Kevin Klosterman and Vintage Miss Desoto - Celina 2011 !

We're in the hot pits at the APBA Summernationals event on Grand Lake St. Marys in Celina Ohio. As the video opens Kevin is starting the big block, Potvin supercharged, Chrysler hemi engine in this legendary craft. This famous old hydroplane was found by Butch Bailey somewhere in Illinois in 2003. It had been stored outside for years and was nearly rotted away when Butch negotiated with the owner and bought what was left of it. He then put it through an eight year restoration project and brought it back to life. The engine was a little stubborn about starting on this day. You can hear Butch hollering to Kevin about the starting sequence. The boat was built in the fifties by famous craftsman Henry Lauterbach and was originally owned by Columbus Ohio Chrysler auto dealer Buddy Byers who set records in this boat and is a living legend in the sport of hydroplane racing !