George Martin May Jr.

George May, a charter member of the San Diego Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club, passed away unexpectedly, quickly and peacefully at his home on September 18, 2014.
Born in Battlecreek, Michigan in 1921, he moved from the Midwest to San Diego with his bride, Nerna, in 1946. Even though he obtained certification as a Master Aviation Mechanic, with much persuasion, he joined his father in the restaurant business. May’s Cafe was his vocation for over 30 years. His avocation was speed – planes, motorcycles and boats.
In the early years he was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the formation of the San Diego Aerospace Museum.
The fact that a childhood accident left him with only one eye never deterred him. He was a private pilot and started his powerboat racing career in San Diego in 1951 in the APBA B-utility runabout class. As a member, and later commodore, of the Pacific Powerboat Club, his hobby became an obsession and in later years a part-time vocation.
In 1958 he won the Colorado River, 57 mile, Needles Marathon in the B runabout class.
In the early 60’s he stepped up to drive in the F-racing runabout class, a 2-man boat. He was the APBA high point champion in this class in 1963, 1964 and 1965. By this time, his son, Brett, had also started racing at the age of 9. At that time there were a lot of regional race sites. Weekend racing trips took the family to Long Beach, Bakersfield, “The Puddle” in Los Angeles, Northern California and Arizona. Here at home there were races on a regular basis, both in the Flood Control Channel in Ocean Beach and on today’s Mission Bay course.
In 1964 George was the APBA national champion in the F-racing runabout class.
On February 17, 1965, he set the closed course world speed record for this class on Mission Bay. The record was certified by APBA and the Union of International Motorboating in Brussels, Belgium. It was a record that stood for many years. That same year he was elected to the Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame and in 1966 was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions. In 1973 in he received a Breitbard Athletic Foundation Special Award.
While actively racing and after his retirement from the restaurant business in the late 70’s (due to an injury sustained on the informal SDMBB&SC dirt bike circuit) he was an APBA referee in the following categories: Stock outboard, Modified outboard, Outboard Pleasure Craft, Inboards and Unlimited Hydroplanes, including the original “Thunderboat” regatta here in San Diego in 1964.
In 1985 George was honored as Referee of the Year by Vapor Trails Publications.
When refereeing became his part-time vocation, he had the privilege of officiating at events all over the country and, even, “across the pond” in Holland on the Formula One international circuit in the early 90’s. While refereeing on the AMRA and USFORA circuits, and at races such as the Outboard World Championships held at Lake Havasu (an International event), the Lake Havasu Classic, the Salton Sea 500, the Long Beach Gran Prix and the Parker 7 and 9-hour enduros, he was often put in the position of putting family aside and just being the impartial referee. By this time Brett was an active participant on these circuits, racing independently and for the Mercury factory, both in the United States and Europe.
One of the highlights of his career as a Referee was officiating at the 1989 APBA/UIM World Record Assault for Outboards at Parker, AZ. The straight-a-way record set on November 30, 1989, was 176.556 mph.
George was predeceased by his wife, Nerna, in 1994, and is survived by his children, Karon (San Diego) and Brett (Fort Lauderdale, FL), and his adored grandson, Lance and wife, Jessica. Services will be held October 3, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. An informal celebration of life will be held later that day during “happy hour” at the SDMBB&SC. At George’s request, in lieu of flowers, if anyone wishes to do so, a donation in his memory can my made to the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org