1990-1999
Gil Antes
Born: May 14, 1954
Died: August 5, 1990
Buried: Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens, New Port Richey, Florida
Age: 36
Full Name: Gilbert John Antes
Nickname:
Location: Cross Florida Barge Canal, Inglis, Citrus County, Florida
Event: Southeast Drag Boat Association race
Accident Date: August 5, 1990
Boat: Rabco Hustler tunnel hull boat
Biographical: In a race against Bob Crockford, he was speeding about 94 MPH and in the lead. As he accelerated the front of the boat began to slowly rise out of the water. The boat flipped about 150 feet from the finish line and smashed upside down before flipping again. He suffered a broken neck upon impact. He had a faint pulse and was rushed to Seven Rivers Community Hospital, but died before reaching it. He was from New Port Richey, Florida.
Sources
"'Just an act of God'," St. Petersburg Times, August 7, 1990
"Barge canal drag boat accident claims racer's life," Ocala Star-Banner, August 6, 1990
Florida Death Index (Gilbert J. Antes, born May 14, 1954, died Aug. 5, 1990 in Citrus Co., Florida, age 36)
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Jim Benson
Born: February 24, 1944
Died: April 28, 1991
Buried: Lone Tree Cemetery, Hayward, California
Age: 47
Full Name: Jimmy Lloyd Benson
Nickname:
Location: Lake Ming, near Bakersfield, California
Event:
Accident Date: April 27, 1991
Boat: "Hot Blooded" pro gas hydro
Biographical: He died of injuries when his boat flipped several times. He was transported to Kern Medical Center, then to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, where he died. He was from Castro Valley, California, and was survived by his wife, Lori, and daughter, Denni.
Sources
"The Sports wire," Press Telegram, April 30, 1991
"Names in the news," Los Angeles Times, Apr. 30, 1991
"Speedboating," San Francisco Examiner, Apr. 30, 1991
California Death Index (Jimmy Lloyd Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944 in Calif., died Apr. 28, 1991 in Kern Co., mother’s maiden name was Randall)
California Birth Index (Jimmy Lloyd Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944 in Alameda Co., mother’s maiden name was Randall)
Social Security Death Index (J. L. Benson, born Feb. 24, 1944, died Apr. 15, 1991, SS# issued in California in 1957)
Photos
The late Jim Benson driver of comp-hydro, Hot Blooded (Pinterest)
Tom Black
Born: December 28, 1943
Died: July 12, 1997
Buried:
Age: 53
Full Name: Thomas Sumner Black
Nickname:
Location: Berenda Reservoir, near Chowchilla, California
Event: International Hot Boat Association Hot Summer Nationals
Accident Date: July 12, 1997
Boat: blown fuel flat-bottom
Biographical: He was from San Pablo, California.
Sources
"Drag boat racer dies in crash," Augusta Chronicle, July 16, 1997
"Two die in boat crash," San Jose Mercury News, July 27, 1997
California Death Index (Thomas Sumner Black, born Dec. 28, 1943 in Ohio, died July 12, 1997 in Fresno, mother’s maiden name was Wilson)
Social Security Death Index (T. S. Black, born Dec. 28, 1943, died July 15, 1997, SS# issued in 1959 in Calif.)
