Petersburg WV Races (1965-1979): Looking for Sources

We are looking for paddlers who remember the paddling extravaganzas that the CCA sponsored out in Petersburg in the early days of the club. We're preparing an article on these races for which the CCA devoted untold hours in the chilly months of March and April and which ultimately attracted thousands from up and down the eastern USA.

The citizenry of the town were intimately involved, to the extent of creating a wholly independent April Fools Race. But after 15 years in Petersburg, the race was suddenly transferred to Wardensville on the upper Cacapon, where it lasted only a year. We have relied on accounts by a couple of participants, on the reporting in the Cruiser during that time, a couple of West Virginia magazines from those days, and a mass of photographs. 

Might anyone who recalls how the races were run—or who has access to Cruisers that we're missing (Spring of 1962 and 1964, and February 1965)—please get in touch with Alf at 703-397-6882 or Barb at 301-765-9115?  We mean to tell the Petersburg tale to the new membership and need your help to make it accurate.

—Alf Cooley & Barb Brown