tmmii

I met him when I was 19 or so when he was touring with AMF. It was at the pickwick race in tn. Ran into a few people maybe Thursday or Friday morning that were part of the AMF crew and they all said go get breakfast at the AMF tent. So while standing in line this old dude is off to the side and just out of the blue says “you got a boat mate?” It caught me off guard, I’m rather private especially around people I don’t know, but I answer and he asks about it and I’m telling him all the work we are doing to it. I was supper passionate about it as it was the first time really going all out on my own project. He listens and at the end says “I have a few boats mate” and pulls out his wallet and just like a cartoon the photos unroll out of it and I look at the first one and it clicks immediately. I was in shock. Had breakfast with him and got to hear a ton of the stories. Afterward got to check out his new boat, if I remember right he had said in testing he had been 220 with it. It sure wasn’t anything I would want to go that fast in!

Fast forward to a couple years ago, I’m going to Australia because I was going to be on that side of the world anyway and always wanted to go. I pm Rak Rua because I’ve seen he is from there and ask for things to do. He mentions the maritime museum that’s about 20 minutes by train from where I was staying. Cool place, I’m soaking everything in knowing that I’ll get to the Warby display at some point, and to my luck (worlds worst planner) that is the only exhibit in the place that’s closed for remodeling! I found a person who worked there and asked if there was any way the could turn on the tv that was right at the entrance that showed some clips and told the story and he said he wasn’t allowed to. He did say that Warby stops in from time to time but he lives in the states, I said I know, he’s about an hour and a half from my house, I sent him a Facebook message before I left on this trip and he said I should check out the boat while here. Oh well, something to see on the next trip.

larslindroth

Twin O/B Sonic

The “skiffs” listed as boats he used to race, ain’t what we know as a skiff.

Think, old, wood, lapstrake, Lyman, Sea Skiff etc but, w/a blown big block Chevy w/a vee drive!

When he told me about them (big in the land of Aus) I couldn’t wrap my head around them.

Then he showed me a video of an exhibition race they held where they ran our 7 liter Grand National hydros against them!

Thats one step down from our Unlimiteds.

It was a dead heat!

Twin O/B Sonic

Here’s a couple from his place.

My first time there.

He pulled out his new boat to do a “dry start”.

Fuel pump was on but motor wouldn’t crank.

Thats Ken w/his back to the camera and me in the red jacket.
I was jumping the starter solenoid.

The fuel was running out of the motor, into the bilge and out the drain plug!

I told Ken, if we start this thing it will set your driveway on fire!

He said, start it!

Notice the driveway in the 2nd shot!

Dd24skater

I met Ken at Gator's event, he was larger than life! RIP Ken.

AB From Windsor

Met the living Legend Ken Warby years ago at the Detroit Gold Cup Race and will never forget how nice he was to let me take a picture with him. To be in the presences of this living Legend Ken Warby is something very special to me and many others and his Speed Record on Water still stands 44 years later of 317.58 MPH and has not been broken. A remarkable feat with a home made back yard boat which he built. RIP Mr. Warby.

Twin O/B Sonic

Something I’ve not seen mentioned but really shows what this guy did almost 50 yrs ago, EVERYONE that’s attemp to break his record has died!

EVERYONE.

Let that sink in.

rak rua

That’s why part of me doesn’t want his son to continue their current project. Let Ken’s record stand forever.

RR