Miss Thriftway (1)

1955

U-60 Miss Thriftway (1) ( USA )

Owner - Assoc. Thriftway Stores Inc. Willard Rhodes (Seattle)
Designer - Ted Jones
Builder - Les Staudacher
Length - 28ft 6in
Beam - 11ft 4in
Hull - 3 point
Colours - mahogany with cream & orange stripes, squarish numbers
Power - V12 Allison
Weight - 4,500
Crew Chief - Jack Ramsay
Driver - Bill Muncey

B/F - 2nd

Boat finished 2nd in Gold Cup at Seattle, WN

Detail - carburetor air scoops open forward
Driver - Bill Muncey

Winner of the Gold Cup - 96.52 mph. on Detroit River, President's Cup

Detail - tail fin stripe change, "Miss" on slant
Colours - brown with stripes, rounded numbers
Driver - Bill Muncey

Winner of the Gold Cup - 101.7 mph. on Lake Washington

Boat destroyed at Madison, Indiana

Miss Thriftway (1) U-60 [1955-57]

"The first Miss Thriftway measured 28½ feet, had an 11½ foot beam, weighed 4,500 pounds, and was originally powered by an Allison engine and later changed to a Rolls. She came within 4.536 seconds of winning in her first competition, the 1955 Gold Cup Race. Owned by the Thriftway Stores of Washington State, represented by Willard Rhodes, president, Miss Thriftway was designed by Ted Jones and built by Les Staudacher. She won the 1956 and 1957 Gold Cup Races, the 1956 President's Cup Race and she set the world's record for a 15-mile heat with a speed of 112.312 mph in the Governor's Cup Race. Her colors were mahogany, with orange and cream stripes and she flew the burgee of the Seattle Yacht Club. She was demolished in the 1957 Governor's Cup race."

(Reprinted from This is Hydroplaning by Paul Lowney [1959])

Miss Thriftway disintegrates after hitting a wake at high speed on Ohio River in 1957 Governor's Cup race at Madison, Ind. Bill Muncey was thrown into the river unconscious.

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