HELLZAPOPPIN II – A Radical John Goodhue Designed Race Boat From 1949

In the May 1949 issue of MOTOR BOATING they published a review of the upcoming race boat season, highlighted by the prestegeous Gold Cup series. The story started like this –

New Speed Boats Building for Greatest Racing Season.

With the start of the racing season rapidly approaching, the rumors are flying thick and fast about the new boats being built and the improvements being made on the old ones. Space does not allow a discussion of all the classes, so this will be confined to the Gold Cup and Harmsworth classes and a little about the Around Manhattan contenders. – Motor Boating, May 1949.

The story included famous racing names like Henry Kaiser, Danny Arena, Guy Lombardo, and Stanley Dollar among others. They even reference the new Miss Canada IV Greavette factory challenger from Ontario, Canada with a 2700 h.p. V-12 Griffin Rolls-Royce engine – a boat that has been well documented here at Woody Boater.

Also among the list of 1949 Gold Cup contenders in the May 1949 MOTOR BOATING review was this single sentence:

John Goodhue of East Braintree, Massachusetts, is reported to be constructing a new Gold Cup contender of his own design to be powered with an air-cooled engine.

The John Goodhue Jr. designed race boat named HELLZAPOPPIN II unfortunately never made to the Gold Cup races in 1949. Then in 1950 the radically designed race boat was put away in storge, out of the publc eye for over 60 years until Mike Michaud from Michaud’s Inboard Marine recently acquired HELLZAPOPPIN II from John Goodhue III, the designers son.

Mike Michaud is the fellow who, together with Bill John from The Vintage Race Boat Shop, built the MISS DETROIT III replica race boat that we have also been following here at Woody Boater. The development of the MISS DETROIT III replica is well documented on The Vintage Race Boat Shop website, Click Here to see more.

Miss Detroit III Replica -Photo Courtesy Mike Michaud

Mike’s next project is the restoration of HELLZAPOPPIN II which is scheduled for later this year.

Mike commented: “Texx – We finally were able to aquire HELLZAPOPPIN II from John Goodhue III, the son of the builder. Folks have been trying to buy this boat since it was put into storage around 1950-ish. I’ll forward an article clip that describes the boat being built for the Gold Cup Races in 1948-49, however a series of unfortunate incidence’s kept it from ever being in a race, but what a contender!”

“Look at that radical bottom design and it has an out-board rudder with a built in hydrofoil as well. John removed it and no one knows why, but our plan is to restore her in 2013. It’s the wildest thing I’ve ever seen! Attached are a couple more photos, including one shot of the unique bottom design.” – Mike Michaud

John Goodhue Jr designed HELLZAPOPPIN II to be powered by a 773 Cubic Inch displacement Ranger Model V-770 / V-12 air cooled engine which produced 520 hp at 3,150 rpm. The Ranger V-770 was an American air-cooled inverted Vee aero-engine developed by the Ranger Aircraft Engine Division of the Fairchild Engine & Aircraft Corporation in the early 1930s.

Ranger XXHP V-770 / V-12 Inverted – Photo Courtesy Wikipedia

The latest version of the Ranger Model V-770 was produced from 1941 to 1945, which featured a two-piece aluminum alloy crankcase, steel barreled cylinders with integral aluminum alloy fins and aluminum alloy heads. The V-770 was one of very few V-type, in-line, air-cooled engines to reach production. The engine was used in a relatively small number of Army Air Forces aircraft, among them the Fairchild AT-21 twin-engine trainer of which approximately 175 were built, and in the two Bell XP-77s. (Ranger V-770 info courtesy Wikipedia)

John Goodhue Jr’s radical race hull design, built specifically for the lightwieght 730 LB supercharged V-770 Ranger. (According to the later version V-770 specifications, they were supercharged, and I am assuming that’s what the giant pully is on top in the photo… It’s kind of unusual to be looking at the bottom of the engine from the top of the boat. I can’t even begin to guess how the oiling system works. Or where the exhaust pipe exits – Texx)

Here’s some history on John Goodue Jr. from his son John Goodhue III.

John Goodhue Jr. – B. 1904 | D. 1974

My Father – Land developer, Master boat builder, tanker captain for City Service. Owned boat yards in Weymouth and Braintree, MA. We moved back to N.H. in 1948 after WW II. He started Goodhue Boat Yard in 1950, located where the N.H. Marine Patrol is now. He built hundreds of boats for the government and the private sector.

