MOB News

Lake Webster Meet

May 21, 2005

By Rick Eichrodt

Photos by Tim Irwin and Chris Eichrodt

Our spring wet meet got off to a great start with another beautiful day at Lake Webster, Indiana. Our meet was scheduled for Saturday May 21, 2005. The start time was 10:00AM, but I am sure the action started at daybreak. We had members coming from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada in attendance. Each year the spring meets gets better and better and this year it was the best. There were 29 motors on display and some new awards were handed out. This year, Best Antique Motor, Best Classic Motor and Best Boat and Motor Combination awards were given out. The winners, voted on by attending members, were Bill Van Osdale for his 1946 Evinrude Sportsman winning the Best Antique. Jim Gilbert won the Best Classic Outboard for his restored 1951 Mercury KG4Q racing motor. Jim Hickman won the Best Boat and Motor Combination for his 1956 Lone Star aluminum boat and 1930 Elto Quad Electric Start motor. Jim also won the Emmett Walls Trophy for Best “Over 30 Cubic Inch Motor” and this award is for a running motor. Jim dazzled the crowd, again, with the Elto Quad demonstrating the electric starting capabilities of his motor. Jim was seen giving many rides to members during the day.

It was surprising to see how many boat and motor rigs that were in the water and seeing action. I believe this is the most boats seen on the water. Let’s keep up the action by getting more boats and motors running and out on the water. It is great to see and hear these old motors out doing what they were designed for. Chris Scratch brought a rare 1940 Detroiter and ran it on his Alumacraft. Chris also ran twin Lockwood Silent Chiefs on that rig. What a sound, seeing and hearing twin Lockwood’s out running. Other motors seen running were Sea Kings, Johnson’s, Mercury’s and Hiawatha’s. The swap and sell area was packed full of items for sale. There were plenty of parts and project motors for sale. Also along the swap and sell area were vendors selling everything from t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, books, owners manuals and other items.

Again this year we had a pitch in/cook out. Members are asked to bring a covered dish and the club provides the grilled treats. This year, Chris Scratch and Stuart Fillinger were the grill masters. The tables were full of potato salad, potato chips, cookies, brownies, and many other treats to satisfy everyone’s palate. After the luncheon, the MOB business meeting was held and Constantine was the main topic of discussion. Also there is going to be another meet that is going to be added to the schedule, a February meet held at Galveston, Indiana. Since it is in the middle of the winter in Indiana, an event is going to be held at the meet using flat bottom Jon boats as sleds. There will be a down hill race using those boats, weather permitting. A 50/50 drawing was held and the winners were, 1^st place, Taylor Nacke. Mona Gorz won 2nd place and Tyler Rutledge won 3rd place.

After the lunch and business meeting, it was back on the water for more run time. The weather was cooperating and you could not have asked for a better start of the 2005 Antique Outboarding season. Some of the attending members stayed all day, running many different motors and sharing boats and rides. Other motors seen running on the water include Mercury KF5, Johnson KA-38 9.2, Evinrude Lightfour 9.7, Mercury KF7 10+, Evinrude Mate 1.5, Mercury MK25 22hp, Evinrude Ducktwin 3, Johnson CD13 5.5 and an Evinrude Fleetwin 7.5.

The crowd started to dwindle down and members started to pack up and leave. The next meet on the MOB schedule is the Super Meet at Constantine, which is going to be held on July 15, 16, and 17 at Constantine Michigan.

See Ya On The Water!