Remembering Three Participants

Todd Yarling, former Unlimited hydroplane driver for more than 10 seasons, has passed away. He was 68.

Remembering Three Participants

By Craig Fjarlie

In late March and early April, APBA lost three participants who made valuable contributions to boat racing. Although their individual involvement took different forms, each was part of a much bigger picture, and we remember them fondly for their work.

On March 28, former driver Todd Yarling passed away at age 68. Yarling, of Hanover, Indiana, began racing in the 5-Litre class with a boat named Nautilus. In 1983, Jim and Nancy Sedam asked him to drive their Unlimited hydroplane, Miss Tosti Asti. The first boat was a back-marker, but the Sedams bought a new boat for the following year. Yarling drove it through 1987, when the Sedams retired from racing. He then drove Unlimiteds for Alan Vordermeier, Fred Leland, and Ed Cooper Jr., and Sr. The Miss Madison team needed a new driver for their turbine-powered boat in 1999, and Yarling was an obvious choice. His home in Hanover was close enough to Madison that he was considered a hometown driver. At the end of the season, he retired from competition.

Yarling was an outgoing individual with no pretentions or arrogance. He was always approachable and talked with fans. In addition, his sister, Yvonna, helped with crew duties when he was driving. Yarling entered 63 races during his career in Unlimiteds. Victory was elusive because he was driving for teams that lacked the financial resources of Miss Budweiser, Atlas Van Lines, and the like, but he was always in contention and represented his team in a professional manner.

For more on Todd Yarling’s life, see https://www.morgan-nay.com/obituary/todd-yarling

Bob Burd, of Maple Valley, Washington, died on March 30, one week shy of his 105th birthday. He watched inboard racing on Seattle’s Green Lake in the 1930s. His work schedule allowed him to watch Slo-mo-shun IV set the mile straightaway record on Lake Washington in 1950, and Burd attended the first Gold Cup in Seattle in 1951. He volunteered for Seafair, working pit security and leading pit tours. Burd’s first involvement with a boat came in 1958, when he helped put the deck on the new Miss Bardahl.

“Uncle Bob” Burd, still supporting racing at 104 years old.

When Burd retired from his job, he began working on Unlimited crews. He helped Chuck Hickling with two boats named Tempus, building the hulls and working on engines. He later worked with Mitch and Mark Evans on a new, two-wing boat, Jackpot Food Mart, owned by Bob Fendler. It was during that time when Mark Evans gave Burd the nickname Uncle Bob. The nickname stuck with Burd for the rest of his life. He concluded his crew work on Jim Harvey’s boat, Freddie’s Club. Burd donated his time helping at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in its formative years.

Even late in life, Burd continued his love for boat racing. With his daughter, Carolyn, providing assistance, Burd drove his motorized scooter around the outer pit area at races in Tri-Cities, Washington, and at the vintage event Mahogany and Merlot, on Lake Chelan. He greeted friends and was always happy to visit. The last few years, Uncle Bob was without question the oldest person at the races, but he wanted to be there. A memorial service for Bob Burd will be held at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum on Saturday May 3rd from 2 pm to 4 pm. Everyone who knew Bob is welcome.

Bob’s Seattle Times obituary is here: https://obituaries.seattletimes.com/obituary/robert-burd-1092804322

Don Mock, a man of many talents and unmatched enthusiasm.
Don Mock passed away from cancer on April 13. He was an important worker at the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. He was crew chief on restoration of two Atlas Van Lines boats. Before that, he was an active R/C racer and was involved when APBA had an R/C category. Mock had other talents, too. He was a gifted guitar player and helped start the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. He knew video production and produced videos for the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. His passing leaves a large void at the museum, and it’s doubtful any one person could ever take over all the projects he coordinated and oversaw. For more on Don’s life, see https://www.donmockguitar.com/bio.html

Thinking back about Todd Yarling, Bob Burd, and Don Mock, we can only thank them for their contributions and say, “Race in Peace, Gentlemen. We appreciate what you did.”