Hello OSO group members;
Ever since my childhood, I have adopted an interest in the sport of Offshore Racing. From a simple curiosity, my involvement began in the sport that has sparked my current desire to reinforce the legacy in offshore boat racing – thus, connecting the past, present, and future of the sport with those who engineered it and the boats that founded it.
A once in a life time opportunity has recently come to my devotion. I have acquired a Magnum legacy, the 1967 Maltese Magnum (4) 28’, that was designed by Harry Shoell and in which that same year, legendary offshore racer Don Aronow won the Union of International Motorboating (UMI) World Driver’s Championship and the United States Championship never before accomplished. In 1967, this legacy was strengthened as it continued to make history with the following event:
“Don went back out to the West Coast at the end of October for the Long Beach-San Francisco Classic, and while failing to finish, never the less made history: Don and Norris “Knocky” House survived a collision with a low flying press helicopter, which clipped Don’s bow with one of its pontoons, when Don’s Magnum jumped some 15-feet out of the water.”… “This may have been the first and only reported collision between boat and helicopter ever in an offshore powerboat race. It led to the ‘500-foot rule.’” (Aronow, Michael, Don Aronow: The King of Thunderboat Row, 1994, pg 78), this is one of the greatest stories told of offshore ocean racing.
After the world championship season, the boat was sold to Billy Martin and renamed to the “Hustler II”, which won two UMI U.S. single-engine championships. Later, this same boat was sold to Frank Lach and renamed the “White Knight.” Finally, approximately 3 years ago, a friend Robert G., purchased the boat and now I have become its new and privileged owner.
This show quality restoration choice is one of the only 1967 Maltese Magnum 28’ left.
In 1967 Driver Don & Knocky raced six Maltese Magnum’s, three in the United States with the hull number (4) white hulls and three in Europe, with dark green hulls. I’ve performed some insensitive checking and may have located the U.S. out-board boat to use for decking structure, the other (4) Maltese Magnum’s of 1967 and I’m fairly sure they do not exist in this restorable condition.
My intent is to restore this cherished legacy and honor the racers of the sport, as well as to show the race setups in those early grueling times of offshore racing when races exceeded 400 miles in any and all types of conditions.
The boat will be used for:
Manufacture’s brochures and promo’s
Spectator attraction at the major races.
Participations at major races as a VIP/factory pace boat.
Participations at major boat shows as one of the centerpiece.
On Display at the larger boat dealerships, & Mercury Marine Racing events
Magazine photo shoots and early day race stories & coverage.
Major Poker Run VIP/pace boat.
Other volunteer efforts.
My hope is that the people in the sport of offshore racing & boating would like to participate and volunteer in this great endeavor – the very foundation of offshore racing that without these legendary figures such as Don Aronow the sport of offshore racing may not of flourished.
This is a non-profit restoration & the boat and or copyright information will not be for sale.
The project is showing strong support from major marine manufactures and a web site is under construction to show the past, present and current pictures as well the progress with all the past history's of the boat and the early race times.
I am currently looking for volunteer support in the following areas:
Knowledge of the exact layout details
Fiber glass finishing
Gel-coat finishing
Color blend finishing
Trailer sandblasting and painting
Transportation efforts
Rigging support
Locating rigging parts
If your interested in joining the support efforts or you have any information of value, please E-mail me at
hhulman@hotmail.com
Custom one of a kind shirts are being printed and embroidered for the volunteer support team.
Hugh Hulman
President, Vintage Offshore Foundation (non-profit)
35646 14th S.W.
Federal Way, WA. 98023 USA
Reinforcing the legacy in offshore boat racing…
Gold Member
Charter Member
