Dragboats of the 1960s Photo Archive

Don Edwards is owner and driver of the 1967 World’s Winningest Gas Hydro drag boat Golden Komotion. Through the years he has never lost his enthusiasm and friendship of those he knew during his racing years. Today he enjoys coordinating racers reunions and boat shows in California as well as restoring an original Hallett wood drag hydro. Don lives with his wife, Lydia, in the Santa Ynez Valley, California.

Barry McCown, owner and driver of the sensational award winning BANZAI drag hydro in which he held the quarter mile blown fueler record in 1963. In the 1970s Barry built and raced successfully in off-shore powerboat competitions. He currently lives in Carlsbad, California.

Writer/Filmmaker Bob Silva was introduced to motor racing at the tender age of two, when he accompanied his parents to the weekly auto races at California’s Oakland Speedway. His father, Eddie Silva, drove inboard hydroplanes built by grandfather Al Silva, competing on the West Coast racing circuit from 1952-1972. In 1968, Bob joined the family racing team, driving hydroplanes until the family retired from competition in 1974. Bob writes the “From the Vintage Notebook” column for American Power Boat Association’s (APBA) “Propeller” magazine and in 2007 served as Race Director for the first APBA vintage race boat event held in California.