| Including the latest Lucas news: Beauty and the Beast! | January, 2013 |
| There's still time to register for our Annual WBA Banquet at the Canyon Creek Country Club beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 19. Registration is well underway, so click here to complete a reservation form! If you don't have a computing machine, call David at 940-395-2742. Wear something with a touch of yellow! |
Our program will be provided by Donna Hunt, former editor of the Denison-Sherman Herald-Democrat. An author and historian, Donna will bring warm, personal insights to the history of Denison and Yellow Jacket Boats. We're also planning a major unveiling! Don't miss this very special Banquet! |
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When Dallasite Vance Sparks found a wooden shipping crate containing four pre-shaped Chris-Craft mahogany planks in the rafters of his late great-grandfather's garage, he had no idea what it was or what to do with it. His buddy, WBA member Dave Parker got the ball rolling, and before long, after research and consultation with WBA friends, the full story unfolded, and the planks found a home. |
The planks were a rare shipment from the Caruthersville, MO Chris-Craft plant to Wirt Franklin of Ardmore, OK. Likely shipped in 1946, the planks were never used. Franklin's '34 CC runabout must have needed work, but the boat has been lost to history. The rare crate and its contents will soon be in the permanent care of the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY. |
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Well, if Troy Marshall and Robin McGeorge's Super Sport is the Beauty, then the 427 Chris-Craft V-8 that'll power it is surely the Beast. After a very nice restoration by the dynamic duo, the engine needed to be lifted into place. That's where the gantry, chainfall and willing help all available at the Lucas shop came in.
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Helping Troy and Robin were Marc Hill, Richard Haug, Seb Borrello, Jim Donovan and Bill Baldwin. Above, the engine is held aloft and carefully lowered into the boat. Below, the engine finds its correct position on the stringers. Special thanks to Seb Borrello for his on-site reportage and photos. Good job, guys!
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February Meeting Devoted to Planning. Don't miss it!
Join us for a light meal and moderate libation at 5:30 p.m. at Two Guys from Italy prior to the meeting. We encourage you to join us for dinner, so we'll always have the required minimum number of diners to avoid a room charge. Shop Talk and Musings:
And, finally: Please take a look in the shed or garage for the leftover parts or other saleable items you can donate to the club. Bring them to any WBA meeting, or contact David Kanally at david@historywithheart.com for pickup.  |
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As reported last month, the WBA has initiated a community service project in support of Denison, home of Yellow Jacket Boats. The late Gene Ramey's widow, Wanda, has donated 44 Yellow Jacket transom blanks to the club. The bench that Bob Adair designed is reminiscent of a Yellow Jacket transom. Bob and Lew White have brought the first bench nearly to completion. There are enough blanks to make 10 of the benches, which we will offer to donors in Denison as a fundraiser for the new high school football stadium. Community leaders in Denison have been briefed on the project, and have embraced it. Once the prototype bench is complete, we'll be building them to order at the Lucas shop, based on donations received. Stay tuned for how YOU can help.