A New Dixie and a New Standard [1909]

Two Motor Boats For Monaco Races
Price McKinney with New Standard Enters with Dixie II for Foreign Events
WILL BE SHIPPED IN MARCH
Standard is Fifteen-Meter Boat of 500 Horse Power--Automobile Club Sends Entries

Two Motor Boats For Monaco Races
Racing Motor Boat Wrecked in Trial
Trial Trip of the "Standard"
Two American Boats for Monaco
Models of Dixie II and III

Two American motor boats were entered yesterday through the Automobile Club of America for the International motor boat races at Monaco during the first week of April. They were Dixie II, owned by Edward J. Schroeder, ex-Commodore of the Motor Boat Club of America, and the Standard, owned by Price McKinney of Cleveland. The fact that Dixie II, the present international cup holder, was going abroad to meet the fastest power boats of Europe has been known for some time, but the announcement that a second boat has been built chiefly for the purpose, as was ascertained yesterday, of representing the United States in what has been for years the biggest motor boat event in the world, was to the majority of yachtsmen and motor boat owners a distinct surprise.

Both of these boats are entered in the name of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club, but the entries were sent by the Automobile Club, as the latter organization has been named as the American representative of international motor boat interests.

The new boat, Standard, has a familiar name, as the first Standard four years ago made a memorable record for establishing new speed records on the Hudson and elsewhere. Mr. McKinney, who is a resident of Cleveland, bought the first Standard after her successes here and raced her in the Thousand Islands. it will be interesting to know that the same engines used in the former boat will be fitted to this new Standard. They have been considerably improved, however, and in efficiency are far superior to the original type. The engine is a single motor of six double-action cylinders, rated at 500 horse power. The cylinders have a 10-inch bore, 10-inch stroke, and are equipped with four magnetos.

The new hull for this powerful engine is 49.2 feet long, a fifteen-meter boat, and was designed by Clinton H. Crane, the designer of Dixie II. The boat is built of mahogany, with double-planked hull, and is nearly finished at Wood's Shipyard, City Island. Mr. McKinney, the owner of the boat, is undecided about his ability to go to Monaco, but he has selected his crew. The boat will be in command of Capt. Charles Pedersen, who has had wide experience in handling high-speed motor craft. J. H. Purtnell will be the engineer. There will be a third man in the boat, and Secretary Charles L. Hayden of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club will probably fill that position as he is to have general charge of the boat while at Monaco. Commodore Gilbert T. Rafferty of the Thousand Islands Club will go abroad with Mr. Hayden and they will be America's official representatives.

Mr. Schroeder expects to go over when his boat is shipped. Both will probably will leave this country early in march, as they are required to be in Monaco for the exhibition of competing boats on March 31. Dixie II will be in charge of Capt. S. Barclay Pierce, assisted by Engineer Alfred Rappuhn, the same men who handled the boat in the international cup races last August in Huntington Bay. The new hull that has been built for Dixie II in Boston arrived in this city a few days ago and is at Mr. Schroeder's boating headquarters at Jersey City, having the motor equipped. Both Dixie II and Standard will have a series of trials in the Sound or in the upper bay, and about two weeks will be spent in these trial runs next month.

Entries for both were made in four races, the mile and kilometer speed tests, the Monte Carlo prize, 50 kilometers (31 miles,) and the International Grand Prix, 100 kilometers, (62.1 miles). The winning prize for the international race is 15,000 francs, ($3,000,) and 10,000 francs for the Monte Carlo event. For the mile and kilometer events the prize is 3,000 francs and a cup presented by the Prince of Monaco.

The building of the new fifteen-meter Standard was a direct result of the splendid showing made last season by Dixie II. Mr. Crane admitted yesterday that when Mr. McKinney gave the order he expressed a wish for a boat faster, if possible, than Dixie II, and he ventured the suggestion that she might show a speed of nearly thirty-seven statute miles an hour. Dixie II has done thirty-six statute miles and with her new hull, which is slightly different from the old one, is expected to show a trifle better speed.

As this will be the first time that America has been represented in the Monaco races and the first time that more than one boat has been sent abroad for international events, the success of Dixie II and Standard will be watched with keen interest. If a challenge is received from England for the Harmsworth International cup now held by Dixie II, both are likely to be picked for America's defending team. The challenge must be made by Feb. 1. The officers of the Motor Boat Club, who will conduct the race, stated yesterday that word had been received that a challenge would be sent on time, but nothing definite has been heard.

(Transcribed from the New York Times, Jan. 28, 1909, p. 7. )

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page —LF]


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