>> male announcer: SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY: >> THERE'S A CERTAIN FREEDOM YOU GET ON THE WATER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING SOMETHING TO SOMEONE ELSE'S BOAT.

>> IT IS THE THRILL, THE THRILL OF WHEN WE LAUNCH.

TURNING THAT SWITCH AND HAVING THAT END GO, "WHOOM!"

AND BACKING OUT AND RUNNING IN THE LAKE AND KNOWING, "THERE'S NOTHING IN THE LAKE THAT CAN TOUCH ME."

[vibrant instrumental music] ♪ >> female narrator: IT'S THE OFFICIAL START OF THE ANNUAL CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE WOODEN BOATING WEEK IN LAKE TAHOE, AND CARNELIAN BAY IS FULL OF NAUTICAL TREASURES.

♪ ANTIQUE AND HISTORIC LAUNCHES, LAKERS, RUNABOUTS, AND UTILITY BOATS FILL THE MARINA.

ALL OF THEM ARE EXAMPLES OF THE UNIQUE COMBINATION OF DESIGN, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND INNOVATION THAT HAS DEFINED THE WOODEN BOAT FOR DECADES.

THEIR OWNERS FEEL A SPECIAL SORT OF PRIDE AND DEVOTION.

THEY'RE PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF AN ONGOING LEGACY.

>> SHE'S A FABULOUS BOAT, AND WE'RE JUST VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER.

>> FOR ME, IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS, YOU KNOW, EXCEPT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BUY THE PRESENTS.

ALL THE PRESENTS COME TO YOU.

>> JUST GETTING OUT ON THE WATER.

DOESN'T MATTER.

AS LONG AS I'M ON THE WATER, I'M HAPPY.

>> narrator: TO THESE OWNERS, WOODEN BOATS ARE NOT JUST OBJECTS OR POSSESSIONS.

THEY BECOME LIKE FAMILY, THE SOURCE OF FOND, LASTING MEMORIES AND STORIES THAT ENDURE LONG AFTER THEIR ORIGINAL OWNERS HAVE PASSED ON.

>> WELL, THE BOAT REALLY DOESN'T BELONG TO ANYBODY.

IT BELONGS TO THE HISTORY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LAKE TAHOE.

SO IT'S REALLY AN ODD FEELING, BUT IT SURE IS FUN.

>> THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE BOATS, IT'S MORE THAN A BOAT.

IT'S MORE THAN A VEHICLE TO GO OUT INTO THE WATER.

IT LITERALLY BECOMES PART OF THE FAMILY.

>> ONE OF THE MAGICAL THINGS ABOUT THE BOATS IS WHEN THEY HAVE A NAME.

WHEN YOU GIVE SOMETHING A NAME, IT BECOMES PART OF A FAMILY.

THEY ALL HAVE A STORY, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S MORE OF AN ATTACHMENT.

MANY OF THESE BOATS HAVE BEEN WITH THE FAMILIES FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

IT'S LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER.

BECAUSE OF THAT, IT JUST TAKES ON A DIFFERENT SIGNIFICANCE.

[cheerful old-timey music] ♪ >> narrator: FOR MANY, NAMING A BOAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS NAMING A CHILD.

A LOT OF TIME AND THOUGHT GOES INTO SELECTING JUST THE RIGHT NAME.

>> THE NAME OF OUR BOAT IS PINK HOUR.

AND THE NAME COMES FROM THE TIME OF DAY WHEN THE EASTERN SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE TURNS PINK FROM THE SUNSET ON THE WEST SHORE, AND WE CALL THAT "THE PINK HOUR," WHICH IS ALSO COCKTAIL HOUR.

>> narrator: SOMETIMES THE NAME IS DECIDED BY CHANCE, LIKE THE TIME DAVE OLSON TOOK HIS FAMILY OUT ON THEIR NEW BOAT.

THEY FOUND THEMSELVES FACE-TO-FACE WITH THUNDERBIRD, ONE OF THE LEGENDS OF LAKE TAHOE.

>> WELL, THUNDERCHICK ACTUALLY IS FAIRLY INTERESTING IN THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOME SIMILARITIES TO THE THUNDERBIRD.

