The 50th Annual Boat Show On Lake Minnetonka And A Tribute To Bob Speltz.

Hello from Speltzville

Thanks to Rabbit and the gang for sending in this report. Oh and incase you are confused I made up the comments, so blame me. The Land-O-Lakes chapter’s Real Runabouts Rendezvous celebrated their 50 th anniversary last weekend with three perfect woody boating days. It was all a tribute to their club’s co- founder and a true legend in the hobby, the late Bob Speltz, author of the seminal vintage book series, The Real Runabouts.

Kevin brought his smile, and countless perfectly lined fasteners

Best of all, more than a dozen people who were at the original show in 1976 were in attendance for the 50th . Dave Bortner even brought the trophyhe won there as a much younger man in 1981. It began on Friday with a cruise and poker run of Lake Minnetonka and luncheon at one of the club’s unofficial headquarters, Al and Almas.

Fun for all, we do need more younger people after all. Okay, everyone is younger these days for me

Parked and ready to party

Rubber Duck Parking

I will reuse this image in about 4 months

LOVE

With sunshine and 80 degrees it was a perfect day, if you don’t count the wind that kept some of the smaller boats, well, moist. (A strafing run in rough waters at the end of the day in Miss Moonshine left the author so drenched, he stripped down to his boxer shorts for the drive home.) The poker run was followed by a cocktail hour at Lord Fletcher’s, the long-term home of the boat show on Saturday.

Yada yda yada, oh really? Yada yada, I had one as a kid, Yada

Lots of spectators. Really

On Saturday the docks at Fletcher’s were packed with close to 3,000 spectators with sunshine and those perfect 70-degree temperatures that helped the club sell out of their 50th anniversary sweatshirts. What makes the Real Runabouts Rendezvous so special is the diversity of the boats. There were the big guns like John Allen’s breathtaking Sister Syn and Kevin Fitzke’s Miss Moonshine.

Gad Zooks.

Timeless and ageless

But there were also kid’s boats and a 1960’s version of a personal watercraft -a Barracuda- with a 25 hp outboard. And for those who think our hobby needs more young people, how about a 14-year-old girl displaying her recently acquired sweet 15-foot Chris Craft Cavalier?

Dave Bortner out and about with more young people

I don’t have a complete list of awards, but Mark Setterholm and his perfect Riva Florida (complete with a yellow and black plaid interior with period-correct pom pom’s on the sunpad) won Best of Show. While John Allen was honored with a special President’s Award for his unending contributions to the chapter and the hobby.

Mark came by to pick up some more trophies.

A classic moment

Thats alotta boat

NIIIICE

WOW

One of my top 5 boats on the planet! Pre war Sportsman lust with double the power

WOW

The Higgins corner

John Allen brought a little heat

That dash, that green, ahhhhhhhhh

Dentist owned?

OH JOHN!

Ripples

Back at the docks

That wirring gives me anxiety. And a, a, well.

During the show, the chapter also conducted interviews and shot footage on land and via drone with a professional director for a 50 th Anniversary film that will debut later this year. And because 1977 was the year the chapter was formed, the anniversary will wrap up next August at The Gull Lake Classic at Bar Harbor. Be prepared for another huge show there, especially after record crowds this year.

Now, on to Michigan and International.