Don Kelson
Article from the APBA Vintage Region 10 website!
Region 10 is the Northwest region for American Power
Boat Association vintage class hydroplanes.
On this website you can see the region's vintage
hydroplanes, owners and drivers, and check out the upcoming exhibition schedules
as well as participate in our forum used to discuss vintage hydroplanes.
Don Kelson's Hydroplane History
In 1956, a friend of mine, Ray Hasselberg asked if I'd
build him a hydroplane. Not knowing any better, I said, "Sure". So, he got a
hold of a set of Norm Christenson 280 plans and we constructed the Miss B Haven
E-6. Not really knowing what we were doing, we went overkill, the boat was way
too heavy and Ray used a DeSoto Hemi engine, which was also too heavy, needless
to say it never performed to well. But, we had fun and learned something from
the experience.
After that came a Colcock 280 - "What's New" which turned
out much better than the original. After that the repair work started coming in
and I was kept very busy.
In 1960 my wife Annette and I had a new house built (which
we're still in) with a nice garage in the basement. Jack Colcock called and
needed help with his overload, so I built several Colcock hulls. Fred Wright
wanted a new 225 with a different design. So, I drew up some plans with dropped
sponsons and canted air traps and it worked real well here in Region 10. I also
built another one like it for Ray Hasselberg, the new boat work out much better.
We slacked off for awhile doing other things, then in 1971
Tony Mulherin bought the Hallmark Homes Unlimited (their shop was across the
street from ours) so, as might well be expected, we were once again involved. My
son Ed, who was a junior in high school worked for them afterschool and weekends
helping get ready for the season. After Miami he was asked to come back to
Detroit and crew. Annette had to go to the school to get permission for Ed to
leave school 2 weeks early. The principal said, "Fine, he would probably learn
more there than he would at the last two weeks of school." The boat was
destroyed in Madison and returned here. A decision was made to build a new boat.
Ed Karelsen who built the original boat brought the plans to me and I started
construction on a Wednesday morning, with help from the crew and others, three
weeks later to the day the boat was finished and it raced the following Sunday.
Ed had the bug, and wanted to go racing. So, we bought the
Racket III a Colcock 48 with a Crosley engine. He ran well and won the
divisionals and we went to Dayton for the nationals, but the Crosley didn't do
so well against the Sunbeam engines. When we came back home, I decided to build
a new cab over boat. Jim Lucero gave me a few pointers and I designed the 850's
that were very successful. At Dayton, we met a lot of nice people, including
Jack Sellers who said, "He would build us a Sunbeam engine and if the boat ran
well, he'd buy one." The boat ran great and he bought one. Since then, he has
bought two - 850's and two - 2.5 Litres.
I went on and designed other class boats and have sold them
to racers all across the U. S. In toll we have built about 50 boats in all. We
have repaired, altered or changed at least twice this many. I have had John
Walters, Jeff Richards, Mike Hansen, Jeff & Mike Campbell and others work for
me, all good craftsmen.
I set the J class 1 2/3 mile record in 1976 in the Copy
Cat. Pussy Cat was first J Class 7 Litre to run a 100 mph heat. Pussy Cat held
the H & J record at the same time and we think it's the only boat to ever have
done that. Ed set the 850 1 2/3 mile record in 1978. Jerry won the nationals in
the 850 in 1980 in Dayton Ohio, set the 1 1/4 mile record in 1982, won the
Nationals again in 1983 in Decatur Illinois & went on to earn National High
Point in 1983. In addition Jerry got "Hall of Champions Outstanding Achievement
Award" in 1983. Some of our other boats have gone on to set records and win
nationals in the 1200s, 850s, 2.5 mods. 5 Litre, 6 Litre, and 7 Litre division’s
1&2.
Once the plastic capsule boats came out, I lost interest,
but when the Vintage program started it brought me back, and I just love it! At
79 years old, this is my therapy and keeps me going. From April 2008 - April
2009, I either built or worked on 14 different boats, and I just finished
restoring the 1958 Calypso 280. Doug Whitley says, "I'm keeping the Vintage
boats going."
In 1978-79 I was commodore of SIRA. I also served on the
Inboard Commission with Ray Weber and Tony Scartine. I was also technical
chairman for the 1200’s. I have refereed in region 10, served as a technical and
safety inspector for region 10 and at national events. In April of this year,
Doug Whitley the new V&H chairman, appointed me region 10 V&H representative.
Along with all of this in 1964 I bought Modern Pattern
Works and I’m still here, not as active as I was. My son Jerry now runs the
business. In 1966 I was master of Alki Masonic Lodge here in Seattle. In 1993
and again in 2009 I was wagon master for Nile Shrine camping club. So all in all
I have kept myself pretty active and I have enjoyed working for and with an
awful lot of people.
-Don Kelson
I met Don Kelson and his wife Annette in 2006 when I first
got into the American Power Boat Association Vintage program. I served as Region
10 Representative until appointed to the position of National Vintage Chairman
this past April. As chairman, the obvious choice for the region 10
representative was Mr. Kelson. Don, more than any other person in the region,
has been instrumental in the overall growth of Vintage. It has been my pleasure
working with Don for the past five years.
-Doug Whitley APBA National Vintage Chairman