AND WE WERE OUT FOR A RIDE WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE BOAT IN THE WATER, AND OUR YOUNGEST SON SAID, "OH, ISN'T THIS CUTE?

WE'VE GOT LITTLE THUNDERCHICK PLAYING WITH THE THUNDERBIRD."

AND THE NAME STUCK, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN EVER SINCE.

>> narrator: FOR OTHERS, A NAME REFLECTS THE BOAT'S PEDIGREE AND RICH HERITAGE.

>> HER NAME WAS NOT STEINWAY BEFORE.

HER NAME WAS CHIPPEWA.

AND WE RENAMED THE BOAT.

WHERE STEINWAY CAME FROM IS JOHN HACKER AND THE HACKERCRAFT COMPANY, THEIR ADVERTISING SLOGAN IN THE '20s WAS, "THE STEINWAY OF WOOD RUNABOUTS."

>> narrator: FOR SOME, IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT SEEMS NATURAL.

>> ACTUALLY A FRIEND CAME UP WITH THE NAME.

MY HUSBAND IS FROM HAVANA, CUBA.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU WEAR THE RUMBA SHIRTS.

YOU DO THE RUMBA.

AND SHE'S A PARTY BOAT.

WE HAD TO NAME HER RUMBA.

[rumba music] ♪ >> narrator: OTHERS JUST CALL IT LIKE IT IS.

>> IT'S "CRATE" MEANING IT'S NOT A FANCY BOAT.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE SENSE TO CALL IT THE MAHARAJA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT ISN'T.

IT'S JUST A CRATE, AND IT'S ORANGE.

[piano music] >> narrator: IN A FEW SPECIAL CASES, THE LOVE AND CARE THAT GOES INTO THE NAME ON THE STERN REPRESENTS A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN JUST A BOAT.

>> I NAMED IT OH DANNY BOY.

ALL MY HERITAGE IS IRISH, AND OH, DANNY B IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SONG, WAS WRITTEN BY A FATHER AS HIS SON WENT OFF TO WAR.

AND MY BROTHER CLIFF WAS KILLED IN WORLD WAR II.

SO I USE THAT SONG TO MEMORIZE HIM AND ALWAYS RECALL WHAT A GREAT BROTHER HE WAS, AND HE WENT OFF TO WAR AND NEVER CAME HOME.

♪ >> narrator: THESE WOODEN BEAUTIES HAVE THE RESPECT AND DEVOTION OF THEIR PASSIONATE OWNERS.

EACH HAS A SPECIAL APPRECIATION FOR THE UNIQUE HISTORY BEHIND THESE ANTIQUE RACERS.

ONE SPECIAL BOAT THAT CALLS THE TAHOE MARITIME MUSEUM HOME IS TEASER.

SHE MADE HEADLINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAS BEEN FULLY RESTORED FOR DISPLAY AT THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE.

>> IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE IT JUST AS IT WAS BACK THEN.

[cheerful music] >> narrator: THE PERIOD AFTER WORLD WAR I WAS A TIME OF GREAT ENGINEERING GENIUS.

WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MODES OF RAPID TRANSPORTATION, PEOPLE WERE CLAMORING FOR THE NEXT FASTEST THING.

THE NEWEST AND FASTEST WAS TEASER.

COMMISSIONED BY WEALTHY SPORTSMAN RICHARD HOYT, TEASER WAS DESIGNED AS A ONE-OF-A-KIND BOAT, POWERED BY A WRIGHT TYPHOON ENGINE AND BUILT FOR THE RECORD BOOKS.

ON MAY 20, 1925, TEASER TESTED HER SPEED AND AGILITY RACING DOWN THE HUDSON RIVER FROM ALBANY TO NEW YORK CITY IN TWO HOURS 40 MINUTES, BEATING THE ESTABLISHED TIME OF ONE OF THE FASTEST TRAINS IN THE WORLD, THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED, BY OVER 20 MINUTES.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

THAT BOAT, AT ONE TIME, IN ITS EARLY DAYS, WAS ALMOST ONE OF THE FASTEST THINGS IN THE WORLD.

>> narrator: FAST, YES.

AND SNEAKY, BECAUSE ONLY A FEW DAYS EARLIER, LEGENDARY SPEED KING GAR WOOD HAD ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RACE THE TRAIN.

