A conversation with Hank Why and Linda
Dabica in the fall of 2000, led to my volunteering to maintain
the Website for our local New Hampshire Boat Museum. Soon after,
I also volunteered to maintain this Website for our local ACBS
Chapter. I had designed, installed, and managed large corporate
information systems for over 30 years during my professional
career, and as I began to eye semi-retirement, thought it was
time to apply some of my skills to help our local ACBS Chapter.
Boats and boat racing are in my blood.
My grandfather, William Edgar John Sr, was a naval architect,
owned a shipyard in Rye, New York, raced in several inboard
classes, and was inducted into the APBA's Honor Squadron in
1955. My father raced International-One-Design sailboats on Long
Island Sound - where he was Fleet Chairman for many years and
was the first President of the IOD class - based out of the
Larchmont Yacht Club - where he was very active. My grandmother
was also active in the early days of power boat racing in this
country. She actually drove and won quite a few APBA boat races,
and I have two large trophies that she won in 1914.
But alas, my mother moved us kids up to
Lake Winnipesaukee when I was very young, and I spent my early
summers at my grandmother's on Governors Island. She had a
Century Coronado with u-shaped dock, canvas cover and electric
winch - very cool. I also worked at the Goodhue Boat Yard in
Glendale - on the gas dock - the best job I ever had. Speaking
of landmarks, Tup Goodhue and I played in a rock band "The
Fugitives" and we were the house band at Irwins Winnipesaukee
Gardens during the summers of 1965 and 1966. Tup and John
Goodhue used to race in the marathon water ski races on Lake
Winnipesaukee, and I can remember the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski
Shows on Paugus Bay and Boat-O-Rama at the Weirs. These
are just some of my memories of Lake Winnipesaukee - that make
it a very special place for me.
Then, while visiting on vacation during
the summer of 1979 - I read a "Jerry Harper" ad in The Laconia
Citizen for a 1948 Gar Wood with a Chrysler Hemi motor. I went
to see the boat and bought it on first sight. My life has not
been the same since. Now I still have my "Obsession", still
trying to make it go faster, and still enjoy giving boat rides,
especially at Vintage Race Boat Regattas. In fact, at last
year's Detroit Gold Cup Vintage Event, I gave Tom Pakradooni,
current APBA Jersey Speed Skiff national champion, a ride in my
Obsession, and he was telling me stories of my boat when it
raced in the marathon water ski events on Lake Winnipesaukee.
What a great boat ride that was - driving my Gar Wood Speedster
on the Detroit Gold Cup race course.
And now, after attending every Weirs
Boat Show since 1979, I have volunteered to help our local ACBS
Chapter, by maintaining this very active and dynamic Website.
My objectives for our ACBS
Chapter Web site:
-
Keep it dynamic - with constant
updates from ACBS Chapter members.
-
Keep it accurate and current - with
help from ACBS Chapter members.
-
Keep it simple - focus on content
not "flash and dash".
-
Develop our
Boat Show
Photos
section - Eric has over 20 years of photos ???!!!
-
Develop close links with other
similar-interest Websites.
-
Work year round to help promote our
spectacular Meredith Boat Show.
It is important to remember
that all input to this ACBS Chapter Website comes from our
members. I am just the Webmeister who puts it together.
Therefore, the more our members share their photos and bios -
the more active Website will be and the more fun/knowledge we
can share.
Please e-mail your comments and
suggestions to -
Bill John
