Postscript about Gary Scow

 

The teenage kid I last saw in late 1963.  Google searches found newspaper articles about Gary Scow.  Right age.  Right time.  Right place.  A 27 year-old Gary Scow in the 1970s driving funny cars at the drags, and driving a drag boat over 200mph at Marine Stadium in Long Beach.  That has to be him.  He loved to go fast!  Here is the longest article I’ve found.  (They archived all their old newspapers using optical character recognition without a lot of proofing, so they can be a little jumbled.)  It’s interesting to find bits and pieces of his life.

 

Long Beach, Callf., Sun., Aug. 1), INDEPENDENT, PRESS-TELEGRAM-S-3 Roar of drag boats music to Scow's ears There's no room for fear when Gary Scow.reaches 190-mph mark at Stadium. Among mortals that lead commonplace lives are those that object to loud noises and are excited only by the prospect of sleeping late on a weekend morning.  But chances are that Gary Scow s East Long Beach neighbors would be less than poetic if they knew more about the quiet young man behind the metal-framed glasses who lives in the cozy backyard cottage with his pretty wife Tina and prettv much minds his own business. Scow's business is responsible for the cacophony that pins ears to walls anytime the drag boats gather at nearby Marine Stadium, as they, will next Friday, .Saturday and Sunday for the 41th annual N a t i o n a l Championships.. To his neighbors it is noise; to Gary Scow it is music. "I used to ride my bicycle down to Marine Stadium when I was a kid," says G a r y . "I'd sneak my sister's camera out of the house and go down and take pictures of all the boats- and just watch." ' - FROM WATCHING to driving was not a simple transition... Scow explains that he got into racing the way most people get out-- through a serious accident. 'It's you and God' "My father had a service station out in Bellflower and a kid who lived behind it had an old '55 Chevy that he raced at the drags. After going out with him for about a year I was in a traffic accident. About nine months later I got a settlement, took the money and instantly blew it on that car so I could become part of it myself."  Soon Scow joined up with Gary Gabelich, who was driving a funny car for Beach City Chevrolet. "I was just the gopher for the team," Scow says, "but at the same time Gary was racing boats and. he got me very interested in that. When I finally got a chance to start driving them. Gary had a lot to do with it."  THE LIVES of Scow and Gabelieh, both Long Beach lads, are intertwined. "BuT as close as we've been," Scow says, "we've never competed, against each other. Gary.'s a very different person. There's no-one else in the world like him. He touches an ultimate that nobody else does." Scow was at Bonneville four years ago when Gabelich set the world land speed record of 622 mph. "At the time I was driving a funny car on tour back East," says Scow, "but I quit that to be with Gary and help with the Blue Flame." "To go that fast that quick excites me. It's you and God in that boat, and-your'e just hanging on with your hands and feet. Scow also was with Gabelich two years ago when the.latter almost killed himself in an experimental funny car at Orange County Raceway. "I helped build that car," Scow says. "I'd worked on it for a year-and-a-half." Next weekend Gabelich returns to drag boat racing --he was the first man to exceed 200 mph--to drive the new Shock Wave boat. The old Shock Wave perished last June 30 at Oakland, taking driver Mac Christensen with it. "Mac was a very close friend," says Scow. "We conversed on the phone a lot and I used to take his daughter out." BUT SCOW considers the accidents of his friends as "just bad things happened.  "It's part of it. You have to accept it." In fact, Scow says .the flirtation with danger is a large part of the motivation. "First, it's the acceleration more than the speed. Anybody can go that fast, but to go that fast that quick excites me. That's where the thrill is. "The danger is a big part of it. You have to work yourself up every time, for every run, mentally and physically. Once you get closer to 200, it's easier. Not many people have done it. I was the sixth Scow concedes that the chances of surviving an accident in a race car are better than in a boat. There is a third dimension to consider: depth. That's why boat racers don't wear safety belts. "It's you and God in that seat," says Scow, "and you're just hanging on with your hands and feet. I love it. There's nothing greater. I wouldn't quit for anything." RACING DRAG BOATS is the primary vocation of Gary Glenn Scow, 28, and there isn't a lot of money in it. "I enjoy doing just this," he says. "Oh, I work part-lime as a bartender, and I'm about ready to get back into sportfishing. I used to be a deckhand when Pierpoint Landing was doing its thing. "I have been fortunate this year to get money up front--a guarantee whether the boat wins or loses or whatever." "Whatever" has happened to Scow only twice in his three years at the game. Recently his boat The Beast, owned by boat builder Harold Kindsvaler, sank in the Mississippi River but was recovered in a 10-day salvage operation. A year ago Scow cracked up at Marine Stadium. "They estimated that. I crashed at between 180 and 190 mph," he says. "I walked away from it." It is suggested, then, that Gary Scow is able to walk on water. He laughs, "No, just lucky. I hit a buoy and took about the whole left side of the boat off.  I saw it but I thought I could get around it. The boat was on a fairly good run and I didn't want to shut it off. I thought if I did hit it, it wouldn't hurt anything because they're usually just styrofoam. The one I hit had a cement pole in the middle of it." SCOW met Tina, his bride of three weeks, at a drag boat meet in Oakland. "I've always liked things that go fast," she says. No, she doesn't worry about Gary. "He could get killed crossing the street," she reasons. But Scow doesn't think his parents will be there next weekend. "My mom and dad never have been to a race," he says. "I think my mom would-go if I took her, but when I go, I go to race."  My dad just doesn't like loud noise.

