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Celebrating 100 years of tethered hydroplane racing
A.A. Rayman
Alan Rayman met John Benson one evening in 1936 at the Prince of Wales Pond at Blackheath. John was a member of the Blackheath Model Power Boat Club and suggested to Alan that he came along to the regatta on the Sunday morning to see the "big boys of model boating". He did, and joined the club there and then, he was 14 years old. One of the veterans Ted Vanner, gave him tuition and encouragement.
He built his first steam engine in 1938 under the guidance of Joe Jepson, who with Cecil Abbott had formed the club in 1928. He entered it in the Model Engineer Exhibition that year as a junior entry, where he was awarded a "Diploma of Merit" much to the delight of Joe who had help guide him throughout the build. Alan continued to enter the Exhibition, winning 6 awards over the years for his work.
As an architectural technician Alan spent all his working days associated with building construction and design work except for the last three years of the war when he served in the Royal Signals. He was however discharged early, due to his occupation.
During those war years John, Joe and others kept on running boats, indeed an article by John in Model Engineer just after the war was entitled "Blackheath Carries On". This prompted John, who was now secretary of the Blackheath Club, to contact the past MPBA secretary, Edgar T Westbury to call for a reformation of the MPBA, which had ceased during the hostilities. There followed a meeting in a hired room above a pub in Tottenham Court Road where everything was got under way again. John was very soon made general secretary and Alan was asked to assist for the first few years. As the association grew and they held AGM’s, John was made the treasurer and Alan was made vice chairman, positions they held for over 20 years. Alan was later awarded life membership of the MPBA.
In the early 1950’s Alan built the first of a few tethered hydroplanes. "Chloe" (title photo) was a B class flash steamer 1"1/16th bore x ¾ stroke and reached a creditable speed of 35mph.
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The early 60’s saw Alan build a 10cc hydroplane "Hot Toddy" for Jim King, who managed his best speed of 67 mph. His last hydro was "Crazy Rhythm" which had his own home built engine but ran without any great success. To this day Alan admits "that hydro’s just aren’t my thing" |
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It is with the flash steam, straight running and scale boats that Alan is more associated with although some of these are certainly not slow. Amongst his successes are the MPBA Steering Cup, Vanner Trophy, Southern Area Steering Championship, Prototype Cup, and the prestigious Porter-Suzor Friendship Trophy. Alan is an authority on flash steam engines and plants and has built many of these during his career. Such is his knowledge and understanding of flash steam that in 1973 he and John Benson published what is now the standard work on the subject, ‘Experimental Flash Steam’.
Alan has been a member of the Blackheath Club for over 72 years, including 21 years as secretary and a long spell as chairman. He continues to compete in the clubs straight running events, help, and pass on his considerable knowledge of all things model steam related.
In 2007 the MBPA presented Alan with a 'long membership' award in recognition of 70 years continuous membership of the Association.
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All that remains of the flash steam hydroplane Chloe is the complex and superbly engineered single cylinder engine. |
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Hot Toddy came to an
untimely end when Jim King inadvertently ran it over after its most
successful run ever. |
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| At the Model Engineer Exhibition, Phil Abbott displayed five of Alan's steam powered straight runners, 50 years of building from 1947-1997 | ||
Thanks to Alan Rayman and Phil Abbott for the text and original photo's and to Jim Free for photo's of Crazy Rhythm.
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