“Tomorrow Won’t Come Soon Enough!” Managing Eleventh Hour Minutiae.

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Black Jack from the air. Good god, it’s getting crazy!

And the hits just keep coming from Sir Lapkin of the Gull Lake – And a new word MINUTIAE and even more larger words, so you know I didn’t write it. Take it away Sir.

WOW – Oh and these blow up.. Like huge. L

“Tomorrow Won’t Come Soon Enough!” Managing Eleventh Hour Minutiae. By Steve Lapkin

Notwithstanding your personal preferences within the veteran boat niche, albeit a partiality for a particular marque, a certain vintage, length or model, most wooden boat gatherings – including the esteemed Bar Harbor Gull Lake Classic, organized by the Land O’ Lakes Classic Boat Club, and hosted by the Bar Harbor Supper Club, foster an open-arms invitation to all owners of wooden vessels and, more recently, the fiberglass classics dating from the early 1970s. The 2023 venue, set for August 25 and 26, will feature over 100 variations and, conspicuously, the Gar Wood brand which is celebrating its 100 anniversary.

My head hurts.

The last ninety-six hours have been preparatorily nonstop – for me – as John Allen encouraged my presence, with camera bodies and glass of various focal lengths, to document his crew’s preparation of a variety of show entries…of every year-make-and-model. Around-the-clock in-the-shop details, and meticulous adjustments have been the norm, as these veterans demand much cajoling, or sweettalking, after months or years of dormancy.

The Lapkin spray

Black Jacks power – Look at the finish on that engine.

I have borne witness to three exceptional racing machines in today’s in-person installment before the show opening tomorrow, Saturday. I trust these craft may be familiar to you – yet – here are some chronological bullets and matchless imagery that I captured on Thursday.

Mr Allen with hat and huge wheel on Miss Algonac

Miss Algonac

Miss Algonac outside the Supper Club. Come on, just change the name to a Super Club.

Miss Algonac. The oldest-known operating Chris-Craft runabout; dating from 1922. She is spectacularly magnificent. Her engine is the Hall Scott A-7-A. When her launch was performed yesterday, I elected to position myself in her forward cockpit thus providing an unrivaled visual perspective of the engine compartment…with John at the wheel…and the expanse of her rear appointments became that much more obvious. Behold the panorama. Also included in the photo session was the opportunity for an elevated vantage. Again, the imagery here is unrivalled. Miss Algonac will be available for viewing this weekend.

Miss Algonacs engine again

That is one happy guy! and a crazy Ponton boat in the background? Rabbit, you see that?

Navigating the way out, dont look at the pontoon boat John, don’t do it. Keep focused.

Miss Algonac I bow to thee!

Black Jack. A very handsome Hacker design: a 1926 22-foot Racer. Power is a Scripps -6. John loves this boat for its racy-low-freeboard…among other individualized appointments. I was in awe; every vantage point was considered for the photo session this week. Go-fast, John!

Purdy Power!

Wyndcrest. An amazing, one-off Purdy dynamo which sports a Doug Morin restoration including a 1920s Miller automobile race engine (of unknown horsepower.) Note: If Matt is able to attach a video interview clip with John Allen, more of the specifics can be related to all. Better still, make sure to take a gander of Wyndcrest when you visit Bar Harbor Supper Club this weekend!

Wyndcrest was awarded “Best Antique Race Boat” honors at a recent Port Huron “Boat the Blue” ACBS Annual Meeting. COME ON GREG, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO PLUG AWAY!

Great, now I need to get a chopper for Reedville. Maybe the Medivac guy will help

See you at Bar Harbor Supper Club? I sure hope so! Thank you, Land O’ Lakes Classic Boat Club for all your endeavors. SL

10 replies
  1. Floyd r turbo
    Floyd r turbo says:

    That’s one crew I’d love to be a part of unless I scratched the boat 🙁. What a collection, can’t imagine owning that many historically significant boats but somebody has to and thankfully there are people like John that do so we can enjoy the eye candy. And that’s courtesy of Steve who has the “eye” and the access. Well done sir.

  2. Bobby Boat
    Bobby Boat says:

    Very interesting boat canvas boat house and I was wondering how do they enter the boat? The only was I came up is a carport with roll up curtain sides, where air can pass with 85% sun blockage.and secure the bottom with rubber ties.

  3. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Another great Gull Lake Morning. Fabulous boats with much attention to detail. I really like the water separating fuel filter installed on Miss Algonac. An important functional addition. I guess getting all those beauties ready is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. How do I get a job working for John Allen? I will work cheap!

    Yep, the big Boat the Blue party is only two weeks away. The awards turned out great, compliments of a couple of our talented Michigan gang.

    Thanks, once again, Steve, John and Matt for the terrific story and photos!

  4. Jim Staib
    Jim Staib says:

    I was at Gull Lake several years ago talking to Texx on the pier when suddenly he says “I gotta go get a picture of me”. A few minutes later he was hovering over the show hanging out the side of a helicopter taking photos. Must be a Minnesota thing.

  5. Chris B
    Chris B says:

    Great time in Minnesota, Thanks Steve and Matt for taking us on a road trip. It sure is one of the premier spots for great boats. Cant wait to go back.

  6. Philip Andrew
    Philip Andrew says:

    I’ve got to put this show on my bucket list. Absolutely fantastic ‘thing’ ‘place’ ‘event’ ‘collection’ John has created. It’s the 8th wonder of the world.
    Love the shots thanks Steve.

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