The American Powerboat Association (who have latterly expressed interest in sanctioning races and bringing the sport to a wider audience with a more commercial platform). [7] Hill would have quit early in the 1986 season had he not gotten some tuning advice from a competitor that helped make his car more competitive. This outfit ran on nitro methane and Eddie usually poured in the whole " He was from Sacramento, California, and had been racing drag boats for more than six years. " Lone He was married and the father of three children and was from Norwalk, California. this was before chute jackets boys and girls. Endurocross. [7] Hill won over 100 trophies in his motorcycle career. Mike, e-mail communication to site administrator, Oct. 20, 2016, Buried: South Park Cemetery, Pearland, Texas, Location: Brazos River, near Waco, Texas. Hobo II. 's car suddenly experienced severe vibration on the top end. Jack Barclay. Cooler Passes available. Eddie now had backing needed to purchase his first custom built chassis from Dave Uyehara and the components needed to complement it. "I started to settle the boat back into the water, and then it took off. The 2022 Drag Boat Nationals sanctioned by the Southern Drag Boat Association on November 4-6, 2022. D&H Sled hull with a blown fuel Chrysler, Adios two as a 150 with a Bud Meyers Chevy Nova engine, then as a 266 with a sbc., [7] The series features two races in each of the four major drag boat racing sanctioning bodies. [7] In 1962, Hill ran 202.70mph (326.21km/h) two years after Chris Karamesines had the first 200mph (320km/h) pass and two years before Don Garlits had the first official 200mph (320km/h) pass. 15, 2021 at 7:45 PM PDT. NDBA record holder at 104.00 mph. He had qualified #1, setting a track record in the process and wanted to use a back-up car for eliminations the next day. He was transported to Kern General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. can lid label and all, Witch He had just finished a run and had just deployed his parachute when his boat fishtailed and he was flipped into the water. Built by De Silva. They have dogs, cats, horses, and 30 head of Plummer bucking stock. Drag Boats of the 1960's has 126 pages, with 52 color and 124 black and white photographs. Over the past four decades the club has had an enormous following and dedication for the purpose of advancing the sport on the liquid quarter mile. Eddie became the first on water to stop the timers in less than six seconds with a quarter mile ET of 5.16 seconds, which at the time was quicker than Gary Beck July 14, 2017. Retirement (Eddie prefers to call it full time playing) is great. The National Jet Boat Association is an organization run and hosted solely by its members. When you look at Eddie Hill's racing career, one that spanned over four decades, be it on land or water, two wheels or four, one can't help but notice how this personable Texan's driving skills and mechanical ingenuity helped make him successful in any form of motorsports in which he chose to compete. Racers Reunion
"Renton hydro driver killed," [unidentified news clipping], June 1970, "Boat racer fatally hurt," Pittsburgh Press, June 8, 1970, "Boat driver Skaggs killed," Lodi News-Sentinel, June 8, 1970, "Hydroplane's plunge kills veteran driver," Bend Bulletin, June 8, 1970, Oregon Death Index (Charles L. Skaggs, died June 7, 1970 in Multnomah Co., age 31, wifes name was Joan), Buried: Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman, California. Mixed Emotions 's finances took a quite a hit. MARBLE FALLS LAKEFEST - SDBA SEASON OPENER. record is first certified official after it is backed up by a different pass within one percent. 1970-79 - Drag Boat and Water Speed Record Racer Memorial 1970-1979 Charles Abajian Born: September 16, 1947 Died: May 20, 1978 Buried: Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, California Age: 30 Full Name: Charles Arthur Abajian Nickname: Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California Event: Coors Boat Drag Nationals Accident Date: May 20, 1978 Raised its own record to 172.90 in 24 posts. Including Lake Racer class that offers new racers the Bob Garners Blown Gas Chrysler powered Miller hull. Thus, the sanctioning body would not allow him to compete. [7] The following year, Hill won the state championship with a 9.25-second pass at 161miles per hour (259kilometers per hour). Forever 17. Pomona, America, Southern Drag Boat Association Hall of Fame. He was a rookie driver from Fullerton, California. Oklahoma City. Admin Administrator. Link to IDBF CCWC event. Updated: May. The power, speed, and acceleration were all the things I had missed since I quit drag racing. top of page. Its replacement, Citation II, Eddie and Ercie were married on Valentines Day in 1984. He won 55 of 103 races during that time. In 1982 at, Eddie Hill quit drag boats in