aging champion went into storage and sat out the 1973 season and was eventually sold. She re-appeared four races into the 1974 season at the Dayton HydroGlobe, this time virtually with the same colors but a different name. She was now the U-77 Country Boy (2) driven by Dave “Salt” Walther. Just 16 months prior, Salt narrowly escaped a fiery death at the start of the 1973 Indy 500. However on this Sept 1st day in 1974, Salt had his most productive day in an unlimited hydro as he drove the Country Boy (2) to a victory in her first heat, finished second in the next heat and placed third overall in the final. But it was short lived because the Country Boy Bud would only see the water one more time in Madison, IN. where she did not finish heat 1A which ended her day and season. In 1975 the hull was purchased by Jerry Kalin and ran as the colorful U-64 Miss Vernors. The first 3 events were piloted by the great Fred Alter but Bob Miller took the wheel for the ’75 Gold Cup in the Tri-Cities and finished out the four remaining races of the season as the driver. In 7 races of this her final competitive season, she never finished higher than 5th place. This once great hull finished out her illustrious racing career with a DNF in the final at San Diego. A short time after, Anheuser Busch bought the hull back and re-painted it back to the Miss Budweiser’s famous red and gold paint scheme and then gave to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation were she was displayed for a short period of time. Then the hull was put into long term storage where she sat quietly for several decades. In 2003 the hull was acquired by H.A.R.M. where she is now on display for all hydro fans and race fans alike to enjoy.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:16:56 +0000
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