John Sedrowski

John Sedrowski “3-2-1 -mark...10 to the 5!”

John Sedrowski
John Sedrowski

Good friend and hydroplane race official John Sedrowski, of Richmond, Michigan, passed away April 22 after complications following an operation. He was 56.

Throughout the years, John held many positions with the Spirit of Detroit Association and the Detroit River Regatta Association, helping to put on the Unlimited races on the River. In recent years, John worked with H1 Unlimited as an official, attending races around the country.

A U.S. Army veteran of 22 years, I remember John, in full dress uniform, leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off the 2006 Unlimited Awards Banquet in Indianapolis, and earlier at the “Madison” movie premier in Mt. Clemens in 2005.

Remembering John as a hard-working, dedicated guy, UD’s Dyno Don Nicholson shared this fond memory: “In 1974, Bob Schroeder brought the CU-22 Unlimited to Detroit for the Gar Wood Trophy race. Bob’s son was his only crewman, so John and I became his crew.

“The boat qualified and made the final heat, but had to withdraw with engine problems. I never saw anyone work as hard as John, and he was just a kid in the pits who volunteered for the job of a lifetime.”

A great guy, a patriot and a life-long hydro fan, John will truly be missed in the Horace Dodge Pits this summer and for summers to come.

[Reprinted from Thunderboat, June 2012]