Year: 1952

Owner: Ron Daum

Driver: Ron Daum

Model Builder: Ron Daum

Construction: Plywood and mahogany veneer

Year Built: 2004

Motor: AstroFlight 25-5 turn

Radio: Futaba/Hitec

Electronic Speed Control: RC Hydros Victory 90

Propeller: Modified Octura X447R

Paint: Varnished mahogany, Red, White, Blue and Gold.

Graphics: Screen printed vinyl by Precision Screen Graphics of Woodinville, Wash.

Notes about the Model: New hull for 2005 and E-RCU’s first step hydroplane. Ron Daum modified 1:13.2 plans drawn by Matt Devine in 1976 using photos, period technical books and Naval Research papers from the 1990's on stepped planning hull design to design the 1/10 scale model. Miss Pepsi made her debut at the 2005 E-RCU Picnic at Bellevue Pond.

Notes about the real boat: The Dossin brothers’ Miss Pepsi was a lengthened-out copy of the highly successful My Sweetie by designer Hacker. Nicknamed "The Mahogany Cigar" and "The Aquatruck," Miss Pepsi was a 36-foot-long, 10,500 pound three-step hydroplane with two Allison engines in tandem with a v-drive gear box between the engines. She was the only boat, step or three-pointer, to be truly successful with twin Allison power. Driven in all of her races by the legendary Chuck Thompson, Miss Pepsi was the ultimate and arguably the greatest step hydroplane of all time. Racing out of the Detroit Yacht Club she recorded a number of Unlimited Hydro firsts being the first three-time President's Cup winner (1950, 51 & 52) and the first back to back National High Point Champion in 1951 and 1952. Miss Pepsi was the first boat to average over 100 miles per hour in both qualifying for and in a heat of Gold Cup competition (in 1952). She was one of the few boats truly competitive with Slo-Mo-Shun V. Retired after the 1952 season, Miss Pepsi came back for the 1956 Gold Cup in Detroit and still gave the smaller single-engine three-pointers of the day fits, temporarily possessing the coveted trophy until a controversial ruling awarded it to Miss Thriftway. 

Unlike the three point hydros of today that literally fly over the water, a step hydro displaces water like a modern speedboat and Miss Pepsi's wake was truly awesome. At least one driver was heard to comment that running behind Miss Pepsi was like 'a trip behind the Queen Mary'. When Miss Thriftway driver Bill Muncey was questioned by a reporter after his first heat loss to Miss Pepsi in the 1956 Gold Cup if he was surprised by Miss Pepsi's performance he peevishly responded "Oh no- no-no, I’ve seen Pepsi run lots of times and she always performs like that.  She makes her own water and makes everyone else run in it!"

Today, a beautifully restored Miss Pepsi is on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit.

Notes about 2007: Miss Pepsi made her lone appearance in 2007 at the Leo Vandenberg Challenge. Like the real Miss Pepsi, she looks great but is just not fast enough to be competitive and is now retired. Demo laps and “showboating” for Miss Pepsi 2008.