October 1984 after a crash at 217 MPH on, Hill returned to the asphalt quarter-mile in 1985, a surface that would be on solid footing and more predicable. The Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat Race has been notified by the sanctioning body (Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series) for our race that effective immediately they are cancelling half of the remaining races for 2017, which includes the Augusta race, due to reoccurring financial losses they are incurring for the race series. This photo was taken the day before his fatal crash. "Boat racer killed," Orlando Sentinel, Dec. 20, 1970, Buried: Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento, California, Location: Fern Ridge Reservoir, Eugene, Oregon, Event: Balboa Raceways Championship Circle and Drag Boat Race. Miss Spico The event is promoted very well as evidenced by the entire town of Marble Falls are wearing event shirts and drag boat window art all over town. He was from Downey, California. Each drive must wear a flameproof driving suit, crash helmet and goggles or face shield. It gives you reason to pause for a moment and reflect that maybe some good was accomplished along the way. The disintegrated craft sunk within seconds about one hundred yards from the finish. Jean Jennewein Blown fuel hydro, Sanger hull, Chrysler engine NDBA record holder at 165.44 mph "Memphis man injured fatally when boat overturns in race," Hattiesburg American, May 24, 1976, Social Security Death Index: Porter McFarland, born Dec. 13, 1932, died May 1976, las residence Memphis, TN, SS# issued in Tennessee before 1951, Ancestry.com: Porter Anderson McFarland, born Dec. 13, 1932 in Memphis, TN, died May 23, 1976 in Mississippi, Margaret Meier, e-mail communication to site administrator, Mar. The run had been fast enough to make Hill the fastest qualifier, and Hill wanted to race his backup car in the first round on the day after the accident. Hill had the first run in the four second range (4.990 seconds), which earned him the nickname "Four Father of Drag Racing." His other nicknames include "The Thrill", "Holeshot Hill", and "Fast Eddie". 1941, age 35, md. This outfit started life with a 421 Pontiac with Mickey Thompson heads. Sonoma, In 1987 at the NHRA Chief Auto Parts Nationals in Ennis, Texas, where he finished runner-up, Hill blazed the quarter mile at 285.98 MPH; becoming the only person in history to hold speed records for both land and water simultaneously. He won a record-tying six races, amassing enough points to win the 1993 Winston Top Fuel Championship, and becoming the oldest (57) in history to receive such an honor. [7] He won the NDBA Nationals four times including three straight from 1982 until 1984. In 1996 the NDBA (National Drag Boat Association) was formed. BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - The Southern Drag Boat Association opened its 2021 season on Lake Bryan with a three-day race event this weekend. State. It is an acceleration race over a measured quarter mile straightaway on water between two high performance race boats. Pending: Highlands Spring Classic: Start Date. (AP Photo) Lokar Car Show. In 1954), Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California. this was before chute jackets boys and girls. He was transported to a Starkville hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. But when they do, she has aspirations of the PBR using them. Event Info The 1988 season brought corporate sponsorship from Super Shops and Pennzoil, thanks to help from, A month after the Gators, Eddie recorded drag racing, In 1989 Hill survived a spectacular finish line blow over at 236.51 MPH in, In 1993 Eddie Hill was at the top of his game. He also took home three more Wallys that year with wins in The cars were faster, quicker, and growing in popularity. partnership, he formed a partnership with Pete Altman & Wayne Rexwinkle. But age was not a barrier to Eddie Hill. [13] Six months later, Hill recorded a 4.936-second e.t. They live on a 400 acre horse and cattle ranch on the outskirts of town where Ercie raises Tennessee Walking Horses and bucking bulls. Engine builder - Bobby Sykes, Firebird Drag boat racing is a form of drag racing which takes place on water rather than land. "Fern Ridge boat crash kills driver," Eugene Register-Guard, June 14, 1971, Social Security Death Index (Charles Holden, born May 16, 1941, died June 1971, SS# issued in Calif. "[12] His Texas A&M ring was torn off his hand; he suffered seven broken bones, a concussion, & eye injuries. Dayton L. Sherrouse Biographical: He was thrown from the boat as it became airborn. He was thrown into the water as the boat was traveling about 125 MPH. Ski-Land near Perris, California which is near Riverside & March Draglist Facebook
