Bardahl - Ron Musson

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Ron Musson - Hall of Fame
By Fred Farley - APBA Unlimited Historian

The late Ron Musson is the 1993 power boating inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. A former resident of Akron, Ohio, and Seattle, Washington, Musson joins fellow boat racers Bill Muncey, Gar Wood, Dean Chenoweth, and Bill Cantrell in that distinguished hall, which has its headquarters in Novi, Michigan.

Between 1959 and 1966, Ron left an indelible mark of excellence on the sport of Unlimited hydroplane racing. In 47 races entered, Musson scored 16 victories, finished second nine times, and third six times. He is perhaps best remembered for being the first driver in 30 years to win the Crown Jewel of power boating, the APBA Gold Cup, three times in succession.

Ron advanced to the Unlimited ranks after an outstanding career in the Limited inboard classes. His tenure with the smaller hydroplanes had resulted in many trophies and championships with such famous craft as Chromium and Chromate for owner Frank Hearn.

It was to the surprise of no one that Musson made the transition to racing’s bigtime with ease. In only his second Unlimited Class appearance, Ron claimed his first of many victories. This was the 1959 Indiana Governor’s Cup on the Ohio River in Madison with Joe Mascari’s "Pink Lady" Hawaii Kai III.

During 1960, Musson divided his time between Mascari’s Hawaii Kai III and Samuel F. DuPont’s Nitrogen Too. The Kai was up in years and somewhat past her prime, but Ron still prevailed to power her into the winner’s circle at the Reno Regatta on Pyramid Lake.

With Nitrogen Too, he captured the 0. J. Mulford Silver Cup on the historic Detroit River. This latter triumph was especially satisfying inasmuch as Nitrogen Too was powered by a substantially stock Allison aircraft engine. But Musson nevertheless defeated the national championship team of Bill Muncey and Miss Thrifiway, which used the much more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin.

With the retirement from racing of both the Mascari and the DuPont teams after 1960, Ron was left temporarily without a ride. But not to worry. No driver of Musson’s caliber was likely to languish on the sidelines for very long. Pretty soon came the call from Ole Bardahl that was to change Ron’s life and put him back where he belonged—at the wheel of a top-notch Thunderboat.

Between 1961 and 1966, the combination of Ron Musson and the "Green Dragon" Miss Bardahl would go down in history as one of Unlimited racing’s "dream teams." This was obvious right from the start.

In his very first appearance with the Bardahl organization, Musson took a boat that hadn’t won a race in three years and drove it to an impressive victory in the World’s Championship Seafair Trophy on Seattle’s LakeWashington. And, later in the season, Ron retained his title in the Silver Cup with Miss Bardahl.

Beginning in 1962, Musson made his competitive presence felt with a new "Green Dragon," which became his most famous ride. This incredible craft was the epitome of the all-conquering Ted Jones three-point design of the 1950s and early 1960s: rear-cockpit, forward-engine, shovel-nosed bow, box-shaped transom.. .and plenty of speed.

In partnership with crew chief Leo VandenBerg, Ron captured 11 first place trophies with the 1962-vintage Miss Bardahl, which would rival the Miss Thriftway as one of the first boats to represent successfully a commercial sponsor on a major scale.

During 1962, Muncey's Miss Century 21 (the renamed Miss Thriftway) was really on a roll. Bill won the first five races and finished first in every heat of those races. Musson and Miss Bardahl, after some fine tuning during the season, snapped the Miss Century 21’s win streak and claimed victory in the Harrah’ s Tahoe Trophy at Stateline, Nevada.

The triumph on Lake Tahoe served notice that Ron Musson and Miss Bardahl would be a team to be reckoned with in 1963. And they were.

For the next three years, Musson and the "Green Dragon" were the undisputed class act of Unlimited racing. Other teams would occasionally win races, but Ron was always a factor and never gave up the lead for very long.

Musson started the 1963 campaign off on the right foot with a victory in the Alabama Governor’s Cup at Guntersville. Then he won his first Gold Cup in a stellar performance at Detroit. Ron reeled off three first place heat finishes and one second place to outscore Bill Cantrell and Gale V, 1500 points to 1400. It was a memorable day of racing that saw Miss Bardahl thoroughly outclass arch-rival Miss Thriftway, which faded to a disappointing sixth.

