1946 G-13 Tempo VI
Reprinted from Skid Fin Magazine, 2003, Volume 1 Number 2
The
G-13 was originally built as “My Sin” in 1938 for millionaire Zalmon Simmons.
Simmons, who made his fortune with the Simmons Mattress Company, reportedly
spend $100,000 for the boat and a custom built V-16 Miller Motor. The boat’s
design was a gamble at the time. All previous Gold Cup winners had been long,
thin mono-hulls. The My Sin was a three-point hydroplane with two forward
sponsons and one rear-riding pad. The widely spaced sponsons reduced the area of
contact between the water and the hull, cutting drag and increasing speed.
The
design was so unique that the boat’s designers, father and some team Adolph and
Arno Apel, patented the boat in 1938. The My Sin was only 24 feet long, dwarfed
by the longer step hydros of the day, but the little My Sin soon quieted all
doubters by winning the 1939 and 1941 Gold Cups. The three-point design was so
successful that – except for the My Sweetie in 1949 – a step hydroplane never
again won the Gold Cup.
Gold
Cup racing was canceled during World War II, but when racing resumed in 1946 the
My Sin had been sold to famous bandleader Guy Lombardo. Lombardo renamed the
boat Tempo and won the 1946 Gold Cup race; setting a new world record of 68.072
mph. Lombardo and Tempo went on to win National Championships in 1946 and 1948.
In 1948 Lombardo replaced the exotic V-16 Miller engine with a more common
Allison. In 1950 Lombardo hired veteran boat builder and driver Dan Arena to
lengthen the boat to 30 feet.
As
significant as Lombardo’s accomplishments on the racecourse were, his
contributions to the sport off the racecourse were far more profound and
far-reaching. Lombardo is credited with introducing both Bill Muncey and Bernie
Little to hydroplane racing!
Joe
Frauenheim bought the Tempo VI in the early 1990s and painstakingly restored it.
Frauenheim and his volunteer crew removed Dan Arena’s modifications and returned
the boat to its original 24-foot length. The beautiful red and gold mahogany
boat is now a favorite at vintage events all around the country.
More on the Tempo IV...
Guy Lombardo & the 1946
Detroit Gold Cup
Tempo VI - The Gold Cup Champion
The Guy Lombardo Story
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