Year: 1962

Owner: John & Dianne Earnest (Battle Ground, Wash.)

Driver: John Earnest

Model Builder: John Earnest

Construction: Carbon Fiber

Year Built: 2007

Motor: Himax 3630-1500 brushless

Radio: Spektrum DX-6

Electronic Speed Control: Castle Creations Baracuda 80

Propeller: Graupner K45

Paint Colors: Lime Green, Mahogany, and Royal Blue

Graphics: Screen printed vinyl

Notes about the model: New hull for 2007. John Earnest of Battle Ground, Wash., had campaigned his 1/8-scale nitro Gale V successfully for many years in RCU and wanted to enter 1/10 scale electric with the same boat. John had Ron Daum modify a set of 1/8 scale Les Ruggles plans he had for the boat. John then used those mark-ups for building the plug for the new hull.

Notes about the real boat: This is the third and last Gale V in a line of boats that bore the same name dating back to 1954, owned by Joe Schoenith of Detroit. The first Gale V was National High Points champion in 1954 and won the Gold Cup in 1955. The second Gale V, built in 1956, was a dismal failure and was sold to Leo Mucutza in 1957 to be come Yeller Jacket and later Such Crust IV. This third Gale V was designed and built by Les Staudacher in 1958. She measured 32 feet in length with a 12-foot beam and weighed 6,400 pounds. Powered by an Allison enegine, she raced out of the Detroit Yacht Club and was driven by the legendary "Wild" Bill Cantrell. In 1961, she won the Detroit Memorial race. The 1962 boat is noteworthy in several respects as it sports a raked bazooka air-scoop incorporated into the nose cowl and stripes were needed to cover the modified supercharger and manifold created by Crew Chief Roy Duby, dubbed the "Dubenhauser," to improve the performance of the Allison engine. The boat was retired to the Gale warehouse after the 1964 season.

Notes about 2007: A new hull for 2007, she made her debut at the PAWS Cascade Cup/APBA National Championship in Woodland, Wash., where she performed well and won the Best of Show for the Vintage Class. The prospects for 2008 are good indeed for "Farmer" John since his new "ride" is fast and stable with no bad manners.