51 years after honeymoon trip, Allens return with T-bird pulling classic boat

Fifty-one years ago, Pete and Thora Allen packed up their pink 1957 Ford Thunderbird, hooked it up to their 1950 Larson runabout boat and left Milaca to celebrate their honeymoon on Bay Lake, just east of Brainerd. This weekend, the Allens will return to the Brainerd Lakes Area, driving the exact same T-bird and pulling the exact same runabout. Instead of enjoying the thrill of matrimony, though, they’ll be sharing their prized combo with more than 10,000 people who are expected at the 23rd Annual Antique and Classic Wood Boat Rendezvous scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24 at Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant and Bar in Crosslake. The antique boat show, which is free to the public, will include about 70 boats, all of which will be in the water except for a few, like the Allen’s Larson. They will leave it hooked up to the T-bird and will have the pair on display in Moonlite Bay’s parking lot. The Larson is 14 feet long and now has a 1958 50 hp Mercury outboard motor on it. It’s been restored a couple times, the Allens said, but it’s in the same shape it was in 1959 when they headed off on their honeymoon. The T-bird’s been repainted and restored a couple times as well. In fact, when they were at Bay Lake, a storm came through and hailed on the T-bird, leaving it with 97 dents and requiring significant body work. Widely regarded as the best antique boat show in the state, the Rendezvous will again have one of the finest collections of antique boats on display, including a 1923 Fay and Bowen 30-foot launch from Gull Lake that received last year’s prestigious Best of Show award by the Antique and Classic Boat Society. It’s believed to be one of only three such boats still in the water. Also at the show will be a rare 30-foot 1925 Belle Isle Super Bearcat and a 27-foot 1918 Burtch launch. For those who attend the boat show every year, there will be about 20 new boats on display this year, according to organizer Dennis Madigan. Last year’s show attracted 12,000 people and Madigan expects similar numbers if the weather cooperates. The show continues to be popular for a number of reasons, he said, including the quality and quantity of the boats on display. Just about every major brand will be represented, including Gar Wood, Hacker Craft, Chris Craft, Century and many others. And unlike many boat shows, this one allows visitors on the docks to view the boats up close and talk with the owners. Then can then vote for their favorite boat. After the show is over, the owners fire up their boats, motor them out to the mouth of the bay, and then one at a time they speed through the bay and past the docks as a final salute to the crowd. A comprehensive list of activities and events is available by visiting the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Web site: www.explorebrainerdlakes.com. Lodging and golf specials and packages are available on the property’s or golf course’s individual Web site; some are featured on the chamber’s web site as well. The Brainerd Lakes Chamber is an excellent resource for planning a family vacation, group tour or area adventure. Contact the Chamber first at 1-800-450-2838. Editor’s note: This story was submitted by Geoff Gorvin, publicity director for the Antique and Classic Wood Boat Rendezvous.

 

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