-more at Ron Musson Tributes-

Complete Record: Ron Musson - Hall of Fame By Fred Farley - APBA Unlimited Historian The late Ron Musson is the 1993 power boating inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. A former resident of Akron, Ohio, and Seattle, Washington, Musson joins fellow boat racers Bill Muncey, Gar Wood, Dean Chenoweth, and Bill Cantrell in that distinguished hall, which has its headquarters in Novi, Michigan. Between 1959 and 1966, Ron left an indelible mark of excellence on the sport of Unlimited hydroplane racing. In 47 races entered, Musson scored 16 victories, finished second nine times, and third six times. He is perhaps best remembered for being the first driver in 30 years to win the Crown Jewel of power boating, the APBA Gold Cup, three times in succession. Ron advanced to the Unlimited ranks after an outstanding career in the Limited inboard classes. His tenure with the smaller hydroplanes had resulted in many trophies and championships with such famous craft as Chromium and Chromate for owner Frank Hearn. It was to the surprise of no one that Musson made the transition to racing’s bigtime with ease. In only his second Unlimited Class appearance, Ron claimed his first of many victories. This was the 1959 Indiana Governor’s Cup on the Ohio River in Madison with Joe Mascari’s "Pink Lady" Hawaii Kai III. During 1960, Musson divided his time between Mascari’s Hawaii Kai III and Samuel F. DuPont’s Nitrogen Too. The Kai was up in years and somewhat past her prime, but Ron still prevailed to power her into the winner’s circle at the Reno Regatta on Pyramid Lake. With Nitrogen Too, he captured the 0. J. Mulford Silver Cup on the historic Detroit River. This latter triumph was especially satisfying inasmuch as Nitrogen Too was powered by a substantially stock Allison aircraft engine. But Musson nevertheless defeated the national championship team of Bill Muncey and Miss Thrifiway, which used the much more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin. With the retirement from racing of both the Mascari and the DuPont teams after 1960, Ron was left temporarily without a ride. But not to worry. No driver of Musson’s caliber was likely to languish on the sidelines for very long. Pretty soon came the call from Ole Bardahl that was to change Ron’s life and put him back where he belonged—at the wheel of a top-notch Thunderboat. Between 1961 and 1966, the combination of Ron Musson and the "Green Dragon" Miss Bardahl would go down in history as one of Unlimited racing’s "dream teams." This was obvious right from the start. In his very first appearance with the Bardahl organization, Musson took a boat that hadn’t won a race in three years and drove it to an impressive victory in the World’s Championship Seafair Trophy on Seattle’s LakeWashington. And, later in the season, Ron retained his title in the Silver Cup with Miss Bardahl. Beginning in 1962, Musson made his competitive presence felt with a new "Green Dragon," which became his most famous ride. This incredible craft was the epitome of the all-conquering Ted Jones three-point design of the 1950s and early 1960s: rear-cockpit, forward-engine, shovel-nosed bow, box-shaped transom.. .and plenty of speed. In partnership with crew chief Leo VandenBerg, Ron captured 11 first place trophies with the 1962-vintage Miss Bardahl, which would rival the Miss Thriftway as one of the first boats to represent successfully a commercial sponsor on a major scale. During 1962, Muncey's Miss Century 21 (the renamed Miss Thriftway) was really on a roll. Bill won the first five races and finished first in every heat of those races. Musson and Miss Bardahl, after some fine tuning during the season, snapped the Miss Century 21’s win streak and claimed victory in the Harrah’ s Tahoe Trophy at Stateline, Nevada. The triumph on Lake Tahoe served notice that Ron Musson and Miss Bardahl would be a team to be reckoned with in 1963. And they were. For the next three years, Musson and the "Green Dragon" were the undisputed class act of Unlimited racing. Other teams would occasionally win races, but Ron was always a factor and never gave up the lead for very long. Musson started the 1963 campaign off on the right foot with a victory in the Alabama Governor’s Cup at Guntersville. Then he won his first Gold Cup in a stellar performance at Detroit. Ron reeled off three first place heat finishes and one second place to outscore Bill Cantrell and Gale V, 1500 points to 1400. It was a memorable day of racing that saw Miss Bardahl thoroughly outclass arch-rival Miss Thriftway, which faded to a disappointing sixth. -more at Ron Musson Tributes-