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Tom Cantrell
Born: February 26, 1951
Died: July 14, 1997
Buried:
Age: 46
Full Name: Thomas Patterson Cantrell
Nickname:
Location: Berenda Reservoir, near Chowchilla, California
Event: International Hot Boat Association Hot Summer Nationals
Accident Date: July 12, 1997
Boat: "Beautiful Noise" top fuel hydro
Biographical: His boat got off to a bad start by shooting into the air. It landed off kilter and flipped upside down. He was from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sources
"Drag boat racer dies in crash," Augusta Chronicle, July 16, 1997
"Two die in boat crash," San Jose Mercury News, July 27, 1997
California Death Index (Thomas Patterson Cantrell, born Feb. 16, 1951 in Texas, died July 14, 1997 in Fresno Co., mother’s maiden name was Patterson)
Social Security Death Index (Tom P. Cantrell, born Feb. 26, 1951, died July 14, 1997, SS# issued in 1963 in Texas)
Texas Birth Index (Thomas Patterson Cantrell, born Feb. 26, 1951 in Gaines Co., to Floyd Jackson Cantrell and Alice Nannelle Patterson)
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Tim Capaldi
Born: October 11, 1962
Died: April 10, 1994
Buried: Paso Robles District Cemetery, Paso Robles, California
Age: 31
Full Name: Timothy John Capaldi
Nickname:
Location: Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas, California
Event: International Hot Boat Assn. Springnationals
Accident Date: April 10, 1994
Boat: "Mission Possible" blown alcohol hydro
Biographical: During the first round of eliminations, he was going nearly 200 MPH past the finish when his boat crashed. He was from West Hills, California, and was a three-time IHBA blown alcohol hydro world champion. He the first to race a blown alcohol hydro boat over 200 MPH. He was inducted into the Drag Boat Racing Hall of Fame in 2019.
Sources
"Drag boat racer Capaldi dies in crash at Puddingstone Lake," Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1994
California Death Index (Timothy John Capaldi, born Oct. 11, 1962 in Calif., died Apr. 10, 1994 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Capaldi)
California Birth Index (Timothy J. Capaldi, born Oct. 11, 1962 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Kelley)
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Ricky Comer
Born: January 13, 1952
Died: August 15, 1992
Buried: Levelland Municipal Cemetery, Texas
Age: 40
Full Name: Richard Lee Comer
Nickname:
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, Dallas, Texas
Event:
Accident Date: August 15, 1992
Boat: Vision Craft
Biographical: He was was killed when his boat blew over during testing and he was trapped underneath for almost ten minutes. He was transported to a Tyler hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was from Georgetown, Texas, and was the owner of Vision Craft. Jeff Renegar, whose father was close friends with Ricky, commented on his death. "On the maiden race they were testing it and Ricky took her for a spin. He most likely had a seizure at about 105 mph and lost consciousness, allowing a violent blow over which resulted in his death. With the amount of seat time that Rickey had in a Vision, I find it too hard to believe that he just lost it. They say, and you may remember, that it got high, then kind of settled back down, got really high again, stayed there for about a second and then finally went over in a pretty nasty landing. It sounds like he would have had every opportunity to get it down, and that is one reason I and most everyone else thinks he was unconscious. He also had a record of previous seizures in the past."
Sources
"Boat racing champion Comer killed in testing accident," Austin American-Statesman, Aug. 18, 1992
http://www.screamandfly.com/archive/index.php/t-8985.html (accessed 7/26/10)
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Ronnie Dew
Born: September 13, 1963
Died: September 22, 1990
Buried: Lakeview Memorial Park, Greensboro, North Carolina
Age: 27
Full Name: William Ronald Dew, Jr.
Nickname:
Location: Cane Creek Lake, near Waxhaw, North Carolina
Event: U. S. Drag Boat Association World Finals
Accident Date: September 22, 1990
Boat: "Fool's Gold"
Biographical: His throttle apparently stuck and he slammed into the shore at 100 MPH. He was from Guilford, North Carolina.
