Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1963)
MEDFOHP MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFOHD. OREGON SUNDAY. MAY 28, 1963 B 3 LAST YEAR'S RACE Don Burnison, Grants Pass, was In the lead last year when this picture was taken during the Boatnik. On the return trip, however, the boat had me chanical difficulty, and John Walker, won the race. in left, background, Aquatic Fever Will Reach Its Climax With White Water Race By PRISCILLA AVERILL Mail Tribune Correspondent Grants Pass -Each year about this , time an annual aquatic fever seems to seize the people around Grants Pass. It reaches a climax next week end with a two-day fes tival known as the "Boatnik," capped by a wild 50-mile white water race down the Rogue to Galice and back. It's a race which many have started but few have finished, because the Rogue holds all the odds. A slam-bang affair, In which speed is not always the deciding factor, it's no run for amateurs. Most con testants are professional boat men and local youths skilled in the ways of the Rogue. Started Five Years Ago It all started on Memorial Day five years ago. From the first Boatnik it was apparent that the combination of light weight high-powered boats and the famed white water of the Rogue provided a spec tacular challenge for skilled "white water cowboys," and it has grown every year since then to become the 'major white water marathon on the ' west coast, drawing intrepid , boaters from Washington to California. This year it was moved from its traditional Memorial Day date and expanded into a two-day festival, June 1 and 2, to make room for a Satur day afternoon of closed course races before the big run on Sunday. Many contestants will enter boats in both events. Though many a skilled rapid-shooter has failed to finish the wild water marathon, they still keep trying-for one thing, the rewards are high, $1,000 first prize and others in proportion-and each year brings more entries. Perhaps from experience gained in previous tries, the percentage finishing each year also seems to go up along with the number of entries. Only Four Finish In the first Boatnik year, 1959, out of a field of 13 en trants, only four made it to the finish line. The next year the Rogue was again the big winner, besting all but three out of 13 starters. From then on, however, the odds started to improve, and last year 15 boats out of a field of 24 man aged to shoot their way back over the finish line. The win ner, Johnny Walker, of Trini dad, Calif., set a new record for the course: 1 hour, 43.4 seconds. This year's Boatnik will have approximately 30 en trants, the largest field ever to start the run. The boats are raced under the rules of the United Speed Boat Racing as sociation, allowing 45 cubic inch maximum displacement for motors, with no restriction on size of boat. For the past couple of years the first prize has been cap tured by Californians, but this year a Rogue river guide, Grant Garcia, of Galice, has high hopes of keeping it in Oregon with the first true hy droplane ever to make the run. Skiira on Air Cushion Unlike the runabouts usual ly entered in this type race, it skims along on a cushion of air, touching the water with only a small area of the tail and a thin "sponson" on either side. It was Garcia's father, Ru ben Garcia, of Grants Pass, who more or less provided the spark which started the whole idea five years ago. A skilled white water boatman who had raced in both Oregon and California, he began to won der why there was no such event on his home river, the Rogue, which had everything the other rivers did, only more so. He talked it up with other racers, and all agreed. Not only did the Rogue have more sensational riffles than the UUinllVUUVfllUD ONCE IN A LIFETIME VALUE! EXTRAVOICE' Here's i barf in you can't hat ! A bif , beautiful Hammond Extra vow Or gan at a low, low prie. Your family can njoy many hours, many yrr of v optional enjoyment With the exciting "extra voire" you play a tingle manual tnd hear the orchestral voneof thre! f If Cnt walnut finish , . . Hammond Organ quality erafUmanship. mm r 52 not keyboard 12 nota pedal keyboard 24 stop tablet control variety of orchestral, "Touch Respontt Ptrctmion", traditional oriati voiui. OUR SUPPLY IS ABSOLUTELY LIMITED kUV IB FREE X LESSONS! A few dollars down and you can budget the balance m PUKUCCCi MUSIC HOUSE 111 No. Central Phone 773-7538 other rivers they raced, but it also had more accessibility. On the stretch between Grants Pass and Galice, more people could gain access to the river, making it a veritable spacta tors' paradise. Follows Naturally The rest followed naturally. Don (Bowser) Johnson, now of Medford, who often rode with Garcia, was at that time an officer of the Grants Pass Active club. The Active club latched on to the idea as their Centennial project. It caught on immediately, and they have been sponsoring it ever since. As the boatmen had pre dicted, it was a "natural" spectacular, and it was not long before peonle were view. ing it from coast to coast via nationwide newsreel. This is one boat race in which a straight line is not the shortest distance between two points, and racers must skillfully seek their channels if they