Archive for the ‘Powerboat’ Category
All over the world, the humble little dinghy boat is the safe and simple introduction to boating for millions of people. Not in the town of Renmark, on the banks of South Australia’s Murray River, however. There, in the otherwise sleepy town of just 8,000 souls, they like to strap souped-up outboard engines to their little dinghies and then race them at speeds of up to 80kph in a race that since 1981 has grown a deserved reputation as one of the fastest and wildest events on water, the Riverland Dinghy Derby.
During the early 2000s, Howard Arneson, the inventor of the Arneson Pool Sweep and Arneson surface drive, delivered the keynote address at one of Powerboat magazine’s Awards For Product Excellence banquets. A slight, soft-spoken man with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes that were always framed by triple-thick glasses, Arneson walked slowly to the podium. He waited for the applause from his fellow high-performance marine industry colleagues to subside before he spoke.
“A few months ago I went to lunch with my friend Ross Perot,” he said. “As you know, Ross was running for President at the time.
“We walked into this coffee shop together and the place went silent,” he continued. “Old Ross, he pumped up like a bandy rooster and nudged me. He whispered in my ear, ‘What do you think all these people here are thinking right now?’”
Arneson paused for effect and smiled, then spoke again. “And I said, ‘They’re probably thinking, who’s that having lunch with Howard Arneson?’” … More
Howard Arneson’s Mississippi Burning Run. – September 1990
Arneson Skater 2009 32 Gas Turbine – Built by Howard Arneson and now owned by Ken Grzesiak. GE T58 Gas Turbine Jet Engine. Arneson ASD 8 Racing Drive. Normal cruise speed is 110MPH. In this boat, Howard Arneson set a merciless record on the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Louis on September 22, 1990 of 1039 miles in 12 hours and 40 minutes. This included 4 fuel stops. Howard passed away on 6/16/2020 and his record still stands today. A very fitting memorial to a great man.
Howard Arneson celebrating on his 90th Birthday in his 48 ft Skater at 200+ MPH
Howard was one of nicest people you will every meet. He was a great friend and an even greater man. He will truly be missed – Larry