Sources
"Boat racer was killed after saving others," Greensboro News and Record, September 26, 1990
"Guilford man dies in drag boat crash," Greensboro News and Record, September 25, 1990
"Cane Creek Park hosts 4th annual drag boat race," Charlotte Observer, September 19, 1991
Charlotte Observer, September 24, 1990
North Carolina Death Collection (William Ronald Dew, Jr., born Sep. 13, 1963 in North Carolina, lived in Guilford, died Sep. 22, 1990 in Union Co., North Carolina, age 27, never married)
North Carolina Birth Index (William Ronald Dew, Jr., born Sep. 13, 1963, in Guilford Co., father’s name was William Ronald Dew)
Social Security Death Index (William R. Dew, born Sep. 13, 1963, died Sep. 22, 1990, SS# issued in North Carolina in 1979)
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Tom Kunzeman
Born: August 25, 1960
Died: July 19, 1992
Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Meredosia, Illinois
Age: 31
Full Name: Tommy L. Kunzeman
Nickname:
Location: Savannah River, Augusta, Georgia
Event: U. S. Drag Boat Association 7th annual Hardee's Augusta Southern Nationals
Accident Date: July 19, 1992
Boat: "Sting" unlimited outboard
Biographical: He was running at more than 100 MPH against Jon Wright's "Doo Dad Too" during final eliminations. Suddenly his boat swerved and cartwheeled to the right. Parts of the disintegrating boat struck him after he was ejected from the boat. He was from Meredosia, Illinois.
Sources
"Plus sports," Chicago Sun-Times, July 20, 1992
http://www.augustasouthernnationals.org/history.html (accessed 7/29/10)
Georgia Deaths (Tommy L. Kunzeman, died July 19, 1992 in Richmond Co., 31 years old, residence in Hall Co.)
Social Security Death Index (T. L. Kunzeman, born Aug. 25, 1960, died July 1992, SS# issued in 1966 in Illinois)
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Denver Mullins
Born: September 23, 1944
Died: October 4, 1992
Buried: Green Acres Cemetery, Bloomington, California
Age: 48
Full Name: Denver Marvin Mullins
Nickname:
Location: Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas, California
Event: International Hot Boat Association Fallnationals
Accident Date: October 4, 1992
Boat: top fuel hydro
Biographical: He was making a driver's license pass in a brand new top fuel hydro. Just after leaving the starting line, his boat took a sudden violent hop on the water surface and the nose dived. It immediately plowed under the water. He was only going about 50 MPH at the time of impact. The safety capsule failed to break away from the hull and Mullins remained trapped inside as the craft settled to the bottom of the 25-foot deep lake upside down. He was pinned inside and before rescue crews could extricate him, he had drowned. Ironically he owned the company which manufactured the safety capsules. A longtime friend and co-worker thought that Mullins' fear of drowning may have caused him to panic, interfering with and impeding the capsule's design features which could have brought him safely to the surface. He was from Rialto, California, and was survived by his wife, Lynda, step-daughter, Lisa, and brother, Mick. He was renowned for his custom choppers and was one of the first bike customizers.
Sources
Mondo Porras, "Denver 'The Legend': He Still Lives On" on http://community.heywhateversocial.info/ website
California Death Index (Denver Marvin Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944 in California, died Oct. 4, 1992 in L.A. Co., mother’s maiden name was Brown)
Capsule Builder Killed When His Boat Crashes Racing: Mullins, who built safety compartments for drivers, dies in his at Puddingstone Lake,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 5, 1992
Social Security Death Index (D. M. Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944, died Oct. 15, 1992, SS# issued in California in 1962)
California Birth Index (Denver Marvin Mullins, born Sep. 23, 1944 in San Bernardino Co., mother’s maiden name was Brown)
“Rapid fire dragboats: Too fast for their own good?” Boating (Apr. 1994)
Photos
Harley Davidson Motorcycles (Pinterest)
"Looking back on our way forward," Cycle Source (March 2018)
Larry Stephens
Born: August 1, 1954
Died: April 13, 1996
Buried: Henley Cemetery, Fulton, Alabama
Age: 41
Full Name: Larry Wayne Stephens
Nickname:
Location: Tombigbee River, Campbell's Landing, Morvin, Alabama
Event:
Accident Date: April 1996
Boat:
Biographical: He died while testing his boat. He was from Thomasville, Alabama, and was survived by his wife, Cindy, and daughters, Sandi West and Shelley McKinley.
Sources
"Hole shot returns," Thomasville Times, June 14, 2007
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