HOYT SAW AN OPPORTUNITY, RUSHED TEASER INTO THE WATER BEFORE WOOD, AND MADE HEADLINES FROM COAST TO COAST.

WOOD RESPONDED, "IT LOOKS LIKE THEY STOLE A MARCH ON ME.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY PREDICTIONS, BUT WE'LL BE OUT TO BEAT THAT TIME AS WELL AS THE TRAIN."

WOOD WAS READY TO BET $25,000, OR AS HE SAID, "ANY OTHER SPORTY AMOUNT," THAT HIS BOATS COULD BEAT TEASER'S TIME.

FIVE DAYS LATER, GAR WOOD CHARGED UP THE HUDSON RIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL OF BABY GAR V. HIS BROTHER GEORGE WAS PILOTING GAR'S OTHER BOAT, BABY GAR IV.

GAR HAD MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES AND HAD TO JUMP SHIP TO FINISH THE RACE IN THE OTHER BOAT.

EVEN WITH THAT, GAR WAS FAST ENOUGH TO BEAT THE TRAIN'S TIME, BUT HE DID NOT BEAT TEASER'S TIME.

DESPITE GAR'S DISAPPOINTMENT, THE FACT THAT ANOTHER SPEEDBOAT HAD OUTRACED ONE OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST TRAINS MADE NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE IS PART OF THE LEGACY OF THESE RACING PIONEERS, WHERE PEOPLE COME IN DROVES TO MARVEL AT THE DESIGN, BEAUTY, AND LONGEVITY OF THESE CLASSICS.

>> OUR BOAT'S 80 YEARS OLD.

I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

AND SHE'S THE SECOND OLDEST GAR WOOD ON THE LAKE.

AND IT'S THE BABY GAR JR. MADE IN 1926.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, SHE'S THE ONLY ONE LEFT.

[jaunty music] ♪ [vacuum whirs] [horn blasts] THESE BOATS ARE WORKS OF ART AND PIECES OF HISTORY.

AND TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THEM TO THE PUBLIC, HOPEFULLY OTHER PEOPLE WILL GET THE PASSION FOR WOODEN BOATS TO PRESERVE THEM.

>> narrator: PRESERVING THESE BOATS IS NO SIMPLE MATTER AND OFTEN REQUIRES TREMENDOUS PATIENCE AND AMAZING DETERMINATION.

>> WE DID EVERYTHING OURSELVES.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS.

THE BOAT WAS IN VERY BAD CONDITION, SITTING IN THE WOODS, FULL OF WATER AND LEAVES AND RUST.

AND WE HAD TO STRIP IT DOWN TO THE BARE HULL, SANDBLAST IT, REPAINT IT, REFIT IT WITH ALL THE BRASS, REBUILD THE ENGINE.

EVERYTHING HAD TO BE DONE COMPLETELY.

[engine turns over] [slow speakeasy music] ♪ [horn squeaks] >> MOST ALL OF US ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING JUST DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL RESTORER, AND IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT WHO SPENDS THE MOST MONEY.

ANYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS.

>> narrator: RESTORING A BOAT BECOMES A PASTIME, ONE THAT BOAT OWNERS TAKE TO HEART.

THE PROCESS REQUIRES RESEARCH AND SOME DETECTIVE SKILL AND CAN BE PAINSTAKING AND FRUSTRATING, BUT WHEN THEY HIT A DEAD-END, THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

>> FORTUNATELY WE HAVE KIND OF LIKE AN UNDERGROUND COMMUNITY OF ALL THESE WOODEN BOAT PEOPLE, AND IF YOU CAN'T FIND SOMETHING, YOU CALL SOMEBODY, AND HE'LL TELL YOU WHO TO CALL.

AND YOU MIGHT CALL SOMEBODY DOWN THE STREET YOU KNOW, AND THEN HE TELLS YOU TO CALL THE GUY IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND HE TELLS YOU TO CALL THE GUY IN NEW YORK, AND IT JUST GOES ON AND ON, AND EVENTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED.

>> narrator: FOR SOME, THE TASK OF RESTORING A BOAT SEEMS DAUNTING.

