Island’s Buffalo Launch Club hosts biggest boat show ever

Tribune, Dispatch, Sentinel, September 14-16, 2006
by Michael J. Owen
U.S. Navy Journalist (Ret.)

Shown sitting in their woodie “Honeybun” are (from left) Bill and Rich DeGlopper. (photo by Mike Owen).

“The show was the biggest and best ever, and every boat had a story,” said Rich DeGlopper, describing last weekend’s 29th annual Antique and Classic Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion. The Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society presented the “Shuffle Off To Buffalo” event at Grand Island’s Buffalo Launch Club along the mighty Niagara River.

Gray skies and spotted rain showers in the area didn’t slow attendance as the weekend event, which celebrated the 80th anniversary of Century Boats, combined vintage racing boats, antique speed boats, hydroplanes, model boats and an antique car show.

“People came from all over the country to show their boats and cars. We even had one fellow that brought his boat from Albany through the Erie Canal,” said DeGlopper. “Maybe this will catch on next year? He could be the pied piper that leads a procession and picks up boats along the away like in the old Erie Canal song. We even created an award for him as ‘traveling the greatest distance by water’ to get to our show,” said the North Tonawanda resident.

Best Ever …

“Despite a little rain, it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit or enthusiasm. We registered the most race boats and wooden boats ever. Also numerous people came up and told us that it was the best boat show they had ever seen at the end of the event,” continued DeGlopper. As people vowed to return next year, they also said they would tell more people about it.

“More than a boat club, we serve as ambassadors for the Buffalo and Western New York area helping to bring in visitors from around the country,” he added. “We also encouraged them to spend money in town at shops and restaurants.”

Additionally, the boat show chairman explained how their show must compete with other summer events around the country while keeping cost down. “To draw people to your event, you have to make it a special show. Between the dedicated efforts of our boat show committee and the generosity of local sponsors and volunteers, we were able to offset our cost. We kept registration cost down and still showed everyone a good time,” DeGlopper said.

Eye-catching Woodies

As noted, the weekend featured the Century Boat Show, celebrating its 80th anniversary. From a company that now makes fiberglass boats, a prominent entry was the 75th anniversary 16-foot Thunderbolt boat, which was on display among many others representing the wooden boats from an era gone by.

The event also hosted the Lauterbach Jamboree, which paid tribute to recently deceased race boat builder Henry Lauterbach of West Virginia. A number of Lauterbachs with interesting histories were also docked.

Boat racer Ken Warby, an Australian who holds the world record for the fastest man on water, was in attendance at the show, and his trophy was on display. Warby broke the record “Down Under” in 1978 with his jet-powered hydroplane, “Spirit of Australia,” traveling at 317.60 mph. His trophy has not been on public display in the United States for almost three decades. It has been in a maritime museum for many years and then on Warby’s fireplace recently. “Barbara got tired of dusting it, so I thought I’d bring it to Buffalo,” Warby said with a smile. When asked what it felt like to travel at that speed on water, Warby again grinned saying, “It was just another day at the office.”

‘Holy Grail’ of Powerboating

All kidding aside, in reality eight out of 10 racers have died since 1978 trying to take Warby’s record. “If you want this trophy, there’s one question you must ask yourself,” said Warby. “ ‘How bad do you want it?’ This is the ‘Holy Grail’ of powerboat racing. More people have died trying to break this record than any other speed record.”

Warby also showed video footage of his feat to spectators on Friday.

Other speakers included Tom Holm, vice president of the Century Boat Club and Larry Lauterbach discussing Lauterbach’s boat racing history. Also at the show, various maritime and nautical items along with detailed model boat displays allowed every boat owner, land lover, child and wannabe sailor a chance to share in a historic trip down memory lane along the Niagara River.

But what made this show a memorable one for many was the opportunity to share in the wonderful days gone by of wood boat racing.

Long History

As he sat with his brother, Islander Bill DeGlopper, in his father’s 19-foot Racing Runabout boat, the Honeybun, built in 1951, Rich explained that it was their dad, Harold DeGlopper, that introduced them to this sport. “Our dad got us in to antique boats and race boats as teen-agers,” he said. “We refinished this boat five years ago. Sitting in it today makes me feel young again and reminds me of its long history.”

In the 1950s the Rich sisters, of Rich Marina fame in Buffalo, won various races in the 19 footer in the historic F-Service Runabout. “The sisters were then teen-agers and raced the boat on the Niagara River right here at the Buffalo Launch Club,” Rich DeGlopper pointed out.

Decades later, during last Sunday’s “Fun Run” as the antique boats paraded around the same shores, on-shore spectators shared the same experience. “Those that live along the river got quite a treat as 41 vintage boats cruised by there houses Sunday morning,” he continued. The parade passed through several marinas in the Tonawanda area and hugged the Grand Island shoreline. As they went around Navy Island and the North Grand Island Bridge, boaters could see the mist and Niagara Falls skyline. “Some new sailors to the area just couldn’t believe they were that close to the Falls in their boat,” said Rich DeGlopper.

He said there are plans to establish a Maritime Heritage Center to showcase boat builders, engine manufacturers and the rich maritime history of Western New York. “The museum will consist of a hands-on concept where boats and motors can be repaired or restored, he continued. “As people clean out their garages, attics and barns, we’ll encourage them to bring in pictures, paintings, artifacts and even their boats and motors. That means anything dealing with our area’s rich maritime history,” he said.

For more information on last weekend’s show as well as plans for the maritime museum, visit the Society’s Web site at www.nfacb.org.