The motors 1600 to 4500 HP can provide enough torque to rotate the boat around the shaft. eman, email communication to site administrator, Dec. 14, 2018, "Wild ride," Los Angeles Times, Aug. 20, 1975, "A Turn for the worse," Pottstown Mercury, Aug. 20, 1975, "Call him lucky," Long Beach Independent, Aug. 20, 1975, Buried: Thetford Township Cemetery, Clio, Michigan, Location: Holloway Reservoir, near Columbiaville, Michigan. May 10, 1941 in Houston, TX, died July 9, 1978 in Waco, TX, "Killed during boat race," El Paso Times, July 11, 1978, Find a Grave: Donald Lee Williams, b. Mar. By his third race, he set a speed record for his class. It Drag boats qualify on Saturday for a two-day event and on Friday and Saturday for three day events. Eddie began with an un-blown gas hydroplane, winning class the first time out while racing in That same year, he not only garnered the most points to win the SDBA championship, but also won the National Drag Boat Association (NDBA) World Fuel & Gas Championships. Eddie Hill quit drag boats in October 1984 after a crash at 217 MPH on . The other when he ran an elapsed time of 4.99 seconds, drag racing's Your Companys name will be mentioned 100s of times during the race. The parachute slows the driver down during a crash and pulls him away from the boat. He had been using the Double Dragon to win match races and help support his Top Fuel efforts, but unfortunately the twin was totaled two months earlier in a crash at Fuel and alcohol classes require flameproof boots, gloves and fuel masks. The SDBA is the Fastest Show on Water!! The track is about 3/4 mile on the left. The car went out of control and was completely destroyed. Called the Double Dragon, it had a 92 's Hills Fun Cycles, and a son Dustin. Since the hydros travel on a cushion of air, a sudden reduction of power changes the aerodynamics dramatically. Atlanta, and As with land-based drag racing, competitors race their vehicles for the lowest elapsed time (low ET) over a straight race course of a defined length. Hill also set speed records that year for SDBA, ADBA, and IHBA, becoming the only driver to hold records in all four associations. Select from premium National Drag Boat Association of the highest quality. Racing the liquid quarter mile throughout Arizona at speeds of up to 200 MPH+! "It was a perfect run until right past the finish line. He road races for fun at Hallett Raceway in, In addition, Eddie has taken up flying a real plane and those with radio controls. In 1960, he set the NHRA record for the largest improvement in the . He died in City of Roses Hospital while surgeons tried to save his life. I had to do something that was counterintuitive, and it spooked me. We are a member driven organization that provides quality and safe racing for our members. 9, 2011, http://dragboatalley.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000402;p=0 (accessed 3/12/11), http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31246 (accessed 3/12/11), Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Covina Hills, California, Boat: "Porky Pig" blown fuel Pickle Scoop flatbottom. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a Waco hospital. "Top Fuel Driver of the Year Ranked 14th on NHRA's Top 50 drivers list. One of Bud Meyers He quit water drag racing after he suffered broken bones at a crash in Arizona and returned to land drag racing in 1985. He was from Houston. Bob Valenzuela Blown Gas Hydro, Hallett hull, Hot Toddys Ghost Soon he was shattering records. The herd of bulls is young and not yet ready to buck. RSVP. In 1956), Buried: Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno, California, Boat: "Big Fella" unblown fuel flatbottom. 1440 S 8th ST COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON June 10th & 11th HIGH DESERT SHOWDOWN HAYSTACK RESERVOIR CULVER, OREGON Click here for full race schedule July 14th - 16th BI-MART SUMMER CLASH DEXTER RESERVOIR LOWELL, OREGON Race Track Venues Dexter Reservoir located in Lowell, Oregon is the Home Track for CDBA. Feel free to take a few minutes to visit the pits, talk with the crews and look at the sophisticated machinery and equipment that makes it all happen. The interior pages are also on the highest quality waxed paper, capable of showing off the photographs to their finest degree. Dirt Knights. [16], "Hill's 500th four-second lap bittersweet", "Pedregon sets elapsed time mark, takes Funny Car final", "Hill Among Class of Eight Inducted into Motorsports Hall Of Fame", "IHRA: Throwback Thursday - Eddie Hill makes history with the first 4-second pass", "Eddie Hill headed for Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame", "Hill to be inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eddie_Hill&oldid=1135341652, ranked 14th on NHRA's Top 50 drivers (2001), This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 02:27. Race Chairman, Dayton Sherrouse, stated that this is extremely devastating news for everyone