>> WELL, I REALLY DISMISSED IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST TOO BIG OF A PROJECT FOR ME TO TAKE ON, AND MY WIFE SAID, "YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND DO IT."

AND SO WE SPENT CLOSE TO FOUR YEARS RESTORING IT.

SO WE'RE PROUD OF THE FACT WE BROUGHT A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY BACK TO ITS ORIGINALITY AS TO BACK IN 1929 WHEN SHE CAME OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR.

>> THE BOAT YOU SEE HERE IS A BOAT THAT GOES BY THE NAME OF HORNET II, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE JUST CALL IT HORNET.

ALL OF THE FRAME ON THE TOP WAS ORIGINAL, AND SOME OF THE SKIN IS ORIGINAL, BUT THE REST OF IT HAD TO BE FABRICATED.

IT'S A PRETTY WELL-KNOWN BOAT ON LAKE TAHOE, BECAUSE IT WAS HENRY KAISER'S FAVORITE BOAT.

AND IN 1938, BACK WHEN THE HORNET WAS JUST A REGULAR WOODEN GAR WOOD TRIPLE RUNABOUT WITH A WOODEN DECK, HE LOST A RACE TO STANLEY DOLLAR, HIS ARCHRIVAL, IN MERCURY.

>> narrator: MERCURY AND HOR HAVE HAD A RACING RIVALRY THAT HAS LASTED OVER 70 YEARS AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

BOTH BOATS HAVE GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESTORATION, AND BOTH CALL LAKE TAHOE HOME.

THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF FIERCE COMPETITION BETWEEN THEM, SO FIERCE IN FACT, THAT HORNET WAS LITERALLY TRANSFORMED BY IT.

IT ALL STARTED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE ALL-ALUMINUM MERCURY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CIGARETTE IV.

>> STANLEY DOLLAR BROUGHT HIM HERE AFTER IT HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR TEN YEARS.

USED MERCURY IN 1937, MODERATE SUCCESS.

1938, TOOK THE-- THE LAKE CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEAT HORNET.

THAT'S WHY HORNET HAS THE ALUMINUM TOP.

>> narrator: THE LAKE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS JUST THE LATEST FRUSTRATION FOR HENRY KAISER AFTER A NUMBER OF DEFEATS AT THE HANDS OF STANLEY DOLLAR.

KAISER WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS BOAT FASTER THAN DOLLAR'S AND BEAT MERCURY ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

>> SO THE STORY GOES, HE SENT THE BOAT DOWN TO HIS FRIEND HOWARD HUGHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND THE SAME GUYS THAT MADE THE FAMOUS HUGHES RACER FASHIONED THIS DECK IN BETWEEN THE SUMMERS OF '38 AND '39.

AND HENRY REPOWERED IT WITH A PACKARD 1A-1237 ENGINE, WHICH TODAY IS PRETTY RARE, 'CAUSE THE ONE WE HAVE IN HERE IS THE LAST ONE THAT'S KNOWN TO EXIST.

[lively music] ♪ >> narrator: WITH HER NEW ENGINE AND ALUMINUM DECK, HORNET WAS POISED FOR A REMATCH, AND KAISER WAS OUT TO WIN.

BUT AFTER ALL THAT BUILDUP, THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED RACE NEVER HAPPENED.

MERCURY'S MECHANICAL CREW SPILLED SOME GASOLINE DURING OVERNIGHT ADJUSTMENTS, AND AS MERCURY STARTED UP ON RACE DAY, SHE CAUGHT FIRE AND HAD TO WITHDRAW.

UNFORTUNATELY, KAISER WAS DENIED HIS CHANCE TO RACE HIS RIVAL THIS TIME.

>> BUT THEY STILL COUNTED IT AS A WIN, AND IT WENT ON TO SET A NEW COURSE RECORD AND RACE SUCCESSFULLY.

[lilting music] ♪ >> narrator: TODAY MERCURY'S AGE MAY INDICATE THAT SHE'S PAST HER RACING PRIME, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT HER.

>> MERCURY ONLY 82 YEARS OLD, AND SHE RUNS JUST ABOUT THE WAY SHE RAN WHEN SHE WAS NEWLY BUILT IN 1925.

IT WAS BUILT JUST LIKE A ROLLS ROYCE WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT.

