Bill Muncey
Encyclopedia
William Edward "Bill" Muncey (November 12, 1928 – October 18, 1981) was an American
hydroplane racing
legend from La Mesa, California
. He won 62 races, the most races in the history of the sport. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame
and the elusive hydroplane historian Dan Cowie described Muncey as "without question, the greatest hydroplane racer in history." Muncey was nicknamed "Mr. Unlimited", and press referred to Muncey as the "hot chauffeur" and "hot".
. Bill’s first attempt to drive in an American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup event began by blowing up the engine. Muncey went to Gar Wood’s riverfront mansion, and asked Wood for help. Muncey got an engine from Wood, but the bottom of the boat fell out during the next race.
Muncey had his first win at the Gold Cup
in 1956 in Miss Thriftway. His career took off in 1960. Muncey won fourteen races between 1960 and 1962, including six of seven in 1962. In 1976, at age 48, he won five races in his boat Atlas Van Lines
to silence the critics that said that he was too old to win. He moved to a new Atlas Van Lines boat in 1977 and won twenty times in the next three seasons. He followed up with four wins in 1980. Muncey won his last race during the Thunder on the Ohio
race at Evansville, IN in 1981. Muncey was leading the final heat of the World Championship race at Acapulco
on October 18, 1981 when he died in a blowover crash while travelling 175 miles per hour (280 kilometers per hour). He was buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California
In more than three decades of hydroplane racing, Muncey had claimed eight Gold Cup
s (1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979), seven U.S. National Championships (1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1979), and four World Championships. He was named the driver of the year seven times.
Twice married: 17-years to Mary "Kit" Muncey (m. 1952- div. 1969) 3-children, died Feb 14, 2006
Married to Fran Norman, in 1969, until his death in 1981. One child
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hydroplane racing
Hydroplane racing
Hydroplane racing is a sport involving racing hydroplanes on lakes and rivers. It is a popular spectator sport in several countries.-International Professional Outboard Hydroplane Racing:...
legend from La Mesa, California
La Mesa, California
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
. He won 62 races, the most races in the history of the sport. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame
International Motorsports Hall of Fame
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer...
and the elusive hydroplane historian Dan Cowie described Muncey as "without question, the greatest hydroplane racer in history." Muncey was nicknamed "Mr. Unlimited", and press referred to Muncey as the "hot chauffeur" and "hot".
Racing career
Muncey began his boat racing career in 1949 by sinking in front of a hometown crowd on the Detroit RiverDetroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. Bill’s first attempt to drive in an American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup event began by blowing up the engine. Muncey went to Gar Wood’s riverfront mansion, and asked Wood for help. Muncey got an engine from Wood, but the bottom of the boat fell out during the next race.
Muncey had his first win at the Gold Cup
Gold Cup (motorsport)
The APBA Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the Gold Cup, is a hydroplane boat race and is the second official race of the 2010 H1 Unlimited season. The race is scheduled to be held July 9–11, 2010 on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
in 1956 in Miss Thriftway. His career took off in 1960. Muncey won fourteen races between 1960 and 1962, including six of seven in 1962. In 1976, at age 48, he won five races in his boat Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines
Atlas Van Lines is a moving company formed in 1948 by a group of local transfer and storage firms. As an agent-owned company it is similar in form to a cooperative. It has about 500 agents worldwide , of which 75 own shares in Atlas World Group, which controls Atlas Van Lines and other related...
to silence the critics that said that he was too old to win. He moved to a new Atlas Van Lines boat in 1977 and won twenty times in the next three seasons. He followed up with four wins in 1980. Muncey won his last race during the Thunder on the Ohio
Thunder on the Ohio
Thunder on the Ohio was a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season.Thunder was held each year on the Ohio River in downtown Evansville, Indiana, USA. Evansville had hosted Thunder on the Ohio consecutively since 1979...
race at Evansville, IN in 1981. Muncey was leading the final heat of the World Championship race at Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
on October 18, 1981 when he died in a blowover crash while travelling 175 miles per hour (280 kilometers per hour). He was buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California
Bonita, California
Bonita is a census-designated place in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. The population was 12,538 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonita is located at ....
In more than three decades of hydroplane racing, Muncey had claimed eight Gold Cup
Gold Cup (motorsport)
The APBA Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the Gold Cup, is a hydroplane boat race and is the second official race of the 2010 H1 Unlimited season. The race is scheduled to be held July 9–11, 2010 on the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
s (1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979), seven U.S. National Championships (1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1979), and four World Championships. He was named the driver of the year seven times.
Awards
- Muncey was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of FameInternational Motorsports Hall of FameThe International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer...
in 2004. - He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaMotorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaThe Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in 1989 in the Power Boats category. - Muncey was awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame Award in 1988.
Biography
- Thunderboating with Bill Muncey , Tony Hogg. 1979. ISBN 0931570018.
- Bill Muncey: Boat Racing Legend , Stephen A. Garey (Unlimiteds Detroit 1982 Library of Congress No. 91-672
Personal life
Bill Muncey attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where he was initiated as a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.Twice married: 17-years to Mary "Kit" Muncey (m. 1952- div. 1969) 3-children, died Feb 14, 2006
Married to Fran Norman, in 1969, until his death in 1981. One child