Niagara Frontier Antique and Classic Boats will hold the silver anniversary edition, 25th annual Boat Show and Race Boat Reunion on Saturday at the Buffalo Launch Club, 503 E. River Road on Grand Island.

This year's show will feature some of the best preserved and restored watercraft in the country. Many legendary race boats of world class renown will be in town.

Guy Lombardo's Tempo VI is a three-point hydroplane built in 1937 and powered by a 1,700 horsepower Allison engine. It was owned by the legendary band leader/boat racer, Guy Lombardo. The boat was a Gold Cup winner and campaigned until the 1950s. It's currently owned by Joe Frauenheim of Issaquah, Wash.

Another spectacular entry is a 30-foot custom-built speedboat named Golden Thunder. The boat was designed and built by the owner, Paul Duwurst, an Australian boat builder.

It features a specially designed deck and cockpit and has a torpedo-shaped stern. Duwurst is scheduled to offer a free presentation, "Thunder from Down Under," on the design and construction of his boat in the BLC Captains Quarters, open to the public.

A highlight sure to catch the visitor's interest is a collection of three 33-foot Baby Gar race boats. Those were the boats built by Gar Wood and raced in the early 1920s. He made famous the incident of wearing a top hat and tails for a race in 1921 after having been criticized for not being a "gentleman racer" by a competitor. The Baby Gars are powered by 495 hp Liberty engines.

On the other end of the speed spectrum, Ken MacStephens from Toronto will show his 24-foot Mullins steel launch, built in 1911. It is powered by a 2-cylinder, 8 hp Kermath engine.

Also to be displayed, a beautiful 23-foot, 1915 historic launch built by Fitz Hunt and owned by Dr. Jonathan Graff of Williamsville.

Many years ago, Jim Culligan owned a 21-foot Century Coronado. He used it and enjoyed it, then sold it. Last year, he wanted to get another wooden boat to restore and bring to this year's show. Through the efforts of Tom Frauenheim, he located his old boat, bought it back after 16 years and restored it. Now he's anxious to show it Saturday.

The show gets under way at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until about 4 p.m.

Refreshments, music, antique and classic cars, and nautical flea markets make this a great way to spend an afternoon.

"Over 100 boats are already registered, and we always have a late rush to get in at the last minute," said Rich DeGlopper, show chairman. "That's way ahead of any other year we've held the show."

The BLC recently has undergone an extensive expansion of the marina basin.

Finger docks were added, which just about doubled the docking capacity of the facility. A seawall was also constructed along the downriver side of the basin.

"The improvements in the basin will make the best viewing for the show and offer easy in-and-out for the show participants," said DeGlopper.

Niagara Frontier Antique and Classic Boats is a chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society with about 250 members in Western New York and Southern Ontario. ACBS has almost 40 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, and boat ownership is not required for membership.

Many of the finest restored boats on hand are done by the boat owners themselves, in back yards or garages. The club provides a network for locating replacement original parts and offers a series of workshops throughout the year, demonstrating methods and techniques for various restoration projects.

Admission to the show is free but there is a $5 parking charge.