ALL HAND-DONE.

THE WORKMANSHIP IS PHENOMENAL.

THERE ARE NO TWO PIECES ALIKE.

THERE ARE 14,000 RIVETS.

I COUNTED HALF OF THEM.

MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO MULTIPLY BY TWO, BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE 14,000.

THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 8,000 INDIVIDUAL PIECES.

WHEN YOU FIGURE THAT, THAT WAS ALL DONE IN 1926 BY HAND.

AND TO HAVE THE WORKMANSHIP.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT TODAY.

AND I DON'T THINK YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN.

[jazzy music] ♪ >> MY NAME'S BARRY LUDWIG.

I'M THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE TAHOE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE.

>> narrator: AT THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE, THE MOST ACCURATE RESTORATIONS RECEIVE AWARDS FROM BARRY AND HIS TEAM OF JUDGES.

THEY STUDY THE FEATURES OF EACH ENTRY, ENSURING THAT ALL DETAILS ARE AUTHENTIC TO THE PERIOD WHEN THE BOAT WAS CREATED.

>> OUR STANDARD IS: AS THE BOAT WAS DELIVERED IN THE YEAR IT WAS MANUFACTURED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BOAT.

SO IF YOU HAD A 1938 GAR WOOD, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THAT BOAT WILL BE REPRESENTED AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED IN 1938.

SO THAT MEANS THE WIRING MATERIAL SHOULD BE AS IT WAS IN '38.

THE TERMINAL ENDS SHOULD BE THAT.

THE SPARK PLUGS, THE UPHOLSTERY, THE FILLING IN THE CUSHIONS.

>> I HAVE A BOOK HERE SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE BOAT.

AND THE JUDGES LOOK FOR THE HISTORY OF THE BOAT FROM DAY ONE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL SHIPPER.

>> THE JUDGING SCORE IS ON A 100-POINT SYSTEM.

AND IT'S NOT BOAT AGAINST BOAT.

IT'S EACH BOAT AGAINST A 100-POINT SCALE.

SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ME AGAINST YOU OR THIS BOAT AGAINST THAT BOAT.

IT'S YOUR BOAT AGAINST A 100-POINT SCALE.

AND THAT MAKES IT A FUN COMPETITION.

>> narrator: THOUGH THE COMPETITION IS MORE FRIENDLY THAN FIERCE, THE JUDGES TAKE THEIR JOBS QUITE SERIOUSLY.

>> IT'S AS LIKE A CHECKLIST.

SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH, AND IF THERE'S NO DEDUCTION, YOU CAN CHECK ZERO.

IF THERE'S A MINOR FLAW IN SOMETHING, MAYBE IT'S 1/8 OF A POINT.

AND THEN THERE'S MAJOR DEDUCTIONS, YOU KNOW.

IF SOMETHING IS DRASTICALLY WRONG, YOU KNOW, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

A DRASTIC FLAW WOULD BE IF SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, RESTORED THE BOAT, AND THEY USED THE INCORRECT KIND OF WOOD.

I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL, YOU KNOW.

MOST CHRIS-CRAFTS WERE BUILT WITH PHILIPPINE MAHOGANY.

SO IF YOU USED HONDURAS MAHOGANY OR AFRICAN MAHOGANY, CHRIS-CRAFTS NEVER BUILT THEM THAT WAY.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

[jaunty music] ♪ >> THIS YEAR, MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS DEALING WITH THE INSTRUMENTATION, WIRING, UPHOLSTERY, FIT, FINISH, AND SOME OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE BOAT.

I WAS RELEGATED TO PUT MY HEAD UNDERNEATH THE DASH AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOATS AND LOOK AT THE DETAIL RELATED TO INSTRUMENTATION AND PANELS AND WHATNOT.

I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I HAD MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT INSTRUMENTS AND MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WIRING, BUT OF ALL THE JUDGES THAT ARE PART OF MY TEAM, I WAS THE THINNEST.

>> narrator: IT'S CLEAR THESE OWNERS SHARE A PASSION.

FOR SOME, IT BEGAN AT AN EARLY AGE.

>> BEING ON THE WATER AS A CHILD AND ALL OF THE GREAT NOISES THAT THE BOATS MAKE AND THE SOCIAL ASPECT THAT GOES WITH IT, IT JUST GREAT MEMORIES.

