A tradition within a tradition has been rekindled for the return of NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Great International World Championship Bathtub Race.
Tub 086, once piloted by George Johnson, who competed in the first race in 1967 and many thereafter, is being returned to ship shape by George and Margaret JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 son-in-law Shawn Reid who plans to have it at the starting line when the canon fires to signal the start of the great race Sunday, July 24.
Reid said when he posted on social media about prepping the Johnson family tub, he received 65 responses from people who wanted to help get it race ready and 11 people who wanted to pilot it on race day. He said Craig Bunch is the owner of the escort boat and Barry Anderson will pilot the tub.
Two days before a test run in Departure Bay, the craft was being painted and its outboard motor had yet to be fully serviced after sitting for so long. George estimated the tub is 30 to 40 years old.
B次元官网网址淭hey came begging for a tub,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat tub hasnB次元官网网址檛 moved in 15 years.B次元官网网址�
Reid said George and son Paul Johnson each piloted the craft and won races in stock and modified classes.
B次元官网网址淚 think it was B次元官网网址�92, George was the champion and Paul was in B次元官网网址�93,B次元官网网址� Reid said.
The tub, George said, was built in Port Alice and is based partly on an Australian design, but has a flat bottom instead of a tunnel hull. It is a technological leap from the one he ran across the strait to Vancouver in 1967.
B次元官网网址淕eorge was in the first race and I was watching, very pregnant,B次元官网网址� said Margaret. B次元官网网址淔or a number of years B次元官网网址� we took equipment to the other side to set up the finish line. We would go over early on the ferry, because we only went the one way in those years.B次元官网网址�
Margaret served as vice-commodore with the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society and as a volunteer with the organization for decades and has been involved with bathtub racing since the inaugural race. She recalls George completing that race in 10th place.
B次元官网网址淚 know he finished, but it took a long time,B次元官网网址� she said.
George said he got into tubbing because it was a challenge and less expensive than racing sports cars.
B次元官网网址淚 was working at Hooker Chemical. Three of us decided to make a tub and go in the race,B次元官网网址� George said.
He recalls the first race being a rough, cold crossing and only one member of the team brought a wet suit.
B次元官网网址淭hey werenB次元官网网址檛 so keen on it the next year,B次元官网网址� he said.
Margaret remembers their first tub as being B次元官网网址渂ig and heavy.B次元官网网址�
The early tubs were limited to six-horsepower motors B次元官网网址� larger motors and modified and super-modified classes were added in later years and the technology of the tubs evolved, too, as racing teams figured out which designs and equipment configurations provided the best speed and seaworthiness.
B次元官网网址淚t became a family thing for us because George and Paul both raced. I was involved with organizing it and actually our eldest son, Michael, he raced a couple of years, way back,B次元官网网址� Margaret said. B次元官网网址淭he whole family got involved with it.B次元官网网址�
The tubs the Johnsons raced have practically become family heirlooms.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 some still in our backyard,B次元官网网址� Margaret said.
They still have the tub portion of the original boat and the tub and hull that Paul raced, along with hulls and other bits of tubs in a storage room.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 no shortage of tub racing memorabilia around the house. Old bathtub straw hats, posters, trophies, scrapbooks and other items, including Nanaimo Marine Festival coins stamped with MargaretB次元官网网址檚 image in honour of her role as former vice-commodore and her more than 50 years of volunteer work with the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society. Nanaimo Marine Festival coins havenB次元官网网址檛 been minted since 2019.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a shame we had that break with the coins. It was the longest-running trade dollar in Canada,B次元官网网址� Margaret said. B次元官网网址淭he first one was in 1969 and right through until two years ago. ThereB次元官网网址檚 not one this year. There just wasnB次元官网网址檛 time to organize it. It takes a while to get the design and the imprints and have it minted.B次元官网网址�
Their daughter, Wendy Reid, is carrying on the family involvement as secretary with the bathtub society.
Margaret said sheB次元官网网址檚 happy to see the race start up again after the two-year pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, although she acknowledges that some people who once participated have moved away or not kept up their connections with bathtub racing and the bathtub society.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 good theyB次元官网网址檙e coming back and hopefully weB次元官网网址檒l get a good number of tubs out B次元官网网址� the regulars have all come back, so itB次元官网网址檚 looking good,B次元官网网址� she said.
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