Description

MISS BURIEN (U-4) UNLIMITED HYDROPLANE

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY MUSEUM QUALITY SHIP MODEL

Dimension approx.: 26″ L x 11″ W x 5.5″ H
The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL KIT
Authentic gauges, dials and chrome steering wheel on dash
Authentic gauges, dials and chrome steering wheel on dash
Brass Propellers and rudders

Miss Burien’s story begins with fire — literally. The original boat met its end as kindling on Lake Coeur d’Alene during the 1959 Diamond Cup, a dramatic and heartbreaking loss for owner Peter Woeck. But like every true Unlimited hydroplane devotee, Woeck refused to let the dream die. With the backing of Greater Burien Inc., he turned to the sport’s master architect, Ted Jones, commissioning a larger, faster, more competitive successor to carry the name forward.

The new Miss Burien quickly became the people’s boat — the flagship for every fan who longed to run with the big boys. She never had the deep pockets or spare engines of the powerhouse teams, but she had grit, heart, and a loyal following. Her debut at the 1960 Apple Cup proved she belonged: third place behind Miss Thriftway and Nitrogen Too, and ahead of the formidable Miss Bardahl. Steady‑handed pilot Chuck Hickling guided her through that first season and many that followed, even winning the final heat of the Diamond Cup before losing the overall on points. In 1961, Hickling and the Burien claimed second in the Seafair Trophy Race — a proud moment for a team that ran on determination more than dollars.

Though she never ventured east of the Rockies, Miss Burien was a fixture of the Western circuit, always ready to scrap with the giants. In 1962 and ’63 she raced as Tempest, still competitive but never quite able to sustain the pressure needed to reach the winner’s circle. By 1964 she cycled through three different names, her identity shifting as sponsors and circumstances changed, yet her spirit remained the same. In 1965 she became U‑50, racing as Savair’s Probe and later simply Probe, a workhorse that kept fighting long after many contemporaries had vanished.

After a long career, the boat was retired in 1980 and eventually donated to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum — a fitting home for a craft that had earned the affection of so many. In 1996 the Museum restored her as Miss South Park, and in time she completed her full circle, returning to her original identity. Today she stands proudly as Miss Burien, U‑4 — a living reminder of the sport’s grassroots passion and the enduring dream of every fan who ever imagined hearing the roar of an Unlimited beneath them.