>> STARTED BUILDING MY FIRST BOAT WITH MY FATHER BACK IN 1959, AND THEN THROUGH THE EARLY AND THE LATE '80s, GOT REALLY INVOLVED WITH THE WOODEN BOATS HERE AT LAKE TAHOE.

AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF AN ADDICTION AND A LOT OF FUN FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

>> narrator: OTHERS DISCOVERED THE PASSION LATER IN LIFE.

>> WELL, I STARTED VERY EARLY '70s.

I HAD A 1957 CHRIS-CRAFT THAT HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY MODIFIED WITH A CORVETTE ENGINE IN IT, WHICH MADE IT ONE HOT CHRIS-CRAFT.

>> narrator: ONE THING IS FOR SURE, ONCE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM, THEY'RE AWFULLY HARD TO RESIST.

>> I'VE GOT FIVE.

MOSTLY ALL CHRIS-CRAFTS BUT FROM THE EARLY '30s UP THROUGH A 1959 RIVA.

>> AT ONE POINT, WE HAD EIGHT OR NINE BOATS: TWO SILVER ARROWS, WHICH WERE CHRIS-CRAFT 1959, AND WE HAD A 42-FOOT STEPHENS.

WE HAD A '62 HOLIDAY, A HACKER, AND THIS ONE.

[swanky music] ♪ >> narrator: ALTHOUGH THE BEAUTY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP ON DISPLAY AT THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE IS UNDENIABLE, THE LOCATION ITSELF MAY BE JUST AS IMPRESSIVE.

LAKE TAHOE IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD, A DEEP ALPINE LAKE ON THE NEVADA-CALIFORNIA BORDER HIGH IN THE SIERRA NEVADA WITH CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATER AND NEARLY 300 DAYS OF SUNSHINE A YEAR.

[soothing music] ♪ [exuberant music] ♪ CASUAL MOTORBOAT RACING MADE ITS DEBUT ON LAKE TAHOE IN 1914 WHEN THE HOTEL TALLAC HOSTED A SILVER CUP RACE AS PART OF AN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.

THE WINNING BOAT PUTTERED TO THE FINISH LINE POWERED BY A 40-HORSEPOWER AUTOMOBILE ENGINE.

THE FORMATION OF THE TAHOE POWERBOAT COMPANY IN 1925 HELPED TO ESTABLISH POWERBOATING AS A MAINSTAY AT LAKE TAHOE.

BACK THEN, 20 MILES PER HOUR WAS CONSIDERED A TOP SPEED, BUT MOTORBOAT ENTHUSIASTS LIKE LAKE TAHOE'S OWN SPEED KING R. STANLEY DOLLAR JR.

WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE POWER.

DOLLAR WAS KNOWN FOR HIS SUCCESS IN THE LATE 1940s AND '50s, WINNING RACES WITH A NUMBER OF BOATS, INCLUDING BABY SKIPALONG, WHICH THIS YEAR MARKS ITS RETURN TO THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE.

>> WELL, BABY SKIPALONG WAS BUILT IN 1924, AND THEY SOLD THE BOAT TO MY GREAT-UNCLE LELAND STANFORD SCOTT, AND THEY BROUGHT IT UP TO TAHOE, AND HE RACED IT IN THE SUMMER IN THE TAHOE REGATTA OF 1929 FOR JULY.

WON ALL THE RACES HE ENTERED IN AND THEN SOLD IT IN AUGUST, THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST OF 1929, TO STAN DOLLAR SENIOR, WHO BOUGHT THE BOAT FOR HIS SON, WHO WAS 16 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, WHO THEN RACED IT IN AUGUST, WON THE BOAT RACES AT THAT TIME UP HERE, AND THEN WENT ON TO RACE THE BOAT INTO THE '50s.

AND THEREFORE IT BECAME THE WINNINGEST RACE BOAT ON LAKE TAHOE.

>> narrator: AFTER THE END OF BABY SKIPALONG'S COMPETITIVE RACING CAREER, THE DOLLAR FAMILY BEGAN SHOWING HER AT WOODEN BOAT EVENTS.

SHE TRAVELED THE CIRCUIT FOR YEARS, RETIRING IN 1975.