concerned with this annual event particularly with the short notice involved. Over the years he was given nicknames by fans and competitors alike for his racing prowess, such as "Fast Eddie Texas. Detroit. Welcome to the official site of the Outboard Drag Boat Association. He also took runner-up six times that season as well as being the #1 qualifier at Indy, Hill attended a drag boat race in 1974 in You don ", PHOTO CREDITS: Eddie and Ercie Hill collection, Forrest Bond, Getty Images, Gil Rebilas, Some witnesses reported seeing Holden's parachute become entangled in the engine, but the chute didn't have enough time to deploy. record at 9.93 seconds. After that, Hill decided to quit his regular job and go racing full time. That same year, he not only garnered the most points to win the SDBA championship, but also won the National Drag Boat Association (NDBA) World Fuel & Gas Championships. [11] It was his twelfth championship. At your feet are three pedals: on your right is the throttle and on your left, two petals that control the altitude of the bow with metal cavitation plates across the back of the boat. NDBA is defined as National Drag Boat Association somewhat frequently. NDBA "National Drag Boat Association " Embroidered Patch. "The power, speed, and acceleration were all things that I had missed since I quit drag racing. Texas. In learning the real plane, he has advanced far enough to make a solo flight from [4] She had several roles during his career, including team co-owner, starting line navigator, record taker, pit crew member, business manager, marketing, and public relations. Decatur, Mr T Follow us on Facebook for the most up to date info. SDBA has been around the racing community since 1975, and is one of the oldest drag b Add to calendar At Amarillo Eddie set an ET record for the class at 8.84 seconds. Eddie and Ercie petitioned the NHRA to change the rule to allow a driver to substitute his primary car for another even though the one taking its place had not made a qualifying run. [7] Hill also set speed records that year in the SDBA (220.76mph), ADBA (215.82mph), and International Hot Boat Association (IHBA) (212.78mph). Level II Coaches Course offered. Eddie once tried to ride an unbroken horse bareback. In 1951, California Birth Index: Buster Ross Brownfield, born Dec. 31, 1934 in Nevada Co., mothers maiden name was Macbuster, "Obituary," Roseville Press-Tribune, Nov. 18, 1975, Mark Hoffman, telephone conversation with site administrator, Apr. [7] The Double Dragon had been destroyed in a wreck two months before this fire. Texas E.T. Rescuers pulled him from the water, but a doctor at the scene said he apparently had suffered brain damage and a concussion. How bout that? " after seeing one thrown from a boat during a high speed crash. Augusta Southern Nationals ~ Powered by Wordpress ~ Designed by MARJAC. . 1973, SS# issued in Illinois), http://sports.webshots.com/photo/1028259824033146580JIqvLPEzHF (accessed 7/10/10), http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281595&page=12 (accessed 7/10/10), Mark Hoffman, email to site administrator, Apr. Houston. when he drove the quarter mile in 8.84seconds to break the previous 9.40-second record. The boat flipped over and he was thrown clear of the craft, but drowned before anyone could get to him. [2] He retired in 1999. [7], Hill spent four months designing and seven months building another home-built dragster called the Double Dragon. It weighed 1,075 lbs and set the Texas. [7] Later that season he set the a new A/Gas low e.t. Thanks to Weston Your [7] Less than a month later, Hill had stopped motorcycle racing to drag race boats, despite not being able to swim. NATIONAL DRAG BOAT ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Business Overview Corporate Transactions Office Location Street Address Corporations Business Officer Competitor Search similar business entities Corporations Similar businesses Provide Additional Information Knoxville Nationals. Memphis, and was quicker than Gary Beck's 5.39-second NHRA Top Fuel dragster record, the first time that the water record was lower than the land record. He also won Top Gas at the 1959 AHRA Championships in NDBA Blown Fuel Flat record holder at 137.82 mph. [7] He had nearly completed a jet-engine powered ultralight dragster in 1963 when the NHRA outlawed all aircraft engines. USDBF Releases Bulletin 1 for 2023 CCNC. Biographical: During eliminations, his boat was traveling about 140 MPH when the boat began rocking back and forth on its sponsons. Using the same boat in 1976, he switched to nitro and set an SDBA speed record of 171.81 MPH. Come celebrate the crowning of our 2022 Champions and Runners-ups. It was built as a pay to water ski place and turned out to be a good $15/ea day, or $25/both, Kids under 12 free with paying adult. Project 1320. var sc_project=237473;
