Winnebagoland Marathon

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You River side part, Nina, Wisconsin scene of the Milwaukee Sentinel Winnebago land outboard marathon More than 7 ,000 people are gathered to watch the biggest, roughest, toughest, roaring water classic in America.

From all over the USA, spectators and drivers have converged on Nina for the fifth annual running.

285 of the country's greatest outboard racers are registered.

Pit area for the racing drivers.

Facilities unmatched in excellence and abundance in keeping with the whole unique character of this most spectacular outboard contest.

Part of the excitement and glamour of a big boat race is the getting ready.

With growing tensions and with tender care, the boys do all the hundred last minute things to put their boats in the peak of racing conditions.

An engine is tied down or a notch is sawed in a trance.

The vision in the minds of the drivers is reflected in the eyes of a blue -eyed boy.

Behind the outward calm and mechanical preparations, all thoughts from the roaring, rushing, pounding ordeal of 92 miles of turbulent water.

This is a race rich in legend.

There is the story of the 56 -year -old man who went the full grueling distance, holding the fuel tank in his lap.

In the long course down Lake Winnebago to Oshkosh, then through lakes, Buda Mawr, Winnicani, Poygan, and up the Wolf River to Fremont, there is the ultimate test of stamina of men in tiny boats and mighty motors.

And so the preparations go on.

Auxiliary tanks are strapped down, gas lines are connected, and the rigs are fuelled ready for the long, long haul.

The moment draws near.

The drivers get their final briefing, a review of the route, the markers and the checkpoints, and the latest information on the weather along the course.

The race is here at the starting gun.

About 30 seconds to starting time, so everybody attention.

That's it, 10 o 'clock starting.

The race is starting.

The road is ready.

The checkpoints are ready.

The race is starting.

The checkpoints are ready.

The race is really on as they surge out of the chop -top harbor and rocket for open water.

They're starting to string out now as they hit the road down Lake Winnebago.

Down the long lake, the great flotilla charges.

Spreading out in the distance, the speed demons skim down the west shore of Winnebago towards Oshkosh.

Back at Nina, the thousands lining the shore grow tense in anticipation as the small boats edge toward the starting line.

Three seconds, two, one.

Thick as a school of mackerel, fast as porpoises.

In wave after wave, the powerful little rigs slash through the churning harbor striking for open water.

Again, the unique spectacle as this great host of outboard racers rounds the point at full throttle.

And on they leap and pound, stringing out like a giant task force.

This is indeed the Kentucky Derby of the outboards.

In the two sections, 274 boats have started.

Not all will cross the finish line.

Now the turn at Oshkosh.

Rounding Rockwell light and flashing up the Fox River, it's D2V all by himself.

The second D -boat streaks past.

And finally, the leaders of the pack cup roaring through in close succession.

First, it's the big engine jobs, the Ds.

Then the Bs and Cs begin to make their appearances.

The boats are entered by classes according to their piston displacement.

25 horsepower down to seven and one half.

B, C, B and A are the four class designations.

A B -boat drops out at Oshkosh.

An A -boat way out ahead of its class.

Lake Buda More is the next stage of the journey.

This lad's lost his way.

A wrong turn in the difficult winding waterway.

And he's up a blind alley.

Some will lose their way, but the better navigators follow the high road up the Wolf River and on to Winniconti.

But it's nerve and guts of steel that keep them all going through mile after mile of the fierce, fast, brutal pounding.

On up into Lake Poygon, through the channels and the marshes, past the floating boglands and on up the river to Fremont.

Fremont is the halfway mark.

Here is another checkpoint.

Here come the leaders.

Stan Adrian of Lee's Summit, Missouri in D44Y rounds the marker and starts the long voyage home.

Walt Robbins of Springfield, Massachusetts in D16B blazing around the marker buoy.

Where is D2B? Yes, you guessed it.

He came by so far ahead.

He's now halfway back to Oshkosh.

D46 roars, skids and bounces in a fast swing.

Now along comes a B -boat.

B78W, Dennis Blackel of Oshkosh.

Then Jim Wodgeon in B72.

Ken Drusick in C65W.

Me boats are sensational, running away from all but the very fastest and bigger, more powerful platforms.

Four more B -boats with B93 stealing the lead on the turn with Skilful Run.

Believe it or not, an A -boat among the early boats into Fremont.

Ted Moberg in his tiny A68W running ahead of class in fourth.

High sign to the checkers, away he goes back to an in front.

Out from under the bridge at Winnicarni the leaders come flashing.

Man, driving one of these rigs is like riding an explosion.

Down at Oshkosh it's the familiar D2V with Switzer in command of his far out front position.

So far that here he meets other boats going upstream in the first half of the course.

And off they're turning.

