Albany to NYC marathon in the 1960's

[Mark75H]

This race was famous in the 40's and 50's...

John Sherlock posted a neat picture on the History Gallery of his dad and Warren Spinnenweber driving his boat in the Albany to New York race in about 1968. I didn't know it was still being held that late in the 60's.

Anyone know what the last year was?

http://forums.screamandfly.com/Gallery/data/500/4914Im000157-med.jpg

[T2x]

There were actually two Hudson River Marathon series......

The first featured O/B Racing runabouts and spanned the late 40's thru early 50's...... one of the winners racing from Albany to NYC on his knees was a 13 year old Jon Culver in 1947 or so.

The later Races started in 1962 and ran through 1967.... The last race was , indeed, held from NYC to Albany and back.

Jon Culver ( What goes around) and Cliff Reif won the event in 1963 and 1964 overall and in JJ class (twin stock Merc 1000's/17' Glastron called the "Stamper" after Reif's Dayton Stamping Company which made GM car emblems).

Dick O'Dea and Johnny Covals, two stock outboard hydro racers were second in 1963 in a twin Merc 1000 15' Powercat. I ran an identical boat, that year and the next...... Total entries in those days were well over 150 boats.

I ran those races in JJ class in a 15' Powercat, 16' Glastron, 16' Allison, and an 18' Eltro between 63 qnd 67. They were awesome events.........and created a LOT of broken hulls and parts......especially in Haverstraw Bay.

T2x

[Mark75H]

Thanks, Rich! This kind of information is excellent!

[T2x]

I sometimes wish that I remembered less of the old and more of the new......last week is a mystery to me.

T2x

[Powercat]

I was looking at a map trying to figure out what distance that would be by water... Any ideas on the race lenght?
( Well never mind on that I just saw Sherlock's post of the certificates and it shows 134 miles for the one way trip... )

Also I remember hearing about another 60's race that was around Manhattan Island .... ..... Anybody know much about
that race?
Danny Leger

[T2x]

Originally posted by Powercat

Also I remember hearing about another 60's race that was around Manhattan Island .... ..... Anybody know much about
that race?
Danny Leger

That race was actually more of a publicity thing..... The old Nyack based, Hudson River Racing Association provided a half dozen OPC boats (all single engined) and drivers to "race" around Manhattan with some local DJ's, most notably Murray The "K" and "Cousin Brucie"....... I don't think anyone actually won, nor do I think they went all the way around.

T2x

[Dave S]

Hi T2X, forgetting new stuff is good, the old stuff seems like more fun.:) I have an old Eltro race boat, got it from Sonny Werner of Massapequa.

[T2x]

Originally posted by Dave S
Hi T2X, forgetting new stuff is good, the old stuff seems like more fun.:) I have an old Eltro race boat, got it from Sonny Werner of Massapequa.

Is that the one he barrel rolled on Lake Hopatcong?

You wanna sell that motor?

T2x

[Dave S]

I don't know if he rolled this boat, I know sonny from way back when, but didn't buy the boat from him dirrectly. My bosses sons had one each and the father had on too. I think they got them all from Sonny. They were all the same but for small differents, the old mans had a 140ss, he still has his in a barn. I still have the boat, but I sold the motor, It was a 150 on a T2 housing.;)

[T2x]

About the motor......yeah I could tell....
The boat is a classic.... bring it down to Joey's (East Coast Marine). George Linder, Sonny Werner, Darren and I are there on many Saturdays chewing the fat.

T2x

[Dave S]

Sorry I only bring things down south , I hate going over the BQE to escape the city. Are you saying old man Werner hangs out at Joey's? I have tried to call him at home but I missed him, I wanted to ask him about this Eltro, It was Buckey's. I just wanted to get info on it's past, I wonder if it was sponsered by Roaringham's. I wonder if there is any thing under the black paint? Dam wood boats, this thing leaked and got my wife's feet wet when I slowed down. :rolleyes:

[T2x]

Sonny is at Joey's most Saturday's.........

T2x

[Scream And Fly]

Sherlock,

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your father...

I would also like to say how pleased we all are that you and everyone else here made this section of the forum a great place that will remind (and teach those of us like myself that were not around back then) us all of the history of our sport.


Thank you, and my sincere condolences...

Greg

[mr.clean]

sorry to hear about your loss:(

[Anne M]

This is a link to the October 1952 issue of "Boat Sport" magazine, The cover photo shows the start of an Albany to NY Marathon. The inset photo is of my Dad, Marty O'Neill, the 1951 Class A winner, crossing the finish line. Scroll down to read the cover story on page 3, and keep scrolling for many great old photos and articles. http://www.boatsport.org/magpdf/bsv13.pdf

[stokernick]

wow!! Anne! Great read, nice to go back in time!! Thanks for sharing!

[Anne M]

wow!! Anne! Great read, nice to go back in time!! Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome. It was fun to find it...loved the photos, too.

[Anne M]

This is a link to the October 1952 issue of "Boat Sport" magazine, The cover photo shows the start of an Albany to NY Marathon. The inset photo is of my Dad, Marty O'Neill, the 1951 Class A winner, crossing the finish line. Scroll down to read the cover story on page 3, and keep scrolling for many great old photos and articles. http://www.boatsport.org/magpdf/bsv13.pdf


Link to a film of the 1949 Albany to Ny Marathon. My Dad, Marty O'Neill, Sr., crosses the finish line at about 22:42, driving “BAB-ANN”, # N-234. Narrated by Paul Harvey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wHmuqnrJA

[Greg G]

Link to a film of the 1949 Albany to Ny Marathon. My Dad, Marty O'Neill, Sr., crosses the finish line at about 22:42, driving “BAB-ANN”, # N-234. Narrated by Paul Harvey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wHmuqnrJA

Wow Ann, that is a great clip. Thanks for sharing it.

[Mark75H]

Always great to see old stuff come back around again

#6 (http://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?133855-Race-video-from-1904!&p=2211142#post2211142)

and

http://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?305030-Albany-to-New-York-race-1949

[SCT]

I was recently looking at some of my father’s old racing memorabilia. Found a clipping on him and his partner placing 1st in J class (16’ Checkmate) in the 67’ Hudson Marathon race. I remember he said at the end of the race they were so beat up, that they needed help getting out of the boat and he was black and blue for a month. Also knew Stan Stauffer who was first across the line that year. What a classic race that could never be run today.

Good article -
https://books.google.com/books?id=D24tq6hXACoC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=bruce+tieben&source=bl&ots=3RPXUzFIWq&sig=ACfU3U26ICc14Z4UHAOvKN4a4TqRfG4Mrg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjU2_fkg6bqAhXGVN8KHWHiDq0Q6AEwD3oECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=bruce%20tieben&f=false

[Anne M]

Here's a YouTube link to the complete 1949 Albany to NY race. I believe it's Paul Harvey narrating. It was nice to hear my dad's name as he crossed the finish line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wHmuqnrJA

[Dave S]

Yes I knew a guy that ran that race in the old dazzzs….. John Harth was his name...….ran aganst Sonny Wherrner…..Told of the story of MK 40 gas lines breaking..... copper lines.....

[Sharkey-Images]

It was that video from 1949 that made me decide to do this on this coming Saturday:
https://www.speedonthewater.com/sharkey-to-tackle-hudson-river-endurance-run-in-outboard-powered-13-footer/