We have two birthdays to celebrate this weekend during the Military Appreciation Event at the Marine Corps Air Station – New River in North Carolina. “Miss Sparkle” – Joe & Cathy Mclay’s classic 1961 Lyman Runabout is now officially Nifty-Fifty. Woody Boater featured “Miss Sparkle” and the exciting photography of Robert Miracle earlier this year on February 8, 2011. Check it out – just go to the search area on the left side of the Woody Boater home page and enter Miss Sparkle to see the story.
Over 25 classic boats are signed up to participate in the event this weekend, and were staged at the New River Air Station on Thursday, ready to be launched on Friday morning.
The other birthday we are celebrating this weekend is with our friend and fellow Woody Boater Robert Miracle. Robert and his wife Linda have been attending boat shows in the south east since 2009 and continue to provide us with some spectacular images from many antique & classic boat shows in the area. Here’s a shot of Robert Miracle taking off (literally) for a ride with owner Charles Mistele aboard “Miss America IV” last year.
We really enjoy the relationship we have built with Miracle Photography and Robert simply loves to do what he does best. This weekend with limited Internet access, Robert has been working overtime to get these images to us for our viewer’s to enjoy and we appreciate his help.
So let’s raise a bottle of classic Royal Crown Cola to celebrate Miss Sparkle’s and Mr. Miracle’s birthday! (I found this photo of an old Royal Crown Cola sign in the Miracle Photography Gallery and thought it was a good time to use it – Texx) OK – Pop Quiz Time. What decade would this old vintage Royal Crown Cola sign be from? The winner gets a pack of Classic Woody Boater Weiners.
Chris Smith is also attending the event this weekend and shared some classic boating stories with the folks on Friday evening, which was a big hit as always. I think he’s looking out at the lake thinking “I can hardly wait to get out on the water.”
The MCCS Marina on Friday morning, very inviting don’t you think – especially for the folks in the northern part of the country that are patiently waiting for the ice to clear off the lake.
Randy & Ginger Clark worked hard to help make this event a reality, and we appreciate their effort. And usually wherever they are, “Sadie” is close by. She came all dressed up for the party on Friday and loves to ride along in “OoRAH”.
Robert & Sheila Churchill from Braselton, GA are at the show with “Amira” getting ready to put her in the drink on Friday.
For all the lapstrake guys out there, this is a perfect “Name the Caption Contest” photo. The mighty Chris-Craft 23′ Sea Skiff “Scene Changes” looks on as the big 1957 22′ Shepherd 110S “Hallelujah Side” breathes in some fresh air prior to start up… I hope that’s all it is…
Thanks again to the US Marine Corp. for welcoming the classic boaters and their families in the military facility this weekend for this great event!
Stay tuned for more updates from the event throughout the weekend – as long as we can find some internet service…
You can see all the images from this weekend and over 9,000 other boat show images by visiting the Miracle Photography web site. The link is listed on the left side of the Woody Boater home page.
Texx
That RC sign dates between 1941 and 1955.
My little Yorkie, Buster, met Sadie in the RV area at the Sunnyland Show in Tavares a couple of weeks ago. Buster is about the size of Sadie’s mouth. Sadie wanted to play but Buster had different thoughts. It was good to visit with Randy, Ginger and Sadie. OoRAH!!!
Al,
Buster snack = Yorkshire pudding
Ken, you got that right. Actually Sadie was gentle, it was Buster that caused the rucus. Yorkies are insane at times.
egarding the pop quiz (or is it a soda test?), I’d say the sign dates to between 1940 and 1951. It appears that RC started using the “Best By Taste Test” slogan in 1940. In 1952 their ads start showing a bottle with “RC” on the neck instead of “Royal Crown”.
As a former resident of eastern North Carolina, I can attest to the popularity of that particular beverage, even though you are only a stone’s throw away from the birthplace of Pepsi, in New Bern, NC. RC and a Moon Pie was the preferred break-time snack of many workers in the area.
Thanks to Woody Boater, Texx and the Birthday Boy for the story with pictures. Love those Lapstrakes. Please keep them coming. Nifty Fifty looks great but makes me remember the tasks that await me on my 1962. Same
hull, a great boat and member of the family.
Texx – Did we follow Nifty Fifty “Miss Sparkle” across Lke George during the deluge on the Monday of the Northbound St. John River Cruise a couple of weeks back? That transom looks possibly familiar.
“Miss Sparkle” is a Lyman outboard, not sure but I don’t think she was at the Sunnyland show or the St. Johns River Cruise.
RCs and Moon Pies! Yum! Yum!
New images are now coming in from Robert Miracle at the New River Air Station Event and will be posted early this evening. Robert is working on his birthday…
They look great!