Then as the other leaders move down to Oshkosh the race is in the home stretch.

Now the electricity begins to run through the crowd at the finish line as the announcement comes of the leaders positions coming out of Oshkosh.

D2V, D44Y, D16B, D22V, D80P, D46.

Then the flash comes, Switzer passing Garlic Island only seconds up.

A boat rounds the point.

The crowd is on its feet.

This is the big moment.

D2V rifles across the line the first to finish setting a new marathon record of 1 hour 47 minutes and 35 seconds.

A thoroughly weary young man now that the pressure is off and the grind is over.

The checkered flag begins to wave in the other money boats.

Fred Snyder in D80P.

Then Walt Rommel in D60B.

Stan Adrian in D44Y.

The crane lifts D2V from the water so that the hull can be weighed and measured.

The engine torn down in the post race inspection of all winning boats.

Let's hear from the man who led all the way in this fifth annual Winnebago Land Marathon.

First time you won.

I understand you set a new course record up here of 1 minute and 47 seconds.

1 hour and 47 seconds.

How do you feel about that? It's all right.

You took 9 minutes off that course.

Was having any trouble? Yeah, I would have knocked another 9 minutes off.

I was out in Oshkosh for 9 minutes on the way back.

What happened to you? I swamped out.

Hit a cruiser wake.

What do you mean you swamped out? The nose went underneath the water and just filled up the boat with water and the motor drowned it out.

So I took and bailed it out and started up again.

You started a bail? Yeah.

What happened then? I got it out.

Got your motor started? You put it on your way.

Were you ever anything but first in this race? No, I was moving all the way.

Even though I was out 10 minutes, I was that much ahead.

Here's an upset.

What kind of a boat you running? A V -boat.

Dennis Grenier across the line in 2 hours 9 minutes and 5 seconds.

A victory to be proud of.

Mercury shows the way as Ron Zuback in B -68J, Mervyn Herget in B -70W, Jerry Van Amper in B -104M, Vern Gibson in B -3101, and 19 others flashed across the line ahead of the first D1s.

Mark this, 24 Mercury 10s in ahead of the first 25 horsepower D1 and 50 Merc 10s finishing ahead of the 22 horsepower C -winner.

Outstanding proof of Mercury power and dependability.

Here's Larry Freeman in C -2W first in his class.

Judges and timers are kept busy as more of the Ds arrive.

Bob Murphy in D -24V and Art Siebold in D -58.

Here's Bill Smith first in his little A -67M and Ted Moberg in A -68W.

More in Class D, Ralph Davis and Dick Hanson fighting right to the finish.

A -225C, Bud David.

The returning boats are coming in fast and spectators must check their tally sheets to keep tab on the results.

A -210S, Bill Neal.

Tired warriors letting themselves uncoil as they wait their turn for inspection.

On and on they come, 163 and all flashing across the goal line.

The great race goes on, a marathon of modern times in which it is an honor and glory to stick it up and go the whole distance in the Winnebago land outboard marathon.

Identifier

F.2012-03-0251

Date Of Production

1953

Abstract

Motorboats compete in the 5th annual Milwaukee Sentinel Winnebagoland Outboard Marathon in 1953.

Description

Title cards read "Kiekhaefe Mercury Outboard Motors presents the 1953 Milwaukee Sentinel Winnebagoland Outboard Marathon."

The film begins at Riverside Park in Neenah, WI, where 7000 spectators have gathered to watch the marathon. A male announcer recounts the scene. Two-hundred-seventy-four racers ride A, B, C and D classified motor boats through 92 miles of turbulent waters. Aerial shots show the racers heading down Lake Winnebago towards Oshkosh as the excited voice over calls the race "the Kentucky Derby of the outboards." From Oshkosh, the boats race up Lake Butte de Morts and the Wolf River into Lake Winneconne. Entering Lake Poygan, the racers take the Wolf River into Fremont and then reverse the route. The winner is interviewed: he completed the marathon in 1 hour and 47 minutes, a new record.

The race was sponsored by the Milwaukee Sentinel and Neenah Menasha Chamber of Commerce, with cooperation of the Wisconsin Stock Utility Outboard Racing Association, and sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association.

Run Time

0:13:52

Format

16mm

Extent

400 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Print

Genre

Sports

Form

Short
Newsreels

Subject

Boats and Boating
Bodies of water
Racing

Related Collections

SUBSERIES II: Sports

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Wisconsin ➜ Neenah

North America ➜ United States ➜ Wisconsin ➜ Oshkosh

North America ➜ United States ➜ Wisconsin ➜ Wolf River

Sponsor/client

Milwaukee Sentinel

Neenah Menasha Chamber Of Commerce

Mercury Outboard Motors

Main Credits

Camp, Jack (is director)

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