Amphicar - September 28, 2004
Austin, Texas, USA - The speedboat and skier went by very fast, but their obviously designer sunglasses couldn't hide their surprise at what they had just zipped past. I, of course, was looking at the skier, a young brunette with cleverly (nearly) concealed flotation devices.
"It's not the first wave that gets you", Warren said nonchalantly as he turned his 1966 Amphicar slowly to port (I'm so d@mned nautical!) to face the wake of the fast receding ski boat at the prescribed-for-safety 90° angle. The Amphicar bobbed up, more swallowing the swell than riding over it. "It's the second wave that's really disconcerting." I was wrestling with the decision of whether the calmness in his voice was related more to experience or Buddhist resignation that we were about to drown. The "car" dipped lower in the water than it had previously risen. The second wave rolled over the hood and crested about 6 inches up the windshield. The little car easily recovered it's poise, pooted a roostertail of water out the back from the on-board sump pump and carried on as if nothing happened. It took me a bit longer to recover my poise and being a non swimmer, I took a certain pride in not pooting my own roostertail as the hood had disappeared under the water.
The photo above is evidence of my third excursion aboard a "boat" in my life. That's me in the passenger seat giving depth soundings off the on-board sonar in a failed attempt to land on the Corona's neighbor's beach. Warren Kodosky at the wheel, Sherry Potter and Mary Ann Corona in back. What a trip!
As reported by Mark Kuyrkendall