 

 

A recap of boat drivers who have gone over 200mph, with reference to the “great” Gary Scow”:

 

The 1st to run the magic speed number was Gary Gabelich. The date was in Sept of 1969 @ Perris Ca driving for Don Noel & Ginn Boscariol. It was a Sanger, with Ron White power. Boat was named CRISIS. His speed was 200.44 @ 9.11

2nd man to run over 200 was Larry Hill in a boat called "Mr Ed". It was in Sept of 1971, at the "Beach", in a Charger hydro owned by Ed Wills. Engine was also built by Ron White. Larrys speed was 202.46 @ 7.83.

3rd man was the "SHOE", Larry Swabenland driving the factory fueler for Sanger Boats. Bob McIntyre 426 hemi did the trick. Larry ran a 205.01 @ 6.83 at Oakland marine stadium. The date....Sept 10th, 1972.

4th man was Mac Christensen driving the Hondo factory boat "SHOCKWAVE". Owned by Peggy Brendel. Dan Olson 426 for power, Mac ran a speed of 202.46 @ 6.83. Again it was done at the "Beach" on Sept 30, 1973

5th was the "GODFATHER", Dennis Pollacia. Driving for Don McCormick out of Okiehoma City. The boat was named "OUT-A-SIGHT". Dennis set the APBA record at 200mph @ 6.80. Quickest et to date. Keith Black power. The date was June 2nd, 1974.

6th was the great Gary Scow. Driving for Harold Kindsvater, another fueler running Bob McIntire power. The boat was called "The Beast". Gary ran a speed of 201.56 @ 6.91et. Date was June 16th, 1974 @ the beach. The following year Gary ran 4 straight passes over 200mph. The 1st driver/ boat to do so. Later on Gary suffered a very serious crash in this boat. It happened at the Beach. Gary was dead when they pulled him out of the water. They revived him, & one year later, Gary was lifted into a fueler named "RATS FUELER" at the nationals @ the Beach, where he promptly laid down a beautiful pass to put him in the show. Gary was back....

 

There are other stories about Scow’s friendship with Gary Gabelich who drove a rocket car, the Blue Flame, 650 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats, and held the land speed record for years, and a few more about his exploits as a boat driver.  He must have been a fixture on that Southern California drag racing and drag boats scene for years.

 

Bakersfield, August 1974.

