1983 Miss Renault |
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Boat Statistics
The model: Pete Schille sold his old 85 7-Eleven to Curt White, who did a major rebuild to convert it to the Miss Renault. Curt always admired this hydroplane for its sleek design and low rear wing. He narrowed up the sponsons, added a front deck and fitted a plastic cowling from Mitch Dillard's company, HydroScale Creations. K&B lightweight fiberglass was used to cover the hull bottom, deck, sides and transom. Behind the driver, where on the real boat a fuel tank was fitted, Curt placed a radio receiver box to house the receiver up high. The driver is modeled after E. Milner Irvin III, who drove the boat to a world championship. The total conversion project took two months to complete. In 2024, Curt sold the boat to Jim. Jim joined the club in 2023 and is happy to have it to run in Division 2. He's getting some valuable wheel time with it and learning very quickly. The real boat: Renault history page: "In 1983, Jerry Schoenith commissioned designer and builder, John Staudacher from Kawkawlin, Michigan to use the new West System Epoxy method of the Gougeon brothers. At the same time, JSEI, a Detroit marketing company managed to sign French car manufacturer, Renault as the main sponsor for the venture. Powered by a WW2 Allison engine outfitted with twin turbochargers and producing 3000 hp at 4000 rpm, the boat won the UIM World Championship. It was the first Allison powered boat to do so, setting the fastest lap ever with a turbocharger, at 208.79 km/hr. The boat finished every race it entered and had many podium finishes.
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