1994 Smokin' Joe's

 

  Boat Statistics

Boat Name:

 

Year:

Designation#:

 

 Smokin' Joe's

1994

 

U-10

Owner/Driver:

 

Year Model Built:

 

 Tony Minalia

 

2012

Builder:

 

Construction:

 

 

Tony Minalia

 

Foam, plywood,resin

Motor:

 

Speed Controller:

 

 Leopard

 

Seaking 180

Prop:

 

Paint Colors:

 

 

 Octura

 

Chartreuse, Purple & white

Type of Graphics:

 Radio:

 

 

vinyl and hand painted

 

Futaba

About the Model: After finding several heats on youtube from the mid-90's, Tony decided that his all-time favorite boat needed to be back in his stable after being retired for six years. Construction began on this boat, version 2.0 the new Smokin' Joe's shortly after the 2012 season ended. It took until the night before the opening season race in Everett to complete the boat. The boat had never seen water until it was dropped into the lake for its first heat. In three races, the boat has only finished one heat of racing. Tony vows to do several test runs before the year is out so the boat has more success and upholds its legacy of being a top tear boat. This Pack Is Smokin.

The real boat: The hull was built by Jim Lucero in 1987 and ran as the Miller High Life with Chip Hanauer driving. In 1988 it ran as Miss Circus Circus.  It was the first hull to go over 170 mph in a timed qualifying or racing session.  In 1989 new sponsons were put on the boat.  In 1991, it was bought by Steve Woomer and became the Winston Eagle. It ran for 3 years under that name with Mark Tate behind the wheel until it became the Smokin' Joe's. It became the Close Call in 1997.  The hull sat for a little while until 2000 when it ran as Appian Jeronimo. It was the hull that George Stratton was killed in. The next couple years it ran under such names as York, Al Deeby Dodge, Sportsboat Northwest, and is the current U-13. Although with some minor upgrades. It is the only hull in the history of the sports to have won Gold Cups in 3 different decades. Talk about craftsmanship. It is also the oldest running hull on the 2007 unlimited hydroplane circuit.