Rooster Tales

About the Book

In boat-racing terminology, a rooster tail is the spray of water following a speeding boat that is produced by its propeller. In this writing, Rooster Tales is what the name implies—a compilation of short boat-racing tales or stories, as remembered by a veteran member of the boat-racing fraternity. The time period covered is the twenty-five years following World War II, which has been termed by many as the golden years of the sport. This writing is separated into three distinctive periods: the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. In each period, an overview of outboard racing, in general, is offered, followed by short stories of the author’s and fellow boat racers’ experiences during that particular period. This writing, while amusing and informative at times, is intended to give the reader a sense of how it felt to be a participant in the sport during its heyday.

About the Author

For more than seventy years, Dudley Malone has been involved with boat racing as a driver, crewman, boat owner, race official, engine builder, parts fabricator and supplier, race promoter, spectator, and just about anything else related to the sport. During that period, he won numerous national and state championships and set several speed records. He has also been involved in auto racing for several years as a car owner, driver, and crewman. Now retired, he still enjoys attending a limited number of racing events each year, along with his grandson Matt Johnson, who is an active hydroplane and race-car driver.