Drag boat driver critically injured LONG BEACH. Calif. (API — Drag boat driver Gary Scow of Long Beach was hospitalized in critical condition Saturday after his blown fuel hydro exploded following a qualifying run in the national drag boat championships. Scow had crossed the finish line with the top qualifying time of 184.80 when his boat lifted into the air and exploded. He came down amid the wreckage and suffered a broken leg. punctured lung.. inierr.al injuries, sources said He was taken to Long Beach Community Hospital where he was placed in intensive care, a hospital spokesman said. Two world records were set as drivers completed the second day of qualifying for Sunday's finals Boh Dice of Granada Hills roared 14108 miles an hour in War Kagle. breaking the record for unblown fuel flat- botioms. The old record of 139.10 was set this year by Malt Bartii of Redondo Beach. Calif. Mary Kite of Mission V'iejo. <'alif.. set a women's record of 172 24 for blown fuel hydros in her Proud Mary. She broke her own record of 165.0 set earlier this year. (Ian.- Gabelich. holder of the world land speed record of 622 miles an hour, qualified for the finals in the blown fuel hydros with a time of 169.80. Jockey still serious, after Saratoga fall SARATOGA SPRINGS. N. Y. i APi — Angel Santiago, injured in a fall from Impassioned during Thursday's ninth race at Saratoga, was reported still unconscious and in serious condition Friday. Santiago, who is suffering from a cerebral concussion, was transferred from Saratoga Hospital to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. NY. qhr Sakrrgfirlft (Xaltfornian Sunday, Aug. 18.1974

 

Long Beach, 1974.

LONG BEACH - Only three men have ever exceeded 200 miles per hour in drag boat racing competition and three of them will be on hand for the 11th annual National Championships at Long Beach Marine Stadium, August 16-18. Larry Hill of Fresno established the world’s record in Mr. Ed at 202.46 mph during the 1971 National Championships. Gary Scow of Long Beach, made for near-perfect runs last June at the Ray Caselli Classic, four times surpassing 199 mph with a top­ time of 201.56 Dennis (Godfather) Pollaocia of Redondo Beach, drove Out A Sight to a 201.34 clocking at Oakland in June. All three will be at the Nationals. The other three 200-plus drivers are Larry Schwabenland, 201.66 mph, Mac Christensen, 202.46 mph and Gary Gabelich, 200.44 mph. Schwabenland was badly injured in a crash at Oakland last year and is in temporary retirement. Christensen was killed during practice runs in Shock Wave, June 30. at Oakland and Gabelich is now concentrating on land-speed records after suffering near fatal accidents. Both Scow and Pollaccia have been working feverishly to be ready for the Nationals. Scow’s boat The Beast sank in the Mississippi River during a race at St Louis after he shot up in the air at the break and landed hard on a sponson. The boat was retrieved by owner Harold Kindsvater and is expected to run hard at the Nationals. Qualifying starts Friday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. and continues the next day at 10 a.m. Sunday’s finals, featuring the top eight boats, starts at noon

 

Long Beach, 1974.

Drag boat crown taken by Mr. Ed LONG BEACH. Calif. (AP) — The blown fuel hydro Mr. Ed continues to dominate drag boat racing even the record- setting racer has a new driver. The boat, owned by Ed Wills of Fresno, Calif., had little trouble winning the 11th annual National Drag Boat championships Sunday at Long Beach Marine Stadium with Frank Dade of Detroit making his first competition appearance as its driver. Dade defeated John Burrows of Reno, Nev. with a speed of 183 66 miles an hour, fastest time of the day but nearly 20 miles an hour off the standing start quarter-mile speed record held by the boat. World land speed record holder Gary Gabelich, racing for the first time since a serious drag racing accident two years ago, was disqualified for jumping the start in bis race with Burrows. Driver Gary Scow of Long Beach, listed in critical condition for a time after his boat flipped at more than 180 miles an hour Saturday, was reported "progressing very well" and in satisfactory condition Sunday at Long Beach Community Hospital. Another driver. Bob Fulg- bam of La Mirada, Calif., whose boat flipped at around 140, was thrown clear in an accident Sunday. He was listed in satisfactory condition after being hospitalized for observation.

 

All these reports of Gary Scow and others.  Reports of crashes and injuries for Gary.  Reports of how some of the others died.  No more speed or medical reports for Gary since 1974 though.  No reports of Gary’s demise, so maybe he’s still out there.  Maybe he hung around the Long Beach racing scene the rest of his life (He would be in his seventies, like me, now.)  Maybe he abandoned racing and headed off for a quiet retirement in Salem, Oregon.  Who knows?