1963 Miss Exide
Owner/Driver: John Gatjens
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Yearly Boat Points Finishes
2018: 821 points, 49th of 58 boats
2017: 394 points, 53rd of 63 boats
2016: 525 points, 49th of 57 boats
2015: 738 points, 46th of 55 boats
2014: 1525 points, 34th of 55 boats
Unlimited Hydroplane Info
U-75
Hull #5677
The Miss Exide debuted in 1956 as Bill Boeing's U-77 Miss Wahoo under the helm of Mira Slovak. The boat competed under the Wahoo name until 1960, at which it picked up sponsorship from Exide Nautilus Batteries. The boat did not race for 1961 and 1962, but returned in 1963 as the Miss Exide. The boat would race until 1965 as the Exide, then raced two races as the Miss Budweiser in 1966.
In 1963, the boat ran one race as the U-101.5 Miss Exide at Seattle, piloted by Russ Schleeh. It ran the final three as the U-75 Miss Exide, piloted by Bill Brow. The boat finished 4th in national high points, highlighted by two victories at Madison and Washington D.C.
The Miss Exide in 1965. Photo credit unknown.