>> THE FAMILY THEN PUT BABY SKIPALONG INTO STORAGE, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR THAT I CALLED STAN DOLLAR III, WHO IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE I GREW UP WITH AND WENT TO SCHOOL WITH.

AND I SAID, "STAN, YOU'VE HAD THE BOAT FOR 32 YEARS IN STORAGE.

YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH IT.

IT NEEDS TO GET BACK ON THE LAKE."

AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE RIGHT.

GO AHEAD."

I BOUGHT THE BOAT FROM HIM AND RESTORED IT ALL LAST WINTER AND BROUGHT IT TO THE CONCOURS THIS YEAR.

WE WILL DEFINITELY MOVE THE BOAT AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS REALLY MY COMMITMENT TO THE DOLLAR FAMILY, BECAUSE IT IS A MUSEUM-QUALITY BOAT, AND IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO SEE.

[lighthearted music] ♪ >> narrator: ED'S LEVEL OF PASSION IS THE KIND THAT IS OFTEN CULTIVATED IN FAMILIES AND PASSED DOWN A GENERATION AT A TIME.

>> MY SON IS AN ENTHUSIAST AND WILL CONTINUE THIS ON WELL AFTER I'M GONE.

>> narrator: THIS IS A COMMON SENTIMENT AMONG WOODEN BOATERS.

THEY'RE NOT ENJOYING THIS JUST FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY WANT TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE TRADITION OF THESE TREASURES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> THE TAHOE EVENT HAS SO MUCH HISTORY, AND LAKE TAHOE IN PARTICULAR HAS SO MUCH HISTORY WITH VINTAGE WOOD BOATS.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LEGACY HERE OF GREAT ANTIQUE BOATS THAT HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY ON TAHOE OR HAVE COME TO TAHOE OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN PASSED ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE BOATS.

AND IN SOME CASES, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM FOR YEARS, AND THEN THEY'RE BACK.

THEY'RE FRESHENED UP.

THEY'RE RESTORED.

AND IT'S JUST EXCITING TO SEE A LITTLE PIECE OF AMERICANA, A LITTLE PIECE OF OUR U.S. HISTORY OR EVEN CANADIAN HISTORY REVITALIZED AND, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT BACK AFTER 70, 80, 90 YEARS.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE BOATS REALLY REPRESENT AMERICANA.

I MEAN, IT IS THE GREAT MANUFACTURERS AT CHRIS-CRAFT AND GAR WOOD THAT WE CERTAINLY SEE HERE TODAY, AND HACKER, AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, NAVAL ARCHITECTS THAT CAME UP WITH THESE BEAUTIES OVER THE YEARS.

THERE'S JUST BEEN THIS MAGICAL DRAW.

>> narrator: IT'S TRULY CAPTIVATING TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH PERFECT EXAMPLES OF CRAFTSMANSHIP AND DESIGN.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE BOATS ARE TO LOOK AT, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE TAKING THEM OUT FOR A SPIN.

>> WHY DO I LIKE BOATS SO MUCH?

THERE'S A CERTAIN FREEDOM YOU GET ON THE WATER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT.

AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER FOR ME THAN BACKING THAT BOAT OUT OF THE SLIP, AND AS I HEAD OUT ON THE LAKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NICE, CALM DAY, AND I FEEL COMPELLED TO WRITE MY NAME OUT THERE IN THE LAKE, YOU KNOW, MESS IT ALL UP.

IT'S JUST THE FREEDOM THAT YOU GET.

>> YEAH, I LIKE SPEED ON BOATS.

I'M NOT A DAINTY LITTLE GIRL, SO I THINK I LIKE SPEED AND THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND LIVING A LITTLE BIT ON THE EDGE.

>> THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT THIS LAKE AND THIS COBALT BLUE WATER WITH THE MAHOGANY.

IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL SIGHT TO SEE.

>> AS A KID, I LEARNED TO SKI BEHIND A CHRIS-CRAFT UTILITY, AND IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE SMELLS OF THOSE BOATS, YOU KNOW, WATER-SKIING ON THIS LAKE.

IT GETS YOU.

IT REALLY GETS YOU.

[cheering] >> announcer: SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY: