Did you know that Ron Snyder was the first ever driver for Ed Cooper, Sr. and Jr.?

The Cooper's purchased the old Tempus hull from Chuck Hickling in 1986. Ron Snyder took the boat out for a test run for Ed Sr. and Jr. The hull passed the test and the deal was made. Jack Schafer was the first driver for the new team, driving in 1986 and 1987.

The former Miss Madison and Miss Budweiser legend is a fixture at the Madison Regatta each year. Ed and Barb Cooper returned to visit old friends and watch the races. Ron lobbied Ed hard to drive the Big Red Turbinator. It was all in great fun. It's always nice to visit with Ron and hear his stories about the Unlimiteds from years past. Who wouldn't want Ron Snyder as their driver!

The folks of Madison, Indiana celebrated Thursday evening their 50 years as an Unlimited racing team. The Boneyard Bash II kicked off the weekend of racing at the 61st annual Madison Regatta. Fans packed the Boneyard Grill on Madison's hilltop to meet and greet the 13 living former and current Miss Madison drivers. Among those former Miss M pilots was Mitch Evans. Evans drove one race under the colors of the U-6. In 1988, Ed Cooper leased his Big Red Turbinator and Mitch to the city of Madison in Las Vegas after a blowover in San Diego the week before prevented the Miss Madison from racing. Mitch made the final heat and brought the Miss M home to a 5th place finish, in his only race for the citizens of Madison.

While wearing his red '3' shirt at the celebration Thursday, Mitch Evans, along with his fellow Miss Madison drivers, were Kings of Madison, Indiana on this warm summer night.

Thanks to Mark Campbell, Madison Courier, for the photo

Needing valve covers for his newly completed Allison V-12s, Ed Cooper dug deep into his museum like collection of parts and pieces. What he found deep into his shop, way in the back, were a couple of "back in the day" covers. Once retrieved and scrubbed clean of grease and oil, the covers were added to the last two new Allisons. The total is now seven race ready Allison V-12s. Check out the picture at the bottom and you can see the entire collection.

One may wonder where these covers came from. Ed travels the country looking for useable Allison engines, or at least various pieces off of the ones he locates. He had these two unique covers in his collection, and decided to add them on to his modern day piston powered engines. Enjoy!