They live on a 400 acre horse and cattle ranch on the outskirts of town where Ercie raises Tennessee Walking Horses and bucking bulls. One of his previous boats was a blown gas hydro named "Deliverance." Like small profile front tires on dragsters (1958), charcoal-filled breathing masks (1959), tire smoking burnouts, which are standard in all professional and most sportsman classes today (1960), and aerodynamic front wing on dragsters (1963). We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 600+ volunteers and we wholeheartedly thank you. He also built two more Top Fuel dragsters with blown hemis before calling it quits in 1966 after an engine fire at Green Valley Raceway in The NHRA had a rule that the car used for qualifying had to be used in the event, so the sanctioning body did not allow him to compete. Jack Barclay jack.barclay1@aol.com (952)452-4938 Hi I'm Jack Barclay a 17 year old mini-stock racer at Elko Speedway and I'm currently looking for sponsorships for the 2015 race season at Elk More >>. The next year he was back and was leading the points with two races left, but a terrible spill at the Grand River event . Miss Sled When he retired from drag racing in 1999, records indicate that he had posted over 460 four second runs; the best being a 4.520 seconds at 323.74 MPH. Arizona Drag Boat Association (ADBA) is home some of the fastest boats on the west [7] In 1975, he set the Southern Drag Boat Association (SDBA) speed record at 137.46mph (221.22km/h). 's first four second vehicle has been rebuilt by Dave Uyehara and is now on display at Eddie Hill He was from Clio, Michigan. They met at a boat drag race in High Point, North Carolina, and she Dave Despain Show. Austin, One of his four passes in the 1960 event set the B/Gas dragster record at 163.04mph (262.39km/h), so Hill quit his job to become a full-time drag racer. Biographical: He was traveling about 180 MPH on a tuning run when his boat flipped and he was thrown out. From Austin: Take Hwy 71 West approximate 45 miles to Hwy 281 (North). He and Ercie also served as Grand Marshall and Official Starter for a Busch Grand National race in Detroit, and Eddie competed in his first career road race, finishing 9th out of 50 drivers at the Fast Masters Series for Racing Legends in Indianapolis. California Death Index: Howard A. Lakin, b. Oct. 19, 1942, in Calif., died May 19, 1974, in Kern Co. California Birth Index: Howard Albert Lakin, b. Oct. 19, 1942, in San Francisco Co., mothers maiden name was Rice (brother was Dale Bruce Lakin, born Jan. 19, 1951), Buried: Westminster Memorial Park, Westminster, California, Location: Turlock Lake State Park, California, Event: Central Valley Drag and Ski Boat Association race. Drag Lists
Midwestern In his early days Eddie brought innovations to drag racing that enhanced safety and performance. During those years Eddie won 55 of the 103 events he entered. It was a record listed in the Guinness Book of World Record for 11 years. Both Eddie and Ercie have a great love for animals. 80s Funny Cars
of the World "Names in the news," Long Beach Press-Telegram, July 13, 1970, "Boat racer killed," Raleigh Register, July 13, 1970, "Hydroplane driver dies at Austin," Corpus Christi Times, July 13, 1970, "Death toll reaches 45 in violence," Victoria Advocate, July 13, 1970, Social Security Death Index (James Sanders, born June 18, 1927, died July 1970, SS# issued in Texas), Location: Willamette River, Portland, Oregon. Just a week earlier he had won the blown fuel flatbottom class during the California Drag Boat Championships at Long Beach with a speed of 144 MPH. urchinTracker(); Over the years he was given nicknames by fans and competitors alike for his racing prowess, such as "Fast Eddie, Hill competed in his first drag race in1956 at, Later that year he added a blower to the car, which made it an A/Gas dragster. SDBA has been around the racing community since 1975, and is one of the oldest drag b, 38th Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals Event Schedule, https://sdbaracing.com/store/ols/products/spectator-weekend-race-pass-san-angelo-tx. Over 100 trophies in his motorcycle career driver down during a high speed crash a wreck two before. Boat Association of the highest quality offers new racers the Bob Garners Blown Gas Chrysler powered Miller hull ``.. 7 ], Hill spent four months designing and seven months building another home-built called... Outlawed all aircraft engines an acceleration race over a measured quarter mile straightaway on water rather than land taken... Tuning run when his boat flipped over and he was traveling about 140 MPH when the outlawed... Were married on Valentines day in 1984 Bakersfield, California with 52 color and 124 black white... Car went out of control and was from Norwalk, California, the sanctioning body would allow! 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