want to stay in the running. In covering the treacherous winding course between nar row canyons and dangerous riffles, many a boat has been "smashed out" of the race, but never has a driver been seri ously injured. Every precau tion is taken to see that it doesn't happen. Guides Stationed Experienced river guides are stationed at the more treacherous stretches, ready to go into action if anyone comes to grief. A Civil Air Patrol plane patrols the river to spot possible accidents and relay information. Southern Oregon Amateur Radio Opera tors are posted at intervals along the course to keep offi cials informed of progress. The run courses over at least 10 major riffles and many minor ones. In addition to skill in ma neuvering, the aquatic hot rodders must have equipment in good shape to stand the tremendous mechanical strain. Motors, "tuned to a gnat's eyelash" for maximum power and acceleration, are more apt to "blow." Many other hazards have, through the years, removed contestants from the race Drivers have fallen out on sharp turns, boats have "flipped," run Into each other, rammed rocks. Some have even been known to reach the finish line with gaping holes in their bottoms. Lost In Riff One year, half a dozen boats were lost on the first riffle. Some boats have even been lost in practice. Only .ne woman has ever run the race. She was Mrs. Kenny Frank, wife of a Klamath river guide, who rode the first Boatnik with her husband. This year's festival will get under way next Saturday morning, when the Boatnik parade will be led through downtown Grants Pass with I state scn. President Ben Musa as marshal. Saturday afternoon, in the city's Riverside park, a Boat nik Queen will be crowned, chosen from the six princesses who have been busy with pub lic appearances for the past month. A program ot closed course hydroplane races will follow the coronation, compet ing In various classes and sizes under sanctioned rules. From the same point in the city park, the white water race to Galice and back will get under way at 1:30 p.m. Sunday - and return about an hour later. Only one thing about this race can be predicted: It's bound to provide plenty of excitement - all the way. TEEN-AGERS MAY WORK Portland H'FTi T h e Stale Wage and Hour Commission decided Thursday to permit teenagers to take some Jobs at fishing and boating resorts, i Pfnnfy's DUALITY dfel '( if! Value . . . Big as All Outdoors ALWAYS FIRST QUALITY Open Monday and Friday Nights till O ' P.M. 7-Ft. Garden Umbrella $1798 Baked enamel finish! Plated tubular steel legs! 42" diameter table has ample room for 4 or 5 adults, White baked-enamelled steel. Legs are sturdy and tip resistant. Get the pair today . . , enjoy your summer! PATIO SHOP . . , STREET FLOOR ill 4 Vb51 I J INNERSPRING fS U. chaise Ltei;B tllli Special! W0Mlm N i Wv.-. 3jLtfdl3ri V 4-position innerspring 91 ..,,-ji-- ble bar construction, iVCCI,ii Vv jvjfwi II IJMi-- I wide double tubular ti J''!f KSI ffl D erms, plump vinyl- j BKi? Sfjrfyfflff lm Mf ,1 II plastic covered pdd, .- .F .'jRifflrVi M l 8-rib push button tiltl Rust resistant pole! 4-inch fringe! Mealtime, sunlime or shower . . . the patio partners pay you back many times their price! Big-top umbrella tilts 3 ways to follow the sun or shelter you from rain. Solid outside, floral underside, vinyl; rust-resistant aluminum pole. 42-Inch Steel Table 98 CUSHIONED 5-WAY ALUMINUM CHAISE $1388 Special! ! I V 28"x72" Siz The whole family will run for this! Rolls easily to your favorite spot , , . adjusts to your favorite position including flat for sunning or snoozing! Polished tubular aluminum frame has double helical springs. Tufted, pillow-soft cushion Is up holstered In floral vinyl, laminated for extra-long wear. Charge yours today. SPECIAL! 3-PIECE WEB ALUMINUM SET 88 Comfortablel Good lookingl Greenwhile Firestone webbing on sturdy tubular aluminum frame that fold, compactly, can be carried In one handl 5-positlon chaise, 26"x74", chairs 23"x32" high. PATIO SHOP... STREET FLOOR INNERSPRING CHAISE 4-position innersprina comfort! Sturdy dou ble bar construction, wide double tubular arms, plump vinyl- plastic covered pid, 1 other extras! U1 24" ysnr iyi Special Buy! BUY! 2" THICK REPLACEMENT CHAISE PAD! Deluxe feature, at big avingal 24-inch by 72 Inch chaise pad has 2 Inch box edge. Floral print plastic top, tide.. Foem-filll ANOTHER TERRIFIC VALUE! BRAZIER GRILL WITH 6-PC. BARBECUE TOOL SET mt 99 BARBECUE TABLE SET California Redwood Heavy chrome plated grill, heavy gauge bowl, crank grid lift, 1 Inch painted steel legs, bottom tray, large 7 inch-tired chrome plated wheel, plus a 6 piece barbeque tool set, hardwood handles, leather tongs! An amazing buy lor only 10.99 complete. Patio Shop . . Penney'i Street Floor Special! US)98 Treat the family to a summer of outdoor funl See Pen ney't value priced 6-foot table and benches In sturdy redwood with all-weather sealer and rust-resistant hard ware. Come In and "charge il"l 50-fl. VINYL HOSE l feet long. Heavy H" 100 In opaque green , , . irdy two-layer construction. I brass couplings . . , Com ! Save plenty! 2! PATIO CUSHIONS 1 Vinyl covered in pretty prints . . . Knife- a edge Utility Cush- ions, i ' squares or 17" Diameter Rounds. I
