Some of you know our fellow hot boater, Donnie Henson who has been feeding his appetite for lake rockets with a series of blown Eliminator Daytona's. Sometimes we can trace the inspiration of this affliction. In Donnie's case, he can point the finger at his Dad, Jim.

Jim Henson got into the hot boat scene in the late 1950's when the speed boat craze was just getting going on the west coast. Jim grew up in Orange, California. After returning from a stint with Uncle Sam in Korea, Jim bought this 1958 16 foot Brendella v-drive. The boat was equipped with an early Corvette 283. Induction was handled by four 2 barrel carburetors.  Jim did try and early supercharger but things weren't quite as scienced out back than as they are today when it comes to bolting on forced induction and his flirtation with positive pressure was short lived!

The boat was used for all kinds of boating recreation, from taking the family to the Salton Sea, drag boat racing and  pulling a skier in an early version of the Catalina ski races. Back then the ski races were a one way deal each day. Ski over to Catalina, stay the night and than back to the mainland the next day.

The hull was covered in a beautiful coat of Candy Apple Rootbeer. Jim ran the boat at the Long Beach Marine Stadium where it posted a 101.6 mph run.

Here's the boat at an outing at the Salton Sea in California. Back in the late 50's and early 60's the salinity level of the lake, while high, wasn't unbearable like it is today! The boat had a slight fire in the back of the boat while pulling some skiers this weekend! Damaged but not destroyed, the boat was repaired to boat again.

Here's a pair of pictures that will give any boater a chill. Jim and his brother-in-law had made the run over to Catalina from Newport. After completing that days race, the boats were all tied up to buoys in the Harbor at Avalon Bay.  In the middle of the night there was a frantic knock at the door. A storm had rolled in and was breaking boats loose left and right in the harbor. Jim's Brendella was bobbing in the surf. They managed to get the boat pulled up to the shore where it was secured until the morning. When the sun came up they found there boat filled with water and gravel. They managed to get the boat emptied out enough to float it again and hitch a tow home. The boat was returned to the Mandella factory for refurbishment. There was some damage to the bottom and the engine was tore down. They actually found stones in the cylinders! The boat was returned to service for another couple of years of fun.

The unfortunate gentleman in the undies is Jim's brother-in-law!  In the picture on the right, Jim is the guy pulling the bow line. The picture on the right also appeared on the front page of the L.A. Times.

Jim Henson got his boating start courtesy of Uncle Sam and the Korean war. Jims "boat" was the destroyer U.S.S. Mansfield. When Jim was aboard, the destroyer struck a mine in Inchon Harbor in Korea, which blew the front end off! Fortunately, the forward bulkheads held, preventing the ship from sinking. They actually made it back to Japan for emergency repairs, in reverse! When they made it to Japan, they welded a flat plate to the bow. The next stop was Washington state where the ship was properly repaired. Jim said, "That was one hell of a rough trip!"