William Edgar John III
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 to publish ???!!!
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