1957 U-2

1957

U-2 Miss U. S. 1 (2) ( USA )

Owner - George Simon (Detroit)
Designer - Dan Arena
Builder - Les Staudacher
Length - 30ft
Beam - 11ft 6in
Hull - 3 point
Detail - chevrons on plastic tail, later no chevrons on tail, white sides
Colours - mahogany & white with aluminum sides
Power - V12 Allison
Weight - 5,300
Drivers - Fred Alter & Dan Foster

Best finish - 3rd

Detail - Mobil horse high on tail
Colour - white sides, white on sponsons fillets
Drivers - Fred Alter & Don Wilson
Winner of International Cup N.C.

later in season:

Colours - tail, white, red & aqua
Power - V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin
Driver - Don Wilson

Winner of President's Cup, Sahara Cup, & Madison Cup

Detail - flash added at Gold Cup in Seattle
Colours - mahogany deck with white tail [??]
Driver - Don Wilson

Best finish - 2nd

Drivers - Don Wilson & Roy Duby

Best finish - 3rd

Driver - Don Wilson

Best finish - 2 2nds

Detail - rounded no's , record on tail
Crew Chief - Rudy Berger
Drivers - Don Wilson & Roy Duby

Best finish - 4th

Set World Record of 200.4 mph.

Detail - sponsons fillets cut back, square no's
Drivers - Don Wilson & Roy Duby

Best finish - 2nd

1970•s & 80•s

Boat in Simon's warehouse

1990's

Boat repaired and painted up for show

"This white-and-mahogany craft, owned by George Simon of Detroit, is the second Miss U.S. I. In 1958 she won the International Cup, Elizabeth City, N.C.; the President's Cup; the Governor's Cup; and the Sahara Cup, and placed second in 1958 National High Point Standings. Originally powered by an Allison engine, she switched to a Rolls Merlin after the 1958 Gold Cup Race. Built in 1957, she measures 30 feet, has an 11½ foot beam and weighs 5,500 pounds. She races out of the Detroit Yacht Club."

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

Hydroplane History Home Page
This page was last revised Thursday, April 01, 2010.
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Email us at wildturnip@gmail.com
© Leslie Field, 1999, 2001