Fox Riverfest 1987-89

DePere, Wisconsin 1989: Stan McDonald, Maxville, Ontario, Canada before and after his ride at age 95.
Left photo: Bernie VanOsdale, his wife Cindy and daughter Erin, with Stan McDonald. Right photo: Mike Gibson, Stan McDonald (in boat), Todd Hoerning working on engine, and Karl Williams holding boat owned by Red BeDell using Mike Gibson’s SpeediTwin.

By Karl Williams

Fox Riverfest will be remembered among the premier boat races conducted in the 20th century. It started with a phone call from Red BeDell. His efforts alone brought about the largest gathering of Antique classes since the 1950s. Red worked all year on each event.

In the best year, we had 29 C Service and 29 C Racing Runabouts, full fields in C Service and C Racing Hydro and 8 class F hydros with 4-60, and Bud Davies’ four cylinder engine with four PR cylinders driven by Bob Wartinger.

Bob Wartinger, driver for the Bedford Davie entry with four PR cylinders on his engine at DePere in 1989.

The classes/heats were arranged so everyone got to race everyone at some point during the weekend in each of their respective classes.

As in Sprint Car racing, there were A, B, C, D etc. heats. Winners of each qualified for the main and final heats. Then there was a consolation heat for another driver to get into the finals. (All in all, every driver had at least three chances to make the final heats.)

John Augustine, Maryland, referee in yellow shirt, 1989.

Every heat and every position on the race course was a paid position, along with mileage money.
This schedule did not happen immediately at the beginning in 1987; it took a few years to refine.
The officials’ jobs also were refined, and in 1989 each official had one job only. Officials were hired from all over. Referee John Augustine, Maryland; Announcer G.A. (Al) Lytle, Canada; Flagman Duane Sweeney, New Berlin, Wisconsin (famous chief starter/flagman for the Indianapolis 500); and the ladies that operated the judges’ stand; plus several others. Our photos from this particular collection did not have captions, so I am unable to match names with these ladies’ photos.

Some of the ladies who took care of scoring. If anyone has names, we would appreciate it for future use. DePere, 1989.

Indianapolis 500 flagman/starter Duane Sweeney
being interviewed and filmed for local TV station.

By 1989 we had a dual set of officials for scoring. One set would run a heat, and step back to finish their work while the second set would step forward and run the next heat. They kept things moving fast with maximum efficiency. Without these ladies, these races would be nothing like they were.
Although we did not have patrol boat problems, I have attended some U.S. Title Series races and felt they were better prepared in this area. Fortunately we had only a few boats go over.

Owner Mike Gibson and driver Todd Hoerning won several times during 1987-89 at DePere. Harry Brinkman (In blue coveralls and pith helmet) won the CRR class driving for the Walls family of Indiana. 1987-88.

Jack Campbell, Culver, Indiana, high point winner 1989 at DePere, Wis.

Harry Brinkman of Leesburg, Indiana won CRR at DePere,
in his first race driving in the Antique classes. 1987 – 88

The actual races had a substantial number of spectators (22,000 in 1989). Stan McDonald taking a boat ride at age 95 drew more spectators to the shore than the heat races.

Unfortunately for boat races at DePere, Wisconsin, service clubs change officials and the new president thought boat races were not needed. Two years later Fox Riverfest was finished. But while it lasted, it was a stellar event.

Andy Greynolds and his mother Margaret Greynolds of Georgetown, Kentucky. DePere, 1989.

High Point sports coat given to winner each Fox Riverfest year. Todd Hoerning (Mike Gibson – owner) won in 1987 & 88. Jack Campbell won in 1989.