"Guy" Lombardo - Speed King

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (born June 19, 1902 in London, Ontario; died November 5, 1977) was a Canadian then American bandleader and violinist. In 1938, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Lombardo's father, Gaetano, was an amateur singer and had four of his five sons learn to play instruments so they could accompany him. Lombardo and his brothers formed their first orchestra while still in grammar school and rehearsed in the back of their father's tailor shop.

Forming The Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven."

Lombardo's orchestra played at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 to 1959, and their New Year's Eve broadcasts (which continued with Lombardo until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria) were a major part of New Year's celebrations across North America.

So, even for an older guy like me, this man was a rather ho-hum Lawrence Welk-like figure until I saw the following sign at the Antique Boat Museum's speedboat building. I was both fascinated and forcibly reminded not to judge a book by its cover.


Guy Lombardo was also an important figure in hydroplane racing, winning the Gold Cup in 1946 and the Ford Memorial competition in 1948. In 2002 he was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for his accomplishments.


You may be familiar with Gold Cup racing hydroplane boats from the Budweiser commercial featuring the "Miss Budweiser" shown here howling down the river at nearly 200 mph.


Built to withstand heavy pounding at speed, wooden hydroplanes with their curves and arcs are impressive examples of woodworking craftsmanship. Ten or more coats of varnish makes the wood gleam under the lights.


The Hey Wait! was built in the 1950s. Powered by a Johnson outboard motor, it set a speed record of 51.471 mph on October 30, 1950 at Lake Alfred, FL.


The largest limited class, after WWII up to the early 1970's, were the 7-litre modified class (427 cubic inches). This class of hydros used the "big block" V8 engines of their days. There is something about how glistening varnished gloss on mahogany is simply out of this world.


The world straightaway speed record for 7-litre class hydroplanes is held by George "Buddy" Byers, owner/driver of Chrysler Queen H-1 at 168.2 mph. That record was set with a supercharged Chrysler Hemi. Notice the lack of any real safety equipment in these boats.


The Antique Boat Museum also has a nice display of old toys. Even if they are metal and/or plastic. I remember playing with an old wooden toy boat my Dad was given when he was a little boy. It ran on 4 D-cell batteries. I wonder what became of it.