Hellzapoppin II was built at the Weymouth Yard in 1946. John was the builder and designer. By-the-way, Hellzapoppin I was an 18′ Higgins with a 12 cylinder Scripps.

John Goodhue III (That’s me) B.1943 – still alive at least for awhile longer I hope.

Yard Superintendant at GBY in Gilford and asst. yard superintendent at Broward Marine, Ft. Lauderdale until 1973. Got into Real Estate on Lake Winnipesaukee in 1973. Been doing this ever since.

Special thanks to Mike Michaud for sharing this story with us today, and we are looking forward to seeing some updates of HELLZAPOPPIN II during the restoration process and the final build when she’s completed.

Also thanks to fellow Woody Boater Ike Kielgass (from Miss Detroit III) for first bringing Mike’s barn find race boat project to our attention. Ike works closely with the nice folks from the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Seattle, Washington who are a pleasure to be associated with. I am now a proud member of the museum and visit their huge website often to learn more about the history of powerboat racing. You can check it out by Clicking Here.

Texx
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Below we have included an excerpt from that 1949 MOTOR BOATING review of the upcoming racing season, as it’s cool to see many of the famous racers names, race boat designers and race boats from 1949. There’s some very impressive names here.

This is a re-print courtesy of the www.lesliefield.com / Lesliefield’s Hydroplanes History website. To see the entire story you can Click Here to go directly to the story on the Hydroplanes History site.

1949 Preview [May 1949 Motor Boating]

New Speed Boats Building for Greatest Racing Season

With the start of the racing season rapidly approaching, the rumors are flying thick and fast about the new boats being built and the improvements being made on the old ones. Space does not allow a discussion of all the classes, so this will be confined to the Gold Cup and Harmsworth classes and a little about the Around Manhattan contenders.

If the following reports really develop and the boats actually show up at race time, there will be some hot competition this year. Here are a few of the reports:

Henry Kaiser is having built at the Ventnor Boat Works, two new boats. One is a 28-foot Gold Cupper to be powered with an Allison V-12 motor, 1710 cu. in, model E-135, and the other is a 32-footer, 11-foot 8-inch beam, powered with a “W” Allison engine of 3420 cu. in., developing approximately 3000 h.p. This big job is designed for the Harmsworth Trophy race and is rather unique in design and construction, having twin screws running in opposite rotation. Present indications are that Guy Lombardo will drive this Harmsworth contender and will try for a new world record in the near future. It is Mr. Kaiser’s plan to have these boats participate in most of the outstanding regattas this year.

Danny Arena is building a new Gold Cup boat for Jack Schafer of Detroit, owner of Such Crust. This will be a three-point hull, powered with an Allison motor.

Guy Lombardo is almost ready to try out his Tempo VI. which has been rebuilt since its crack-up at Detroit in the Gold Cup last year. The boat will probably be faster than ever.

In Essington, Pa., a new 50-foot boat is being built for a Mr. Rafferty. It will be powered by three Packard engines and has been especially designed for breaking the world record. This boat is expected to surpass 160 m.p.h.

Joe Van Blerck of Freeport will be a real Gold Cup contender this year as he is teaming up the former Gold Cupper Grey Goose which he purchased from George C. Cannon and Guy Lombardo’s 16-cylinder, 600-h.p. Miller. This should be a smooth-running combination and a hard one to beat.

Harris McBride of Detroit is heading a new syndicate with A. C. Smith and William Goeschel and is building a 34-foot, three-point suspension hull which will have two Allison engines. It is expected to be ready by June 15.

John Goodhue of East Braintree, Massachusetts, is reported to be constructing a new Gold Cup contender of his own design to be powered with an air-cooled engine.

G. E. Warren of Detroit has a new Gold Cup class boat that is said to resemble Miss Canada.

John Hacker has designed a Gold Cupper for A. C. Marcy, which is being built in Springfield. Ill.

Maurice Bothner of Johannesburg, South Africa is reported sending over a boat for the Harmsworth.

Tommy Caldwell, builder and driver of the 135 Blue Blazes, is reported building a boat on the West Coast for the Gold Cup, owner and type of boat being kept a secret.
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